(A lecture delivered by Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino, Vice Governor, Province of Aklan, on the occasion of the 1st Provincial Conference on Aklanon History; Culture and Society sponsored by the Arch. Gabriel M. Reyes Memorial Foundation in cooperation with the National Commission for Culture and Arts. Second floor, Capt. Gil Mijares Bldg. 19 Martyrs St., Kalibo, Aklan, April 20, 2006)
I must confess that I had a feeling of hesitancy in accepting this invitation to speak on the subject “Politics and Journalism in Aklan”. My reluctancy stems from the thought that I may not be able to articulate in full the topic on a compress time frame and thus would not do justice to my task. Be this as it may, best I may be carried to be apologetic. Starting a lecture or a speech with an apology is regarded as taboo.
The emergence of Aklan as a distinct province on April 25, 1956 also started the formation of Aklan Press Club separate from the Capiz Press Club.
Aklanon journalists are well aware of their responsibilities believing as they do that they play a very important role in Aklan development and progress. So many of them would stress the Jeffersonian statement of preference for a press without a government than a government without a press, firm in the adherence to that democratic principle enshrined by Thomas Jefferson in his letter which states, ”Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.” And Aklanon journalist are wont to remember Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s defense of the freedom of the press when the great American president said: “Freedom of conscience, of education, of speech, of assembly are among the very fundamentals of democracy and all of them would be nullified should the freedom of the freedom of the press ever be successfully challenged.”
I would say with enough candors that Aklanon journalists, whether on the print or electronic media, are firm believers that freedom, to use the words of Carlos P. Romulo, initiates responsibilities and ultimately comes to generate the intelligence, initiative and wisdom that make restrained and order. And the awareness of that Harvard University President Nathan Pussey phrase of “those wise restraints that make men free.”
Aklanon journalists, as before and now, have considered the freedom of the press as one of the radical rights of man philosophers and constitutionalists from Voltaire to Justice Holmes had enshrined in their writings the validity and need of this freedom.
Earlier Aklan journalists would center their writing more on the history, tradition, customs, and culture of Aklan. But it was not to be so for long albeit Aklan was young. Journalists, having an affection for the printed word even long before the advent of radio and Aklan separation were probably imbued with importance of newspapers. I remembered Carlos P. Romulo, former UP president; one time president of the United Nation General Assembly, a former foreign (affairs) secretary, newspaper editor and publisher and Pulitzer Prize winner, once said: “A newspaper has a function all its own. Its command an audience which other types of news media - - the radio and TV for example, cannot reach with any commendable effect. The interpretation of events, the interplay of fact and opinion, the color and tension of points of view - - this are matter with other media of communication cannot transmit with the convenience and ease, let alone with the authority, of the printed page. In the last analysis, it is perhaps to our intelligence and precisely where that intelligence resides, which is the mind that the newspaper addresses itself.”
Aklanon newspapermen like the great Carlos P. Romulo, have their interest in newspapers derived from a long and personal affection with the printed word. And it is an affection cherished by most, if not all, newspapermen. To quote Romulo again: “It is from that love that our society today enjoys a considerable measure of contact with events and with the men and women all over the world that are involved in them. Our newspapers have even gone beyond this. They have consciously, and from day to day, helped us to understand ourselves and the complicated world we lived in.”
Corollary to the law creating Aklan as a distinct and a separate province of governance. Political grouping were formed, each political party seeking the mandate of the Aklan electorate to lead the province even as they saw the rich and vast-God given natural resources of the province then waiting for orchestrated development. In their own respective times and administration the have focused on Aklan development albeit ion different approaches and target, on divergent political visions, thinking and perspectives.
Believing that public opinion should be the constant source of liberty and democracy, Aklan journalist have freely commented on the conduct of public officials, inclusive of candidates for public office. The journalists in our province are well aware that “This privilege rest on the sound policy of encouraging discussion as a means informing the public as to what is happening and what should be done in public affairs thus, promoting the adoption of sound measures and deterring misconduct by those who administers the affairs of government. It is in the interest of continuing debate on matters of policy and question of public good that the recognition of press freedom ultimately rest.”
The arrival of radio broadcasting in Aklan expanded the frontiers of press freedom and journalism. Aklanons have realized the importance of radio as a means of communicating their ideas. And so with politicians to their constituencies. The importance of radio to Aklan progress and development actually needs no further elaboration. Suffice to say that radio shall remain as the fastest means of transmitting news and other information materials.
