Loose Ends

Let us take a quick fly across the news and catch up on a few loose ends.

Anteater Jacket

22,000 Pounds Is a Lot of Anteaters

The Chinese poaching vessel that ran around on Tubbataha Reef near where the US minesweeper was recently extracted carried 11 tons of dead anteaters. Those Chinese, boy, they are weird in the cuisine and clothing departments. The maximum jail time for poaching is 12 years, and time for having endangered species is another six. So I'd give the captain the full 18 years and the next guy in charge eight and all the crew five years each at labor, assigned to assist Palawan in their re-foresting effort.

I'd guess these are not spiritual guys. They don't climb to the tops of mountains and reflect on the power and beauty of God's glorious green earth. 

Bias R Us

"Hey Joe, what's with letting the American minesweeper crew off without jail time, but demanding the Chinese get jailed? Your bias is showing!"

That is not bias, that is a crisp understanding of the TRUTH that commie leftists and ultra-nationalists deny, the United States is a part of the Philippine family and we ought not jail our own errant relatives. Especially if we want America to sweep the Chinese mines off the beaches of Palawan a year or two from now. The distinction is akin to that between a drunken uncle who staggers through the living room and breaks Mama's favorite vase, and a snarling neighbor caught red-handed on the terrace trying to steal Mama's prized Australian cockatoo.

Boston Massacre

When things like this happen, I recognize what a pitiful place our planet is in the people department. To hate so much that the murder of innocents is rationalized as righteous. I ache for the good people who were cast into tragedy by the bomber(s). They were out to celebrate and lost loved ones instead.

Separating Issue from Individual: The President

I've often urged Filipinos, particularly bloggers, to stop criticizing their President as if he were out to "get" the Philippines each time he makes a move they disagree with. Joe Klein of Time Magazine expressed this thought well as follow-up to the Boston Marathon bombing. He was speaking to American media:

• 6. And I would urge those in the media who speak of the United States government as if it were a foreign entity to chill out. You may be further poisoning the demented. Criticism of the government is, of course, as American as oxycont . . . but it is our government and this is our President. You may disagree with one program or another–you may think (wrongly) that Obamacare is socialistic, you may think that the Patriot Act is part of a ruinous, possibly conspiratorial invasion of privacy–but this President has proved time and again that he is a strong American patriot. Any inferences otherwise may reap the whirlwind.

Chinese Fingers

I love a good headline. This one was from Reuters a few days ago.

• "China points finger at U.S. over Asia-Pacific tension"

The article describes China's pout, or rant, about the US pivot to Asia. It quotes a Chinese minister as saying:

•  "There are some countries which are strengthening their Asia Pacific military alliances, expanding their military presence in the region and frequently make the situation there tenser."

By howdy, isn't that the truth. I'm thinking that if China would stand down on its military build-up, maybe the US would go away and leave Asia to its broad enrichment, peacefully. And if they'd get their flippin' boats out of the Philippine EEZ, off Vietnamese islands, and away from Japanese islands, the tensions would fizzle faster than one of JoeAm's famous flat soufflés.

The Chinese are horrible at looking inward and accepting accountability for problems. They remind me a lot of the Catholic  Church.

Could be their cuisine needs changing . . .

Blogging Platforms

JoeAm will be moving his blog to the Word Press platform in early May when he returns from a family vacation to Hong Kong. This will facilitate a cleaner look to the blog and layered discussion threads. The blogs are much richer and deeper when commenters engage each other.  The system will require that those who wish to comment indicate their e-mail address. Addresses will be held in private. Perhaps this will also help thin out the spam that has been infesting the Blogger blog. The web site address will be released when it is opened up for public comment.

Elections

JoeAm has refrained from engaging in election discussions, not wanting to influence Filipinos who are unable to think for themselves. The Department of Immigration made clear that we foreigners are a National Security risk and will be deported if we fool around with elections. Joe does smirk in ironic pleasure as he drives past his Barangay Captain's house, which is the vote-buying center for our area. The candidates for governor of the mighty Biliran Province are playing the election game as it is always played. Without dastardly intellectual discussion.  They won't get deported, I'm quite confident.

Giant Snails and the Slime Infestation

The state of Florida in the US is doing battle with an infestation of giant African snails. The creatures will eat anything green plus your house, if it is made of stucco, because the stucco contains calcium that the snail craves for its shell.  The creatures produce 1,200 young a year, which tops even Filipinos. The snails can be horrid as the following excerpt from a Reuters article illustrates:

• In some Caribbean countries, such as Barbados, which are overrun with the creatures, the snails' shells blow out tires o the highway and turn into hurling projectiles from lawnmower blades, while their slime and excrement coat walls and pavements.

