Off the Beaten Path

Happy holidays! This was on my mind after taking the last Prelim examination on 2011. I have a lot of laidback plans for the holiday vacation just to be different from my usual hectic days. But when I and my group mates received an approval message from a DSWD officer, the one we have been courting for almost a month or so, my plans fluctuated. We were reminded of the things we need to do for our thesis. Since our thesis is all about the attribution of Juvenile Delinquency to Sex and Violence in Media, it would be best to coordinate with the authority. So we headed to the DSWD Region XI Field Office and were oriented of the steps we have to take in order for us to continue with our study. Suzanne and Arcy, my thesis group mates and I set or schedules and planned for the days we’ll be spending together.
While most of our classmates were on their hometowns and others were busy on the malls dashing to prepare stuffs for Christmas, we were on our busy road heading to the most integral spot of the fulfillment of our thesis. On a cold morning of December 22, 2011, I together with my group mates were leaving for a place we have always heard of but we have never been – Mintal. The location is situated 761 kilometers south east (149°) of the approximate center of Philippines. Whiz kid of me? Nope! I just got the aforementioned information from the web. We took a swift jeepney ride, way off from what we have expected to be an hour or so travel. While on the ride, I was looking on the road and making sure that we’ll be able to stop at a market, which was the instruction of the DSWD officer. My eyes




were fed with different unusual sights, my hair was fluttering with the wind that the jeepney express was causing and my ears were eavesdropping to the local rap tunes playing on the stereo. The whiff of the trees was also starting to mingle with me.
We reached an area which seems like a little city, there were a lot of people, motor side cars, food stalls and commercial stores. We asked the jeepney barker if we were already at the market, he corroborated our inkling. We then stepped out of the jeepney and motor side car drivers approached us. We asked them if they can bring us to the DSWD center (that was the only information we knew). The other drivers refused because they were not familiar with it. The only driver who took us brought us to the locale’s health center. We asked the health workers and they directed us to go to the barangay hall next to them where the CSSDO staff were. We were entertained by a CSSDO member for us to learn that we still haven’t reached the peak of the trek, the DSWD center we’re looking for which is called as RRCY or Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth is located a few kilometers away from where our feet were currently planted. “Sa Bagoshero to! Kani sakay mo ug motor. Manong, sa Bagoshero sila,” the officer helped us talk to the motor side car driver. He replied, “Sige. Sa Bagoshero? Tag diyes ang ulo didto, ma’am.” Okay! We agreed. Just take us there, it’s fine.
I was riding at the back of the driver and I still had a chance to grab my phone and take some photos on our way to the mystical place (as we would laugh about it). On our way my eyes were wandering around, I saw a lot of green and brown creations. The trees, the leaves, grasses, farm animals and huts are opposite to the busy streets and colorful lights of the metro. We agreed to the feeling that tickled our senses, it feels like the province. The reek of nature was evident. It was like everything surrounding us was green and brown, leaves, trees and the soil.
After almost 5 minutes, we finally reached what we were looking for. Alas! The security guard welcomed us in and all the other officers were accommodating. I paused in holding my phone just to take photos, it’s prohibited inside. We were brought to their office and there we were able to sit down and talk to their Center Head. We arranged our schedule of activities. We feared of not spending our Christmas at home so we concurred of having our next visits after the 25th. The timetable is now fastened. To my mind, the plan was kind of wrecking my slipshodness but it was outweighed by the apprehension of not being able to finish our thesis on time. Then, we left the place and said “See You next week!” The other workers at the center thought that we were On-The-Job trainees and we’d really be regular at the center.
While outside the gateway, I took the moment to take pictures. Good that one worker accompanied us outside while waiting for a motor side car to bring us to the highway. I asked for a favor and he took my phone and captured this photo.
Since it was already taking us long to wait, we opted to take a few steps away and thought that perhaps along the walk we’ll have a ride. We haven’t noticed how far we’ve already been as surrounding us was a panorama of nature and a vista of simple living. There were also hilarious bits and pieces that we have noticed. This park which was named after a vernacular term for “poor” with a signboard posted at the gate which reads “No Caroling, Crisis!”
I took the pleasure in pacing our way to the corner of the long street where we can have a ride to the main road.
3 days after, subsequent to my father’s birthday, our Christmas Eve preparations and the anticipated Christmas celebration on the day itself, we headed back to the center. We arrived earlier as we did last time. We underwent another briefing but this time with our thesis interview respondents. They are male minors who are in conflict with the law, instead of having them imprisoned in public jails, they stay in the
center for rehabilitation. There were five of them. There is uneasiness deep within me but I waited for their voices to be heard before I considered my off-putting thoughts.
That was on the 26th of December when our whole day was all about talking to the five of them which later in the afternoon, another respondent was added to our interview. I easily got along with them as I was listening to their stories on how their lives evolved before the gates of the RRCY and why they were brought to the center. It was a day filled with realizations for me, for someone who is out in the city with my family and friends, going to school and claiming that I have never been into my own little crimes.
As the day starts to close, the raindrops haven’t ceased to pour. I was thinking that we’re still far from the city proper, it will be a lengthy road ahead. While waiting for a motor side car to fetch us, we were chatting with the center’s security guard. My eyes were meandering once more. Then it went on reading the address inscribed at the topmost of the RRCY’s structure – Bago Oshiro, Tugbok District, Davao City. I was a bit baffled with “Bago Oshiro”, it sounds like “Bagoshero”, the place we’ve been hearing from people around the vicinity. I was laughing so hard and told Arcy and Suzanne about it. They joined me in laughter. All along, we thought that the place we’re at is spelled as “Bagoshero” as how we would always hear the inhabitants speak of the place. But we were wrong, it’s “Bago Oshiro”. We went our
way home hurting our stomachs out of much hilarity. Though the streets were slippery because of the whole day drizzle, we were just on smiles.
That was one heck of a droll experience to me and to the three of us. The next day, we went back to conduct final group
discussion with the six of them in the center, we were kind of hesitant if we have to say “Bago Oshro” or just the accustomed way of saying the name of the place, “Bagoshero!” A simple misunderstanding on the pronunciation, but that made the whole travel splendid. Still, I was able to say “Happy Holidays!” 

