Updating

My last update was on my 21st birthday. That was a year ago (I'm already 22 years old). I chose to post my entries on my multiply blog. I'll try cross-posting my multiply entries here. If you want to add me to your multiply contacts, just tell me.

Losing a friend

"Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend somewhere along in the bitterness..."
-How to Save A LIfe
by The Fray

This line has been on my mind since Tuesday. It keeps on popping on my mind, and reminding me of a friend that I think I lost last month. Although I do not really know what he is thinking, and what is the status of our friendship (we have not talked since last month), I feel a wall is between us. I could not help but think it would have been the best if we did not underwent that process. Yet, I know it is so important to simply put aside. It meant a change in the way we see things, the way we understand relationships. Not going through that would hinder our development.

I hope my friend sees its importance, and that it meant good. I hope when we see each other, we will be able to talk and joke around like before. I hope the bond (which you said we have) is still there, and will be there as years pass.

For my fellow graduates: THE FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHT TO EDUCATION

"There is a need for a scientific, nationalist and mass-oriented education in this country."

My fellow graduates, we finished 16 years of formal education. And during this span of time, we saw how the present administration disregarded the rights of the people to education. We saw how certain persons manipulate the need for education for their own growth. We saw how the right to education was turned into a privilege for the sake of profit. We saw how important it is that a person finish formal education for his/her survival in this country. Most importantly, we saw the importance of creating an education system that is scientific, mass-oriented, and nationalist in order to bring this country progress. Equipped with this knowledge and the skills needed, we should continue the fight -- the fight to bring real progress in our education system and in our nation.

Let us now take this fight forward! FIGHT FOR GREATER STATE SUBSIDY FOR EDUCATION. FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHT TO EDUCATION!

My first time in Mindanao (a brief entry)

I've never been away from home for that long. I spent almost two weeks in Mintal, Davao. I participated in the KASAMA sa UP National Congress and General Assembly of Student COuncils in University of the Philippines in Mindanao.

I had so much fun. I met new faces all over the UP system. I felt lucky to have been able to go there, and spent some time with these people. I hope to see them again during the SR-selection.

Here at BNR

It has been so long since I've been here. I remember the last time I was here--I was doing this template. Gosh! hahaha. That was the time I was heartbroken. hehehe. Bye for now!

Ito na!

Setyembre na. Simula na ng isang buwan ng pagsasaya at paghihirap ng konseho para sa Mass Media Awareness Month. Ngayong taon, ang konseho ay nakaangkla sa tema na "Proactive and Transformative Media for a Free Filipino Society." Nakita namin sa konseho ang pangangailangan na muling ipanawagan hindi lamang sa mga nasa propesyon na kungdi pati sa academya at mga mag-aaral ng komunikasyon na kailangan magkaroon ng pagbabago sa ating lipunan at sa media.

Sa buwan na ito ay magkakaroon kami ng Production Festival para ipakita sa ibang mag-aaral kung paano maaring gamitin ang media sa pagpaparating ng mahahalagang mensahe sa lipunan; ng Media Summit para sa mga kabataang nasa haiskul at nais maging bahagi ng media; ng isang roundtable discussion sa pagitan ng mga nsa propesyon at academya kung paano masisimulang gawing proactive at transformative ang media; at ang pinakahuli ay ang MULAT! the Mass Media Awareness Concert na magiging senyales ng pagsisimula sa pagbubuo ng isang media na maaaring tugunan ang pangangailangan ng bayan para makapagdesisyon at kumilos sa ikauunlad ng Pilipinas.

The issue of foreign media ownership in the Philippines is nothing new. Talks about opening up Philippine media to foreign investors have started in the Ramos's presidency, and the Arroyo administration just revived it.

Globalization of the Philippine market, as seen by the Arroyo government, will solve the country's economic problems. Proposed plans of action to bring forth the liberalization of Philippine media and economy are stipulated in the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan for 2004-2010, drafted by National Economic and Development Authority.

