A journalist from a Filipino-American newspaper said he has been selected as one of the lucky mediamen around the world to witness and cover the historical inauguration of the 44th President of the United States of America.

Ted Reyes, editor of the Filipino Express, said he felt lucky to secure one ticket for the newspaper to attend the inauguration of the first African-American president-elect Barack Obama on the 20th of January at the US Capitol.

“I, in behalf of the Filipino Express, will be at inauguration to cover history. A press pass is waiting for me in Capitol Hill. Though was positive about us getting it from the beginning, it was still a shock when the news came. 240,000 tickets. Millions of people fighting for it. I got one. Shocking,” said Reyes in an article in The Filipino Express, a copy of which was sent to Philippine media.

Reyes said in the article that he received the approval to represent the paper and cover the event for the Filipino American community on January 8, 2009 from the Executive Committee of Periodical Correspondents.

“This achievement by the Filipino Express is not easy to obtain even for the mainstream media,” wrote Reyes said in the article he wrote for this week’s issue of the newspaper. The Filipino Express is a Filipino American newspaper in New York and New Jersey.

Reyes explained how difficult it is to obtain a ticket for the Obama inauguration. Citing a report of The Jersey Journal, Reyes said the report mentioned that only 240,000 tickets are available and these are in the hands of senators and congressmen who are responsible for distributing the tickets to fortunate ones.

Requests for press credentials to cover the landmark event were immediately done after Obama was elected.

“It was an extensive application process, which included the sending of copies of the paper, perhaps to check the paper’s credibility as well as other identity and security measures. Honestly, I gave ourselves a positive chance to get a ticket despite the fact that we are competing with almost all the media companies in the world. It is one thing to be The New York Times, and another to be The Filipino Express. Nevertheless, I thought the Filipino Express being a legendary Filipino-American newspaper for 23 years now has a solid chance at being selected,” Reyes said.

In all his years as a journalist, Reyes said he has only witnessed one presidential inauguration and that was during the 2001 inauguration of President Arroyo at the Edsa Shrine.

“This is the first time I will be at an American president’s inauguration and I am thrilled to the bone,” he said adding “When Barack Obama places his right hand on the good book, raises his left towards the heavens and utters the oath of office that will bestow upon him the title of the leader of the free world and the most powerful man on earth, very few will have dry eyes. For people of color like us, and for those white Americans who helped the first person of color to become president of the United States, it will be a well of tears. Mind you, these tears deserve to be shed. For how long have we put ceilings to our dreams due to the color of our skins? How many times have we turned back every time we are almost there just because we are not comfortable with our shade? Truth is, it had been to long, hence the tears shed for finally seeing it all end.”

“So it is with great pride and joy for the paper to bring this moment to you first hand, when it happens and where it happens,” he said.