`Tis The Season

My eyes were closed and I am in tight slumber around a bunch of cottony cushions. I was hearing soft tunes of twinkles and lullabies above my head when I smelled an aroma of appetite. I was then half-awakened. I tried to open my eyes as much as I could and saw stars and little cute and colorful animals hanging above me. My playmates! All of a sudden, I heard a familiar voice in enthusiasm saying, “Countdown na! 5, 4..” I closed my eyes again. While counting, the voice seems to come closer to where I am. “3, 2, 1!” The voice has already reached a few inches from where I am lying. Then I heard, “Tammmm! Gising na!” A hand touched my face. I recognized it immediately. It was Mother’s. I tried to open my eyes really wide. I saw my Mother with the smile on her face. It confirmed the warm feeling I got when her skin touched mine.

She let me stand. My head is on her right shoulder as we leave out of the cold room. The door opened for us and there was a figure of a man. I can only see a shadow and I can only hear a voice, again a familiar one. As it went fronting my face, I identified it at instant. My Father was making faces in front of me. He was so funny doing his best to make me laugh when all I see is a trying hard humor on his face. Then he was following us as we finally left the room.

Various voices were all I heard, welcoming us as we approach the living room. Then they were all at the back of my Mom. Trying to be in front of me but they just can’t fit all at once. They were saying


“Merry Christmas, Tamm!” in chorus. Their voices were overlapping one another. Then eventually I was able to recognize them. They wore familiar faces but I can’t remember their names or even my relation with them. But all I felt was delight because they were in uniform wearing a big grin on their faces.

Then we headed to the dining room. There I saw lots of colors painted on what’s above the plates. I can’t recognize those but I think those are what they call as ‘foods’. Before they start to lunge into the filled plates, they settled themselves among the chairs around the table. And my Papa got me a special seat. There I was comfortably seated. He led the prayer for the food and began to pass over the food to everyone except me. I wonder why I was of exemption. But at that time I was not that hungry so it was alright for me. I was just seated in between my Mama and Papa and enjoyed looking at each one going on a binge. They were talking and laughing while eating. Every once in a while, they take a glance on me to check me out and then they start to talk about me. They were noticing every little change in me, usually physically. Well, I also didn’t care. I was just listening to them as they were in high spirits in appreciating everything of me. Deep inside, I felt so good upon hearing all those. But I just can’t stop showing an indifferent façade.

After clearing the table, we moved to the couch and assembled ourselves on the living room where a lot of creatures are also living. There I perceived breathing colors everywhere. I saw red, green, yellow and blue display of series connected tube of lights. There is an old man with white mustache all the time standing above the table of fluffy bears, rabbits and dogs which I always try to reach and play with. As I panned my vision to the right side of the room, I spotted a small house made of scraps of wood. Inside were non-moving men, there were three of them with something striking above their heads. They were surrounding a man and a woman kneeling and looking at a cute baby laid on a lawn. And at the corner was a tall green tree with silvery balls hanged on it and a glimmering star at its peak. Below it are boxes wrapped in colorful papers and ribbons. WOW! I was in glee with everything that was fed to my eyes.

Then my Mama starts singing, “I love my Manita. Yes I do!” She was singing it over and over again until she handed her gift to an old lady. I just heard her calling her, Lola. After a number of rounds of singing and exchanging of presents, they all went near the green tree and got a box. They went closer to me and gave all those boxes to me. I was surprised because I can’t understand why they did that. I didn’t give anything but then I received too many. I was just fixing my eyes on the boxes and place my hands on them. My Mama and Papa were around me and opened the boxes for me. Then revealed from the inside were very nice things. I don’t know what those were but I just find them pleasurable since my parents were very glad upon opening. At that moment, everyone still had that smile on their faces which just drew one on mine. They cackled seeing me smile and laughed more when I chuckled. Everyone was merry.


