If the petition to renew ABiaS-CBN is getting more laughable then so are the comments surrounding it. What one could see is that some people dare to talk about press freedom and healthy competition in their support towards their favorite network. This makes me want to blast them and say that they have failure of mind going on just like Leni Loud Robredo!
First, let's talk about press freedom
I heard from the Manila Times that ABiaS-CBN has a long history with the Marcoses and Filipino communist groups. If that's true then consider the irony that you have Filipino communist lawmakers backing it up. Then you have Filipino rallyists protesting to have it renewed. Since when has communism ever been compatible with press freedom? The history of communist countries and freedom of the press has not been good. Try reading about North Korea's or China's history to get a glimpse of how communism has NEVER been compatible with ANY KIND of freedom. That's why I'm already getting critical about the thought of ABiaS-CBN's existence as a guarantee for anybody's press freedom.
Is it me or has the mainstream media become the REAL dictatorship? One can consider the pressure being put over minor bloggers to just shut up. A good example is how Maria Ressa of CRappler can taunt Ilda Ignacio of Get Real Philippines as a "minor minor blogger". Ironically, Ressa supports Jover Laurio as supposedly "well-researched". HUH?! You have the current "f*ckchecking" which has unfortunately targeted even NOBODY bloggers like Krizette Lauretta Chu. Best way this dictatorship is implemented is by its supporters. Some of its supporters (based on my experience) will try to use the network as an excuse to shoot down ANY minor blogger's argument if the truth should be inconvenient. They may also want to put the card that they can be wrong but not minor bloggers? Being a mass media network means that they should be held MORE ACCOUNTABLE if ever they spread the wrong information, right?
Need I remind you that every freedom has a responsibility that goes along with it? Let's consider the fact that ABiaS-CBN has the RIGHT to dislike President Rodrigo R. Duterte. However, if it comes to delivering news then they need to deliver it as it is. While it's good to show President Duterte's shortcomings but shouldn't they also highlight his successes? One good example of their being bias was that they only had Jim Paredes' side of the story. Sure, Paredes' side was needed but what about the Duterte Youth? Doesn't an investigation require both sides of the story? Karen Davila has her right to be critical of President Duterte but she should save her opinion in her columns - not let it get in the way of her work.
Second, let's talk about healthy competition
Some would dare to talk about ABiaS-CBN should be there for the sake of healthy competition. Healthy competition? Don't make me laugh. We can consider the negative list rule in the 1987 Constitution. No foreign media is ever allowed to operate within the Philippines. How can it be healthy competition when ABiaS-CBN for decades has been a beneficiary of Carlos P. Garcia's "Filipino First" policy? Based on an article from the Manila Times that I mentioned earlier - it may have also been a beneficiary of the Marcos Years until their relationship with Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. soured up. Not having to compete with more networks thanks to the negative list doesn't really promote real healthy competition.
Is it me or do some Filipinos themselves tend to view competition as a battlefield all the time? Then you have their B.S. statements about foreign direct investors (FDI) such as "Well, only foreign investors get rich in that scenario!" aside from the belief that foreign investors are foreign invaders. They easily buy the lies of people coming from groups like Bayad Muna because a lack of knowledge in basic economics leads to backward thinking. If they support the idea that letting foreign networks will automatically mean the end of ABiaS-CBN then they are wrong. Local businesses that don't do well will perish whether or not foreign investors arrive. Local businesses that do well will not perish even when there's much competition. It's just like how Samsung in South Korea or Sony in Japan just got better because of competition.
If these people want to talk about having healthy competition then here's what. I would agree to let ABiaS-CBN have its license to broadcast back. However, its supporters must support the COMPLETE removal of the negative list. That means ABiaS-CBN will have to compete against foreign media entities. That is the life or death of ABiaS-CBN should be more dependent on playing the game fair and less on government intervention. That is ABiaS-CBN would probably die by its own hand if it violates the rules of a real free market or if it doesn't change its practices. I'm in favor of ABiaS-CBN's renewal only if excessive restrictions on foreign investors are completely removed.
