He continued writing exposes
on graft and corruption in government using
the Philippine News Service as outlet, while
still PPI director. Among the more notable stories
he wrote were: the plight of sacada workers
in Visayan sugar fields; customs corruption
and widespread leakage of questions in a (nationwide)
civil service examination for professionals.
He joined the Press Foundation of Asia as its
Joint Chief Executive and started (DEPTHnews),
an experiment in developmental journalism. He
worked as editorial director of the service.
Mercado also served as correspondent for the
Financial Times of London; the Honolulu Star
Bulletin as well as The Bulletin of Sydney in
Australia.
He was
among the 22 journalists detained in the first
wave of arrests by the martial law regime. Upon
his release, he became communication officer
for the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations in Bangkok, Thailand. Thereafter,
he was posted in FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy
as Attache d' Cabinet.
Juan L. Mercado graduated from the University
of San Carlos, Cebu City. He also took special
courses at the American Press Institute in Columbia
University in 1964 and at Henry Kissinger's
foreign policy seminar at Harvard University.
He was named Journalist of the Year by Manila
Rotary Club and received an Outstanding Alumnus
Award at the University of San Carlos in 1970.
Source:
Press Club Golden Jubilarians (thesis prepared
by students of Miriam College) with revisions
by. J.L. Mercado