After a while, I find myself back to the cold room where I was sleeping a while ago. I am gazing around the room and notice that almost everything had changed, even its size. It doesn’t feel cold inside anymore. It feels warm. There are many things around me and all are red, gold, silver and green decorations. I’m sitting on a chair while noticing my Mama elevated by a chair, trying to reach the tall green tree. She’s placing flowers around it while recounting to me our 12 midnight of December 25, 1991. I was just 4 months old back then but I haven’t felt that while Mama was telling me the story.

I am 20 years old now and I realized how Christmas had always been for our family since the day I was born. It was the same as before. Gift-giving, food sharing, decorating, everything was just as how it was for almost two decades ago. Probably excluding those 9 years when I was the only endearing small kid at home that I got to receive all gifts from each of them. Nevertheless, the feeling was just the same.

I may have not fully understood what the occasion was all about at that point in time, but the sensation was exactly similar. I have gone through differences with the members of my family through the years as I was growing older yet the same affection since my 1st Christmas Eve lingered not just for a certain time of the year but for the whole time I was with them. “Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling.” That is how a renowned American novelist, Edna Ferber, depicted Christmas on her book Roast Beef, Medium. Indeed she was truthful with how she put into words ‘Christmas’ -- a very joyous feeling in everyone’s life since a Savior was brought to life.

OMG!

“Oh my gosh...” Usher sings to me so loud. I’m looking where the sound comes from. I was exploring my hand under my pillows until it feels a vibration. The sound becomes louder that I can’t bear hearing it anymore. My eyes are still half-opened when I reached my phone and just by then I thought, it was not Usher singing to me, it was him waking me up.


It’s my phone’s alarm! I tried to open my eyes a little wider until to my surprise it read a note “Gising Kuya!” I immediately remembered that before I went to bed, I was exchanging messages with Kuya. Nope! He’s not my brother, let me say he’s someone special but I can’t yet completely draw the line between lovers and friends at that point in time. It’s something to share in another story.


So my memory was then refreshed that he asked me a favor last night. He wants me to wake him up by 5am because he needs to take a walk and have some fitness exercises before going to school. So, I hurriedly sent him a message saying, “Good Morning Kuya! Gising na po. Have a great day. God bless!” Wow! How sweet of me.
Good thing that he replied in just a jiffy telling me he was awakened by my SMS. Before ants could finally fill the short messaging lines connecting us, I let him do his activity first as I plan to go back to dreamland. But it seems like I already had my eyes opened and I felt the push for leaving my bed. So sooner than doing anything else, I put my hands together, closed my eyes once more and thanked God for giving me another day of enjoying the gift He has given me and said AMEN. I folded my blanket and placed it above my pillow, and smoothed down my bed linen.


I subsequently stood up and saw my brother on the upper bed of our double deck. He was still sleeping so I was budging his butt while calling his name trying to wake him up. But he’s like frozen grease that can’t be moved from the bottle, so I just went nearer to our ajar door and smelled aroma of fried eggs and hot coffee. I opened the door widely and saw my mother preparing my brother’s lunch box. I came close to the sink, washed my face and gargled.


I entered our room again, got my two phones, one for Sun Cellular and the other for my Smart line. I brought it with me to the dining table, pulled a stool and sat down. I know I am now ready for breakfast, my taste buds told me so. I opened a sachet of choco drink, scooped powdered milk and poured hot water to my mug. I went back to my seat and held my chow friends, Mr. Fork and Ms. Spoon. Mom was talking to me and I was babbling with the food on my mouth.


After finishing my revitalizing meal, I went to the sink and brushed my teeth. I checked my phones, replied to some messages and just read those usual ‘Good Morning’ SMS. Just before becoming overwhelmed with texting, I was startled when I recalled that my first class on a Tuesday-Thursday schedule is my 3 units on Education at 7:30 am. Time check! It’s already 6:15am. OMG! So I immediately reached my towel hanged on my brother’s bed and collected the shampoo, hair conditioner, face cleanser and bath soap in our water dipper. Off to the waters!


Water temperature check first! Brrr! The water is colder than my body warmth. But I have to do it. I need to take a bath now and as fast as I could. After 15 minutes of eventually enjoying the water, I headed to our room. My brother is already awake so I now have the freedom in our shared room. I put on my contact lenses, rolled on my deo, applied my facial cream and wore my Comm-Arts senior’s uniform for a Thursday, all in a fast pace. I fixed my bag, took out my make-up stuff and faced the mirror on the wall. Putting on my make-up though the ticking of the clock is in express is part of my daily routine already. But instead of talking to my imaginary friend in the mirror as I always do, I just put on my school-girl make-up. I got my things, bag, books, notes, and folder then left the room.


