What Do I Know? On Politics... and the FOI Bill

It has almost been a week since I was given the challenge to write something about politics and/or world events and issues. It was actually a simple request for sample editorial writings from a multinational organization, basically for them to gauge my writing capabilities and see if I am worthy of an opportunity to work with them. However, I found it so challenging as it has been ages since I wrote about something... real. When I’m not writing content for websites that sell services and products that I oftentimes know nothing about, I would create tales of my personal hullabaloos, inviting sympathies for my pathetic miseries.

I thank that particular organization for waking me up from my slumber—for reminding me that I am slowly losing my touch on the more important things and issues that probably need more attention. I thank them (well, at least their HR arm) for noticing that slight hint of potential that my resume might have exuded. I thank them for challenging me to bring my fingers and brain cells to work together to create what you people are about to read.

I am sending a link to this exact post to the very organization I am talking about (yes, they will also read this italicized part like I intended to). I don’t know if they will like what they’ll read, or if they’ll like the idea of me talking about the request for application they sent me altogether. But all the same, I hope that they’ll find my writing (style) good enough for their standards, but if not, I still thank them for helping me realize what I realized, which is what I will be blabbing about in the next paragraphs.

********

It has almost been a week. I’ve been trying to think of a topic to write about. I’ve been checking out digital editions of newspapers, clicking on the featured headlines and making it a point to read the Opinion section. I’ve been watching the prime time news, on three different channels, and since I stay pretty late at night, I also watch the late night news (which is practically just a replay of the prime time).

Writing can be easy. Any writer can put himself in frenzy mode as long as there are adequate and proper stimuli. But how can I not create this sample I am asked to submit? Why can’t I find a topic that interests me enough, and at the same time, has sufficient literature for research purposes?

Literally, I’ve been asking myself these questions. And just this evening, one question hit me and it stuck.

What Do I Know?

That was the question. I am a self-professed opinionated individual, so much so that at times, I think highly of my ‘wise’ beliefs. I have opinions on this and that, and my mind can even formulate unsolicited judgments based on how a person sits or holds her pen, etc. And of course, I have my opinions on just about anything that is currently in the news. I easily judge a senator for his disability to write his own speech and allow his paid writer to commit plagiarism in the process. I easily accuse DPWH of corruption as they ‘repair’ roads (during the rainy season, for Christ’s sake!) that do not look broken at all.

I easily come up with conclusions and think that the Philippines is just all it is: f’ed up. Then again, what do I know?

Strip courtesy of Daily of the Day

How Can I, We Know? Shedding Light on the Freedom of Information Bill

First off, why don’t I know? Is it because of lack of information or the distortion thereof? Or am I just too busy or disinterested to look into political issues that may be affecting me and everyone else in one way or another? Will there be a solution to this void?

While I was arguing with myself on what topic will I write about until I came up with the “what do I know” question, I immediately thought that I might relate it to the now-hot-issue Freedom of Information Bill. It is not particularly fresh. It has tried its luck in the last four Congresses, but apparently, it didn’t make it in. Just recently, on July 1, 2013, as the 16^th Congress opened its doors, 18 groups re-submitted the “People’s Freedom of Information Act of 2013.”

Furthermore, FOI is not only-in-the-Philippines. For those who don’t know, so many countries have FOI laws and acts or something similar. It may even be safe to say that we are lagging behind the race towards absolute freedom in terms of establishing the right-to-know among citizens.

In a nutshell, the FOI, should it become a law, will give the Filipinos the right to know about everything that’s going on behind the great curtain that is the government. It will be like watching the politicians and officials in an aquarium with transparent walls. It is said to “prevent the government from hiding crucial information from the public.” And thus, it is hoped to be a highly potent tool for fighting corruption and exposing the many kinds of anomalies that basically run our country. It will also pave the way to informed participation and better access to government services.

The idea of knowing what really happens inside government offices is exciting. It may make many of us feel more involved into the honing of our country’s present and future. Most likely, it will make the people feel more powerful as if they can now hold something against abusive and power-tripping officials. The radicals may now feel proud that finally, our culture is slowly taking the leap towards evolution, trumping stagnant traditions.

Image courtesy of FreeSpeechDebate

However, in so many ways than one, freedom is dangerous. This freedom may be abused and used by a small, privileged group to their own advantage. And, judging by how laws are implemented in this country, the FOI may end up just another law printed in the Constitution, unnoticed and unknown to both children and adults, several years from now.

