A promdi and jologs at heart, Hector Bryant L. Macale works for the Manila-based media NGO Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) as senior staffwriter. He is now the managing editor of the Philippine Journalism Review Reports (PJR Reports), CMFR's flagship media-monitoring publication. All his posts are solely his rants, raves, and musings, unless stated otherwise.
I always read and hear good things about our governor Josie dela Cruz. Here's someone who is an example of a sensible and wise leader, I thought. With this news, I'm not sure about this anymore. Provincial governor warns journalists Source: Freedom Watch
Governor Josie Mendoza dela Cruz of Bulacan, a province north of Manila, warned journalists on 22 January 2007 that she will file libel charges against them if they report “unsubstantiated news to malign her reputation.”
“Anticipating various tactics of political mudslinging pending the coming May elections dela Cruz declared that she would file charges against members of the press who… write or report unsubstantiated news to malign her reputation,” a report from the provincial public affairs office of Bulacan said.
Dela Cruz made the announcement before provincial government employees in the provincial capital’s gym.
“It’s like prior restraint. We already know those things. Do we still have to be told? It’s threatening the media,” Jose Pavia, executive director of the Philippine Press Institute and editor of the Bulacan-based newspaper Mabuhay said.
I'll forgive Spongecola for participating in this one. So for Eraserheads fans out there (like me and Francis whose nicely written article about Ely Buendia was posted here recently), here's a chance to help Ely.
More than 20 artists and bands will do a fund-raising concert for singer-composer Ely Buendia, who had undergone two angioplasty operations after having a heart attack.
The concert is scheduled for Sunday, January 28, at the Eastwood Central Plaza, Eastwood City in Libis, Quezon City.
More musicians had volunteered to perform for free, but the organizers had to turn them down because of the limited time allotted them for the use of the venue, which they also get for free.
So from the original plan of starting the concert at 4 p.m., organizers decided to start earlier at 2 p.m. to accommodate all the bands.
With a combination of popular acts like Parokya ni Edgar, Kamikazee, and Rivermaya and talented performers like Cynthia Alexander and highly praised groups like Makatha, I hope this one's going to be a great hit. For Ely!
Three Wednesdays ago, an old radio colleague called me in the office. The conversation went like this:
Radioman: Hi, Bryant. Musta na? (How are you?) Bryanton Post: Hi, ________. Musta na? Okay lang naman. Napatawag ka? (How are you? I'm fine. What's up?)
Radioman:Tanong ko lang... kasi ganito. May kaibigan akong tatakbo ng mayor sa lugar nila. Naghahanap ng susulat para sa kanya. Ah... (at this point, I am sensing his purpose for calling me -- Bryanton Post) tanong ko lang kung gusto mo. Sideline lang naman eh. (Oh... I just want to ask.... it's like this. I have a friend who's running for mayor in their place. He's looking for someone to write for him. Ah... just want to ask if you want. It's just a sideline, anyway)
Bryanton Post: Ah... hindi ko... linya 'yan eh. At saka bawal sa amin. (Oh... I don't... do that. And we're prohibited to to that)
Radioman: Ah, ganoon ba? Bawal pala sa inyo? Okay, o sige, salamat na lang. Kain tayo minsan ha? (Oh, is that so? It's prohibited in your office? Okay, anyway, thanks. Let's dine out sometime okay?)
I actually wanted to say to him -- You're asking.... me? You're asking someone whom you know works for a media organization advocating media freedom and RESPONSIBILITY? An organization you know that promotes ETHICAL practice in the press? Sure, let's dine out sometime. Probably in the next decade.
Hmm, I wonder. With elections just four months away, how many journalists are again on the payroll of candidates? How many journalists are again moonlighting for the people desperate to win posts in the upcoming elections? Will we ever know these rotten tomatoes of the profession come election time, when media corruption seems to be at its highest level?
A resolution by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on 16 January 2007 ordered the reopening of the murder case against the suspected killers of radio broadcaster Rolando Ureta, who was killed on 3 January 2001 in Aklan, a province south of Manila.
The defendants’ alibis were insufficient, said the DOJ in reversing the 6 December 2004 dismissal of the murder case against them. It directed the Aklan provincial prosecutor to file the appropriate charges against Amador Paz and Jessie Ticar.
"Prof. Nick Atienza is still at PGH. Help us raise funds for him by watching film classic Moral, January 25 (10 am/1 pm/3 pm) at the UP Film Center. Tribute program (for Sir Nick) at 5 pm. Please pass."
