Gasping for Air

Folks at Veritas, the Catholic radio station renowned for it's leading in role in the 1986 People Power uprising gave me a treat yesterday by asking me talk about how I felt about when Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was booed and heckled by women government employees at the March 8, International Women's Day celebration by government.Read about it here

I certainly took notice of it and I admit, it made my day. But when folks at Veritas aksed me to actually describe the feeling all I could actually think of was relief (albeit hardly sufficient) like gasping for breath after being suffocated. It was like a breath of fresh air but at the same time, I knew it was a mere whimper in the face of hardship.

I also mentioned that I admired those women and only hope the President won't get back at them as she has been known to get really angry in the past for similar reactions from the defiant, or even irritated concert goers.

At times like this, I do appreciate the patches of democratic space well used to encourage the expression of otherwise marginalized views. For indeed, the semblance of "democratic space" can often delude. Not all "democratic spaces" have spaces enough for dissent. Despite our apparently "thriving" media (now interactive through GSM and blogs among others),the proliferation of game shows, reality TV and live entertainment shows where you can "VOTE" for your favorites, all of these hardly qualifies as empowering "space," let alone simulate meaningful "interaction."

While the technology can facilitate all forms of meaningful connections, interactions and certainly prove to be liberating in many ways, it isn't always used that way. Certainly not by many in the Media profession.

No, live coverage of politicians bickering and grand standing doesn't cut it. Neither does being deluged by brain cell deflating political ads. (Don't these bozos listen to AC Nielsen? Only about 2 politicos who invested heavily on TV ads even made it to the Senate!)

In ending I would like to dedicate this to GMA and all the "pikon" Politicos (including pikon husband of a pikon politiko) who get all riled up when you criticize (say for cheating during elections or having illegal wealth). This comes from Alexander Pope (British and Catholic Poet, 1688-1744)

"Of all the causes which conspire to blind
Man's erring judgment and misguide the mind,
what weak head with strongest bias rules, is pride
the never ending vice of fools.

Whatsoever Nature has in worth denied
She gives in large recruits of needful pride,

For as in bodies,thus in souls
We find what wants in blood and spirits swelled with wind

Pride, where wit fails, steps in to our defense
and fills up all the mighty void of sense."

(From An Essay on Criticism, 1711)

Read more:

Manila Times Report on Murdered Journalists