Logo for the commemoration of the 1st anniversary of the Ampatuan massacre
In line with the commemoration of the 1st anniversary of the Ampatuan massacre in Maguindanao, we are sharing this logo/patch.
You may use this instead of your present Facebook profile pix on Nov. 23 as a sign of your solidarity with the families of the victims, the journalists and media workers, and the rest of the world.
It was so far the biggest blow to journalists and journalism in the Philippines. Let this be a symbol of our collective cry for justice and for more protection for journalists, where ever they may be.
On May 3 and on the run up to it, members of the news media are commemorating the World Press Freedom Day in Bukidnon.
This is probably the first time it will be held here in recent times with a concerted effort to spread understanding on the role of the news media in society and the citizens duties to its working press.
What are the Origins and the reasons behind an international commemoration of World Press Freedom Day?
The United Nations General Assembly declared 3 May to be World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and marking the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in 1991.
UNESCO marks World Press Freedom Day by conferring the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize on a deserving individual, organization or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to the defense and/or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, especially when this has been achieved in the face of danger. Created in 1997, the prize is awarded on the recommendation of an independent jury of 14 news professionals. Names are submitted by regional and international non-governmental organizations working for press freedom, and by UNESCO member states.
The Prize is named in honour of Guillermo Cano Isaza, a Colombian journalist who was assassinated in front of the offices of his newspaper, El Espectador, in Bogotá, on 17 December 1986. Cano’s writings had offended Colombia’s powerful drug barons. (Source: UNESCO website)
Is press freedom a human right?
Yes, and it is embodied in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is included in the 1986 Philippine Constitution.
Why is there a need to mark World Press Freedom Day in the Philippines, particularly in our province?
As a human right, the freedom of the press is not only a declaration but a very practical freedom that must be lived even in the remotest of communities. If it works, it helps peoples exercise their other rights and freedoms. Without it, there can be no environment of free expression for people to manifest their freedom of speech, or expression, and the right to know, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances, among others.
Is press freedom just a concern of journalists and media workers?
No, journalists and media workers are just the ones directly affected if the press freedom is trampled upon. But the effect will not end in restraints in their work. It will affect the public to whom the press community is bound to serve. Journalists are “eyes and ears” of the public. Attacks to freedom of the press are an attack to the people themselves and their other freedoms.
When journalists are harassed, attacked or even killed (just as the case in Ampatuan, Maguindanao province where 57 people, 32 of them journalists and media workers, were massacred) is that an attack to the people?
Yes. A muffled press leaves the public unable to see what those in power want to be hidden. Ideally journalists have to work as beacon on the hill or as light for the truth, as watchdogs, as fiscalizers, as voice of the voiceless, as communicator and partner in development. When they are not allowed to exercise this right and are not allowed to work to their fullest capacity, then the ideals and aspirations of democracy is also endangered.
What are some examples of these attacks?
Some examples include threatening a news person for reporting on a particular interest that affected some people, not giving due attention on the request of members of the working press access to information they need to report fairly and accurately on a story, filing harassment cases like libel to scare journalists from pursuing a story, physically harming the journalists who are just trying to do their jobs, among others.
How should we view ideals of press freedom in the light of the limitations of the press in general and the reputation of some members of the press in terms of questions of integrity, competence, and ethical problems?
The public must also not generalize and rush at a judgment. In Bukidnon, we recognize there are some members of the press who have gone out of the bounds of free and responsible journalism. But that does not merit a “class act”. Not all news people are irresponsible and incompetent. Most news media practitioners received training and have the competence to do their work. To the erring members of the press, the news media community, through the principle of self regulation, has the responsibility to police its ranks and to promote that the working press will do excellent work for a nurturing public. The public must be aware that attacking journalists should never be an option just because one feels that they erred or have been problematic in the lens of media freedom and responsibility.
How should the public in general and those subjects of erroneous and unfair reports in particular seek redress from the media?
Report or file complaints for their errors of omission and commission to their editors/publishers/ station managers or to self regulatory /media support organizations like the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, the Philippine Press Institute, the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines, and Atong Press/Bukidnon Committee of the Press. Some of the subjects of public complaint have been suspended/ terminated or subjected to a specific disciplinary action. The important thing is they are reported, so that news community authorities can take proper action,
Journalists and news media organizations are obliged to correct erroneous reports.