First, let's talk about press freedom
I heard from the Manila Times that ABiaS-CBN has a long history with the Marcoses and Filipino communist groups. If that's true then consider the irony that you have Filipino communist lawmakers backing it up. Then you have Filipino rallyists protesting to have it renewed. Since when has communism ever been compatible with press freedom? The history of communist countries and freedom of the press has not been good. Try reading about North Korea's or China's history to get a glimpse of how communism has NEVER been compatible with ANY KIND of freedom. That's why I'm already getting critical about the thought of ABiaS-CBN's existence as a guarantee for anybody's press freedom.
Is it me or has the mainstream media become the REAL dictatorship? One can consider the pressure being put over minor bloggers to just shut up. A good example is how Maria Ressa of CRappler can taunt Ilda Ignacio of Get Real Philippines as a "minor minor blogger". Ironically, Ressa supports Jover Laurio as supposedly "well-researched". HUH?! You have the current "f*ckchecking" which has unfortunately targeted even NOBODY bloggers like Krizette Lauretta Chu. Best way this dictatorship is implemented is by its supporters. Some of its supporters (based on my experience) will try to use the network as an excuse to shoot down ANY minor blogger's argument if the truth should be inconvenient. They may also want to put the card that they can be wrong but not minor bloggers? Being a mass media network means that they should be held MORE ACCOUNTABLE if ever they spread the wrong information, right?
Need I remind you that every freedom has a responsibility that goes along with it? Let's consider the fact that ABiaS-CBN has the RIGHT to dislike President Rodrigo R. Duterte. However, if it comes to delivering news then they need to deliver it as it is. While it's good to show President Duterte's shortcomings but shouldn't they also highlight his successes? One good example of their being bias was that they only had Jim Paredes' side of the story. Sure, Paredes' side was needed but what about the Duterte Youth? Doesn't an investigation require both sides of the story? Karen Davila has her right to be critical of President Duterte but she should save her opinion in her columns - not let it get in the way of her work.
Second, let's talk about healthy competition
Some would dare to talk about ABiaS-CBN should be there for the sake of healthy competition. Healthy competition? Don't make me laugh. We can consider the negative list rule in the 1987 Constitution. No foreign media is ever allowed to operate within the Philippines. How can it be healthy competition when ABiaS-CBN for decades has been a beneficiary of Carlos P. Garcia's "Filipino First" policy? Based on an article from the Manila Times that I mentioned earlier - it may have also been a beneficiary of the Marcos Years until their relationship with Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. soured up. Not having to compete with more networks thanks to the negative list doesn't really promote real healthy competition.
Is it me or do some Filipinos themselves tend to view competition as a battlefield all the time? Then you have their B.S. statements about foreign direct investors (FDI) such as "Well, only foreign investors get rich in that scenario!" aside from the belief that foreign investors are foreign invaders. They easily buy the lies of people coming from groups like Bayad Muna because a lack of knowledge in basic economics leads to backward thinking. If they support the idea that letting foreign networks will automatically mean the end of ABiaS-CBN then they are wrong. Local businesses that don't do well will perish whether or not foreign investors arrive. Local businesses that do well will not perish even when there's much competition. It's just like how Samsung in South Korea or Sony in Japan just got better because of competition.
If these people want to talk about having healthy competition then here's what. I would agree to let ABiaS-CBN have its license to broadcast back. However, its supporters must support the COMPLETE removal of the negative list. That means ABiaS-CBN will have to compete against foreign media entities. That is the life or death of ABiaS-CBN should be more dependent on playing the game fair and less on government intervention. That is ABiaS-CBN would probably die by its own hand if it violates the rules of a real free market or if it doesn't change its practices. I'm in favor of ABiaS-CBN's renewal only if excessive restrictions on foreign investors are completely removed.
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