Free Nation?

Break Free from Poverty
by: Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

-------------------------

One hundred and ten years after we broke free of foreign bondage, we remember with deep gratitude our heroic forebears who paid the ultimate sacrifice on the altar of freedom so that we may live as a sovereign people.

The centuries-old struggle continues. Instead of colonizing powers, we must now protect our freedom and future as a nation from global economic storms and security threats.

The Philippines has built up a strong economy which is helping us meet the challenges of the global surge in the price of food and fuel. A strong and growing economy has been the central pillar we have labored to create to help guarantee peace, order and stability in our country. It is paying off: our economy reached its highest level of growth in 30 years last year, the peso is strong, and we are close to balancing our budget.

As a result of our economic comeback, we are able to invest in key sectors to cushion the harsh impact of rice and fuel on our poor. We are also able to continue to invest in necessary infrastructure like roads, bridges and education, to name a few. All the while, we are balancing these vital investments with a commitment to meet our fiscal obligations and balance the budget in 2010.

We have been working tirelessly to address challenges arising from the slowdown in the global economy combined with the spike in oil and food prices. The government is working to make sure that our food supplies remain stable and that we put food on the table for every Filipino.

In terms of oil, the high price of gasoline and everyday commodities hits our poor the hardest. While the high price of oil is a global issue and outside the control of government, we have introduced measures to lift the burden of our people.

However, no matter what actions we take, this is a global problem. We must work together to resolve this if there is going to be any long-lasting improvement.

It is important to acknowledge the important role that our international friends and allies have made to our national development. This includes the countries and organizations who are our development partners and the foreign investors who have become part of our business community and who have brought their technologies and capital to the Philippines.

You are a part of the Philippine economic success story. We are grateful for your contributions and your commitment to our nation and our people.

Be with us in our steadfast desire for the Philippines to break free from the bondage of poverty and to be able to join the first world in 20 years.


These are excerpts from the President’s speech during the reception for the 110th anniversary of Philippine independence at Malacanang Palace on June 12, 2008.

Ces Drilon Kidnapped?

June 9, there was a weird kind of silence in the newsroom regarding the shocking news that veteran journalist Ces Drilon and her team were kidnapped in Sulu. Everyone somehow knew about it, but no one dared to talk, after all it is an unconfirmed news.

June 10, ABS-CBN released a statement on the alleged kidnapping. Everyone from the President to senators and to various media groups all over the world reacted to the story. It is indeed frustrating if there really is a kidnapping. The Philippines has always been on the list of countries where there is limited press freedom. The country is home to several journalists being killed. Ces Drilon, being a famous TV personality, would surely attract media attention all over the world... and may place the country on top of the list of murdered journalists.


Here is the official statement issued by ABS-CBN:

Three ABS CBN journalists Ces Drilon, Jimmy Encarnacion, and Angelo
Valderama are missing in Sulu. All efforts are underway to find them
and bring them home. Until we learn more details, ABS CBN News
requests other media to report on this matter with utmost
consideration for the safety of our news team.

ABS CBN News is in touch with the families and ask that their privacy
be respected.

Maria Ressa's Take

The electricity issue has been plaguing newspapers and TV news for some time now. The focus of the story is on Meralco, which is the biggest power distributor in the country. Meralco happens to be a Lopez-owned company. Same with ABS-CBN, who airs reports on such story. Criticisms surfaced regarding the alleged bias of the network towards the power firm. Here is the response of ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs Head Maria Ressa, which appeared in abs-cbnnews.com


We Are Journalists First
By Maria Ressa

------------------
How independent is ABS-CBN News & Current Affairs?
------------------

In the past week, several people have alluded to Lopez control of the news agenda on ABS-CBN. On May 14, Secretary Eduardo Ermita hinted that an ABS-CBN story on the NBN-ZTE deal was being used as a "diversionary tactic" by the Lopezes, who are also the majority shareholders of Meralco. He said, "it is highly probable given players of issue which is electricity." That was followed by strong words by presidential son and Congressman Mikey Arroyo effectively questioning the integrity of ABS-CBN News. Over the weekend, the Philippine Daily Inquirer ran a quote from an anonymous source who said that the prize for a dialogue between President Arroyo and Meralco Chairman & CEO Manuel Lopez would be "ABS-CBN’s cooperation." How independent is ABS-CBN News & Current Affairs?

It is a good time to be an ABS-CBN journalist because times like these define a news organization and tell us much about our society. A lot is now being said about the role ABS-CBN plays in the power struggle over Meralco.

Many believe the Arroyo government is out to silence ABS-CBN by harassing the Lopez family. President Arroyo’s allies, on the other hand, accuse ABS-CBN of reporting on the new NBN-ZTE witness to divert attention from Meralco. They say they are afraid to go against the Lopezes because of possible retaliation by ABS-CBN.