On the 47th anniversary of Aklan and on the night of April 25, 2003 on the occasion of the First Community Press Summit sponsored by the Publishers Associations of the Philippines, Inc., in cooperation with the Aklan Press Club, Congressman Apolinario Lozada, Jr., Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, had occasion to state: it has been said that there are two kinds of people: the pessimist who sees the glass as half empty, and the optimist who sees the glass as half-full. But there must be a third category of people: those who are willing to measure the contents of the glass in ounces and liters and say precisely how much that glass contain. To this third group of people should belong media practitioners, x x x, for it is media’s duty to give the unblemished truth.
“Media holds the power to sway mind to influence the opinion of the masses, to convince the people that a glass is indeed half-empty or half-full. But, with this power comes the responsibility of accuracy and truth in reportage. Media’s power over the people is most apparent in the broadcast industry – in radio and television – where sound and tone (and image, in case of TV) contribute to the effective conveyance of emotions for or against persons, things, or ideas. Undisputably, media can make or unmake fortunes. It is a small wonder, therefore so many rich and famous individuals race against each other to gain control of media-related enterprises.”
“Of the three vehicles of mass communications, radio is considered the most potent in our country. This is because radio, being the most affordable, has the widest reach. In rural areas unreachable to print media and televisions, the radio continues to be a major source of information and entertainment. In this part of the Philippines, I do believe so.”
“By the sheer size of their publics, therefore, our radio broadcasters should be among the most influential of media practitioners. To them, therefore, the responsibility of truth and accuracy should weigh heavier, not only because of their wider public but also because their medium – the spoken word – has a far more potent effect on their public. We need only remember that the damage that the spoken word can cause can barely be rectified even when the speaker retracts his statement in a subsequent broadcast.”
Political leaders in Aklan are fully aware of the doctrine of fair comment which assures to the citizens the fullest freedom to express his views and opinion on public affairs. As it has been emphasized, the constitutional right of speech is basic since it is through public opinion that those who administer the government are apprised of what the people want.
It is admirable that political leaders of Aklan, aware of the high literacy rate of the people, have honored the doctrine of fair comment. I would like to believe that they are cognizant that “The single purpose of the rule permitting fair and honest criticism is that it promotes the public goods, enable the people to discern right from wrong, encourage merit, and firmly condemns exposes the charlatan and the cheat, and hence is based upon public policy.”
Too, it is notable that public officials, with the exception of a few, are open to criticisms from media. I would venture top say that they are not too thin-skinned with reference to comment upon their official acts. It is my observation that they are aware of the doctrine laid down in U.S. vs. Bustos, 37, Phili. 731, 740-741 which states: “The interest of society and the maintenance of good government demand a full discussion of public affairs. Complete liberty to comment on the conduct of public men is a scalpel in the case of free speech. The sharp incision of its probe relieves the abscesses of officialdom. Men in public life may suffer under a hostile and an unjust accusation; the would can be assuage with the balm of clean conscience.”
Aklan, from Governor Jose Raz Meñez to Governor Carlito Samson Marquez, is on its 50th year on April 25, 2006.
Aklan politics and politicians recognize the fact that media is powerful cognizant of what is the English statesman and Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli postulated thus: “The press is not only, free, it is powerful. That power is ours. It is the proudest that man can enjoy. It was not granted by the monarchs; it was not gained for us by aristocracies but it sprang for the people and with immortality instinct, it has always worked for the people.” Rightly, Aklanon politicians consider that “the liberty of press is the palladium of all civil, political and religious rights.
Even as Aklan political leaders recognize the awesome power of media and its very potent and influential role, it is justifiable pride to say that Aklan journalist both in the print and broadcast media have pursed their media careers with dedications, vigor and enthusiasm characterized by truthful and responsible reportage and commentaries. I would say that Aklan journalists both in the print and broadcast media, in their unwavering quest and commitment into the exalted objectives of journalism, have never been oblivious of their role and responsibilities and never clean forgotten that injunction from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, thus: “The information provided by the media is at the service of the common good . Society has a right to information based on truth, freedom, justice and solidarity. The proper exercise of these right demands that the content of communication be true and - - within the limits set by justice and charity – complete. Further, it should be communicated honestly and properly. This means that in the gathering and in the publication of news, moral law and the nature of their profession, journalists have obligation to serve the truth and not offend against charity in disseminating information. They should strive to respect with equal care.”
