Mainly Mita

Equality under the law in the Philippines will not be achieved because the Pinoy brain is so used to judging an individual based on his social and financial standing.

If this was not true, no Pinoy would make reference to his own standing in life in online forums -  using anonymous nicknames.

If this was not true, any individual’s opinion would count but no, we have to qualify the person as so-and-so or a graduate of such-and-such school or holding such-and-such position.

It’s good rhetoric to invoke equality in law but it’s all lip service at this point and cannot be achieved unless we make the change within ourselves.

Lately, Philippine media has been full of news about the threat to the freedom of speech due to the Philippine president’s declaration of PP 1017 last Feb. 24 and subsequent events related to that declaration. 

In a report last week, ABS-CBN news says broadcast executives asked lawmakers  to repeal a clause in the Congressional broadcast franchises.  This particular clause allows the President of the Republic  to take over or shut down stations in times of emergency.  Here’s the report for more details:  http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=32264

You have to give it to these broadcast executives who asked for the repeal.  They are certainly bold and brave to initiate this move because no one has ever raised a howl about this in the past

In all the years the Philippine Congress has been churning out these franchises to various individuals, groups and corporations, each one of them, franchise owners, grantees and owners  just accepted it as the cost of temporary ownership of the franchise.  In the news report though, it says Senator Joker Arroyo (yes, his given name is Joker - I kid you not) was the one who brought up this provision and the dangers it poses for the franchise owner.  That controversional section of every broadcast franchise is entitled, “Right of Government” and states: (more…)