Sounds a little like Get Real Post to me.

The Florida government is looking for a good strong poisonto try to eradicate the slimey creatures.

Cross-Cultural Conversational Convergence

I've long been interested in the process whereby people communicate. Indeed, that was a part of my college education in journalism. We studied matters like non-verbal communication and how to craft arguments to win a debate. Much of the particulars of the course work has evaporated from the synaptic cobwebs of my mind, but a few lessons remain securely in place.

I remember that the order of arguments in a speech is something like 24531, where "2" is the second most powerful, and "1" is the most powerful.  You begin with a zinger, bury the weaker arguments in the middle, and end with the convincing final thrust.

We learned that the power position in a lengthy conference room is one of the end chairs, or immediately to the right of the most important person in the room. The end chair captures the attention of the whole room easily. The position next to the important person captures his power as your own. Of course a high straight-backed chair is a better position than sunk into the sofa.

This comes to mind because I frequently see Filipinos using a debate style in blog arguments that I suppose is intended to strengthen their argument. But it weakens them, at least in a westerner's eyes. It is a black and white statement of cultural convergence that often leads to a clash rather than clarity.

Take this case of two different ways of responding to someone who appears not to grasp the point you have made:

• Response A: "You don't understand what I am saying."

• Response B: " Perhaps I've explained this poorly."

Which is the most powerful response? In the Philippines you almost ALWAYS get Response A. The objective, of course, is to take a whack at the other person to suggest he is not bright enough to grasp what you are saying. This moves him down a peg, which is like moving you up a peg.

Yet, it is the weaker of the two responses.

The person who uses Response B "owns" the confusion. He takes responsibility for the misunderstanding and thereby holds onto the driver's stick. Or wheel. Or the control button.  He projects authority, while the Case A respondent projects whine. At least to an educated westerner.

Most people probably don't even think about it.

Another variation of the "put down" is to pick on the nits, and from that extend that the bigger picture is too flawed for acceptance.

• Observation A: "President Aquino made a poor decision on 'X' and therefore he is a bad president.."

• Observation  B: "President Aquino made a poor decision on X. Here are the reasons."

Observation A is the traditional Filipino method. All acts reflect the person, not the person's decision. Find the flaw and point it out as a flaw in character. Control the argument and you control the person.

The claim to power, or the need to claim it, is very pronounced in the Philippines.

I've argued that almost every interpersonal engagement here is a battle for dominance. Even the most trivial, the gossip, the teasings, the constant shadings that correct what a person says.

But it doesn't really succeed, this need to claim and project power. It too often creates animus. That means bitter anger. So you can connect a lot of dots and understand why politics is such a murderous business in the Philippines.

Of course, personal insult is a part of this dynamic, the posturing for power. Destroy the argument by destroying the person making it. I don't need to provide a case for that. Just go to your nearest anti-blog thread, or Rappler discussion thread, and you'll likely come across that particular "technique".  The need to diminish others is so prominent that, after awhile, it becomes a joke.

How do we get past this? We are all emotional people, of course. But can't we do better?

There are many formal ways to dissect a debate as to good argument or bad, fallacious or logical. To me that academic formality it is a bit of overkill, as we are mostly casual observers reaching for understanding or trying to convince others to see things as we do. 

And of course, you find the same flaws in blog arguments ANYWHERE. Not just the Philippines. But the incidence of an outright push for personal power, versus dissection of issues, is very pronounced in the Philippines. 

To the latter point, I have characterized many (most?) Filipinos as 100 percenters. They enter the  argument to prove they are right rather than to learn or be flexible. I'd say that in 5 years of pounding the blogs, I've seen someone change their opinion maybe once or twice.

That to me is unnatural. Think about it. With all the knowledge out there, the greatest share held by others rather than us, it is peculiar to believe that the correct conclusion rests in our brain and nowhere else.

Yet we too often insist on placing winning above being candid and sincere and precise and honest.

There is a surreal quality to a culture that engages in dialogue for reasons other than discovery. It is crazy-making sometimes. It is impossible to carry on a simple, frank discussion. Everything is wrapped in emotional competitiveness, like banana leaves defining the bibinka.

