Badge of honor
Tonight, as I was walking toward the exit of the office compound, looking gleefully forward to a small bucket of sour cream-flavored fries I was intent on buying for myself, I noticed how the building was illuminated, flashing the three primary broadcast colors — red, green, and blue — the same colors that make up our famed company logo.
I take this as a gesture to welcome the prevailing of truth in this day’s six-hour-long Senate hearing on the ABS-CBN franchise, just as how I felt indulging in some French fries is a personal celebration for the same reason.
For about a week now, I proudly pin a ribbon on my chest — a symbol of my support to the company that’s almost like a second home to me now if we count the number of hours I spend here; even more so, of my belief that press freedom must never be curtailed and, in the face of harassment and threat, always defended.
I wear the ribbon even when I’m not in the office. It’s a badge of honor.
It’s funny how just months ago, I was seriously considering resigning from my dream job, finding a different better-paying career track, or migrating to Australia where two of my friends now reside. At the time, it was difficult to grasp why I’m still in journalism; staying takes so much of my will power — and it’s not even because I’ve run out of love and passion.
An interview with a veteran journalist late last year snapped me right back to my ideals. For our year-ender documentary, I asked Christian Esguerra a “generic” question with which to end the segment: What should we look forward to in 2020?
The former Philippine Daily Inquirer reporter would admit two decades of experience in the field has made him “jaded”. Still, he says, “Sana manatili pa rin ‘yung hope, ‘yung pag-asa sa Pilipino. Kasi maraming hindi magandang nangyayari sa bansa natin, hindi lang sa politika, hindi lang sa disasters — maraming hindi magandang nangyari. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na mawawalan ka ng pag-asa. And never give up on your country.”
(I wish hope remains in the hearts of Filipinos. We’ve gone through unpleasant events not only in the context of politics and disasters, but this doesn’t mean we can lose hope. Never give up on your country.)
As the nation commemorates the anniversary of the first EDSA People Power Revolution — historically, the first bloodless revolution in the world — ABS-CBN, the largest media corporation in the Philippines, is facing state-backed harassment.
The network’s franchise, which will expire by the end of March 2020 — or May 4, argues some lawmakers — has yet to be taken up at the House of Representatives despite several pending bills about it. House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano says the House has more urgent concerns — perhaps like a Kobe Bryant exhibit?
While the lower chamber basks in “inaction”, Solicitor General Joe Calida on February 10 filed a quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN. The quo warranto basically asks, “what warrants” or “by what authority”, questioning the existing franchise of ABS-CBN that’s about to expire anyhow. The Supreme Court has yet to decide on the case.
Following a deluge of public support and clamor for the franchise renewal, the Solicitor General filed for an urgent motion for a gag order — a blatant curtailment of freedom of expression — while Malacañang distances itself from the issue.
This, despite Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte having always been vocal about his misgivings against the network. It is worth noting, too, that this is NOT the first time Duterte has made threats against media organizations and practicing journalists.
In the Senate hearing on Monday, some points were made clear:
If there’s anything good we get from this issue, it’s that the public now has a better sense of the stench reeking from this government. •
I take this as a gesture to welcome the prevailing of truth in this day’s six-hour-long Senate hearing on the ABS-CBN franchise, just as how I felt indulging in some French fries is a personal celebration for the same reason.
For about a week now, I proudly pin a ribbon on my chest — a symbol of my support to the company that’s almost like a second home to me now if we count the number of hours I spend here; even more so, of my belief that press freedom must never be curtailed and, in the face of harassment and threat, always defended.
I wear the ribbon even when I’m not in the office. It’s a badge of honor.
It’s funny how just months ago, I was seriously considering resigning from my dream job, finding a different better-paying career track, or migrating to Australia where two of my friends now reside. At the time, it was difficult to grasp why I’m still in journalism; staying takes so much of my will power — and it’s not even because I’ve run out of love and passion.
An interview with a veteran journalist late last year snapped me right back to my ideals. For our year-ender documentary, I asked Christian Esguerra a “generic” question with which to end the segment: What should we look forward to in 2020?
The former Philippine Daily Inquirer reporter would admit two decades of experience in the field has made him “jaded”. Still, he says, “Sana manatili pa rin ‘yung hope, ‘yung pag-asa sa Pilipino. Kasi maraming hindi magandang nangyayari sa bansa natin, hindi lang sa politika, hindi lang sa disasters — maraming hindi magandang nangyari. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na mawawalan ka ng pag-asa. And never give up on your country.”
(I wish hope remains in the hearts of Filipinos. We’ve gone through unpleasant events not only in the context of politics and disasters, but this doesn’t mean we can lose hope. Never give up on your country.)
As the nation commemorates the anniversary of the first EDSA People Power Revolution — historically, the first bloodless revolution in the world — ABS-CBN, the largest media corporation in the Philippines, is facing state-backed harassment.
The network’s franchise, which will expire by the end of March 2020 — or May 4, argues some lawmakers — has yet to be taken up at the House of Representatives despite several pending bills about it. House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano says the House has more urgent concerns — perhaps like a Kobe Bryant exhibit?
While the lower chamber basks in “inaction”, Solicitor General Joe Calida on February 10 filed a quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN. The quo warranto basically asks, “what warrants” or “by what authority”, questioning the existing franchise of ABS-CBN that’s about to expire anyhow. The Supreme Court has yet to decide on the case.
Following a deluge of public support and clamor for the franchise renewal, the Solicitor General filed for an urgent motion for a gag order — a blatant curtailment of freedom of expression — while Malacañang distances itself from the issue.
This, despite Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte having always been vocal about his misgivings against the network. It is worth noting, too, that this is NOT the first time Duterte has made threats against media organizations and practicing journalists.
In the Senate hearing on Monday, some points were made clear:
- ABS-CBN has no tax liabilities, confirmed by the Bureau on Internal Revenue.
- No labor cases, according to the Department of Labor and Employment.
- The “local ad” paid for by then-canidadate Duterte was “late”, and he did not accept the refund.
If there’s anything good we get from this issue, it’s that the public now has a better sense of the stench reeking from this government. •
If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.
— George Washington