What Do We Know?

I thought I knew a lot of things and that I am a better critical thinker than half of the passengers on the bus that I ride to work every morning—until now. Right at this moment, I see myself as uninformed as anyone could be. But the sad truth is that everyone thinks that they know.

We think that posting and re-posting ideas and memes that either exalt or ridicule the government and political figures on our social network accounts is enough to tell the world that we care about our country. We think that our idealistic and radical thoughts are enough to save the nation from starving and drowning in debt. Clearly, we are far from fully-informed and we may be eaten whole by our guilt as we realize this fact. Most of us don’t know the background behind the issues that we give our opinions on, and that is not just my opinion.

Thus, will this Freedom of Information Bill, when it finally becomes a law, be able to provide us with the knowledge that we need in order for us to know our country better? Will that knowledge make us better citizens that truly care about our fellow Filipinos and the welfare of the nation in general? Will it give us the power to protect our motherland from modern-day invaders, the corrupt authorities and officials, and political dynasties?

Or will it just give people another reason to act like they know everything enough to impose their ideas on the more submissive and gullible ones, guising their opinions and suspicions as facts?

What do I know? What do we know?

References:

Institute for Freedom of Information

FreedomInfo.org

On My Husband's Lover

It's funny how my first blog post should be about this currently controversial Filipino TV series. But maybe its being currently controversial is the reason why I am actually writing about it now. :D

I have been catching glimpses of My Husband's Lover episodes in the past days simply because there's nothing else on free TV that I find interesting to watch. And yes, I give it to the new GMA prime time serye for having the ability to pique someone's interest. Its launching seems to be in time for the 2013 International Gay Pride celebration, as well, which may have worked to the network's advantage as they were seen to be of support to LGBT rights and gender equality.

It is obvious that GMA wanted to give people something to talk about and thankfully, they veered away from producing another fantaserye this time. A lot has seen this as a bold move and the network is sure proud of it. Personally, I don't care about what these companies do so they can be hailed as a pioneer on something. GMA can enjoy all the attention and recognition as much and as long as they want -- and honestly, I think they deserve it for being prepared and brave enough to face criticisms. However, as a Mom, a citizen of the Philippines, and a writer who tries to get into blogging again, I thought I needed to say something.

Yours truly included. :)

The Synopsis of Controversy and Celebration

The groundbreaking series, they say.

Created and developed by Suzette Doctolero, My Husband's Lover is a Pinoy drama series that started airing on June 10, 2013. Its plot revolves on the lives of the three main characters Lally (Carla Abellana), Vincent (Tom Rodriguez), and Eric (Dennis Trillo). It is directed by Dominic Zapata, who also did Temptation of Wife.

So far, we can pretty much see what the story is about. Lally and Vincent are married and they make a good couple, financially stable and all. They love each other and they try their best to make the relationship work and last despite the typical meddling of Lally's monster- err... mother-in-law (Elaine, played by Kuh Ledesma). As if dealing with the MIL is not enough to make a wife crazy, Lally will slowly find herself questioning her husband's faithfulness as he shows signs of womanizing. On the other hand, as a closeted gay guy who has fought against his true gender preference for years, Vincent's world is turned upside down when old flame, Eric, comes back to his life. Meanwhile, Eric is shocked to know that Vincent is now married and tries to stay away from the couple to not cause them trouble. However, their love for each other couldn't be suppressed and eventually, Eric and Vincent will be involved in an unconventional extra-marital affair, much to everyone in their world's frustration and opposition.

Extra-Marital Affairs and Homosexuality in Philippine Entertainment

Third parties are common ingredients to most marriages -- both in real life and film or TV. Love stories wouldn't be as lovable without the kerida, the kabit, the other woman or man. The past few years may even be coined as the Golden Age of Affair Movies and Series. There's My Neighbor's Wife and No Other Woman for the movie category while there was Temptation of Wife on TV, for example. Some of these affair films and seryes aimed to show the point-of-view of the keridas, contrary to the typical plots that only showed how helpless the legal wives and "number one's" are. All in all, portraying an extra-marital dilemma is not at all new to us.

