Opening remarks for seminar Facebook: a friend or a foe?

                Our ever dynamic Masscom Seminar teacher, Mr. Harvey Inahid, our active organizer of this seminar, the Harlequins, beautiful and handsome Josenians, friends, ladies and gentlemen, Good morning!

                Facebook has given us the glory of expression and communication. This social networking site enables us to be heard out and connect with the people around the globe. It has informed us, educated, and entertained as well. We were so engrossed with these facts that Facebook has pushed us to practice Freedom of expression to the extent that we, unwittingly or deliberately, maim a person’s life or even your own life. Today, our speakers will talk about the topic: Facebook, a friend or a foe? To educate us about the advantage and disadvantages of Facebook in order for us to be guided in using Facebook wisely and responsibly. So set back, relax, learn and enjoy! 

#nervous

#firsttime

A Notion to Crime and Justice of the Philippines

This is a respond to:

 http://politikalon.blogspot.com/2011/09/crime-and-justice-in-philippines.html

                All over the Philippines unending crimes and unjust justices are widespread. It is obvious that the justice system in this country is neither fair nor just for some people or maybe for many people especially when it comes to criminal justice. Various crimes against humanity have occurred and that might still occur if this will not be given enough attention and right action.

                Notwithstanding some development and revisions in law and order, crime remained a major problem from time to time. Crime is on a rampage in the streets of many towns and cities, in many places. By this, we should pay attention to the crime rates that we have in the Philippines. Statistics show that there has been a downward trend in crime rates over the last two years but we should not be too confident that it will get lower and lower over time. We can never tell. Crime should be stopped, if not, at least prevent it from spreading out. We always wanted a safer community to live in and what I think could be one way of achieving this is crime prevention, successful crime prevention. Successful crime prevention efforts will promote a safer community by enhancing the perception of safety and the attitudes and behaviors that will help people feel safe. If we cannot stop the crimes all around, at least we do take an action and start it out even in simple ways. It’s just a matter of step by step process.

                We all know that it is morally impossible to find anything really good or truly right when injustice is an element of circumstance. As I watched TV news, when you have committed a crime, justice seems blurry because I think that nowadays truth and justice is somewhat dying. Our system of justice here in the Philippines, somehow, is no longer preventing the people from being unfairly convicted when charged with a crime. I actually believe in our legal system and I believe in justice. I believe that with justice established injustices are sanctioned but what I observed now is that“Miscarriage of Justice” is getting trendy. I know this isn’t right, this is totally wrong that is why we should not let justice be defeated by injustice. There is always room for changes, we might not get things right and stop injustices but we can always change how we handle situations like this. (400)

- Zaesl Mary Ego-ogan

One Hundredth of a Second (Reflection)

            The “One Hundredth of a Second” is a film that serves as an eye opener to the nature and reality of our job as journalist. The film caters the battle between career and life, and clash between heart and mind. We are also given a chance to make our own stand, and weigh everything. The main question to ponder will be, chance or choice?

            If I were in Kate’s shoes, I would choose to cease the gunman from shooting the girl. I am a human being blessed with innate moral conscience and I intend to act like one. My career or job as a journalist is not an excuse to be insouciant with the indispensable gift that the girl and I have in common ― LIFE.

            I am not God who can bring back someone to life but I am a man who can afford to miss that achievement in my career and wait for greater achievements to come. It’s not the career that I have lost, but the life that I saved that counts.

            On the other hand, the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA)  fifth standard in the Code of Ethics states that while photographing subjects do not intentionally contribute to, alter, or seek to alter or influence events.

Others may say that it is merely a chunk of the pineapple job of a photojournalist to take photos; however, it will be a selfish kind of service. If you let that gunman kill the girl, then you are no different from him. You may not be his comrade, but the fact that you have attested that the girl is in plight, and you can already foresee the palpable aftermath, yet you choose to be blind and play like Pontius Pilate afterwards, still you’re just like him. The man could kill the girl through his gun and you could kill the girl through your cam.

Conscience has nothing to do as lawgiver or judge; but is a witness against me if I do wrong, and which approves if I do right. To act against conscience is to act against reason and God's Law according to Arthur Phelps.

            Moreover, it is stated in the ninth element of journalism that in order for a journalist to fulfill his or her duty of providing the people with the information they need to be free and self-governing, its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience.