I approached the fridge and got my daily allowance which is always placed by my father above the cooling appliance the night before. I wore my black leather shoes and checked my phone once more, it displayed 3 messages received. OMG! I want to open the messages but since it’s already 7am on the clock, and it is a must to leave the house 30 minutes before the class begins, so I just went on my way. I greeted my family goodbyes and faced the bright sunny morning the world offered. While walking myself to the main road, I put on my ear phones and opened my phone’s music player. I chose to play lively songs to energize me for the day ahead.


Leading to the stop, I checked my phone’s unread messages while waiting for a jeepney. Upon finding a Bangkal-Magsaysay jeepney, I took a ride and underwent the accustomed traffic jam in an early morning rush on the streets. It was nothing new, so I just said my prayer, “Lord! ‘Di lang unta ko ma-late. Fufu!” Roughly 20 minutes after, I reached Mercury on Planet Earth – Mercury Drugstore, the corner of the street in walking distance to the university. I quickly reached the school gate, greeted my favorite security guard while looking at the school clock – 7:27am. OMG!
I hastily went upstairs and just in time upon arriving at the door of room 302, the bell rang. I took my seat on the 1st of the 2nd row at the right side of the room. OMG! Inhale! Exhale! I composed myself and arranged my things. Then held my phone and sent Kuya a message saying, “Here at school. See you later! :)”

A Merry Christmas in SM City Davao

The pioneer SM mall in the Mindanao region opened to the public their grand Christmas centerpiece.

The official opening of the Holiday season in the supermall was engrossed in a Light-Up ceremony, 5:00 PM on November 12, 2011 at the SM Event Centre. The program was flickered with a number of golden voices who serenaded the audience during the pre-event, the University of the Immaculate Conception Girls’ Choir, University of South Eastern Philippines Harmonica Chorale, Matina Aplaya Children’s Choir, University of Mindanao Chorale and the Sta. Cecilla Chorale. Following, the SM Davao Branch Manager welcomed the people and said, “Mindanao’s premiere shopping destination ushers you in the merriest celebration of the Christmas Season.” They proudly showed the Behind-the-Scenes of their Christmas Jingle which is sang by the Filipina YouTube sensation, Maria Lourdes Aragon. Her music video with the song “Christmas ChriSMs Bop 2011” was played in preparation of the unveiling of the Christmas Centerpiece located at the 2nd floor Exhibit Area between SM appliance Center and SM Department Store.


The crowd yelled upon seeing PBB teen Season 3 Big Winner, James Reid, sitting at the centerpiece. The rest of the SM Davao officials were there as well, alongside Mutya ng Davao 2010, Ms. Janelle Tee and the Master of Ceremony, Mutya ng Davao 2009, Resa Angeli Rizada. They opened the big Christmas gift where Santa Claus was inside. While he was giving gifts, Nica Tupas, entertained the people with her lovely singing of Christmas songs. The second part of the program was a mini show for the fans of James Reid. The Aussie teen star amused everyone with his moves, grooves, guitar playing and singing.

The entire extravaganza was well attended not just by avid SM shoppers but of innumerable Davaoneos. Even Hon. Mayor Inday Sara Duterte came to visit and take a photo with her family at the mall’s grand Christmas Centerpiece. Indeed, the colorful piece in SM City Davao isn’t a mere display but a new glamorous spot everyone would love to visit. The rest of the SM Supermalls in the country has also launched the Christmas season and promises a lot of exciting activities to come. For more joyous events, you can check www.smsupermalls.com and see updates.

NORMAL LiFE -- With or without the NORMS?

“Life is what we make it.”


I would always hear and read people’s statements about life as aforementioned. As what we make life is how it is defined, is something I’ve always debated inside my mind. Upon enrolling myself in the course Oriental Philosophy, there have been a lot of thoughts that I have invited to linger into my mind. Visions of various philosophers which all pertain to how we ought to live our lives and their principles are all that amounts to my bewilderment.


The widely-known Confucius and Lao-Tzu, whom both I first learned of in my History books back in Secondary school, are the two who have presented their viewpoints on the wisdom of life.


A wise man once said... WAIT! Which man was it?


Taoism is of Lao-Tzu. It is known as a stream of thought which revolves around different but interconnected religious and philosophical traditions and concept. It mainly concentrates on nature, men-cosmos correspondence, health, longevity, wu wei (action through inaction), liberty, immortality and spontaneity. Taoist ethics underline compassion, moderation and humility, which are considered to be its three jewels.


Confucianism evolved and spread around the same time as Taoism. However, Confucianism has developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher, Confucius. The fundamental premise of Confucianism is the importance of education for the moral development of the individual. If an individual develops morals, the state would not have to use its coercive powers to regulate the life of the people. The people themselves will refrain from doing something wrong.


Like Taoism, Confucianism also had a huge impact on East Asian countries. Confucianism is a complicated system of social, moral, quasi-religious, political and philosophical thought. There are 7 themes of the Confucian thought which form the base of Confucianism. They are Ritual, Relationships, Filial Piety, Loyalty, Humanity, The Gentleman and Rectification of Names.


