V2V Dedication Valentine’s to Veronica

By: Joe Mauricio

 

If I could just write an ode in honor of the person who founded this exciting publication that has been entertaining and informing the Chicago Filipino Asian American community for more than three decades now, it would really create a different style of writing in this column, but let’s leave that task to our house-poet, Victoria Smith of “Warrior’s Heart.”

Venus Veronica Bacatan Leighton, the publisher/chief editor of VIA Times publication, a graduate of Foreign Service from the University of the Philippines Diliman, is not armed with a formal journalism degree, and yet she found herself doing journalistic work, duties and activities for so many years of her working life until now.

I’ve heard her answer questions so many times as to why, how or what brought her to do the publishing work (coupled with broadcasting later on as a sister company to publishing), things that she has been doing engagingly in this community, she simply would say maybe just being in the right place at the right time, or that maybe she was destined (a powerful hand guiding her) to do it as everything that happened was just a “serendipity,” as she has not dreamed or thought of being in the journalistic field, not even in her wildest dreams.

Next question please…How she was able to thrive in the male-dominated world of publishing for many years? “I guess I have thrived because of my gutsy instincts, stick-to-itivenss, hard work, perseverance, and an always-ready smile.” Of course, her start-up years were an uphill battle as she met with many naysayers. mockers and evil-casters along the way; it could be because she’s a woman, a minority, and financially deficient to be treading the heavilyfunded journalistc waters (and she is not even a swimmer). Although there was a perceptible ethnic syndrome that she was able to put in good use to swim along with and in entering the mainstream.

Her journalistic plight/work was not that easy within and outside the community. Trials and tribulations, grief and tragedies, wins and losses, tears and laughter have colored and characterized her life’s charters on her way to the ladder of success. Through it all, she has overcome and succeeded and has remained the recognized and foremost leader of this community with what she does, the community’s fixture whose legacy can always be spoken of and for.

A down-to-earth, humble, and unassuming individual, with a humorous nature, Veronica can be a fighter and defender of good causes, of her friends, and of her loved ones. She is a woman with a soft heart, and her lips will always utter sympathetic words of encouragement for those who need it 24/7. But she knows how to camouflage this inborn trait of hers and tries to appear unapproachable to many.

Veronica’s work ethics is unquestionable, to the extent of her being called the “Iron or Dragon Lady” by some who have worked with her (maybe dragon, yes, as she was born under the sign of Dragon in Chinese zodiac). Give her work to do and she will tackle it non-stop until she sees a satisfying result, a real hard worker and a doer. But her sweet amd charismatic nature and demeanor are the reasons why people still want to work with her and be around her.

Veronica is always ready to take us to the next level of publishing profession anytime as she has a reputation for fairness, thoughtfulness, creativity, adaptability, and devotion for the attainment of a higher order of journalistic endeavors.

Veronica is the pride and joy, life and light of the Filipino community of Chicago. She can make things easy and light for everybody no matter what anyone throws at her face, either from her competitors or critics or even loved ones…we salute and honor Our Queen “V” for this St. Valentine’s Day 2016, the one and only VIA Times/CPRTV Queen. WE LOVE HER!##