I'd argue that discovery is a higher ground than winning, and the Philippines would be a better, more productive place if people did not invest so much energy tearing others down.

Here are a few of rules I try to follow, succeeding precisely 83.6 percent of the time to employ them:

• Be a student first and then a teacher. Put learning on a higher plane than winning. It is amazing how that focuses on the issue rather than the person.  It also grants others the honor of being helpful. Or do you have something against making others feel happy or satisfied?

• Recognize that ignorance is not a fault.  Wiki any subject. What percent of the information is new to you? If you did not know 100%, you are in some capacity ignorant. Perhaps the other person is coming at you from the part you don't know. Like, where he has lived or worked or studied, a place that you cannot possibly know. And to pretend you DO know is a very gross ignorance indeed. So let the other person work earnestly to remove your ignorance a little. Grant him that honor.

• Have the strength to be flawed. That's very difficult in the Philippines because the culture is so absolutely unforgiving. But there is a certain disarming quality to someone who has the strength and candor to laugh at his own flaws. It takes away the critic's ammunition. That is why it is called "disarming".

Perhaps you have techniques that work for you, too. Don't hesitate to share them.

Our goals, of course:

• More knowledge.
• Walking the high road.
• Greater satisfaction.

"I Flee and Moan, Therefore I am . . ."

Like Nixon, not Woodward

A short blog of no real consequence, a rebound as it were.

Blogger: (noun) one who flees to his personal writing space and moans to the best of his ability.

Moan: (verb) to point out the flaws in others.

Information is where you find it.

• FOI is a legal initiative to drag information reluctantly from government, for government has a natural drive toward secrecy. It is best done through legislation that mandates accessibility to all but the most sensitive of government information.

• Spying is the risky business of stealing information from another nation to help defend one's own nation. It is generally illegal and is carried out secretly for purposes deemed important and righteous. Spies are often executed.

• Investigative journalism starts with an issue and probes sometimes hidden or undiscovered information to shed light on the issue. It is journalism with a purpose deeper than reporting on everyday events. Investigative journalism will sometimes rely on unrevealed sources that have access to secret information. The righteous justification is found in revealing who did what to whom, when, where, why and how. What is often criminal. 

• Whistle-blowing is the non-journalistic cousin of investigative journalism.

• Wikileaks is a political effort aimed at undermining the integrity of powerful states using methods that are illegal, such as theft of information. It is akin to spying except it is not in defense of any nation, but is for the destruction of nations. Wikileaks would argue that it furthers the betterment of mankind, but one wonders why undertakings are done with disregard toward laws. Laws are the rules by which we pursue the betterment of mankind. 

Wikileaks is Nixon, doing illegal acts for political purposes. Investigative journalism is Woodward, doing discovery on illegal acts.

We should be clear on this.

Scurrilous scumbag: (adjective fronting a noun) Julian Assange

Philippine Bloggers Suck

A Philippine Blogger

I love a dirty headline. Grabs you by the indignity. Grabs you by the curiosity. Grabs you by the prurient interests.

It's the pride of journalism in the Philippines, this finely honed knack for slapping sensationalism across the front pages. Who is attacking whom today? What American transgressions can we pounce on today? Did Kris Aquino cry on television today? Did Miriam explode? Did Enrile zing verbal insults at a fellow senator? Were people murdered at the mall? Beheaded in Mindanao? Arrested in San Francisco? Impeached in the congress? Eaten by a crocodile? Did any buses smash into each other today on the expressway? Trucks roll down the mountain in Mindoro? Bridges collapse? Police conduct a rubout? Flash floods kill some kids? What kidnapped person emerged from the jungles of Sulu and how much was that ransom, anyway? Any Sultans on the rampage today? The Chinese landing on any new Philippine islands? Is Jessica Sanchez coming to the Philippines? Who is her boyfriend here? 

It is endless, the sleaze and slime and underbelly of the Philippines, racked and stacked at newsstands across the land daily, hawked on the highway by gap-toothed vendors thrusting a pile of bold headlines through the car window, or blazed in full bloody color on the television screen, carnage dealt like big magic cards from a pompous talking head's bottomless pit of grue and gore.

I studied journalism at the University of Southern California. Got my Master's Degree at it. Man, we never imagined anything quite like Philippine news. Those were the days when US journalism actually tried to be upstanding. Walter Cronkite ruled the news roost, a man of impeccable objectivity and passion for doing news right.  Dan Rather rather tilted to the left but Tom Brokaw held steady. And Fox News, under the direction of "Da Man" Ruuuuuupert Murdoch, one of those rare Australian hopping creatures of low moral integrity, went sharply right for ratings. "Fair and balanced" became the Fox motto, the big lie, itself testimony to the deceits and slurs this network would willingly ship to overfed and intellectually lazy Americans.