I must confess that I had a feeling of hesitancy in accepting this invitation to speak on the subject “Politics and Journalism in Aklan”. My reluctancy stems from the thought that I may not be able to articulate in full the topic on a compress time frame and thus would not do justice to my task. Be this as it may, best I may be carried to be apologetic. Starting a lecture or a speech with an apology is regarded as taboo.
The emergence of Aklan as a distinct province on April 25, 1956 also started the formation of Aklan Press Club separate from the Capiz Press Club.
Aklanon journalists are well aware of their responsibilities believing as they do that they play a very important role in Aklan development and progress. So many of them would stress the Jeffersonian statement of preference for a press without a government than a government without a press, firm in the adherence to that democratic principle enshrined by Thomas Jefferson in his letter which states, ”Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.” And Aklanon journalist are wont to remember Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s defense of the freedom of the press when the great American president said: “Freedom of conscience, of education, of speech, of assembly are among the very fundamentals of democracy and all of them would be nullified should the freedom of the freedom of the press ever be successfully challenged.”
I would say with enough candors that Aklanon journalists, whether on the print or electronic media, are firm believers that freedom, to use the words of Carlos P. Romulo, initiates responsibilities and ultimately comes to generate the intelligence, initiative and wisdom that make restrained and order. And the awareness of that Harvard University President Nathan Pussey phrase of “those wise restraints that make men free.”
Aklanon journalists, as before and now, have considered the freedom of the press as one of the radical rights of man philosophers and constitutionalists from Voltaire to Justice Holmes had enshrined in their writings the validity and need of this freedom.
Earlier Aklan journalists would center their writing more on the history, tradition, customs, and culture of Aklan. But it was not to be so for long albeit Aklan was young. Journalists, having an affection for the printed word even long before the advent of radio and Aklan separation were probably imbued with importance of newspapers. I remembered Carlos P. Romulo, former UP president; one time president of the United Nation General Assembly, a former foreign (affairs) secretary, newspaper editor and publisher and Pulitzer Prize winner, once said: “A newspaper has a function all its own. Its command an audience which other types of news media - - the radio and TV for example, cannot reach with any commendable effect. The interpretation of events, the interplay of fact and opinion, the color and tension of points of view - - this are matter with other media of communication cannot transmit with the convenience and ease, let alone with the authority, of the printed page. In the last analysis, it is perhaps to our intelligence and precisely where that intelligence resides, which is the mind that the newspaper addresses itself.”
Aklanon newspapermen like the great Carlos P. Romulo, have their interest in newspapers derived from a long and personal affection with the printed word. And it is an affection cherished by most, if not all, newspapermen. To quote Romulo again: “It is from that love that our society today enjoys a considerable measure of contact with events and with the men and women all over the world that are involved in them. Our newspapers have even gone beyond this. They have consciously, and from day to day, helped us to understand ourselves and the complicated world we lived in.”
Corollary to the law creating Aklan as a distinct and a separate province of governance. Political grouping were formed, each political party seeking the mandate of the Aklan electorate to lead the province even as they saw the rich and vast-God given natural resources of the province then waiting for orchestrated development. In their own respective times and administration the have focused on Aklan development albeit ion different approaches and target, on divergent political visions, thinking and perspectives.
Believing that public opinion should be the constant source of liberty and democracy, Aklan journalist have freely commented on the conduct of public officials, inclusive of candidates for public office. The journalists in our province are well aware that “This privilege rest on the sound policy of encouraging discussion as a means informing the public as to what is happening and what should be done in public affairs thus, promoting the adoption of sound measures and deterring misconduct by those who administers the affairs of government. It is in the interest of continuing debate on matters of policy and question of public good that the recognition of press freedom ultimately rest.”
The arrival of radio broadcasting in Aklan expanded the frontiers of press freedom and journalism. Aklanons have realized the importance of radio as a means of communicating their ideas. And so with politicians to their constituencies. The importance of radio to Aklan progress and development actually needs no further elaboration. Suffice to say that radio shall remain as the fastest means of transmitting news and other information materials.
