Advocacy

I express my full support in the creation of a law, providing strict guidelines for media coverage in the Philippines, especially in matters regarding national security and other similar sensitive matters. Similar to what happened in the August 23 hostage crisis in the Quirino grandstand. It is a fact that the irresponsible coverage of the hostage crisis by some irresponsible media entity contributed to the outcome of the hostage crisis, this as well became the ignition for a proposition in the creation of such law. Although this proposition is still on the process of reviewing, I highly encourage the formal execution of such law.

I know you are thinking, in the creation of such bill will violate the people’s right to information and the freedom of the press. But you cannot hide your face to the facts and to the 8 people who died in the massacre due to the undiscerning press who covered the event. I said undiscerning, yes because it is obvious that if only the press’s coverage was carefully planned and well coordinated with the police authority, which is obviously not executed, there will be a more positive outcome. I believe that the media should exercise self-censorship all the time. This is called “RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM. I understand that the media has to do its task of covering and delivering news, it cannot be helped, but I believe the Media compromised itself because of its own power. Regarding the hostage incident, they were thinking to get the raw news; where it was happening; at the fastest possible time. They did not think, the situation was dangerous; people’s lives were in danger; and there was an armed crazy Policeman on the loose. These were the most important factors that were not considered, or may I say deliberately ignored, by the media, hypothetically, to outwit competition.

I am not advocating for a media blackout in times similar to this. I understand the importance of the media coverage in times like this. But what I propose is a set of guidelines, a set of universal guidelines that will set clear the limitations and boundaries of any media network in covering such sensitive news. Guidelines that will prioritize the right to life than public ratings, guidelines that will prioritize the safety of the people who are playing dice with death rather any form of personal gain or protecting the company’s interest. Lastly, guidelines that will that will emphasize discipline and ethics rather than money or fame. Let us not ignore the errors that happened in the hostage taking, let us not take risks of repeating mistakes at the cost of lives of innocent people. We need to learn from this devastation, and the approval of this law will be a public declaration that we learned from the mistakes of the past, and now we have moved forward.

If given the chance to contribute in the making of this law, I would propose that when crisis like the August 23 hostage taking happens again, which I hope never again, all media personnel, both reporters and cameraman will first have to coordinate with the police authority. All media personnel must wait for the permission of the police before any action is to be done. And if the presence of any media personnel is demanded, he or she is required to participate to the concerns of the hostage-taker.

The approval of this law may antagonize the whole concept of the “freedom of press”. But you cannot separate responsibility from freedom. And no one is an exception to this.

Compensation.

What inspired me to create this entry is the shameful (for me) fact that I have been dateless for the past 3 years now and all my life I only had one girlfriend and that was 5 years ago. No, I'm not about to tell you how hopeless I am when it comes to courting, relationships or any other related issues. But right about now I'm about to tell you why you should go out with me, or make you think twice before saying no. No, I am desperate in searching for a date but I'm giving justice to myself by telling the whole world the things women (yes, I will sound very sexist right about now) ignores. Yes, women ignore these very crucial and important things because they already judge you by your outward appearance before making any attempt to know their inner true self. True? You wouldn't dare to disagree. (Told you I was going to be sexist).

I want to make it clear that this blog is NOT out of my bitterness from my experiences but this is a blog of encouragement of some sort to all singles out there. Encouragement that there are still men, whom you thought are already extinct, out there with wonderful personalities. This is an encouragement to the ladies that there are gold in the personalities of the people whom you disregard because of their outward appearance. So here are some reasons why you (not you ma’am) should go out with a guy like me.

1. I may not be blessed with good looks, but my personality can compensate for it.

Yes, I admit, I am not the type of guy that women fall for because of their looks. But if my personality can take a human from, rest assured you’ll fall for that guy. Why? Because I’m a gentleman, sensitive, understanding, forgiving, trustworthy, and reliable. Of course by saying all these things you could rule out humility in my personality, but I am not arrogant, I’m just proud of who I am.

2. I may not be blessed with a killer smile, but I have a hundred ways of making you smile.

I am a person full of humor, I may not be good with jokes, but I have a unique way of putting those God given smiles on your faces. People are unique from each other and so is the way of making them smile. I may be not the type of person who smiles a lot but I am kind of person who lives to place smiles on the faces of people.

3. I may not be blessed with cool talents, but the only thing I know I’m good at is to love.

I don’t know how to play any music instrument. I am not blessed with a good voice and I am not blessed with an athletic body but when everyone is playing their music, singing their song or playing their games, I am with people whom I dearly love and I made sure they feel it.

I know this won’t change anything but if there’s anything I would like you to bring home is the truth that people are like gold mines, they may look plain and boring outside, but it’s full of gold in the inside (now you know why it’s called a gold mine)