But even Fox news carries itself with integrity compared to Philippine news.

Here, the big television networks use every trick in the book to squeeze out pesos. Jam 50 minutes of shampoo and soap ads at us per hour. Market mercilessly to kids. Turn up the volume of advertisements so we have to leap from the sofa for the remote to push mute. They even feature their own station's drama stars as news features, as if we are all SUPPOSED to be goo-goo eyed watching those ego-polished fake people strut their phony stuff. As if it mattered. As if it were properly a part of every Filipino's earnest, productive work day to know what ACTORS are up to.

I screamed at my wife the other day, as I am inclined to do now and then when the cross cultural pressures get a little heady. "Honeybunch, those television dramas are FAKE you know! They aren't real!"

She tends to get absorbed by them.

But back to the headline.

"Philippine bloggers suck!"

I have drawn that conclusion recently as I've watched another blogger whom I held in high regard go off the deep end of negativity. Angela Stuart-Santiago.  She now joins Ellen Tordesillas on Joe Am's list of Fox News aspirants, bloggers who have gone biased. Gone negative. I fear that Noemi Dado of Blogwatch is going the same route. Who's next? Not Raissa. Please tell me, not Raissa.

Angela got my goat by doing the inside-out twist of the Fitch ratings. Taking what ought to be a moment of celebration for the entire Philippines, flipping it, and attacking President Aquino.

I can't comprehend this.

Well, I can. Each blogger believes we should be perfect. He . . . or she . . . believes the President should be perfect. Perfection in this model is what the blogger believes is best, or correct. Never mind that the blogger has little information to work from and absolutely zero responsibility if he . . . or she . . . ends up WRONG. The Filipino blogger writes into that easy-writing space between his . . . or her . . .ego-bound ideal and reality. And is aghast if anyone  sees it differently.

Filipino bloggers are 100 percenters, just like the normal population. My way or you are an idiot. They don't write to learn, like dear JoeAm. They write to instruct. To lord their wisdom. To prove their superiority.

Filipino bloggers are wits of great nit when they flamboyantly strut their words as if they and only they had the inside scoop, the better perspective, the greater wisdom and the deeper insight. They also leverage people's desire for gore, for pain, for headlines and hard opinions and put conflict in the headline and insult in the text of the article. Nevermind that most of it is fiction, made-up stuff. You know . . . opinion.

The Philippines is a nation always jealous, always envious of the United States. Always insecure, with Filipinos trying to puff themselves up or put the US down. Filipinos are always comparing their nation with the neighbors, Viet Nam, Malaysia, Indonesia. They watch for every international ranking with absolute terror in their hearts.

Then we have a truly impressive POSITIVE milestone reached. Something never done before. The Philippines emerging from banana land to modern, investment grade stature. Recognized formally and tangibly around the world as a globally upstanding nation. And what do so many Filipino bloggers do? What do so many citizens do?

Flip the distinguished award inside out and CRITICIZE THE PRESIDENT WHO BROUGHT THEM THIS ESTEEMED RATING.

Christ Almighty.

Philippine bloggers suck.

A Society Tipping Point

The Underbelly of  a Nation Rising

This blog is at a tipping point. It represents almost 600 articles dedicated to Joe's education and various observations and opinions. It has been a forum for excellent discussion. Rarely negative, generally respectful, often enlightening or entertaining.

Knowledge is never complete. But at some point, we have to ask the question that Edgar Lores asked a few days ago, that I ask regularly, and that others undoubtedly ask as they stop by, opine for a while, then move forward to other interests: "are we making a difference, and were do we go from here?"

I think that, personally, I have reached a point where I am starting to repeat myself, circling around again and again to the Church and Education and Justice and the banned field (for foreigners) of election politics.

• How many times can I explain how important FOI is? You get it. I get it. The question is, do the people who can act on it get it? That is, are they committed to the well-being of the Philippines over personal advantage?

• How many times can I suggest that more support for the President and nation would strengthen the Philippines? The need to build oneself up by tearing others down is relentless in this neck of the Pacific. It's as if one's intellectual credentials are attached to the demise of others.  It is wearing to watch so many people on the attack against their own country.

