In every newsroom, there are editors known for their sharp headlines, strong opinions, or decades of experience. At the Manila Bulletin, these figures exist in more ways than one.

But for me, this story begins with one.

Editor Heraclio Celestino Nazareno, known to many simply as Sir Rocky, has spent years shaping stories as one of the paper’s editors. But to those whose lives he has touched, he has become far more than a boss.

He is also a father, one who continued raising his child after the loss of his wife, carrying both responsibility and love with quiet grace, while still finding room in his life to care for others.

I experienced this firsthand.

At a time when I had nowhere to stay in Manila, Sir Rocky offered me a unit in one of his apartment buildings. Even though I was not under his section and barely knew him personally, he extended help without hesitation.

But he did not stop there.

At one point, he painted my door pink, making it the only one in the building.

It sounds like such a small thing. But somehow, that pink door captured the kind of person he is, thoughtful in ways people do not always see.

Sometimes, there would simply be a knock.

I would open the door to find him quietly handing me food he had cooked himself, or groceries he thought I might need.

No long conversations. No need for acknowledgment.

Just kindness offered as naturally as breathing.

Across the newsroom, many carry their own quiet stories about the editors who shaped them, not just as journalists, but as people.

For some, that guidance comes at defining moments.

For Executive Editor Vicente Edgardo “Ed” Bartilad, giving second chances is central to how he leads, a quiet principle that has become deeply personal for many in the newsroom.

For Patrick Garcia, Head of Tempo, that principle surfaced at one of the lowest points of his life.

He recalled a time when Sir Ed asked him to step away from work and share a simple dinner. There were no deadlines, no talk of headlines, only a conversation about life.

It was a small gesture. But for Garcia, it meant everything.

Miles away from Manila, the same presence is felt even without meeting in person.

Ivy Tejano, a correspondent based in Davao City, said her connection with Provincial Editor Tristan Lozano has been built entirely through screens over the years.

And yet, the distance never felt real.

“Even without meeting in person, it already feels like we have,” she said.

In what she describes as an online newsroom, that steady presence matters. The guidance feels constant, familiar, and deeply human.

For others, that presence comes through discipline.

“I had only been with Manila Bulletin for a few months, and Sir Rey Virgilio Lachica (Tempo Sports Editor) barely spoke to me,” sportswriter Mark Rey Montejo shared.

“I honestly thought he didn’t like me, that he was strict, maybe even a bit of a terror, especially when it came to our copies.”

But over time, that perception changed.

“I started to notice that he would call, not just about work, but to ask how I was, how my family was. That’s when I realized he wasn’t distant. He just listens first.”

More than being a disciplined editor, Montejo said Sir Rey is someone who quietly looks out for his people.

“Parang tatay, pinapaalala sa’yo kung kailan ka dapat magpakatatag (Like a father, he reminds you when you need to be strong).”

In the Business section, that same presence comes through a kind of leadership rooted in quiet example.

Business News Reporter James Loyola shared that Business Editor Chino Leyco is someone people naturally look up to, not just on the beat, but even within his own family.

As an editor, Loyola sees him as both protective and guiding, especially for younger reporters finding their footing in business journalism.

In recent years, that sense of priority has only deepened, with Sir Chino choosing to be more present for his family, often passing on additional work travel to stay closer to home.

For others, guidance begins at the very start.

Junior Graphic Artist Naizer Dahuya described the newsroom as unfamiliar ground when he was just starting.

What began as technical instruction grew into something more. There were jokes, shared stories, and moments that blurred the line between work and family.

On days he rode his motorcycle, especially during heavy rain, Sir Oteph would check in to make sure he got home safely.

Stories like these echo across desks and sections.

Some editors shape stories. Others shape people.

This Father’s Day, we recognize not only the fathers who go home to their families after a long day’s work, but also those who take on that role within the newsroom in quieter ways.