Taoism and Confucianism are told be two of China’s oldest and most pervasive philosophies. They are said to have arose during roughly the same period in Chinese history, called the Hundred Schools of Thought, a time often marred by unrest and feudal strife. Both philosophies reflect this, as their overarching goals are to seek order and harmony in one’s life, relationship with society, and the universe.


Upon aiming to understand the two, I can say that it is Confucianism that abides with norms while it is Taoism that merely goes with the flow of things. To my mind, life is intricate. Spending it based on standards would help it become more intricate. Customs based on our morality is a form of discipline yet it is also important for us to realize that not everything is meant to be controlled. In having control, there is direction but it does not equate to fullness. In fullness, we mean bliss and pleasure.


In the angle I’m in, life should be translated into freedom. It is supposed to be in accord to nature. It is Taoism which is based on coming into harmonious alignment with elemental patterns of change. It is central to this alignment with the patterns of the natural world, cultivating sensitivity to qi, life-force energy which animates all living things.


As one achieves such an alignment with the patterns of the natural world - their wisdom and power - one gains experiential access, also, to the source of these patterns: the primordial unity out of which they arose, named as the Tao. At this point, ones thoughts, words and actions will tend, quite spontaneously, to produce health and happiness, for oneself as well as ones family, society, world and beyond. One will have attained the highest virtue ("De") and be on the path leading to the realm of Immortality - the summit of Taoist practice.


Yes, immorality it is. In complete contrast to Confucianism’s peak which is morality. But I can perceive immortality as something not in a negative state. It is liberty from mores of humanity yet to fullness of life. I can stand and prefer Taoism over Confucianism.




I have read something about Taoism which I perfectly agree with. It goes like this, “A Clear mind comes from the wonderful fundamental essence given us by nature and is not a personal possession. Impartiality beyond any specific culture fosters clarity and deeper seeing. It is not hard to produce wisdom... what is hard is to have wisdom not interrupted.”

Although in the question, which is better, I am reminded of Lilian Dickson, an acknowledged missionary. She thought that “Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once.” I agree to how she has thought of life. Indeed, life is what we make it. If we make it right, as to what we prefer as the meaning of right, then we made wise use of its once coming.


It still boils down to how an individual uses the gift God has blessed him with, the gift which we call life. Whether it may be through Confucius’ philosophy or through Lao Tzu’s, the most important thing is that while we have it we should grab hold of it for every second of a moment only happens once. There is neither a rewind nor pause on hand, only a matter of forward or worst, stop. Keep the PLAY button.

“Oops! I did it again.” The Fourth Estate replied.

Once, while I was browsing the internet, I came across an online dictionary site. I read something that somehow thumped me. The Oxford American Dictionary's definition of Journalism is: "the activity or profession of writing for newspapers or magazines or of broadcasting news on radio or television." Although true, the definition is so broad and doesn't even begin to address the social, cultural and political aspects of Journalism. And that is, our Fourth Estate. Aside from the three branches of government which are executive, legislative and judiciary, Journalism or Media has become its fourth member.

Basically I believe that Journalism doesn't have a concrete definition, away from what the dictionary says. Sometimes it requires people to put aside their own personal beliefs for the sake of fair reporting for the public. Sometimes it requires cutting certain parts of a story out and pleasing your editor much just to get your byline in the paper. It’s a balance that every individual has to find. Finding said balance is a sensitive art which is why journalists are so taboo these days.

In my perspective, Journalism requires the ability to go out in public and spend extended periods of time talking to complete strangers as well as the ability to sit alone for hours and write and rewrite something until your eyes start bleeding and the words don't make sense anymore. As given the title of “Fourth Estate”, requisites journalists to not just breathe as how I view journalism but even go beyond the boundaries. These boundaries are the fences a media man needs to hurdle in order to get into the bacon and serve it even if it’s not hot but at least with the cook’s consent and with utmost palatability to the opened mouths of hungry countrymen.
As a prominent and broadcasting company’s slogan goes, “In the service of the Filipino people”, it completely defines media or journalism as the fourth branch of the land. It is as saying that they exist for their fellow countrymen. Thus, the essence of their job is to provide the people with whatever they need but with qualifications, just like what the other three branches are supposed to do. Yes. There is no question to how it should be defined; rather it is on how they are realizing it and the aftermath of the steps they take. Let us take a closer look in to that.

We can cite an instance in the Philippine setting. In the middle of the most crucial political campaign in 2010 after almost a decade of the predecessor, different levels of noise have sprung from here and there and in every corner of the land. One of the major issues was the contentious reports of the leading candidate for the presidency at that time, who is now as well all know, the republic’s president, Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III. It’s a potentially explosive document given to ABS-CBN by a source from the Nacionalista Party. It was a report allegedly done by Ateneo’s Psychology Department on Sen. Benigno Aquino III signed by Fr. Carmelo Caluag.