The President has a difficult job and cheap shots are easy.

President Aquino is honest, honorable and highly capable.  If you can't back him, you will never find anyone up to par. Just steel yourself for a dismal democracy if that is the collective mind-set hereabouts.

I'd venture to say that JoeAm understands the Philippines mighty fine good. He understands better than most the cultural dynamics, the strengths, the flaws, the hopes, the opportunities and the risks of living in the Philippines.  He has much more to learn, and a blog is an excellent classroom.

He has gained this knowledge because he has had good teachers. People who commented and shared a perspective. The record shows 8,700 published comments in this blog.  Boy howdy, try putting that into a school lesson plan.

Have we reached important people with this blog? Ahahahaha, we have. For sure. Guaranteed, 100% we have.

Have we made a difference? Yes, we have done more than a tossed grain of sand into the West Philippine Sea to to change the destiny of the Philippines forever.

Do I want this to be a vanity blog where I mostly just amuse myself?

No.

Do I want to dig into the minutia of the budget or Department of Education or Ombudsman to pick apart strengths and weaknesses?

No. That's real work. I'm retired.

Do I want to lord my grand perspectives over the Philippines like some overblown colonizer with a self-proclaimed greater wisdom? Like that benigno malcontent at Get Real?

I couldn't if I wanted to. As much as I know, I am still a lightweight. There are so many people here with a much deeper and well-grounded understanding of the Philippines than I have. After all, they live here and know the history that I miss, plus have a grasp of the nuance of language and cultural behavior that my western stonehead blocks out. My talent is running words together in a way that can make vivid sense, and , of course, the American perspective that I overlay on things, rightly or wrongly.

So this blog needs to change.

Here is my plan. I will reduce my volume of writing for the Society of Honor. There will be more empty space from day to day.  I'll tend to avoid the issues that are well-covered elsewhere and look for relevant topics that can do with a western perspective. I'll also continue to comment on other blogs and news sites in the Philippines, supporting the dialogue and collective voice of the people there.

The Society is a group of highly intelligent people. This blog remains wide open to articles submitted by others. I wish Mariano would do a blog. And our newfound gem in the "village", Amy R. "J" does his own blog but is welcome any time to contribute here. MB, too, of course. Edgar, Cha, Andrew and Josephivo have done articles, and I welcome more from them, and from others. I am confident there are people hanging around in the background who could pen a perspective that would do well what Joe has aspired to do: provoke new ideas and constructive discussion.

I'm not sure yet what tone articles will take going forward. I suspect you might see a tempering of stridency. Less Angry Maude and more reflection. We'll see.  

Looking through the editor's master lens we might see articles that are:

• Positive, because I think the Philippines is buried unreasonably in complaint. 
• Innovative in the discovery of fresh outlooks and new ways of solving problems. 
• Literate and playful - satirical now and then - for the fun of it, and for the meaning of it. 
• Beyond all, discussion that is voluntarily mature (not moderated), intelligent and respectful of the many styles and lifestyles that generate a rich exchange of perspectives and meaning.

Philippine Media: The Lay of the Land

This blog is a little different, as I search for order rather than meaning. Indeed, many of you may already know these media, but it is a process of discovery for me.

I have read repeatedly about Philippine news reporting being shallow and sensationalist. But it has only lately crystallized in my mind how damaging this can be to the Philippines as the nation seeks to emerge as a productive, modern,  respected nation in the global community of human rights and commerce.

Sensationalist news focused mainly on problems can overwhelm good works. That's the main danger, that news reporting would undermine the trust people have for their government and its leaders, and convey the wrong impression about what is happening.

So I thought I'd explore in more depth what the various media bring to the information table in the Philippines. Indeed, this is a long-dormant passion of mine. It was my chosen field of work laid to waste by an economy gone south in the early 1970's. I had acquired a master's degree in Radio and Television Arts, doing my thesis work at CBS Television in Los Angeles. Job opportunities were thin at the time. The fates determined that I should become a banker, or rather a bank marketing officer, working on the other side of the media business, as an advertiser.

But journalism is an area where I have a decent understanding of good communication principles. What we see in the Philippines is "light news", a kind of "quick and dirty" reporting without a lot of investigative work. Interviews and "hearsay" evidence are taken as facts and this repesents the content of many news articles. So do murders, rapes, tragedies and other titillating stories.  And, indeed, the sensationalist drive for ratings means that news frequently gets laced with emotionally charged words. Headlines are written to strike nerves. Filipinos, emotional at heart, love the stuff.

