Atheista -

For those who want to catch the replay of the Octofinals match between UP Manila and Ateneo de Manila, refer to the schedule below.

February 20 -Wednesday – 8:00 PM (LIVE)

February 21- Thursday – 1:00 PM

Feb23 -Saturday – 2:00 PM

Feb 24 -Sunday – 1:00 AM

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I went to a taping of Youth Voice (NBN) and that episode will be shown on March 1 at 7 PM.

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It’s probably the most contentious round since the very first octofinal, but the adjudicators have spoken and they have decided to award it to the underdogs – Ateneo de Zamboanga. I personally feel that the discussions of UP Manila were more nuanced and based in principle, but oh well, people have their reasons. By being a debater, you surrender your fate by allowing your debates to be judged by your peers.

This sets up Ateneo de Zamboanga’s quarterfinal date with the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

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I am both grateful and relieved that people who appeared on the show had mastery of the English language (and the vernacular), the sense of clarity to crystallize and organize issues and the undeniable substantiation to be able to dispel any notion that the Philippine Blogging Community behaved like a lynch mob when the Malu Fernandez issue was at its fever pitch. The power to represent is one scary tool that some unscrupulous individuals would use to skew reality to their side. Certain people who believe in certain paradigms and models might use their position to forward hard line concepts and impose very undemocratic esoteric standards. I think all three bloggers on the show (Josel, Ricky and myself) reflected the voice of reason and logic, but even if bloggers for the large part are lauding the effort, some have been hypocrites in the sense that they have not really put this concept into practice.

credits to: Earl

As the various occurrences (i.e. the one that happened in the first half this year) in the Philippine Blogging Community has proven time and again, certain people are really capable of pointing out the pertinent issues of a particular discussion or debate. We’ve seen many people assert irrelevant and sometimes peripheral arguments that do not even fall in line with the general spirit of what is being discussed. And yes, due to the innate influence of certain people, other bloggers don’t even call them out for their bad logic and pathetic substantiation. *sigh* Even if the baaaaaad logic was so apparent, bloggers still gravitated to that person who simply resorted to cheap rhetoric and anecdotes. That’s why even if the mafia doesn’t exist in formality, the YES men who surround them continue to pander to them like crazy. It’s seriously emetic.

That being said, I would like to say that I misrepresented the Philippine Blogging Community as I know it. There are a considerable number of bloggers would’ve done as good as I did (or maybe slightly worse), but the vast majority will totally struggle to grapple with logic and substantiation. It has happened before and it continues to happen to this point. Hopefully, my efforts to clean up the image of bloggers – away from the militant, bigoted and stupid stereotype to one that actually thinks and one who chooses NOT to resort to petty rhetoric and salawikain.

That is why there is a need for a revolution – a truly democratized setup with no idiots to rattle off insane arguments. I don’t think Idiocy is a viable ideology for certain people to forward. Every fascicle in me still shakes in disdain at how stupid the reasoning was – it shivers twice more once I remember just how much people supported the stupidity.

If you decided to be corrupted to become a mere pawn and lapdog,
If you decided to be that person who didn’t say anything.
Shame on you.

If you didn’t volunteer, you have no right to complain.
HAHA. Idiot.

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I was interviewed with no less than the living legend of  Philippine Investigative Journalism, Ms. Cheche Lazaro. Woah. Together with Josel (AKA the guy who’s been getting tens and thousands of hits since this issue exploded), I was interrogated first regarding the Malu Fernandez issue. There was a bit of a mix up – they thought I had direct links to the content of Tinig.com — but I think I was able to address the issues well (well, I hope I didn’t misrepresent you guys in anyway). Also on hand were a magazine publisher  (whose name escapes me right now – she’s in no way related to People Asia), Alex Magno (a broadsheet columnist) and Ricky Carandang (blogger – and fresh from during the news from the other studio. Hehe. Bloggers weren’t exactly put in the good light (all the time – we were also under scrutiny) so I had to be on the defensive on certain issues that were hurled my way.

Here are the issues that were discussed.

1. Was the reaction to the issue fair? Didn’t the bloggers and internet denizens react to the issue in such a crass and rabid manner that it become a bit hypocritical at the end of the day? Did we act like a huge lynch mob?

2. Do bloggers have the responsibility to police the comments that their visitors leave? Should we prioritize the freedom of expression or should we be more compassionate?