Is truth searching and truth telling the sole responsibility of the press?
The citizens, too, have responsibilities and roles to play in the search for truth. One, they must promote the truth. Two, they must profess the truth. Three, they must help the press/news media in their search for the truth. The latter could be in the form of support, such as patronizing local media products and services. This support shall enable the news media to sustain its activities in truth telling. The citizens, too, can contribute to the work of the media by submitting Letters to the Editor, participating in on air discussions, or engage as a citizen journalist. The citizens cannot just carp at the problems and challenges faced by members of the working press, they must also take responsible actions to be a part of the solution.
What are on going efforts to arrive at a dialogue among journalists and between journalists and the citizens?
Journalist organizations are organizing initiatives that protect and promote press freedom and push for responsible journalism as well. The Bukidnon commemoration of World Press Freedom Day is just a reminder for both journalists and the public for the need to protect press freedom in the community. Starting this year, some journalists formed groups like Atong Press to initiate efforts at building up the Bukidnon news media community.
Atong Press has organized media activities that promote responsible journalism and vigilance on press freedom. For the WPFD commemoration, Atong Press is organizing a media forum on Media Law: The Press and the Judiciary. A parade and Holy mass is also being organized.
In the near future, Atong Press plans to initiate the formation of the Bukidnon Committee of the Press, a local version of a press council as a multi sector body to help draw out development for the Bukidnon working press.
The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines, too, has revived its Bukidnon chapter this year and has lined up activities for World Press Freedom Day. The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas Bukidnon chapter also has organized support activities and projects. There are also planned efforts to activate the Bukidnon Press Club.
We have rich dreams for the future of the Bukidnon news media. But to realize them, both the press and the public they ought to serve in general, have to work, and work real hard.[Source: http://www.atongpress.ning.com]
Counting how many battles fought, enemies killed, and firearms recovered has been among the usual indicators in an official’s military scoreboard.
But it’s got to change, military officials tell new generation officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Mindanao.
Col. Julieto Ando, of the Eastern Mindanao Command, has stressed this point to junior military officers who attended the Operation Peace Course (OPKORS), a conflict management and peace building training, now on its seventh in a series, organized by the AFP, Balay Mindanao Foundation Inc. and other partners.
“Instead, count how many enemies you have convinced back to the folds of law,” Ando said in his presentation on “The Challenge: Towards Fresher Perspectives”.
He said it involves changing perspectives from calling “boodle fights” to “boodle peace” at the least to building consensus and partnerships with other stakeholders to win peace.
The new mindset for military operations in Mindanao, he said, calls for more focus on building rather than destroying. Read on.
While praying for silence in the battlefields, Bukidnon Bishop Honesto Pacana called on both government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to keep on talking and never to allow times of silence in the peace process.
Pacana said the silence of the guns is not enough unless there is continuing dialogue between the two parties.
The bishop described to MindaNews the peace process situation at the moment as “experiencing silence.” He said the ongoing hostilities are a proof of that as he appealed for a continuing peace process.
He has called for prayers among the Catholics for peace as they celebrate Christmas in his homily for the first morning mass on December 16 at the San Isidro Cathedral.
He has appealed to the faithful to include in their prayers peace in the country, especially in Mindanao.
Pacana said even if Bukidnon is not directly within conflict areas related to the GRP-MILF problem, it has its own peace issues.
Read a full report on MindaNews.com.
I just want to announce that I joined RP2010 The Election Watch Blog created recently by Davao blog icon Blogie Robillo.
Here’s what I got from the new blog’s “About” page:
The RP2010.com blog endeavors to be the poll watchdog for the Philippine Presidential Elections in the year 2010. As such, we, the bloggers behind it, commit to helping ensure clean and honest elections through non-partisan coverage of election-related news and commentary.
I like poll blogging. I think this blog is different, however, because it will not only be a venue for just ANY commentary. This one leans towards and focuses on advocacy for clean and honest elections.
