Broadcaster’s Judgment Call

Energy FM and the “Hi Pangga” dating program hosted Ramil “Inday Misyel” Albaño cannot be directly blamed with th gruesome death of Emily Nuñeza. Emily was  allegedly raped and killed by a man called as Michael whom she met through “Hi Pangga”.

But “Hi Pangga” program get a share of finger-pointing habit. After all, the program encouraged the meet-up of the helpless victim and Michael. Accordingly, “Hi Pangga” has its disclaimer – saying something like, ‘date at your own risk’. But disclaimer, warnings are not being listened to.

I will not join the Catholic Church’s response that radio dating program is immoral. I will lean more on responsibility.

I think this kind of program really started in DyLS, an ABS-CBN run FM station. Yes, it was “Wanted Pangga” there. The format is the same. The program host match the callers for a date.

I had a chance to listen to “Wanted Pangga” and to tell you, the program is too boring. It doesn’t make sense to and I even wonder why it is being allowed by the giant network, ABS-CBN. I later realized something when I knew about another program in DyAB, ABS-CBN’s Cebu AM station, called Sixth Sense. The program is no longer aired because of listener’s complaints.

There was a time when Jai-Alai was still played and illegal betting of Jai-Alai game results was still very rampant. Many radio stations – broadcast the results. And the worse station’s management’s consent to broadcasters giving number tips to listener.

A friend told me that KBP should act on things like these through its Standards Authority (SA). I disagree. Do broadcasters really need that? Even non-KBP member stations and non-KBP accredited broadcaster should know what is the ‘standards’  – what are the right stuff to do on-air.

Station managers must be responsible in hiring broadcasters and should always encourage responsible broadcasting.

To this date, radio  stations in Cebu are more than concern of ratings than valuing listeners. With due respect to few responsible broadcasters I know.

Cebu City officials: CCMC, in a state of utter neglect

It is surprising to hear reports that Cebu City officials was surprised with what they saw in Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) during their surprise visit to the controversial hospital last Friday (January 9, 2009).

I was equally surprised when I read reports about the surprise visit because what they saw was not really very surprising.

I was surprised as if I were in CCMC seeing prominent and honorable city leaders taking a look on one of the city problems that long been neglected. At least now with Acting Mayor Michael Rama, city’s ‘little annoying problems’ (little, really?) are being talked about seriously.

Of course city’s folks also want to know what Cebu City officials are thinking about problems other than the talk of promising prospects of South Road Properties (SRP) that has been idle for quite a long time.

In Sun Star report, Acting Vice Mayor Hilario Davide III was quoted saying, it’s  (CCMC) in such a sorry state. We had a tour of the entire hospital and we all saw na hugaw gyud kaayo ang CCMC (It’s really dirty). It really needs our attention. It’s in a state of utter neglect and kinahanglan gyud limpyohan (It needs cleaning).

The city officials noticed the poor ventilation, the dirt, the patients in sorry desperate situation, among others. Shouldn’t the Queen City of the South prioritize health and provide quality medical service to her taxpayers that give a share to pay the big Yen loan?

If you can’t fix it, sell it!

Several months ago, Mayor Tomas Osmena was contemplating of selling CCMC with his great frustration to CCMC’s reportedly frustrating services.

Despite of CCMC’s known kind of service, city folks still parade to get an experience of being treated. Undeniably, most patients in CCMC are less fortunate. When a private CCMC have improved service, can the less fortunate still be served?

Instead of putting all blames to CCMC officials, City officials must take also its responsibilty of it. After all, the City officials are actually part of culprits.

Let us be excited to the bright prospects of CCMC as the City officials and stepping into addressing the long neglected problems. Let us be excited the same way as we are excited of the promises of SRP.

Should we be surprised if City officials once again go out from their multi-million office building and tour the city’s backyard? I will not be surprised if the City officials get surprised with the city’s garbage problem. Will the smell still surprising?

Why not? After all, life is full of surprises.

Just a social user: No big deal?

The war against dangerous drugs is the most dangerous job.

The entrapment operation of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on September 20, 2008 that caught young and affluent drug suspects will prove the risks of the job. The wealth and political connections of so called Alabang Boys has became the greatest threat of honest drug enforcers of PDEA.

Let the money moves. Let political influence change things. Behold wealthy suspects, you’ll soon be free!

I don’t wonder why the Alabang Boys appear so confident and relax. They know wealth and influence can save them.

One of the parents admit that he knows that his son is using drugs. He said, (my son) is a social user but not an addict. It’s no big deal.

If all of the parents of 6.7 million drug users in the Philippines think the same way, the war against drug in the country will not prosper. (Data based on 2004  survey of Dangerous Drugs Board)

The admission of one of the parent that his son is a drug user will show the kind of father he is. If he already knew that his son uses drugs, why he did not make a move before the PDEA caught his son?

It’s a big deal!

The fight against drugs is not only on the hands of the authorities. It has also become part of the responsibilities of parents, and all family members.

The Alabang Boys should remind us that the depth of drug problem in the country is too deep for our authorities to penetrate.

Narco-politics begin to manifest in public.