I’m going to leave the substantive issues to the op-ed page, where they belong. Suffice it to say that this idiotic notion has got me thinking about other and better sanctions that could be imposed by, say, the KBP (from which we keep hearing words like "self-regulation," with little proof that it works) on errant members. There are, to me, crimes far worse than interviewing shady characters – who, you’ll agree, often make more interesting subjects than those pedicured poobahs in Malacañang, Congress, and Camp Aguinaldo. (Wait a minute, did I just put "shady characters" on the opposite side of this equation?)
For purveyors of news and opinions, such capital offenses comprise stupidity, shallowness, shamelessness, avarice, and their ilk. Some reporters and correspondents do deserve to be bound and gagged – not for some silly reason like aiding the enemy or abetting terrorism, which is beyond most of them to do even if they wanted to, but for their undisguised opportunism and sensationalism. Lately I’ve been telling friends in the media how dismayed I (and presumably many others) have become by this situation in which – probably in reflection of national politics and the culture of politics – there’s hardly any line anymore between journalism and entertainment. This Kapamilya vs. Kapuso rivalry has pushed TV reporters to do things self-respecting journalists should find alien to their calling – like pretend to be cops, to be social workers, and, yes, to be showbiz personalities in their own right.
The state of local television is coming close to execrable. Except for some talk shows and news analysis on ANC, there’s hardly anything for the brain. Public money is being wasted on insipid government PR programs nobody watches – why the heck should anyone? For the soul and spirit – instead of culture and the arts – we have religious revivalists. Of course, there’s also the fair perception that we’re drowning in a sea of sexual innuendo, as this typical letter from a reader bemoans:
"Dear Mr. Dalisay: I am writing to you to bring to your attention the vulgarity and indecency that is going on in showbiz-oriented talk shows on Philippine television. Aside from delicate topics concerning the private lives of actors and actresses which they discuss openly and the use of foul language (e.g. balahura, makati, malandi, etc.) by its guests and hosts, the excessive attention they are giving to the so-called sex/pornographic videos of TV personalities who are seen every day on TV by everyone, including children, is getting out of bounds. Whether these videos are authentic or not is beside the point. In other countries where selling of pornographic materials is legal, any reference or advertisement of these things in daytime TV programs is strictly prohibited. Can we do something about this?"
Sure, we can – if we happen to be producers, advertisers, directors, reporters, and entertainers moving along a loftier trajectory than the profit-driven life. It all begins with us, and with what kind of compromises we’re willing to make to buy that new Mercedes-Benz or that house in Tagaytay.
Let me get this very clear: I’m against all forms of censorship, except when children are involved. I’m no prude, and I don’t mind it if, at certain late and specified hours, the program content gets more risqué than those anime adventures that hog afternoon programming. (I have this pet theory that the sublime and the crass do and must go together in an intellectual and artistic democracy. Europe is both the Sistine Chapel and that aptly titled program Eurotrash – in spite of which Western civilization as we know it will not collapse.) I think censorship makes it easier for people to become dumb and to be shepherded like bleating livestock, by leaving vital decisions about information and culture to a State that’s much less interested in dramaturgy than in keeping itself in power. (And I certainly don’t trust the Church or its agents, either, to make those decisions for me.) I can’t even trust "self-regulation" to an industry association with good reason to cozy up to the powers-that-be and no public record whatsoever of upholding intelligence and good taste in its decisions.
I think "self-regulation" should begin and take place precisely there – in and with oneself, employing one’s good sense, critical judgment, and, again, good taste in deciding what to make of a story or a developing situation. No more, no less. Sadly, these qualities – which you can’t regulate or enforce by law – seem to be in critically short supply.
Have you ever tried to withdraw cash from an ATM and gotten nothing back but a debit notice and no money? This happened to a colleague of mine, Prof. Celia Bulan from our Speech department. Celia wrote me to relate her travails, which I hope the banks in question will do something about:
"1) On June 11, 2004 at 11:52 am, I tried to withdraw cash four times all totalling P15,000. The four attempts were all unsuccessful in that no cash ever came out. 2) That same day, I immediately filed a written complaint in the UCPB Katipunan, Loyola Heights office with a Ms. Myrna Tumbot, who assured me that my problem would be solved in two weeks’ time and that I could follow up my case with their UCPB ATM head office in Makati. 3) I also checked my ATM balance inquiry to know whether or not the P15,000 had been debited, and it was. 4) I left to visit my grandchildren the US between June and November, thinking and hoping that my problem would be resolved by the time I returned. It was not. 5) In November 2004, through representations done by my mother-bank, PNB UP, the amount of P3,000 was returned to my PNB account. 6) But in February 2005, the bank wrote me to say that: ‘Per our verification, Prof. Bulan, the first three transactions were all successful…. We returned P3,000 to your PNB account because said amount was retracted when you failed to get the money within the allotted time.’ 7) Disagreeing vehemently with their response, I have lodged a letter of complaint lodged with the deputy governor of the Central Bank, hoping they will investigate the case."
Oh, dear, how can ordinary citizens like Prof. Bulan defend themselves in cases like this where we seem to be at the mercy of malfunctioning machines and their handlers? The amount involved – P15,000 (or P12,000 after the partial refund) – is just too small to stake one’s reputation on, but at the same time, that’s more than half our monthly salary as full professors! I’d be hopping mad if something like this happened to me. Thankfully my worst case has been that of a "temporary" but inexplicable debit to my account, only to see it miraculously restored a couple of days later – and I’ll bet that’s happened to many of you, too; I wonder where the money goes during those two days or so. As you all know, I’m a big fan of technology and I love ATMs – but where does consumer protection come in, in these cases?
A few weeks ago, I walked into a meeting with Juan and Stevie at their place. Out of nothing Stevie tells me that Emily of Senco has a promo: 60K for an iBook with one-year warranty. It was the 12" combo model, and it drove me crazy. You see, prior to that meeting I had already told myself that I would buy a set of studio lights to further broaden the scope of Tuna’s and my photography business. I walked out of that room a crazy man – it was driving me insane.
The next day, I picked up the phone and gave Emily a call. She told me that the 12" combo drive model was 60K and gave me really good payment terms. I found myself saying "It’s a go, I’ll order one!"
Last Friday night while we were in class, I got a call from Emily: "Sir, you’re iBook’s here." I got really, really excited! I wanted to get it the next day, but she said Monday. So last Monday, I hired someone to pick the laptop up from Senco... then the bad things started to happen.
The driver brought the iBook up to my office and I was so happy to open it. A couple of hours later, Emily calls and says there’s something wrong with my check! I was furious. How could there be no funds when I had just deposited money a few days before? She says that the date written on my check was 2004, not 2005.... Stupid me!
I sent the driver back to Emily with a new check. At about 5:15 p.m., I got a call from Emily: "Sir, your driver needs to talk to you." The driver then said, "Sir, the car just got wrecked, but it’s being towed." Aaaarrrgh!
What a day, but nonetheless, I thanked the Lord for the brand new iBook!
Today, I brought Tuna to where we had our first real date: under the stars in the bleacher seats of the College Field 1, across the Blue Eagle Gym. I gave her the iBook in a nice Crumpler bag, and this is what she saw when she opened the lid:
She was utterly speechless.
So now, I just lost my first Mac to my fiancée. Tee-hee! But God is good, because a PowerBook is coming soon from my office.
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