Steps toward liberalization
But to open up media, as well as the Philippine economy to foreigners mean amending provisions of the 1987 Constitution, a reason presumed behind Mrs. Arroyo's eager promotion of Cha-cha to legislators. According to the MTPDP, the removal of the "protectionist" provisions in the Constitution will lead to the liberalization of utilities and services limited to Filipinos. The removal of these "protectionist" revisions is included in the proposed new charter of the 24-man Consultative Commission formed by Mrs. Arroyo.

Naval Mayor Gerardo Espina Jr., one of the proponents of the new charter said that access to information "should not be controlled by locals alone"-- a reason, among others, why they approved of the elimination of Article XVI, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution which states that media outfits shall be owned only by Filipinos, or Filipino-owned and -controlled corporations, cooperatives and associations.

The Promises of Foreign Media Ownership
Liberalization of the market--including the media market--will bring new job opportunities, strengthen the economic power, and assure the country a name in the international economic sphere, the Arroyo government keeps on mentioning.

NEDA director Romulo Neri believed the liberalization of the media market is a "good idea". He argued that this will make Philippine a "global media player," and who knows the "center for media distribution throughout the world."

Espina further explained that with the advent of foreign investments will create jobs, increase salaries, improve media content, and introduce new technologies to the industry which he described as "a big opportunity for local media men."

And with these investments--as Luis Teodoro, veteran journalist and Journalism professor at the UP College of Mass Communication presumed--the government hopes to "alleviate poverty" and "raise growth rates."
Furthermore, Alexander Magno, another proponent of the new charter, said that "deletion of (Article XVI, Section 11) will make business more efficient and this will regulate the content." He stressed that with foreign owners "monopoly would be eliminated."

Journalists think otherwise.

For Cheap Labor, not Higher Salary
Rowena Carranza-Paraan, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines director, doubts the promise of higher equity for media practitioners. She argued that foreign investors want to earn profit. She further stressed that the foreigners did not come to do noble things or bring better lives, but to gain back what they invested.

"So, bakit nila tataasan ang suweldo kung sa ngayong kalakalan pupuwedeng umiral ang ganitong rate," she said pointing out that these investors would probably maximize the cheap rate of labor Philippine offers. Paraan foresees this event like those of the experience with multinational corporations. When MNCs build factories in the country, the salary they give to Filipino workers are the same rate, if not lower, of those given by Filipino-owned corporations.

Overseas, the same problem is faced by media workers. "Iyong ineexpect na gaganda ang kalagayan ng mga workers hindi nangyayari," Paraan added.

Not the right time to be global
On the other hand, Teodoro, in his article Missing in MTPDP objectives: 'compliant media,' does not see Philippine becoming a "global media player." He argued that, unlike Singapore and Hong Kong, the Philippines lacks "predictable laws, the communication infrastructure and the almost corruption-free environment attractive to foreign investors." He also said that with the value of most Philippine media forms could not compete with its foreign counterparts, he doubts foreign investors would even commit to the local media.

Greater Decline in Content and Programming
If making profit is the main objective of investors, then the improvement of media content and programming would remain a myth.

Homogenized and sensationalized reports already plague Philippine media today. Newspapers, radio and television programs, and even some online publications have resorted to such to win the battle over profit and patronage. If content is already sacrificed in a setting where only local players exist, what more will happen once Philippine media is under the control of foreign investors?

Teodoro observed that in most country with foreign media ownership the kind of news delivered to the public is often affected--a complete opposite of what Magno said. Let us take the Czech Republic for example. In his article, Ian Willoughby cited Borivoj Celovsky's observation that the content of newspapers--either owned by German or Swiss companies--in Czech Republic, aside from reporting the same information, eventually takes on the side of its owners. And, it seems like just an ordinary event for some Czech citizens.

Teodoro also said that most countries with open media market tend to focus on "trivia, press releases and public relations."