I won't belabor this further. Let me just say that for now, we will accept the argument that media news disciplines in the Philippines are very slack, in the interest of profit. We might shade this differently as we progress.

As we work through this together, we can identify certain issues for follow-through. For example, how about politics? Does that drive anything? We must put that on our task list for further study.

A second takeaway becomes quickly evident. There is no central resource of broadcast or print media because the Philippines has no media regulator. The industry is "self-regulated". This is very different than in the United States where the Federal Communications Commission regulates media ownership and monitors that media are properly serving the best interest of the public. So no central repository of licensing or cross-ownership of media appears to exist. It takes considerable effort to identify the full scope of media power of the larger organizations. Sorting that out becomes a "to do" item for the future.

Because of the lack of a central regulatory data base, it was difficult putting together this simple starting profile. Some of the information is a couple of years old, and some of the specific players may have changed. But this is just a starting point, so rough edges will be fine for what we need to do.

THE MEDIA DEFINED

It would be good to get a good reading of the landscape before we advance into it. Our focus is on news and information, not entertainment. The national goal is presumably an educated community having access to a variety of kinds and sources of information. Opinion columns or broadcasts represent the interpretive part of the news, so we include that in the realm of study as well.

We can start by breaking news sources into four groups:

• Television networks and stations
• Radio networks and stations
• Newspapers and other print media
• Internet news and commentary

Let's try to characterize each:

Television networks and stations

There are three dominant television networks and a wide range of over 200 local television stations, most affiliated with a network. Dissemination of programs is via airwaves, cable and satellite.

The two top networks, ABS-CBN and GMA-7, battle almost equally for dominance. It is a bitter battle, with interpretation of leadership meaning a lot in terms of advertising revenue. The two networks have engaged in legal and public bickering for about 7 years now, each claiming it is number one. The third network, is ABC-5. Recent Nielson ratings reported percentage viewership as follows:

Network	Share Points
GMA-7	36
ABS-CBN	30
ABC-5	15

ABS-CBN claims it held the prime time lead at 41% to GMA's 32%. The source is a different rating agency.

Beyond the "Big 3", we have the following television networks:

• Both GMA and ABS-CBN own secondary stations that broadcast shows aimed at younger "lifestyle" audiences, QTV-11 and Studio 23, respectively.

• One of the larger radio networks, Radio Philippines Network, owns a television station, RPN-9 (oops, outdated; read on. JA).

• Several other significant networks target regional or specialized audiences:

• UNTV 37, a public service channel owned by the Progressive Broadcasting Corporation in Quezon City.

• NET 25, featuring IT programming and encompassing Asia and Australia.

• IBC 13, the Intercontinental Broadcasting Company managed by the national government. (Update. Now only the People's Television Network is held by the government; see comments below. JA).

• RMN 31, the Radio Mindanao Network, which has 10 stations across the Philippines and one station in New York, USA.

• Cable and satellite subscribers can also sign up for CNN, BBC and other information channels. These typically do not feature the Philippines, and they are controlled outside the Philippines.

Radio Networks and Stations

There are just short of a thousand radio stations in the Philippines. All major cities across the nation have at least one radio outlet. Manila has 51.

The two largest TV networks also own substantial radio properties.

We also once had the Radio Philippines Network, cited above. But it's a changing world and RPN has been consolidated with former government radio stations of the IBC, and recast as ETC, under private ownership (including by San Miguel Corporation). The government got tired of losing money and offering crappy program so cobbled together a new network and kept only the public television station.

The major radio networks in the Philippines include:

• Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) – 200 owned and affiliated stations nationwide. The news and talk station DZRH is its anchor, and it feeds other network stations such as Radyo Natin , as well as television through companion station RHTV. MBC also owns entertainment stations Love Radio, Aksyon Radio, Easy Rock and Yes FM. 

• ABS-CBN –  DZMM Radyo Patrol national news which feeds cable TV news channel DZMM TeleRadyo.  ABS-CBN also owns  My Only Radio's regional network of 14 FM music and entertainment stations.

• Radyo Mindanao Network (RMN) – AM and FM stations in 34 cities across the Philippines with heavy representation in Midnanao.

• Bombo Radyo – Bombo Radyo talk radio has 22 stations and Star FM operates 21 music stations. Based in Iloilo City.

• Catholic Radio Network – 52 church-run radio stations under a variety of different names nationwide.