The Cultural Center of the Philippines, which keeps an archive of the best Filipino classics, describesMoral as thus: "The film traces the lives of four women from 1972 to 1982. What happens to these four women as they try to make connections with one another and eventually with their real selves constitutes the core of the film." The film stars Gina Alajar, Sandy Andolong, Anna Marin, Rio Locsin.
Working at the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) may prove to be nerve-wracking (I'm in our house in the middle of writing a story for PJR Reports -- at 3:42 am Monday morning -- while I am blogging this) but I sure enjoy the wacky moments with my colleagues (Venus, Don, Jose, and Junette) there.
(Jose, Venus, me with the I-just-worked-overnight-at-the-office-so-I-don't-give-a-damn-about-my-hair look, Junette, and Don, whom Venus said has to digitally manipulate a part of his body in the photos -- I wonder what it is)
These were taken just last week. These just show that despite our constant monitoring of news, media issues, journalist threats and attacks, we can stop -- and pose for a photo or two.
In times like these, I can't help miss our former colleague and fellow camwhore Nathan, who had left CMFR last December to pursue his own dreams. Good night and good luck, Tantoy.
(With Jose and Nathan mastering our poses for the upcoming May elections)
Newsbreak contributor, Ralph Bartholomew, writes about the success of Ugly Betty (or more known as Betty La Fea here in the local shores) in the United States. His article, which appeared in the magazine's recent January issue, also noted the success of telenovelas (chinovelas, koreanovelas, teleserye, fantaserye, among others) here in the Philippines.
"Here in the Philippines, as well as in South and Central American nations, Taiwan and Korea, where telenovelas have thrived for years, the idea of a pioneering teleserye may sound like an oxymoron," Bartholomew wrote. "Ever since 1996, when the Mexican import Marimar, which debuted on RPN-9, dominated ratings and made the actress Thalia a household name, foreign and local telenovelas have been staple of Philippine prime-time television."
In case you do not know, Bakekang is the name of a hit soap opera in local network GMA-7 about an aesthetically-challenged woman who succeeds despite the difficulties and discrimination she encounters in life.
Personally, I am not much of a fan of these soap operas. Give me Bakokang instead.
To those who are anxiously waiting for news about the status of Sir Nick's condition, Sir Luis told me a few days ago that he is still at the the Philippine General Hospital, although no longer confined at the hospital's Central Intensive Care Unit. Sir Nick, may you get well soon.
Did the government order the closure of two critical public affairs shows on ABC-5 and the hard-hitting Newsbreak magazine? TV Patrol World, the primetime newscast of ABS-CBN, reported yesterday that the two current affairs shows on ABC 5, Frontlines and Metro, were "taken off the air after the television network's owner was implicated in the attempted coup d'etat last year."
"The ABC 5 staff was surprised to learn that network boss Antonio 'Tonyboy' Cojuangco had ordered the cancellation of 'Dokyu' and 'Frontlines,' programs known for their sometimes hard-hitting comments against the administration," ABS-CBNNews.com reported. The report said that justice secretary Raul Gonzalez denied that the government had influenced Cojuangco's decision.
Read more here. The post also carried links of the ABS-CBNNews.com story on the issue, the editor's note of Marites Vitug (Newsbreak editor in chief) explaining their reason for stopping the print edition of the magazine, and the ABC-5 official statement as posted in the blog of network senior reporter Jove Francisco.
Political activist Renato Constantino Jr. sues former Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Victor Agustin for "grave slander by deed and maltreatment by deed" after that controversial water-dousing incident in a media conference last December 9.
Click here for more details, including the Inquirer's claim that Agustin, who now writes for Manila Standard Today, shouldn't be using his old column name "Cocktales" and the column's "cocktail glasses" illustration in his new paper. We copyrighted those, says the Inquirer's publisher, Isagani Yambot.
Thailand’s military leaders on 15 January moved to block CNN broadcasts of the cable network’s exclusive interview with deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, less than a week after warning the Thai press about giving the ousted leader such access to the media. Thai papers are reporting that the Council for National Security (CNS), as Thailand’s ruling military council is known, had asked for the “cooperation” of UBCTV, Thailand’s leading cable service provider, to pull the interview everytime it gets play from CNN. As of 16 January, the 3-minute segment was still being replaced by still images with no news audio.
Click here for more. Visit also the blog of the Bangkok-based SEAPA for more details. Freedom Watch also carries the transcript of the controversial interview.
Also got this Youtube video of the interview from Freedom Watch:
From a reliable source, I was informed that Renato Constantino Jr. will be filing a case against Victor Agustin today, at the Makati Hall of Justice, 2:00 PM.