Cut-throat and new competition, lack of reliable marketing personnel, and the “global crisis” hit Bukidnon’s local newspaper over the past months.
To survive, a series of austerity waves splashed our small newsroom and over the past months it has affected operations.
Until one day, the publisher announced retrenchment or downsizing or whatever.
We will be forced to squeeze limited resources, go the extra mile, bid goodbye to some close colleagues just to stay alive.
This is the best time to do “magic” from little resources to big dreams. Read More…
The Bukidnon tribe is seeking endorsement from the city government of Malaybalay for its Daraghuyan ancestral domain claim over at least 4,700 hectares inside the Mt. Kitanglad Range and Natural Park. Bae Inatlawan Adelina Tarino, head claimant, said the city government’s endorsement is the last requirement for the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to process their application.
“We hope you will help us in this requirement, which is the last document we need for the application,” Tarino’s September 23 letter to Mayor Florencio Flores, said. Tarino’s letter was written in Cebuano.
Flores endorsed the request to the city council on the same day. The legislators have calendared it for October 7, Tarino said, adding Councilor Manuel Dinlayan, the council’s committee on indigenous people’s chair, assured here it will be tackled this week.
She noted the tribe’s great difficulty in acquiring an endorsement from the barangay government in Dalwangan village, where the tribe is based. Read full story here.
It was a routine surf for news from places where I used to live. The order is always from the latest city, then backwards. So it was from Davao, then Quezon City-Antipolo, Iloilo, and then Cagayan de Oro.
But I was stuck in cyber Iloilo, particularly at Sun Star Iloilo’s website.
The headline reads like this as of 9:55p.m. of September 17: Police prepare transfer of ‘bad’ cops to Mindanao.
Bad cops to Mindanao? Our Mindanao is the country’s dump site? Read More…
Waking up to a broadcaster howling against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front one morning, I was tempted to turn the radio off.
The grain of his voice has pestered me in my space in that corner of the house.
“Maayo ng girahon sila kay gusto man diay nila og Independence!” Gusto pa gyod nila iapil ang tibuok Bukidnon aron mohimo sila og regional government!” (It’s good to go to war with them since they wanted independence. They also like to cover the whole Bukidnon in a bid to form a regional government!).
I was really forced to get on my feet even if I only had three hours of sleep yet and dialed the radio station. Read More…
“Iitsa, tamoka, yataki, tumbi!” “Iitsa, tamoka,
yataki, tumbi!”
Iitsa, tamoka, yataki, tumbi! (That’s throw, catch, step and stamp!)
I thought for a while it was a line in a Kenyan song I learned from
someplace else, but the words sounded familiar even if it was belted
out in a universal beat.
Waway Saway’s song lingered in my hearing perimeter even hours after
watching a video on it, which he posted at Youtube.com.
The song was about care for the environment in which the singer urged
the listeners to throw, catch, step and stamp on one’s fear against
caring for the environment.
The video showed Gali (“fellow” or Binukid equivalent to Cebuano’s
“Bai”) perform in an international audience with fellow Talaandig
artist Balugto Necosia in a peace concert in South Korea’s tourist
favorite Naminara Island. Read More…
Justice delayed is justice denied and in Bukidnon, whose courts are swamped with cases, resetting a trial today would likely mean waiting for 2010, an official of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines has warned.
Anastacio Rosos, IBP Bukidnon chapter president, said the problem has hampered the speedy dispensation of justice in the province’s four regional trial courts.
He said the lack of judges caused each of the four courts to have a load of at least 1,000 cases, affecting specially the hearing of criminal cases. Read full report here.
He said one indicator is that the courts’ schedules had been filled up, that cases
to be reset for hearing could be scheduled in 2010.
Rosos said IBP found the whole year of 2009 is filled with court hearings. He said they have started plotting out schedules for 2010.
That Bukidnon is a peaceful province is now a myth.
One cannot play blind to the kind of stories we hear from both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the New Peoples Army about gaining strength against each other.
Both camps, even with disproportionate advantages, have brought the battlefield from the mountains to the media.
The news room has become a fierce war zone of propaganda. Read More…
ISTAMBAY SA MINDANAO 
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