            Ergo, I still did my job as a journalist albeit I chose to save the girl.

            Let me end this by sharing James Nachtwey’s thoughts about his job and experience as a photojournalist and war photographer, “the worst thing to feel that as a photographer I am benefiting from someone else’s tragedy. This idea haunts me. It’s something I have reckon with every day because I know that if ever allowed genuine compassion to be overtaken by personal ambition, I will have sold my soul. The only way I can justify my role is to have respect for the other person’s predicament. The extent to which I do that is the extent to which I become accepted by the other; and to that extent, I can accept myself.”

Grand Halad Kapamilya (Reflection)

Last June 30, 2012, the Grand Halad Kapamilya took place in the Cebu Normal University.

            Since it was my first time to participate in this event, I was curious and excited in the flow of the event, and how will things work out. So, to feed my curiosity, I went there. As I was on my way to CNU, I can already say that this event is much awaited and anticipated by lots of people from different towns/barangays in Cebu, and even from the nearby provinces. By just focusing on the fact that there are people coming from nearby provinces who want to be part of this event, I can say that this event has been doing well ever since. The participants are already in the venue at dawn. Some of them brought their own food and drinks aside albeit there are free foods and drinks offered. I am elated that despite the very hot weather and crowded place, people still manage to smile and to be patient in waiting for their turn.

            The impact of the free service to the people is it makes them grateful and happy because there are people who wish to avail a certain service during ordinary days but could not avail due to financial problem. For those people who can afford a certain service anytime, they can save their money for future use. Also, they can fully enjoy the free services that they have acquired.

 On the other hand, the impact of the free service to the people giving it is they can help the people come up with an idea to improve their livelihood like the T-shirt printing demo (manual). It can be their sideline or business according to DJ Jackie of MOR. Also, she said that this is their way of thanking the Kapamilya for their support throughout. In addition, Manong Ronario, a barangay vaccinator, mentioned that he is happy in giving free service (injection of anti-rabies) to the dogs and cats.

True enough, I can say that the Grand Halad Kapamilya is a big help to all people, and I do hope that this event will continue to serve whole-heartedly not just for the Cebuanos, but for all the people from different places.

This event has inspired me a lot to extend my open arms to the people who need my help. It also made me realized that you don’t have to be rich in order to help, but as long as you have the heart in rendering your service fully, it is more rewarding than any free service.

La Indolencia de los Filipinos (Reflection)

     La Indolencia de los Filipinos, widely known by many as “The Indolence of the Filipinos” is an essay written by Dr. Jose Rizal explaining the alleged sluggishness of the Filipinos when the Philippines is still under the control of Spain.

     Rizal admitted that at that era, Filipinos were idle yet not by nature but because of certain causes and reasons. There are certain factors that made the Filipinos indolent. Long before the Spaniards arrived in our land, our natives are laboriously transacting businesses with different countries such as China, Arabia, Japan, Malaysia, and other countries in the Middle East. This has ceased when the Spain colonized the Philippines. Our natives became indolent because they lack of unity to fight against the hostile attacks of the government and other foreign society. The Spain did not establish quality education especially in agriculture, commerce and industry, and if there has, the lessons being taught were obsolete and lack resources that will guide them. Also, if the Filipinos cultivate their own land and own businesses, they were asked to pay enormous taxes or rentals and were exploited by foreign rulers. In addition, the religious aspect of the Filipinos were not given so much attention because the friars themselves are not persuasive in encouraging the Filipinos to strive hard; instead, they instill in the minds of the Filipinos to remain indigent because according to the friars, it would be easier for them to be in heaven when they die. Moreover, the Spanish officials were not good example of laborers. They reported to their works late and left early without doing their duties and responsibilities. No wonder, the aftermath of all these are indolent Filipinos.

     When we spend our entire lives worshipping such a cruel and inhumane society, forced upon us by aliens who do not even know our motherland, we are destined to tire after a while.  We are not fools, we are not puppets who simply do as we are commanded – we are human beings, who are motivated by our will towards the accomplishment of our objectives, and who strive for the preservation of our race.  When this fundamental aspect of our existence is denied of us, who can blame us if we turn idle?

     As what Rizal said,“an illness will worsen if the wrong treatment is given.”

                                           - John Lend D. Sugarol