SENATORIAL FORUM: INTRODUCING ROMULO AND OPLE

In line with the celebration of the 120^th anniversary of the Faculty of Arts and Letters of the University of Santo Tomas, the AB Student Council (ABSC) presented the “I AM: Senatorial Open Forum 2016” this March 1 in UST Miguel de Benavides Auditorium.

ABSC, in partnership with College of Arts and Letters Student Council of University of the Philippines and the Arts College Government of De La Salle University, conducted the forum moderated by Atty. Enrique Dela Cruz Jr. and hosted by Ms. Shaira Javier.

Among the five confirmed guest senatorial candidates announced by the ABSC, only two appeared in the forum. Present candidates were Pasig Representative Roman Romulo and Susan Ople, founder and president of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute.

Red Cross Chairperson Richard Gordon, former Department of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairperson Francis Tolentino were a no show.

AN OFW ADVOCATE

Susan Ople focused on platforms on the welfare of the overseas workers. Stressing the importance of creating a department of migration and development for the OFWs. Stating that this can lead to a greater sense of urgency in dealing with OFW related issues.

She also stressed that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) should invest in hospitals for OFWs returning home.

Her platforms also include pushing for a law against age discrimination, fighting against labor contractualization, and providing for free and accessible wifi in all public and private schools in the Philippines.

EDUCATIONAL REFORMIST

Roman Romulo, also the chairperson of the Committee on Higher Technical Education,  centered his speech on his accomplishments in Congress. Citing the laws he authored and passed, especially on education.

These are Open Distance Learning Act for college education, Ladderized Education Law, Iskolar ng Bayan Law, and Unified Financial Assistance to Students in Tertiary Education (UNIFAST) Law. He is also the principal author of the Data Privacy Law.

On the importance of economic development on country sides in Luzon, he plans on transferring the airports to Central Luzon. Also planning on investing for high speed trains that will connect Northern and Southern Luzon via the Philippine National Railways (PNR).

 

STUDENTS’ Q&A FORUM

Magna Carta for students – Romulo stated it is a currently pending bill, where the issue lies on the conflict between students and school administrators regarding the autonomy of the publication. Ople supports the bill and will push for it if she wins this election.

Both the aspiring senators agreed that the Philippines is not yet ready for the K-12 implementation, but admitted that it is good in theory and is necessary. Ople views the implementation as a selling point for being ‘job ready’ without tertiary education.

When asked about charter change and federalism, Ople opted for Constitutional Convention and is open to federalism with proper safeguards. Romulo was for Charter Change but says Philippines is not ready for political changes in the constitution.

Regarding same sex marriage, Romulo is willing to explore on same sex union but is keen on postponing marriage until all discrimination is removed. Ople admits same sex marriage is hard to pass, comparing it with “moving a mountain”.

Participants of the question-and-answer part of the program came from the Thomasian student body. Questions asked were regarding different social issues that the country is facing today.

Who’s to blame, Pacquiao or the Media?

Senatorial candidate Manny Pacquiao is not entirely at fault with his controversial statement regarding same sex marriage. His statement, “mas mabuti pa yung hayup marunong kumilala ng lalaki-lalaki o babae-babae. Ngayon, kung babae sa babae at lalaki sa lalaki, mas masahol pa sa hayup ang tao,” was taken out of context since the whole one minute video was not shown by the TV5 network.

In the original and uncut video regarding his stand on the issue, he was asked by the interviewer if he was pro or against same sex marriage. Knowing that he is a devout Christian, he expresses his beliefs against the issue. He was not asserting his beliefs to the people, he only answered a question. But it does not excuse the phrase “mas masahol pa sa hayup ang tao,” since it degrades the LGBT Community. Pacquiao, saying he does not condemn the LGBT, was still politically incorrect in voicing out his opinion – given that he is a public figure and is supposed to run in the 2016 elections.

Media (TV5 network) should also share the blame for the controversy.

Mario Garcia, the former national president of the KBP, accused TV5 of splicing the video and losing its context. He also said that there is an intent to sensationalize the interview, since it was cut.

Garnering criticism on the edited video, TV5 released a statement in defense saying that it was not “spliced” but was “minimally edited in good faith and with reasonable care.” The network also said that there was no intent in changing the context or misrepresenting the essence of the statement. TV5  broadcasted the unedited video on the primetime newscast of Aksyon on February 16, 2016.

The edited twenty-eight-second video shown by TV5 presented Pacquiao’s stand with a slanted angle. It suggests that the statement is sensationalized – implying that Pacquiao is sexist and complete rejection of the LGBT Community.

The video was taken out of context since Pacquiao, as he have defended in the latter parts of the same video, said that he was not against the “relationship” but is against the concept of gay “marriage”. Saying that there is nothing wrong with same sex relationships but should not marry since it is against the law of God.

Both Pacquiao and the media should share the blame of the controversial statement regarding same sex marriage. Pacquiao is a public figure and is running for senate, his opinion can directly affect the people, and in this particular incident , the LGBT Community.  His analogy is still wrong since the phrase in itself is sexist – even with the right context. He should learn to express his opinions with political correctness.