On the 47th anniversary of Aklan and on the night of April 25, 2003 on the occasion of the First Community Press Summit sponsored by the Publishers Associations of the Philippines, Inc., in cooperation with the Aklan Press Club, Congressman Apolinario Lozada, Jr., Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, had occasion to state: it has been said that there are two kinds of people: the pessimist who sees the glass as half empty, and the optimist who sees the glass as half-full. But there must be a third category of people: those who are willing to measure the contents of the glass in ounces and liters and say precisely how much that glass contain. To this third group of people should belong media practitioners, x x x, for it is media’s duty to give the unblemished truth.
“Media holds the power to sway mind to influence the opinion of the masses, to convince the people that a glass is indeed half-empty or half-full. But, with this power comes the responsibility of accuracy and truth in reportage. Media’s power over the people is most apparent in the broadcast industry – in radio and television – where sound and tone (and image, in case of TV) contribute to the effective conveyance of emotions for or against persons, things, or ideas. Undisputably, media can make or unmake fortunes. It is a small wonder, therefore so many rich and famous individuals race against each other to gain control of media-related enterprises.”
“Of the three vehicles of mass communications, radio is considered the most potent in our country. This is because radio, being the most affordable, has the widest reach. In rural areas unreachable to print media and televisions, the radio continues to be a major source of information and entertainment. In this part of the Philippines, I do believe so.”
“By the sheer size of their publics, therefore, our radio broadcasters should be among the most influential of media practitioners. To them, therefore, the responsibility of truth and accuracy should weigh heavier, not only because of their wider public but also because their medium – the spoken word – has a far more potent effect on their public. We need only remember that the damage that the spoken word can cause can barely be rectified even when the speaker retracts his statement in a subsequent broadcast.”
Political leaders in Aklan are fully aware of the doctrine of fair comment which assures to the citizens the fullest freedom to express his views and opinion on public affairs. As it has been emphasized, the constitutional right of speech is basic since it is through public opinion that those who administer the government are apprised of what the people want.
It is admirable that political leaders of Aklan, aware of the high literacy rate of the people, have honored the doctrine of fair comment. I would like to believe that they are cognizant that “The single purpose of the rule permitting fair and honest criticism is that it promotes the public goods, enable the people to discern right from wrong, encourage merit, and firmly condemns exposes the charlatan and the cheat, and hence is based upon public policy.”
Too, it is notable that public officials, with the exception of a few, are open to criticisms from media. I would venture top say that they are not too thin-skinned with reference to comment upon their official acts. It is my observation that they are aware of the doctrine laid down in U.S. vs. Bustos, 37, Phili. 731, 740-741 which states: “The interest of society and the maintenance of good government demand a full discussion of public affairs. Complete liberty to comment on the conduct of public men is a scalpel in the case of free speech. The sharp incision of its probe relieves the abscesses of officialdom. Men in public life may suffer under a hostile and an unjust accusation; the would can be assuage with the balm of clean conscience.”
Aklan, from Governor Jose Raz Meñez to Governor Carlito Samson Marquez, is on its 50th year on April 25, 2006.
Aklan politics and politicians recognize the fact that media is powerful cognizant of what is the English statesman and Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli postulated thus: “The press is not only, free, it is powerful. That power is ours. It is the proudest that man can enjoy. It was not granted by the monarchs; it was not gained for us by aristocracies but it sprang for the people and with immortality instinct, it has always worked for the people.” Rightly, Aklanon politicians consider that “the liberty of press is the palladium of all civil, political and religious rights.
Even as Aklan political leaders recognize the awesome power of media and its very potent and influential role, it is justifiable pride to say that Aklan journalist both in the print and broadcast media have pursed their media careers with dedications, vigor and enthusiasm characterized by truthful and responsible reportage and commentaries. I would say that Aklan journalists both in the print and broadcast media, in their unwavering quest and commitment into the exalted objectives of journalism, have never been oblivious of their role and responsibilities and never clean forgotten that injunction from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, thus: “The information provided by the media is at the service of the common good . Society has a right to information based on truth, freedom, justice and solidarity. The proper exercise of these right demands that the content of communication be true and - - within the limits set by justice and charity – complete. Further, it should be communicated honestly and properly. This means that in the gathering and in the publication of news, moral law and the nature of their profession, journalists have obligation to serve the truth and not offend against charity in disseminating information. They should strive to respect with equal care.”
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