On that instant, the former News and Public Affairs Head of the said TV station, Maria Ressa was in dilemma. On the morning of Thursday, April 8, she called a meeting of their top editorial minds to discuss the matter. According to what she, her self, has written as her report, they have been in a tough deliberation. They thought that if it be true, it could spell the end of Sen. Aquino’s campaign. But if they didn’t pursue the story, they could have given the source reason to say media people are biased. If it really did, they could potentially wade into a knot of ethical issues dealing with the mental health of the frontrunner for the presidency.

Whether it was factual or not, they still decided to do the story and air it in the coming days. They didn’t see any rush approaching because they said they thought of their source as giving them a vanguard. But it turns out proving that it was a false assumption. A short time later, their news team received the same document from another source connected to the Nacionalista Party, which Sen. Manny Villar is the standard bearer, who is at the same time has the closest fight in surveys with Sen. Aquino III.

In the first hour of the afternoon, they received the first of a series of email messages asking them if the document is authentic. That was particularly interesting because it came from a multilateral financial establishment. When their news team head, Ressa, scrolled down, it had been forwarded numerous times, already spreading virally on email. Around 2:30 pm, they received text messages giving potentially destructive information about Sen. Aquino’s mental health under this heading “A1 Info – Psychiatric Evaluation Form of Benigno Aquino III.”

Is it true? Given how fast it was spreading, they rushed to validate. They believed it best to go to the two people named in the document: the subject, Sen Aquino, and the signatory, Fr. Carmelo “Tito” Caluag. They believed that if they had gone to others first, they may alert those involved and trigger an organized reaction. So, she called Fr. Caluag, and the priest denied the report, saying he wasn’t a psychologist or psychiatrist and that his signature was lifted from other documents.
Ces Orena-Drilon, one of ABS-CBN news people, who was on the campaign trail with Sen. Aquino, showed him the document. She said, Sen. Aquino’s initial reaction was to laugh. He spoke openly - no PR spin, no consultations - and denied the document’s authenticity.

At that point, TV Patrol World was about to start. It was a stretch to make it to air, but they did - an anchor read followed by a live report from Drilon. They outlined the events of the day, key points of the three-page report circulating on email and text, and – most importantly - the denials of Fr. Caluag and Sen. Aquino.
It was the first public denial of a salacious document masquerading as fact. By disclosing their sources without naming names, they gave their viewers a glimpse of what was going on behind the scenes. That is why that story is important. Events are never isolated so context defines the story’s value.

Three days earlier, the Nacionalista Party used the word “topak” to describe Aquino. “Ano yung TOPAK ni Noynoy? Ito po yung Trapo, Oportunista at Kamaganak Inc na pumapaligid kay Noynoy Aquino,” said Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, secretary-general of the Nacionalista Party. This statement echoed earlier remarks by Villar spokesman Gilbert Remulla on ANC, the cable news channel of ABS-CBN.
The context of that fake document story seems to show an NP campaign to question Sen. Aquino’s mental health, something Sen. Manuel Villar publicly did on DZMM on Saturday, April 10. The Nacionalista Party denied they gave the documents to ABS-CBN and challenged their news team to name their sources. They publicly declared that the station is biased for Sen. Aquino.

Yet, it was noted that before that, party representatives thanked ABS-CBN news team for airing their exclusive video of Baby James Yap saying "Villar" at a campaign rally of about 15,000 people. That video has since been replayed by another network and spread online by Sen. Villar’s supporters. Airing that video ruffled feathers within the Liberal Party and the network. Nacionalista Party representatives also thanked them for disclosing that sources from the Liberal party gave ABS-CBN the documents questioning Sen. Villar’s ad campaign. Although the documents are authentic, the intent to demolish is the same. The Liberal Party also denied giving those documents to ABS-CBN.

According to Maria Ressa, “Frankly, it’s shocking to see such blatant distortions of the truth. Oh, how I wish we could disclose our sources, but those are the standards we live by.”

In other nations, news organizations routinely report on demolition teams and black ops as part of the election landscape. Negative advertising is part of the game. When candidates use this, they are transparent and they accept the risk that it could backfire against them. In our country, candidates prefer to hide behind – and manipulate - journalists.

I have read the re-tell of the entire situation from the write-up of Maria Ressa, herself, in the ABS-CBN website. And one that struck me was her last words, saying, “To the political parties, we do not write stories because we are for or against you. We aim to tell it like it is. After all, how you run your campaigns gives us an idea of how you will run our nation.”

I can infer that Ressa’s team was just enough in the decision they made. They favored Mill’s Utilitarianism. And I suppose they were also of Rawls’ principle on his Veil of Ignorance. But there were just some lapses that their choice put them into a grave spot. The situation where the media network was caught in the middle is one of the many indications that journalists are indeed on the middle of a road. They have a tough job. And that is because; they are the sprinters of the Fourth domain. They can make or break a person and can also do the same with the audience’s views on something or someone.