This does not excuse the media of using his statements against him. TV5 should not have edited the video. It was unnecessary since it’s only one minute long – editing it suggests sensationalizing the content. The slanted angle hugely contributed to the controversy since the video was devoid of context.

Liars and Journalists: The Depiction of Journalists in the Korean Drama, “Pinocchio”

The Korean drama Pinocchio portrays journalists that sensationalize societal events and construct it as something “news worthy”. They do not look for evidence but use a speculation and use it as evidence. In the show, journalists twist and amplify minor details in order to make a story news worthy.

This was established in the first episode wherein Ki Ho Sang, the captain of the firefighters  was accused by the media of killing off his team in a “suicide mission”, given that he was the only one who survived, according to a ‘Pinocchio’ witness. The media speculated foul play on Ki Ho Sang and used it to feed the audience information.

The journalist Song Cha Ok, a vicious reporter according to her workmates, amplified small details about Ki Ho Sang to implicate that he was the one responsible for the death of all the firefighters. She twisted the words of the Ki family in further pinning the death to Ho Sang, disregarding the effects of the overblown news to the Ki family.

Song Cha Ok also believed that the impact of the story matters more than the facts.

Another journalist, Hwang Gyo Dong wanted to pursue the same angle. But having seen the breakdown of the elder brother, Ki Jae Myung, he decided otherwise.

Another episode shows the two news networks were fighting on a news scoop about an overweight woman who died of over-excercising. This supports the argument that the drama series portrays journalists as manipulative and dependent on sensationalism. Deeming that the news scoop only has great impact on viewers and ratings. The episode shows how journalists exploit such events to appeal to the taste of the audience, instead of showing something news worthy.

The character of Choi In Ha, a striving reporter with the Pinocchio syndrome, is the redeeming character for the series. With how she perceive her career in journalism with honesty – and also because of her inability to lie; she becomes the “perfect” model of a true journalist. Being denied of a job in journalism because of her inability to lie and saying up front the real facts and evidences suggest that she is a threat in the system of the news networks. She will also be incapable of twisting facts and sensationalizing the news because of her Pinocchio syndrome. She will be the embodiment of a journalist with a clear conscience which will surely be the downfall of the twisted system of the networks.

Choi Dal Po (Ki Ha Myung), on the other hand, has his own agenda on becoming a journalist; pursuing the career only to redeem the tarnished image of his father. His character embodies a journalist that pursues the truth only to use it in his own agenda – no matter how pure his intentions may be.

Journalists were portrayed as liars and manipulators, but having a ‘Pinocchio’ reporter will be the change from liars and manipulators to competent journalists.

Grammar and Journalism

Is there really a need to follow a specific structure in communicating? Why do we need to have a set of rules in a basic need such as communication? Somehow it makes sense for us not to follow any structure or rules in communication. It’s easier for us to have a spontaneous conversation without organizing the thought in such a structured manner. But communication, a basic need in a man’s life must have a general structure so others would also understand his thoughts. This structure called grammar is engrained in us at such an early age. Grammar is the lifeblood of communication because without it, there will be nothing to communicate with. To others, it might be unnecessary but it is quite the contrary.

Grammar is necessary in journalism just as how breathing is inevitable to human beings. It is a prerequisite needed in order to hone the skill of writing a story. It is the foundation a story needs for it to stand on its own. More importantly, the credibility of a journalist reflects on his/her proper usage of grammar simply because as key players in the field of media, one cannot afford to commit mistakes. Having inadequate knowledge in proper grammar defeats the purpose of being a journalist; it marks an irresponsible journalist in the eyes of the readers and of his/her own colleagues.

Disregarding grammar will make a story meaningless and dispensable no matter how ground breaking it may be and of the journalist who may have wrote it. Grammar is a powerful thing in the field of media. It gives an edge and credibility to the journalist and helps create the story alongside him/her. Because along with the pen and a nose for news, a journalist’s greatest weapon is his/her skill in grammar.

Under the Spell of a Name

There is something about a name that somehow paints the picture to who we are. It does not necessarily describe our whole identity but it does have its influence us. A name, it is the first thing we see in all personal documents. It creates the image of who we want to be as we grow up. It tells an unfinished story started by our parents but written entirely by ourselves.

As far as my story goes, it started when my mother had given birth on July 8, 1997 to a healthy baby girl named Ryah Sunday, a simple yet very odd name for a child. It is that name that bound me to the world and marked me as a social human being. Oddly enough, there is a history about the name engraved with my identity for as long as I shall live. A few years before I was born, my mother encountered a little girl who got lost in the busy streets of Manila. In kindness, she helped the little kid find her way home; the kid’s name is Ryah. The name Sunday was from a family friend, a carpenter who was jolly and kind. They retained my mother’s maiden name as my surname, too.

Raised by a single mother, living was a bit different and the questions rather discomforting. There is always this wonder what might happen if my parents got married, and of course a different name altogether. But nevertheless, growing up was the same as any other kid, just with a different kind of family, and a different home from the other kids. All of these went alongside of my name, and given me a different life. My name, it is something I have always been truly proud of.