Sun 26 Feb 2006
A Message From an Ordinary, Disgruntled Filipino
Posted by mitams under Philippine Politics
I’m posting something written by someone calling himself mascarinasfm, an ordinary, disgruntled Filipino like myself. It was posted as a comment in the popular, Philippine Center of Investigatvie Journalism blog. The comment can be found in this thread.
I immediately recognized his words and disenchantment as if they were my own. These words made me instantly connect with this unknown individual. In these twisted times when so many of our people deny our own responsibility in our shared future, there are still people like him who sees through the smoke and will dare to stand apart from the crowd.
I’ve always known there are more like us, who want nothing but peace for our country. I’ll be on the lookout for more people like mascarinasfm and will post their writings here in the coming days.
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After 20 years of hoping after EDSA I, I came to realize that hope is a distant possibility for this country. Honestly, I am one of those planing to leave the country for good. Why? Hope is evident every new year as the economy started to show good signs, but there are just mindless Filipinos who just want to make our lives miserable. It’s a cycle year in year out… so i said, its really hopeless. Personally, I firmly believe, our MEDIA is instrumental in this. Listen to what our media portrays as compared to others in the Region or even the world. Our MEDIA reports as NEWS speculations, unverified facts, confusing. Isn’t media report news as it happens , not those that are suppoed or planned to happen. Many media outlets are out there to sow confusion. Our MEDIA in fact are alive reporting and blowing up the BAD things happening in this country. WHAT about the GOOD things. There are a LOT of them to report and talk about. What I am trying to say here is RESPONSIBILITY. Unless our PRESS understand what it means in connection to Nation building, this country is hoooopelesss. Our people are fond of chismis, we want to consume and talk about things that are speculative. IN FACT, we have lots of ENERGIES for Speculation and sowing confusion and ANGER. WE HAVE NOT CHANNELED our energies to positive things that contribute to nation building.
ALL FEARS of matial law are one of those speculations. JUST GO straight to the FACT that there are plots of destabilization. Any NORMAL filipino can see that clearly. What about the TRG? I’m sure Ninez Cacho Olivares knew about that. What she wants the govt to do? Act later when its too late to save the nation from chaos? THE TRG is a dangerous thing, power hungry people from left to right wanting to form a TRANSITIONARY REVOLUTION GOVERNMENT(TRG) and thier common goal is to get rid of ARROYO? Do these people have plans on what to do with our foreign debt?, the VAT, the oil price problems? Have they agreed already on various issues facing the country. I’m pretty sure after they take over, they will quarrel among one another. That would be a very problematic situation that will surely bring down our peso to the 100 per dollar level…. Again, MEDIA responsibility. THE REAL essence of PRESS FREEDOM is repsonsibility to the country, not just to ones ideology or cause but to nation building as a whole. Thus I believe, the government is just right in declaring the state of emergency to remind every one especially MEDIA that we have to be RESPONSIBLE enough. WE are clamoring for democracy, yet we do not understand the RESPONSIBILITY that is important in building our democracy. WE should be responsible citizens to matter what we do as a profession. WHAT many Filipinos are doing now are just fighting and protesting in the name of freedom…blaming those in authority. We have a Culture of blaming others.. what the heck. HAVE we not come to the point of exhaustion? WHY not REALLY look at ourselves first, examine what we can contribute as citizen to the betterment of this country. THE ONLY PERSON TO BLAME is actually, OURSELVES, not GMA, not anybody. LET US FISRT BE RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. IF WE CANNOT BE THAT, I BELIEVE the GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO IMPOSE THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE OBSTRUCTING THE PROGRESS OF THE NATION… MEDIA is number one in that list.
FORM an ordinary disgruntled FILIFINO who wanted to immigrate OUT of this country.
February 26th, 2006 at 11:32 pm
I was one who left the country with a heavy heart back in ‘75 during the heyday of Marcos Martial Law. Not because of the political situation, which I could take advantage of, but because of the family urging and also to follow family members already abroad. It is mix blessings. Not able to work in line of my trained profession, but just the same, I was able to extend assistance to all my siblings and their children who choose to stay. All the while I keep abreast of all the developments back in the old country by regular phone calls and lately by internet and also by printed news.
The subject above is about the State of the Media in the Philippines. I can, from experience and from the point of view of how our media conduct themselves here, I categorically say that the Philippine Media had misinterpreted the Freedom of Speech as a tool for its own purpose. The Big News organizations are run by the same people who have interest to promote in other segment of society which is a Clear Conflict of Interest. It is being used as Propaganda Medium by Vested Interest for a Price. Just About every opinion writers and columnists represent one side of the coin. No Ombudsman within the organization to police its own people and remind them of their primary responsibility as the bearer of Truth, instead of Speculations and Innuendos.
In Another world this how our Media conduct itself:
>>We have all kinds of publications. LEFT, RIGHT, CENTRE, AND EVEN NEUTRAL. But within those printed media or t.v. their columnists and opinion writers are reperesented by all sides.
>>Respect of Privacy; Any event that could violate the privacy of person, unless of utmost newsworthiness, is studied carefully before publishing.
>>Respect for Court Orders; any Publication Ban order by court should be contested by Media and order lifted before any pubication. Any Leak is Illegal.
>>Respect for Minors; Identity of Minors involve in crimes or illegal activities should never be publish except by court order.
>>Libel and Slander Laws under the Civil Law to make it easier for injured party to seek legal remedies.
>>Ombudsman .. In every new organizations an indepedent Ombudsman Is employed by the organization to make sure that all guidelines and policies of responsible reporting are adhered to.
>>And Lastly a very Effective Police and Judicial System if Necessary. Very seldom we have to call on them.
Now can you blame me, if I have to convince my Sister, who among thousands, risk (together with her future husband) her own safety 20 years ago- to immigrate? Although in Different country, just accoss the border with their three children and to start anew. It’s a hard start for them considering they had a comfortable life over there. But uncertainties and the never ending political circus finally made them go.
And finally to the Media as a Whole. Freedom of Speech and Expression could only be Enjoyed to the fullest if you know your Limitations and Responsibilities. We have the Free-est and the Most Lively Press in the Western World, because we are Responsible and We Know What is Right or Wrong and also We could get Sued and go Bankrupt. That’s one good deterent..
February 27th, 2006 at 7:54 am
Hello Naykika,
Thanks for dropping in.
You’re so right. We’ve abused our freedoms and will not respect laws because they are not enforced anyway.
I think this is partly because we Filipinos are so emotional. We keep falling into the same pit of despair with so many excuses for ourselves.
I don’t blame you for convincing your sister to leave the country. I’ve been doing the same convincing with my young nieces and nephew, even as I prepare to return home. Their view of the world is so limited right now, confined to all the drama of the Philippines. They, like all Filipinos, deserve more - some happiness, some hope, and simply a life and a future to look forward to.
Until we have more favorable conditions back home, I’ll keep telling the young to consider this option. Perhaps when they have more stability in their lives and have experienced what a real, working democracy should be, they can come back and help rebuild our country - without the drama and hystrionics.
If you have anything you want to post here, please send it by email. I’d be happy to provide this blog as a venue for all of us disgruntled Filipinos to say our piece.