3. Are people more brave when they post opinions online? Does the fact that they can do it anonymously and without repercussions (i.e. facing the other person) aid in giving people extra courage.

How were these issues tackled? Just watch it later at 6 PM. I’ll be posting the replay schedules as soon as I get them.

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I didn’t get to watch the round but I was told that Xavier University (formerly known as Ateneo de Cagayan) beat the University of the Philippines Baguio in the fifth octofinal round of the Square Off! Debate Championships. Xavier becomes the first provincial school to advance to the quarterfinals after schools like Western Mindanao State University, Mindanao State University – Marawi City and University of Baguio failed to secure a slot in the next round. This is an upset of sorts. UP Baguio was the fifth seed in the competition while Xavier was the twelfth seed.

Xavier will face De Lasalle University in the quarterfinals. This is the second upset in five rounds so I guess that shows that anything can really happen.

Octofinal#5: Xavier (12) def. UP Baguio (5), unanimous

Octofinal#4: DLSU (4) def. Univ. of Baguio (13), split

Octofinal#3: PUP (14) def. UST (3), unanimous

Octofinals#2: UP Diliman (2) def. MSU-Marawi City (15), unanimous

Octofinals #1: ADMU (1) def. WMSU (16), unanimous

Next week: Ateneo de Zamboanga vs. UP Manila

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The Primer: Media In Focus is a show that deals WITH the media – on how is a story being reported — and less about what the story is to begin with. But this is a special case. The issue probably fell under this show’s criteria because the person at the center of this commotion is herself a member of the media.

I didn’t exactly keep this as a secret (haha), but if you have been reading my tweets and posts this past week, you would know that I’ll be taping for this week’s episode of Media In Focus at the ABS-CBN News Channel Studios tomorrow afternoon. The topic of the hour-long talk show will be the now explosive Malu Fernandez controversy that stemmed from a) the rudely discriminatory tone of the lifestyle writer’s article on her encounters with Overseas Filipino Workers and b) the general public’s inability to appreciate her acerbic wit. The guests for the program will probably be the journalists from the daily broadsheets, some NGOs who look after OFWs, probably Malu herself and yes, bloggers! It must be noted that other bloggers like Nick of Tingog and Kapuso Ederic of Tinig were also asked to participate but both begged off due to different reasons. I was told that Sassy Lawyer and Josel (more than 1900+ comments!) will be there as well.

Here are the possible issues:

1. Did Malu Fernandez exercise proper discretion in writing the article (and corresponding follow-up) ? Is there really such a thing as target audiences? Are the rules of ethics blurred or relaxed when it comes to writing entertainment or lifestyle pieces compared to straight news and more high brow columns?
2. Is the writer’s publication culpable in anyway? Does the concept of command responsibility apply in cases of acerbic wit gone-out-of-hand/ distasteful writing devoid of wit?
3. How did the media deal with the issue? Was the media reaction late or was the story just not big enough for mainstream media to pick up before the actual explosion of the issue? How should the media cover such stories in the future? Should it wait until an issue reaches fever pitch before taking action?

Obviously, those issues are outside the realm of yours truly and I’ll let the journalists, lawyers and Malu to figure out those things for themselves. I was invited to be a guest for my suggestion to start a writing project. Therefore, I will have to verbalize my concerns as a blogger who in my own little way took part in this massive cyber-indignation rally we launched against Malu’s article.

1. Has blogging emerged as a legitimate and more importantly, significant avenue for people to voice out their dissent and opinions? It must be emphasized that this is the first time that bloggers are being cited as one of the bigger players in this developing story. Have we really gained enough cred to hold enough authority to somehow police the mainstream media by a)whistle-blowing on the incidents of unfair journalism and b)direct them into more news-worthy stories? (the story of Pyro comes to mind) Have we truly arrived as a new and emerging flank of Philippine media or is this a mere fluke?
2. What polices the blogging community from similarly hateful comments directed at people bloggers choose to crucify? Should there be a mechanism to also check the abuses that bloggers commit? A deluge of very personal attacks have come Malu Fernandez’ way and it’s clear that those comments do nothing as far as enhancing the degree of discussion is concerned.Do bloggers have the responsibility of policing their own commenters?

So there. Wish me luck. It will be shown tomorrow at 6.

Update: They just asked me on how I wanted to be introduced – I just told them to say that I’m Benj, a 22 year-old medical student, collegiate debater and blogger at Atheista.net. Hehe

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