• GMA Network – 23 radio stations across the country with main stations DZBB SilverRadyo and the Campus FM chain of music stations.

Newspapers and Other Print Media

There are approximately 75 newspapers published in the Philippines. Of these, 48 are in English with most being local publications from large cities, 20 in Filipino languages, 2 in Spanish, 1 bi-lingual and 4 in Chinese.

The major national newspapers include:

• Philippine Daily Inquirer.  Estimated circulation 260,000 daily with an average daily readership of over 2 million.

• Philippine Star. Circulation of about 270,000. Reaches Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.

• Manila Bulletin. Circulation of about 280,000.  Owned by Emilio Yap who also owns tabloids Tempo and Balita and magazines such as Liwayway, Bisaya and Philippine Panorama.

• Manila Times.  President Aguinaldo read this publication. 

Other newspapers include

• Other: Business World, Malaya, Manila Standard Today, The Daily Tribune

• Tabloids:  Abante (circulation 420,000), Balita (Tagalog), People's Journal and People's Taliba (English and Tagalog versions), Pilipino Star Ngayon (Star's Tagalog paper), Saksi Ngayon (Tagalog) and Tempo (Manila Bulletin)
  

The Inquirer established a radio station in 2010, Radyo Inquirer.

If you'd like a more detailed history of the Philippine newspaper business, here is a link to an article published by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts on a recent but unknown date.

Internet News and Commentary

The largest television and newspaper enterprises also have robust and informative web versions of their daily news and opinion fare. Videos and live feeds are featured on television sites. Here are the links to the news or main sections of those outlets.

• ABS-CBN
• GMA-7
• ABC-5
• Philippine Inquirer
• Philippine Star
• Manila Bulletin
• Business World  

The most significant internet-only news and opinion site is, of course Rappler. It is a younger, more interactive and less advertising intense news effort.

Information is not readily available as to the impact of the internet on newspaper circulation, or the financials of these undertakings. The web sites are significant efforts, maintained in a much more dynamic, current state than are government agency sites, for example.

We also have attached to the news outlets robust opinion and commentary sections, with top columnists such as Randy David drawing several hundred reader comments in response to an article. Bloggers represent fly-by-night opinion mongers, rather wayward and quite broke orphan cousins.

Conclusions

There are three or four main players in each media category. The internet is the most competitively robust because it has both newspaper and television players, plus Rappler.

In order of dominance based on daily viewership, I'd guess the impactful voices stack up as follows in terms of power:

1. ABS-CBN
2. ABC-5
3. Abante
4. Philippine Inquirer
5. Philippine Star
6. Manila Bulletin
7. Manila Broadcasting Company
8. GMA-7
9. Business World

We now have in this first blog is the general lay of the land. There is much, much more to explore.

For Further Study

• What is the ownership connectivity among the major players. That is not clear from this cursory review.

• Do editorial or news policies reflect a political bias?

• What are the issues emerging from "self regulation" of media? Are television and radio frequencies considered a "public resource"? Or are they the total purview of private interests?

• How does the quality of news reporting vary from outlet to outlet?

• What are trends in internet readership? How is the internet affecting the financial viability of the mainstream media?

The next article in the series will take up trends on the internet, and financial impacts if such information is available.

"Dear Joe"

The Greatest Living American

Dear Joe, "Who is the greatest American alive? Is it President Obama? Hugh Hefner? Donald Trump? Or Bill Gates?"  Edgar

Fascinating question, Edgar. "Greatest" is a relative term, of course. For boxers, the greatest is Mohammed Ali unless you live in the Philippines. See? Relative. President Obama is the greatest American black president, hands down. That one is absolute, the exception that proves the rule. Hugh Hefner is the greatest womanizer and peddler of women's bodies for profit. "The Donald" is the greatest stuffed shirt. Bill Gates the greatest living philanthropist.  So you have certainly mentioned some superb top-notch greats for sure.

As you might guess, JoeAm goes outside of popular names for his top pick.  His standards are as follows: intelligent, good character, and extraordinary accomplishment for the betterment of mankind. Entertainers, businessmen and stuffed shirts don't make the cut. The peddler of women's bodies doesn't either. The black president is wallowing in partisan muck, and it will take a few years for the wine of his accomplishment to age properly. Now Bill Gates is for sure in the top five, getting credit for computer operating systems, business achievement, philanthropy, plus bonus points for introducing casual attire into the whole American business scene.