And so I must say that it would have been better if the first thing they tried so hard to do was to make it sure that the source would defend the document they have sent even at the sake of publicizing their names. As long as the source cannot assure them that they’d stand for it, they should have kept the issue and never even tried to release it. It is for everyone’s safety, the subject, the other persons involved, and even the network per se. With all of the important persons engaged in the situation, the numbers of the proven innocents who deserve peace, outweigh the number of name/s of the source who hid himself/herself/themselves. But since they published it even with inadequate details, it also drew them nearer to the cliff.

On another note, I have also noticed one more thing with media. All of the other recent events being reported on television, radio and presented in newspapers have shown how the media can easily rally the Filipino. From shamelessly riches and unexplainable wealth of government officials even of barangay officers to the YouTube sensations and videos with top hits and most views, the media can build up or bring down celebrities and politicians while forever attempting to expose the truth, no matter how ugly, for all to see. Unfortunately, media tends to focus on the moment and then moves on when other events, worthy of its attention, arise. Many important events have been pushed aside by the more sensational.

For generations we have accepted “Journalism” as a vital element of democracy. It has been known as The Fourth Estate because it came to represent a counterbalance to the executive, legislature and judiciary.
This fourth leg providing balance in our society was given birth through a network of independent single page papers distributed by hand that evolved over two centuries to include radio and television. Its current materialization, however, no longer plays the role of independent pillar supporting the social triumph that is democracy.


The Fourth Estate brought us news, presented opinions and often played the role of guardian, even becoming an attack dog, when it found abuse of power in one of the three branches of government. We did not suppose complete objectivity, which would have been too much to ask of fellow human beings, but we expected truth, and at the very least we demanded a drought of ideological paddling of particular political creeds.

As what I have mostly read of, the past twenty years saw vast consolidations occur at alarming rates throughout the corporate landscape, to an extent that the term, “too big to fail,” became a tolerable terminology. Through repetition, the phrase evolved into an affirmation, and the insanity of its meaning escaped intrusive common sense.

These consolidations inevitably affected all areas of media and resulted in the formation of gigantic entertainment and culture empires with some subsidiaries masquerading as news companies. In today’s media sovereignties, the term, “journalism,” no longer applies to any performance or occupation preoccupying their employees. Their commissions have dissolved into endeavors that would more appropriately be called, “celebrity reporting.” The writers and talking heads have themselves become celebrities, and the objects of their reports are celebrities created by the media conglomerates. The “star” making machines are profitable devices for their masters.

Whether the celebrities are the Hollywood version, the corporate executive edition or the latest political rendition, the pandering dialogue is neither inquisitive nor analytical. Whether addressing business or politics, our media has become boringly consistent and vacuous as if every news program or publication was its own adaptation of People magazine.

And so, we remain passively entertained, settled on the sidelines, as our lives become altered by special interests. We wish we had the time to become active participants, but we have our own tasks, at school, outside, at home and even for ourselves, sometimes 2 or 3 or even more than that and all of these stipulate attention. We wish members of the media would be more objective, and intermittently root out some of the schemes draining off the country’s men.

“Great power comes with great responsibilities”, as the fictional man in red skinny suit and has a powerful supply of web inside his hands have popularized. In the case of journalists, the power vested on them as the fourth estate with full provision of the law with freedom of expression, speech and the like also have duties which are needed to be done parallel. So far with what I have learned, I could surmise that they were considerate, in one way or another, of the basic ethical foundations of Kant, Aristotle, Potter, Rawl, Judeo-Christian and Mill. But with various circumstances alongside, their efforts have been overshadowed with how their intentions and image is justified and projected to the public.

Humans as we all are, we cannot meet perfection in any natural or juridical person there is. There is much anticipation of the receivers to journalists. Since they have been drawing their attention and trust to the fourth branch that they suppose to be far different form the other three.

The time has come for the phrase, “too big to succeed,” to take effect, and become deep-rooted in our vocabulary, particularly as it relates to members of The Fourth Estate. We need to clamor for a revamp in every little details of the fourth pillar so indispensable in the sustenance of a healthy democracy.





PASAGUI, TAMARAH YSABELLE M.
AB- COMMUNICATION ARTS 3

The Fourth Estate in the Ruins

The entire nation and the rest of the world have witnessed many negative things about our country during the 12-hour hostage crisis instigated by a dismissed Police officer, Rolando Mendoza, on August 23, 2010 at the heart of Manila. The aftermath: 8 tourists from Hong Kong dead, many injured with some still being reported as unaccounted for.

It has put the Philippine Government in a shameful situation all over the world. Hong Kong has already advised its people not to visit the Philippines; now perceived as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for tourists.