As to the nature of the case or the damages RC will ask, I still do not know. I hope ANC will be covering this today.
Whatever you do, Mr. Ely Buendia, don’t die on us.
You are a music icon who is as rare as they come. You are a vacant cab with an accommodating driver during the holidays. You are a cop who’s actually out to protect the citizenry. You are an honest politician. You are a film fest movie deserving of an award. You are a critically-acclaimed Cueshe hit.
If you go, what does that leave us with? A handful of artistic bands under the radar and Orange and Lemons. We scrounge the city for bars where one plays, and puke when the other’s songs go on air.
IF we had our druthers, our TV networks’ wish list for 2007 should include a renewed search for new TV news and public affairs on-camera personnel.
Truth to tell, quite a number of their current talents are long in the tooth. Worse, some of them are taking their work for granted and appear to just be coasting along, more concerned about how they look than what they’re thinking and saying.
Worst of all, some news and public affairs talents have had their objectivity compromised by playing footsies with politicians and other power brokers, so viewers in the know no longer give the shows they host much credence.
Mr. Torre also reported about a recent study made by AGB Nielsen Media Research Philippines which showed that families in the Luzon region watch TV for 7.5 hours per day, Mindanao homes watch for 7.3 hours daily and Visayas households view TV for around 6.7 hours per day.
In reaction to the counterclaim filed by presidential spouse Jose Miguel Arroyo last January 9 against the class suit lodged by journalists against him last month, the journalists involved in the lawsuit came out with a statement today.
“Our suit is meant to defend press freedom and democracy. Mr. Arroyo’s motion to dismiss is focused on technicalities and based on a wrong interpretation of the rules."
THE JOURNALISTS suing First Gentleman Mike Arroyo for abuse of right and for violating their right to the free exercise of their profession shrugged off Mr. Arroyo's Motion to Dismiss their complaint, and maintained that their suit is meant to defend press freedom and democracy against Mr. Arroyo’s efforts to undermine both.
Maybe because it is the beginning of the year, but I am so busy these days (primarily because of January 2007 issue of the PJR Reports and updating the site of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility or CMFR) that I was unable to post something new here for the last few days. (Oops, that reminds me: Sorry for the delay in the uploading of the December 2006 issue of the magazine. For those who haven't received or bought a copy of the December issue of the PJR Reports, wait for the online edition -- the issue was a great one, I'll guarantee you that.)
My head is full of serious issues these days -- heck, even during the Christmas break we were so busy with the action suit filed by journalists and media organizations against presidential spouse Mike Arroyo. As you might have known, CMFR is a petitioner to the suit. From the looks of it, 2007 is going to be a busier year for the press. Which means including us. Sigh.
But before I go back to my regular posts on media issues and while I am doing my stories and monitors for the January issue, let me share you something hideous, a travesty If I may claim, to the OPM music industry.
Personally, I do not like this current trend of bands churning out covers of yesteryear's hit songs one after the other (and please, let us rest the case of the pogi-rock bands -- I'm just praying that this fad will fade away for the rest of my lifetime). If there are three babies born every minute in this country, it's like bands are coming out with a new revival every five minutes. I'm exaggerating of course, but band revivals are everywhere -- in the music channels, TV programs, radio stations, in almost every corner of the streets, heck even in this blog. Thanks (or is it no thanks?) to the wildly successful album Kami nAPO Muna - Tribute to APO Hiking Society, now every band in town -- either a new or a top band today -- wants to join the bandwagon.
Of course, this current trend -- of giving new versions to old reliable hit songs -- goes a long way back (The more current ones include mainstream pop/acoustic artists like Regine Valesquez, Paolo Santos, Nina, etcetera etcetera). So, it seems like this fad among bands is going to stay a little longer.
That's fine with me. But if you're in a band who is doing or plans to do revivals, please, please, please: Do not MURDER the song. Do a revival, but please make sure that when you do, you're giving justice to the song. Do not just give your fans crappy covers, hoping that they will not mind the injustice you did to the songs, and that your album will reach double-platinum status just by banking on your band and cover songs' popularity.
Okay, let me make this straight first: I like Spongecola, especially when they came out with the hit songs Lunes, Jeepney, and Gemini. Quite good melodies, I say. The lyrics, great. Compared them with what, the allegedly braggart and the country's previous top band (are they now officially a has-been band?) Hale or that cheating Orange and Lemons crew? Or worse, the overrated and ultimate pa-cute band Cueshe? God, I'll pick Spongecola anytime.