Paraan also has the same view. She said that the focus of media content would depend on who is making it. To give face on the possible effect of foreign media ownership, Paraan said that the focus of news about the war in Lebanon would have been different if an American-owned media outfit reports it. Local news coverage generally focus on overseas Filipino workers in Lebanon and their families--an unlikely topic of American-owned media companies. They would probably just allot some time for Filipinos, she said.

Proliferation of foreign culture
Another reason behind the liberalization of media, as Magno puts it, is to "eliminate monopoly" of media. But to immediately gain profits, foreign investors, Paraan said, is to have a monopoly over different kinds of medium and/or the acquisition of large network. And, foreign monopoly over multi-media could mean promotion of foreign culture.

The proliferation of foreign culture could mean greater decline in the patronage of national products, as well as shows. Colonial mentality would again flourish among Filipinos. This, as Celovsky puts it, is another "threat to national identity." Although it can be argued that there had always been there a foreign mindset proliferating in the country, it does not make it right to further inculcate that among Filipinos.

At the wrong hands
Paraan cited the 2004 national elections as an example of how powerful media influence is. Political advertisements plagued television sets during the campaign period. She stressed that those with higher airtime for political ads like Senators Jamby Madrigal and Pia Cayetano became top ten senator electorates.

With such power in influencing the public, foreign control over it would be dangerous. If the administration would not be able to guarantee safeguards for journalists once their plans of opening it up happens, then the national media could die a natural death. And undoubtedly, the promises they laid down would not see their birth.


References:
AFX. (2004). Gov't to consider opening media to foreigners--Neri. Retrieved on August 1, 2006.
http://money.inq7.net/breakingnews/view_breakingnews.php?yyyy=2004&mon=09&dd=27&file=10
Danao, E. (2005). Foreign ownership of RP media eyed. Retrieved on August 1, 2006.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2005/.../yehey/top_stories/20051015top8.html
Teodoro, L. (2003). Missing in MTPDP objectives: 'compliant media.' Retrieved on August 4, 2006. http://www.luisteodoro.com/archives/.../missing-in-mtdp-obectives-compliant-media
Willoughby, I. (2003). Worries about the foreign ownership of media in the Czech Republic. Retrieved on August 1, 2006. http://www.radio.cz/en/article/43408
Wilson, K. (2004). Opening RP media to foreign ownership easier said than done. Retrieved on August 4, 2006.http://news.inq7.net/nation/index.php?index=1&story_id=14097
J109 article (submitted to Ma'am Evelyn Katigbak by Remanuel Bandiola)
Foreign Media Ownership Symposium (hosted by Union of Journalists of the Philippines-UP Diliman)Interview with Rowena Carranza-Paraan (August 1, 2006. NUJP headquarters)

Taking risks

Lately, I've been taking risks.
I confronted those who are trying to manipulate me (and some friends).
I told them what I felt and what I think they are doing.
I condemned the powerful, by words and deeds.

But, this risk I took just this Monday is awfully difficult and scary--
Not in the sense that it endangers my physical being.
This risk will not be easy to recover from--no medical cure for this.
This risk will cause me time--no certain length of recovery.
This risk led me to level of cynicism before, and yet I am taking again.

Anyway, I know what happened before.
I am careful now, but I know this can still hurt.

wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...Kainis. Postponed ang trip namin to Baguio and Sagada this holy week. Sa Apil 29 na lang daw dahil ayaw nilang umalis ngayong holy week. Anyway, makaksama pa naman ako kasi weekends naman iyon at bakasyon ng May 1. :)

Gusto kong i-paste ang video na ginawa ni Cams mula sa aming mga nakuhang picture noong nagswimming kami. Pero sana di magulo ang aking layout na hindi ko makita dito sa bahay :), so next time ko na lang ipopost at tutal ay nasa friendster at myspace accounts ko naman. :) BYe!