a problem like maria
Manila, 16 February—Where were you when Rappler CEO Maria Ressa was arrested earlier this week? Me, I was stuck in Bulacan traffic with my teammates when news about the arrest came in. There was something chilling about hearing about agents of the National Bureau of Investigation trooping to Rappler’s office, and even initimidating the reporters there covering the events unfolding right inside their newsroom. It’s crazy.
My journalist-friend Jonathan de Santos compiled these readings on Ressa’s arrest on his blog, including a very confounding statement from the National Press Club, which said that the arrest “smacks of bad taste” (because it was done toward the end of court hours, depriving Ressa of the opportunity to post bail and thereby forcing her to spend the night in detention), while in the same breath saying that, “Ms. Ressa’s experience has been the experience of many in the media profession. It can be a great ‘inconvenience’ but, not something that should relegate someone to the altar of press freedom for ‘martyrdom.’”
(To which my immediate reaction was, Who was talking about altars? To what altar? This is the first take I’ve read which had the word ALTAR. Fucking patronizing.)
I’m not sure why it still surprises me whenever I realize how fractured our media landscape is. Of course, while NUJP, CMFR and many international organizations would probably be vocal about their support for Ressa, many in the local media scene were not, and were even of the opinion that she had it coming. Panelo’s comment even sounded a lot like the victim-blaming spiels hurled against rape victims: “She’s enjoying it.”
Anyway: I think it’s incredibly myopic to think that this case is a “private matter”, that it exists in the vacuum that it alleges. Remember, this effort to go after Rappler started more than a year ago. They’ve tried going the the SEC/license route, then the tax evasion route, and now this route. They wanted to wear these people down, the way they wore down the Inquirer once upon a time. And while the organization is not perfect, I think it’s just fair to admit that it is doing a valuable job in watching this government, no matter how hard the government tries to shut it up.
tl;dr I don’t care how hot you think this take is, but it’s fucking trash.
(via Inquirer Opinion: First they came for the journalists).
Anyway, pampakalma:
SPOTIFY: Betty Who’s new album is out! You should definitely stream it. I think “Marry Me” is a good, dance-y alternative to those looking for wedding dance songs or proposal soundtracks! Sa wakas, may ka-alternate na ang Somebody Loves You. LOL.
BOOK REC: Brigitte Bautista’s Don’t Tell My Mother is a great LGBT read with a funny protagonist who falls in love with an older woman (cough). Enjoyed this on my Kindle.
STICKERS: C is selling her Ariana & Pride stickers + The Black Book items with The Hive.PH at Komiket this weekend. Find them at Table 39, The Elements Centris, Quezon City.
Support local artists! Ty,
K.