We all knew and what occurred in view of the fact that we have our television sets, radios and computers which are the mediums of current events broadcasting. We took part of the episode because of the information relayed to us by the media people.
The populace is having their eyes laid on the media. Much of the criticism surrounding the management of the Manila hostage crisis that ended in deaths is submitted to the intrusive coverage of the event by the Philippine Media. Had the hostage-taker, ex-police officer, who had access to a TV set installed in the besieged bus, not been kept abreast of police personnel movements and not witnessed the demonstration of his brother being manhandled by police officers — both transpiring in front of TV cameras — many observers think the incident could have ended differently.

But according to Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (“League of Philippine Broadcasters” — KBP, in short) National President Herman Basbaño, “The problem is not the media coverage, but the mismanagement of the crisis. From the start, there was already a problem in controlling the crowd, including the members of the media. The work of the media is to cover everything it sees and hears.”

It can be justified with what Gene Fowler once said, “News is history shot on the wing. The huntsmen from the Fourth Estate seek to bag only the peacock or the eagle of the swifting day.”

We can say that media’s coverage of the incident showed how their yearning for exclusivity and ratings could be as dangerous as the Philippine National Police’s shortcoming in terms of training, equipment and tactics. It was a big contributing factor that led to the incident ending in a bloodbath.

We can recall the way they went aggressive on the relatives of the hostage taker while being hustled by the police. They repetitively ignored the request of the police to turn off their lights pointed at the bus which aided the assault team in having difficulties in seeing the site. Undoubtedly, they were also helping the hostage taker in reading its movements. Sure the incident was a headline maker, but giving the public a blow-by-blow coverage was far less important at that time. The safety of the hostage’s lives was dependent on how well the police operations will be executed.


The Police force also received negative feedbacks. Dramatically incompetent, the cops have been noted for failing in some basic things. First, they didn’t establish a working cordon that would have secluded the crime scene and quite possibly have prevented injury to that bystander who got hit by a stray bullet.

Second, they didn’t take advantage of the hours and hours of waiting to set up the ideal operational character of their forces. They had snipers but the snipers were flatfooted on the ground when they should have been taking aim at all windows just in case; and
Third, they weren’t able to control the media which allowed the hostage taker to observe everything they were doing.

One could have listed more things that the cops did wrong, but I think the point has been fully made. The police were simply incompetent at that point in time.
On live TV, we saw how the PNP units who handled the hostage-taking incident were inefficient in finding ways to resolve the crisis effectively and with minimal casualties as possible. From the police officers who took command down to the assault teams, all three, who stormed the bus it’s crystal clear that the PNP needs a complete rehabilitation.

From all these, I could only notice and construe one thing; if the PNP is good at something it is the brutal dispersal of protest marches and the harassment of demonstrators, it is surely a far cry from their official motto: “We Serve and Protect“.

Aside from the security forces, the highest-ranked officer of the land was also in the spotlight. In the minds of the people, they were asking “Where was President Benigno Aquino III during the 12-hour hostage crisis in Manila last Monday?”

The President made clear that he was monitoring the hostage drama from the Palace but left the matter to concerned police authorities for them to effectively handle. Appearing in a press conference aired on August 24, 2010 in Malacañang, he also claimed that it would not do good if he interfered with the work of the ground commander to secure the captives.

Aquino was noticed as nowhere in sight while the hostage drama was happening. He only appeared in public three hours after the crisis was over, apologizing to the Hong Kong government for the casualties and expressing condolences to the families of the victims. Afterwards, he went to the Quirino Grandstand, the scene of the incident, early Tuesday morning, day after the incident and inspected the bus.
After all these, the President is now in front of a number of criticisms mostly negative ones. His online accounts which his media communications team maintained as clean as possible has now lost its order because of the harsh comments people are throwing him left and right.





In the final analysis, the police, the police leadership – all the way to the President – and the media must bear part of the responsibility for what took place.
And how about Mr. Mendoza? Yes. He holds the hardest liability – he’s the one who put people in harm’s way to begin with. But then again, he’s dead. His problems are over since he has certainly brought those with him beyond earth.

Of course, we cannot give him all the blame now since he is gone already. And in the attempt of pointing our fingers to the policemen, president of the country and even to the media is not a good idea. No one is to blame. No one deserves to be blamed.

What is done is done. In as much as we still have the same police, we are still under the starting administration of PNoy, and we’re still confined to the same media, our problems have barely just begun. We need to face the world with the controversies and responsibilities the hostage drama left. Blaming cannot solve the problem that has come to pass rather helping hand in hand with utmost clean intentions does.

As one of the persons who aspire to be part of the extreme world of media, I can still stay convince with the vision and mission the media clings to. Apart form the splendid slogans different broadcasting networks in the Philippines which are speaking of truth, objectivity and service to the Filipino nation, I can feel the sincerity within.

One instance just like the hostage taking is not sufficient to stereo-type them. Indeed they may have fall short and aggravated the incident. But it does not mean that we can just neglect the positive side To be part of the Fourth Estate is exceptional and I cannot take it for granted even if it takes to be ensnared within the four corners of an Ill-fated soil. Lesson learned, the media ought to mull over Aristotle’s Golden mean and apply it to stay on a safer ground.