But this is simply hideous. This is an act of murder. APO Hiking Society should sue the band for giving injustice to the song.
Just what happened to you, Spongecola?
Sugarfree also did an APO Hiking Society cover, but it was simply amazing. APO Hiking Society can no longer claim this is their song. It's now Sugarfree's.
And since we're talking about Filipino bands, here's wishing for the full recovery of former Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia. Sigh. If Eheads were still here, they'd be rocking the town with their music, showing their wannabe successors what music is all about.
Got this letter from Julie just now. One of our consulting editors at the PJR Reports, Luis Teodoro, told me about the sad case of UP Prof. Monico Atienza last January 3.
I may have been Prof. Atienza's student for just one semester (PI 100 or Philippine Institutions), but I remembered how great a teacher he is. He may appear too intense and passionate for some, but one thing is sure: He loves the Philippines deeply. With people like Sir Nick, hope flickers for this country.
Let us help Sir Nick, along with our hope to see a better Philippines.
Dear Friends,
We are writing you on behalf of Prof. Monico M. Atienza, who has been comatose since December 23, 2006. An undetected mass in his throat gradually blocked air passage, which finally led to successive heart seizures.
Monico is the president of the First Quarter Storm (FQS) Movement, an organization of activists in the 1960s and 1970s. In various ways, he has continuously helped and inspired activists of people’s organizations and institutions, especially the youth and students.
As a political prisoner during martial law, Monico was heavily tortured and held in solitary confinement. Government intelligence claimed that he was a ranking member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines and head of its National Organization Department when he was arrested in 1974. Released in 1977, he went back to the university.
As secretary-general of the militant Kabataang Makabayan (Patriotic Youth) in the late 1960s, he was among the indefatigable architects of the youth and student activism that eventually expanded to help establish today’s formidable progressive mass movement in the Philippines.
In 1987, he survived an assassination attempt by a death squad of the Philippine military which claimed the lives of two colleagues. Monico’s health, already deteriorated by the torture in 1974, all the more worsened with the injuries he sustained in the incident. A shrapnel remains embedded in his head and a leg wound would not heal to this day.
Now confined at the Central Intensive Care Unit of the Philippine General Hospital, Monico is kept alive by a life support system. His condition remains critically stable.
Monico has no source of income other than his teaching at the university. The meager health benefits available to him are not enough to sustain the cost of hospitalization and probable therapy.
Let us all help a great comrade, mentor and friend.
Donations may be personally given to Bernardita “Didith” V. de Guzman of the First Quarter Storm Movement or deposited to:
Bank: Bank of the Philippine Islands
Address: Diliman Branch, Quezon City, Philippines
Account Name: Alberto S. Aguilar
Savings Account Number: 4259-0220-91
Swift Code: BOPIPHMM
For Task Force Monico M. Atienza,
(Sgd.)
Bonifacio P. Ilagan
Chair, First Quarter Storm Movement
From what I heard around, UP won't let him take a leave in his teaching post because he had used up all his leave requests. But granted that it is, but, ano ba naman UP. Do you want to lose one of your best teachers just because of this? The UP I know is not just intelligent, but also rational-minded and compassionate.
Just read Caloy Conde's post pointing at David Carr's story on how US papers have lost their value by as much as 20 percent in the last two years. I couldn't agree more with Caloy's observation that Filipino newspaper owners and editors can learn much from the experience of their First World counterparts.
David Carr's story and Caloy's post reminded me of my earlier plan to subscribe to some RSS feeds of US-based media writers. Thankfully, Journalism.org has a list of US-based media writers and columnists, as well as media ombudsmen and reader representatives. Here in Manila, among the Manila-based newspapers, it is only the Philippine Daily Inquirer that has an ombudsman (veteran journalist Lorna Tirol, who was also a former editor of the PJR Reports). Bravo, Inquirer.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but as far as I know, community papers in the country neither have ombudsmen or nor reader representatives.
Here's the list of media writers and ombudsmen in the United States as provided by Journalism.org. And yes, I already subscribed to some of them. Read them, and learn.
According to Dictionary.com, here are the Words of the Year 2006, from three categories:
- The top voted-on words for 2006 (196,848 total votes) - The top 10 looked-up words on Dictionary.com for 2006 - The top 10 looked-up new words on Dictionary.com for 2006 (words only found in Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English)
Hector Bryant L. Macale works for the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) as senior staffwriter. He is the assistant editor of Philippine Journalism Review Reports (PJR Reports), the flagship media-monitoring publication of CMFR. PJR Reports is the first and only publication of its kind in the country and has served as a model for various press communities around Asia.
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