7 minute read
Above the media, Beneath the truth
#LabanLang Information at stake
By Rafhael L. Jabongga
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e live in an era where information circulates around the world in real-time. This gives people access to facts with just the click of a button. However, rather than being informed, there is an increasing number of cases of disinformation.
One can say that this is caused by a lack of comprehension for these targeted individuals. But a closer look at this phenomenon will tell you that it is a lack of critical assessment of the truth. In actuality, even with accessible information, many people have trouble distinguishing what is true and what is not. With this comes the role of journalism as it rights false information, puts down misleading propaganda, and refutes other black tactics.
With the recent order on Rappler’s shutdown, some Filipinos rejoice because to them, it is branded as a ‘biased’ news site that is far from the facts. It is disheartening to read articles containing distorted information spreading around the internet that slanders Rappler as a credible news outlet. In an article published by the New York Times, with the increasing number of internet users recently
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s the eldest sibling, the burden of the role model is placed on our shoulders—leaving little room for imperfections. We knew the chores to be done, problems to be addressed, and gaps to be filled. We set an example by being the perfect child, sibling, and student all at once. In time, that little room harbors all our growing pains.
One of these pains is realizing our parents aren’t all-knowing and perfect. Rather, they’re people just like us. They have goals, feelings, and lives lived. The challenge lies in reconciling with the fact that they may be people we love but do not necessarily like. May it be because of a difference in political opinion or a deep relational disconnect, there is pain in realizing our parents cannot understand us in the way we want them to. So, how do we outgrow a hurtful environment when it’s our own homes?
The easy answer would be to leave. But Filipino culture doesn’t allow us to walk away, nor does it place premiums on healthy conversations. So we stay, sweep our feelings under the rug, and spreading false claims about Rappler’s reputation as the least trusted news organization, Rappler CEO Maria Ressa has had to increase security, especially online. The news media in the country is facing so much pressure and the freedom of the press is at stake. However, these allegations are not new in the media industry in the Philippines. As Rappler faced its tough challenge in Philippine news media, I certainly agree that they have the right to defend themselves, to defend the press freedom in the country by constantly bringing credible sources of information to the Filipinos.
It is a major challenge, then, for professionals and young journalists to fight for the truth in this pressing time. Thus, it is high time that we citizens should think, move, and raise our voices to make a difference in the fight against misleading propaganda—especially online. To aspiring and young journalists, our defiance is to create a ripple of change by relinquishing truthful, factual, and relevant information day by day.C
pretend everything is fine. After all, how can we be “hurt” if we were provided food, housing, and every other basic human need?
Thus, the biggest burden an eldest sibling bears is being the bigger person. To keep the peace, we have to sacrifice our own, just until things get better. We have to respect them through polite disengagement—be civil, take their words with a grain of salt, and overall keep our cool. We recognize that it is too draining to keep fighting when we share a home. More than that, we learn to reconcile with the fact that our parents can only love us in the ways they know how to, even if these ways hurt us.
But we also hope—that as we face our growing pains—we grow as we go.C
Willoughby Grow as we go
By Reina Margaret Gwynette T. Villamor
Dionysus Outside the selected few
By Melvin P. Villacote
P
overty is not a hindrance to success”— though a phrase often meant to encourage and empower people, it is a bit lacking in nuance and sensitivity and, to a certain extent, a bit tone deaf. More than once in our lives, we’ve heard of the executive chairman who started dirt poor, the famous entrepreneur who worked multiple jobs to go to college, or the billionaire that was self-made. Understandably, people look at these narratives as the role model of success and a resource for comparison. These culminate to often heard exclamations like, “Just work harder,” as sentiment about overcoming struggles or “Kana gani siya pobre mana siya sauna, nakaya man lagi?” with regards to achieving success. Though often said with good intentions, these thoughts ignore context and caveats that should be taken into account.
So what then? Why are we criticizing a seemingly inspirational narrative as one of insensitivity? Perhaps the answer lies in looking at it from a different perspective. Instead of simply elevating and ogling at these stories of success as a source of motivation and comparison, ask the whys. Why is it that only a select few poor people become successful? Why are some hard-working people still stuck without progress?
Despite what we would like to think, numerous other factors are at play and the poor may fall short of some of them. Opportunities, connections, and education among others are one of the few things that the poor are not privileged to have much, which only serves as an added obstacle on the road to success. Furthermore, there is little help offered to the less, and even if there was, not everyone is privy about how to avail of these services. Ignoring the weight of these factors is tone deaf to the reality of being poor. Poverty can be a hindrance to success and only through recognizing this obstacle can it be addressed properly. Consider this, step outside the stories of the select few. C
Misua It’s not funny
By Jayson Elvie G. Ty
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arlier this month, a performance orchestrated by the student athletes of De La Salle University (DLSU) during their prep rally while crossdressing, dancing, and acting silly grew traction on social media. People expressed their disappointment towards the distasteful act. A local university’s department had its own asininity. In a since-deleted post, the School of Business and Management of Liceo de Cagayan University (LDCU) initiated a Mr. Gay competition that had cis-straight men compete as they act effeminate for entertainment.
Although both received backlash from the city’s queer community, I’ve seen posts from people defending the event because these acts, as they say, are “for fun lang” and that they don’t intend to disrespect the LGBTQ+ community “kay this type of contest is uso man jud every fiesta sa barangay”. It feels like an insult that they dress up in their opposite sex for amusement when queer people get anxious expressing their identity. Moreso, it’s an insult that many people go out of their way to defend such acts. It’s funny how people make an excuse for the systemic attempt of the heteronormative society to view queerness as a laughingstock. As a drag queen, I get catcalled on the streets as I go out in drag, and it doesn’t feel good knowing that transgender women get harassed just because they dress up as themselves. Yes, the Philippines still has a long way to go in relation to inclusivity and diversity, but this the purpose of the SOGIE bill—to defend the LGBTQ+ community from harassment and discrimination based on gender expression. It acts as a safeguard when queers are, among other things, discriminated in a way of being barred from entering establishments for dressing “inappropriately.”
Come on, it’s exhausting to keep on educating people regarding these things. It is high time for society to realize that these “fun” events are designed to offend and discriminate. And really, none of it was ever funny to begin with.C