Moreover, none of us is new to homosexuality, too. Each of us must have a gay or lesbian friend, family member, or relative. We have also seen them portrayed in films and TV movies many times over -- we have been shown all types of homosexuals: transsexuals, bisexuals, cross-dressers, gay guys, butch, femme, etc. Hollywood has given us Brokeback Mountain as the best example of extra-marital homosexual love affair on film. In the Philippines, there have also been a number of films that had controversial plots involving gay men, with most of them in the indie category, some even scoring international awards and critical acclaims such as Brillante Mendoza's Masahista.

While extra-marital affairs and homosexuality are common in Philippine TV and films, they have never been mixed together before, at least not in a TV series which people get to watch every single weeknight. When I saw the trailer of My Husband's Lover, I just shrugged my shoulders and thought, "oooh... another affair series pero in fairness, may added twist ah, lalake naman ang kabit."

With all sincerity, I wasn't worried about the plot at all. I was more worried about how GMA would maintain creativity and not end up showing us scenes that try too hard to please -- just like how their other series do and did.

No more ridiculous "twists" please?

In the News

The other night, I saw a news clip that tells about how the show is being acclaimed by an organization fighting for LGBT rights. And well, I basically don't need an actual news to know how it is being scrutinized by the Catholic Church (they condemn almost everything nowadays, anyway).

GMA did not decide to do this bold move for nothing. Of course they wanted it to be controversial -- I guess they wouldn't risk being criticized by the Church just for the heck of it. Being radical, carefree, and out-of-the-box seems to be the trend today, and the network is playing its cards well. Now, everyone's joining the bandwagon, and the CBCP was one of the first parties to jump right on it. Of course, LGBT groups will have something to say about it -- good things to say at that.

As a Citizen...

So here's the thing. As a commoner, a typical audience who doesn't have access to cable TV at home, My Husband's Lover meets my meek expectations of how a prime time telenovela should be. (You see, you should not have high standards when we talk about Filipino mainstream entertainment or you'll never ever be satisfied.) It doesn't have the anak-ni-ganito-si-ganon element (yet), and I think (and hope) it will not have a buwis-buhay-mamatay-na-sana-si-kontrabida climax. GMA wanted to be different, and they are successful, so far.

It's refreshing how a new kind of drama is now being shown on Philippine TV. And judging by the few episodes I've seen so far, the technicals aren't bad (transitions, shots, angles, dialogue, etc.). We should not deprive the Filipino audience of a show done in good taste.

As a Mom...

When you're a mom (to a three-year-old boy), the way you look at things changes. This series airs at around 9:30 PM, Mondays to Fridays. Many kids of different ages are still awake at this time in the evening, and children absorb ideas, language, and actions like sponges. And personally, I wouldn't want to expose my child to such types of stories this early. Sure, there's the MTRCB SPG (Strict Parental Guidance) rating, but I don't think it's enough to stop other children from watching. In our home, as parents, my husband and I have the power over the remote control, but I don't think it's the same with all other households. It would have been great if GMA put the series in a much later time slot.

I am not saying it's immoral. Immorality is subjective. This is a reality that happens to real people, like BB Gandanghari. Sooner or later, our children will learn about it. However, I just think that it's not ideal to expose kids just like that, through a TV show that everyone watches and seems to enjoy. Not many parents have the time, energy, and/or wisdom to give the Strict Parental Guidance or the explanation that kids need, unfortunately.

I myself will not risk it. So, NO. No watching for me when the kid's awake and around.

The Bottom Line

My Husband's Lover's progress and end may prove to be a good exhibition of the cliche, "you can never please everybody." For GMA, they should really think hard on which party they will make victorious as the curtain closes on this series: the conservatives, Christians, and the devout Catholics, or the radicals and the LGBTs.

If Vincent chooses Lally and leaves Eric in the process, the Catholics, Christians, and conservatives will be glad and quote,"what God has joined together, let no one separate." Especially not a homosexual. This will leave the LGBTs doubtful of GMA's support, though.

Meanwhile, if Vincent chooses Eric, LGBTs might rejoice and stand firm on their vision of equal rights to loving and being loved. And CBCP might forever hate GMA for that.

But the network may also play the safe side -- no family will be destroyed as Vincent eventually chooses to stay with Lally while Eric finds another guy to fall in love with, and everyone forgives each other and become friends. Or maybe GMA can also kill the Eric character as he tries to save either Vincent or Lally or their kids and everyone celebrates his gay life and heroism.

I have seen a lot of Filipino TV series my entire life. And I am pretty sure this one will play it safe in the end, too.

So, do I recommend it? Sure. Just don't watch it with those tiny eyes around. ^_^