That’s not what the facts show. On April 29, ABS-CBN’s online news team broke the story of the brewing battle between Meralco’s majority stakeholder, the Lopez family, and its harshest critic, GSIS chairman Winston Garcia. At that point, neither Garcia nor the Lopezes were comfortable with us because we exposed what had been going on behind the scenes.

After the first story, Garcia said he was convinced of our impartiality and became a frequent guest on ANC, ABS-CBN and a news source of abs-cbnnews.com.

As for the Lopez family, they know where we stand. My mandate is to create a professional news group with world-class standards. Yet, in our polarized society, the idea that the Lopezes would not "use" ABS-CBN for its vested interests seems hard to believe. I believe that is a reflection of the mindset, customs and corrupt practices today rather than a reflection of the reality we at ABS-CBN live through daily.


Track record
Again, I point to our track record: let’s look at our coverage of the Ultra Stampede. On that day, our reporters asked us, "How do we handle the people angry with ABS-CBN? How do we deal with those who are grieving and blaming ABS-CBN?" I said, "put them on air." We asked our journalists to go after the most critical voices and to get the worst evidence against ABS-CBN they could find. Treat the story as if we aren’t ABS-CBN because we are journalists first.

So how do I manage the interests of the Lopezes? It’s simple: I don’t manage them because they are not the interests of the newsroom. We are a newsroom run by journalists, and our end goal is to hold the government and the private sector accountable for the public good.

In order to do that, we journalists have to first hold ourselves accountable, making sure we protect no vested interests. If we do our jobs well, all Filipinos will benefit. If we do our jobs well, we will help build a better nation with more transparent processes.

Two years ago in a Lopez company forum, patriarch Oscar Lopez lauded our Standards & Ethics Manual. Manolo Lopez asked us to "stop being so critical" because he said that the Arroyo administration takes it out on Meralco.

I said we report what we see and could not tailor the news to fit any vested interests. If what he said was true, I asked, why not come out with it publicly? He told me, "Maria, you just don’t understand."

Last Friday, he finally said it publicly – that he believed the reason why Meralco was being targeted was because the government wanted to control ABS-CBN. He also admitted he has never been able to control ABS-CBN News.

When President Arroyo asked me why ABS-CBN was "critical," I said that we do not consider ourselves "critical" of the government. We believe we demand accountability because that is our role as journalists.

We also reflect reality. After all, 76% of Filipinos in Metro Manila say they distrust President Arroyo (according to Pulse Asia’s March 2008 Ulat ng Bayan). We have no other motive than to do our jobs well. Again, my answer to the President is the same as my answer to the Lopezes: if we do our jobs well, all Filipinos will benefit because we will help build a better nation with more transparent processes.

If you watch our newscasts, you’ll see that our coverage of the Meralco issue is extensive and fair. ANC aired, live and in full, the joint congressional hearing on Meralco. Our interest is to get to the Truth because we are responsible to the people. Whether we’re reporting on the Ultra stampede, the Manila Peninsula siege, the NBN-ZTE scandal or the issue of high electricity rates, we hold nothing back.

If you don’t like the news, don’t shoot the messenger. If you have no agenda, you cannot accuse ABS-CBN News & Current Affairs of taking sides.

asian death toll

What is happening to Asia?

2 weeks ago, Cyclone Nagris ripped through the Irawaddy delta in Myanmar killing almost 30,000 people as of press time. The cyclone also left almost 2 million homeless and more than 30,000 missing. A U.S. official even estimates there could be up to 100,000 deaths.

Considered the worst disaster to hit Asia since the 1991 cyclone that hit Bangladesh killing over 140,000 people, the Myanmar cyclone has shocked the world and gave the world reasons to pour in their helping hand. The problem is, the Myanmar Junta government is too paranoid with international assistance that the aid reaches only to a few. What's worst is the fact that the government is too focus on the May 10 Constitutional Referendum instead of distributing relief goods. True, the referendum is important, but can they at least postpone it?

A few hours ago, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck China killing as of now nearly 9,000 people. Many people were trapped under rubbles of buildings as thousands evacuated their offices. Witnesses say they saw buildings swayed for over 2 minutes. The quake was felt in Thailand, Vietnam and Taiwan.

Chinese President Hu Jintao ordered emergency services for the victims. This came amid the Enterovirus 71 outbreak in China which killed 34 children so far and infecting 25,000 children. The outbreak is still on going. All these just ahead of the Beijing Olympics this August.

First it was Myanmar, one of the poorest countries in Asia. Then China, one of the richest countries in Asia. All destroyed by a natural event. What does this tell the world?

What could be next?
Or where?