But the greatest American alive is James Dewey Watson.

He's the co-inventor of the double helix structure of DNA in 1953, along with Briton's Francis Crick. He received the Nobel Prize in 1962 along with Crick and Maurice Wilkins for their groundbreaking work on human DNA.

Beyond his science genius, Watson has been an ardent activist,  a protestor against the Viet Nam War and nuclear arms, and an outspoken advocate  for women's choice. He has further argued that "stupidity is a disease" and can be cured. Boy howdy, I wish he'd do more of that work in the American legislature.

The significance of his work is astounding: (1) the framework for crop and livestock genetic enhancements giving us hope that perhaps we can indeed feed our overpopulating planet and have redder tomatoes along the way, (2) the release from jail of those shown to be innocent by DNA proof, and the jailing of thousands of very bad people with unquestionable assurance of guilt, (3) medical breakthroughs that will cure pains, prevent deaths and potentially end stupidity, not to mention rheumatism and gout, and (4) a great leap forward in the discussion of science and faith as the way to intelligent salvation.

Truly, this is a man of great intellect, character and accomplishment for the betterment of mankind.  He did nothing less than re-define life.

Dear Joe, "1. Why do Kanos hang a flag on their porch? 1.1 Do ya'all do it on Independence Day only? ?????? " Anonymous

The citizens of warrior nations such as the United States have extraordinary patriotism. They know the sacrifices people make to serve their fellow countrymen. The flag is the symbol of that patriotism, of courage, of giving to the nation absolutely all that can be given. Of cheering in victory, or  holding onto unity and determination in defeat. Of knowing that other Americans are there for support, no matter the dangers. Of knowing that the nation stands for the best principles of mankind living as a community.

So people display the flag on the porch, or in the yard, or from the roof, or in the window to say "I'm for America".

And, oddly enough, the flag is a symbol of freedom of speech for Americans who are used to loud and angry taunts. In the hands of the bitter or the jealous or those who don't understand, those who would burn the flag or defile it, it becomes just a piece of cloth, stripped of its real meaning, saying more about the defiler than about America.

The flag is flown on Independence Day, Veterans Day and Memorial Day, and in special circumstances (for example, to celebrate landing on the moon or at half mast upon the death of a president or people who served their nation with distinction, such as astronauts).

My father died when he was 91. He had served in the army in WW II from age 18 to 24. The army held a small ceremony at his funeral to express gratitude on behalf of all Americans for his service, formally presenting me with the flag that draped his coffin. I also have my uncle's flag from that war.

That's why Americans fly the flag.

Dear Honeybunch, What are your goals in blogging? Are you going to write blogs forever?" Your Darling Wife

Well, Sweetie Pie, that is a curious question, as I've been asking myself the same question. For the past year, I've been cranking out articles steadily and learning a lot along the way. I know the blogs have had some influence,  which is rewarding. Still, I think the blogging medium in the Philippines is rather scattered and only modestly influential. It is a little bizarre being an American in this conversational scene, and I know that American opinion-mongering arouses the hackles of tried and true homebound Filipino patriots. Overseas Filipinos are not so prickly, as they are also outside looking in. Yet, I look about and I don't see homebound bloggers really calling it straight and striving for new ideas in quite the same constructively provocative way that JoeAm does. Mostly people report on what they see, or pursue their own narrow interests.

The discussions at the popular news sites, Inquirer or Rappler, are discouraging. Much of the comment is posturing and insult rather than crisp, succinct debate on the issues. Everybody is trying to prove they are teachers and winners rather than being open-minded listeners and willing learners. There is little bend in discussions.

 And now we see the apparent intrusion of those who are clearly out to damage the Philippines through on-line destruction propaganda. And I think the emotional audience is likely to be susceptible to that. The Philippines has very little patriotic glue because so many people are of the opinion that any way but their way is the wrong way.

So they easily find fault.

It's a rather discouraging scene.

My goals remain the same, to learn and to advocate, to the limited extent possible, for development a modern, productive, upright democratic Philippines. I'll write as long as I can find new ideas or turn a good phrase now and then. There's an ebb and flow to it.

When it ebbs too low, I'll quit.

Dear JoeAm, Is it true that the Senate candidates will determine if President Aquino's good governance agenda will continue? If we go with UNA won't we have better "checks and balances"? Renaldo

Good of you to inquire, Renaldo.

"Kumbaya, My Lord, Kumbaya,
Kumbaya, My Lord, Kumbaya . . ."