The Filipino journalist: Twenty-first-century insights of more talk, more mistakes?

How is the Filipino journalist at the turn of the 21st century? How is s/he after the pandemic? At a time when the phenomenon of news avoidance is felt and fake news is widespread, how is the field of journalism in the Philippines?

(Wish I could soon write about the college teaching profession to be fair to my mother.)

At the time of writing this early morning of January 29, I learned in an X post that the son of Senator Raffy Tulfo was apprehended for unlawfully using the busway on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). The younger Tulfo’s vehicle was twice seen using the bus lane last September and last week in violation of the traffic code. That was when I found out that his son is… guess what? A congressman! Since the son is under the age of 30, I wanted to find out (not via Facebook) about his educational attainment or where he studied or is studying but after five minutes of searching using the search engine, I still could not find what I was looking for. I did not have enough time to figure that out, so I proceeded to something else.

The elder Tulfo is/was a broadcast journalist. (A problematic linking verb for Conrado de Quiros; as for the late columnist, a politician cannot serve as a journalist or broadcaster while in public office). I would later read heads and subheads about the senator-father scolding the congressman-son.

Again, ‘Isumbong mo si Tulfo’

“Report to Tulfo!” a Tulfo, or even two Tulfos (as there is even a wannabe senator who is/was a journalist convicted by the Supreme Court for four counts of the crime of libel), and the TV/radio show will listen and act promptly. I-sumbong? Diba masakit sa tumbong? Lest I be misunderstood, one Tulfo in elective public office is enough. (I would not mind saying it in passing after writing several times about one social malady because it is an opportunity to remind ourselves that we have yet to enact a law meant for the anti-political dynasty provision of the Constitution which is a continuing crime on the highway).

Another print journalist in the early 1980s, who went on to become a governor and legislator, was the one caught dribbling the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill in the House of Representatives in 2012. He had another chance to keep the measure alive in successive admins to no avail. Ever done double-dribbling? Veteran play, please.

If “our” problem with politicians is that we do not help them—there are many with solicitation letters outside their door—maintain the good traits of a leader, it seems that we are also in the same quandary of keeping journalists’ fire in either helping authorities extinguish or expose corruption, mere and grave abuses of power, crises in education and health. There is a lot of reporting of crime in the streets, and entertainment news for entertainers and politicians alike, but we cannot underestimate the power of underreporting poverty and underdevelopment in our own neighborhood, under the bridge included, and the unsanitary living conditions for children and the elderly. This is despite science and health news dominating modern reportage, according to Princeton.

Are the small but important voices of garbage collectors, estero dwellers, and the rest of those in underprivileged, vulnerable communities being heard? Those who relied on the promise of P20 a kilo of rice and those who joined the show of unity when BBM and Sara were still wooing votes did not get adequate media attention as if their feedback on the broken promises of the two leaders is inconsequential.

However, the century’s turn is not all about exercising journalistic freedom uninspiringly and irresponsibly. Some have set the standard. It may not be journalism excellence, but they admirably pursue it, genuinely desiring to raise the bar. 2021 Nobel Prize Winner Maria Ressa and her organization Rappler have supplemented the voice of civil society. Manuel “Manny” Mogato, together with two colleagues from Reuters, won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting after insistently covering the brutal but failed war on drugs of then President Rodrigo Duterte.

Not only those two, but many other individuals and institutions have become ardent disciples of the art (and science) of journalism in the Philippines. And many more Filipinos are/were distinguished for journalistic integrity that rebuilds the trust of the viewing/listening/reading public.

CMFR, Vera Files, and media ownership

Consortiums, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), Vera Files, and other non-profit organizations have established their fact-checking role. To say that they are carrying out their relatively new role is an understatement.

Real journalists have the discipline of verification and that is the reason of their existence in the journalism world, UP associate professor Yvonne Chua told campus journalists recently. She added: “The fact-checking we now refer to, has expanded to include verifying, and often debunking textual and visual claims, especially falsehoods, made by individuals, groups or institutions, ranging from our public officials, public figures, to netizens that produce user-generated content.”

Also very well-intentioned is the monitoring of media ownership being done by these individuals and institutions. (For further reading: https://verafiles.org/articles/media-ownership-monitoring-informs-citizens-on-media-mogulry-and-its-many-layers and https://philippines.mom-gmr.org/en/owners/companies/.)

Blessings of independence, democracy

I remember journalists’ groups and media organizations time and again taking major stances in support of fellow journalists, political detainees, and oppositionists as they had rallying cries to freedom of speech, of expression, of the press, and peaceful assembly. One such support of late was at the height of the controversies surrounding the May 2020 shutdown of the radio and TV network ABS-CBN due to the non-renewal of the franchise by Duterte’s allies in Congress. Other journalists and organizations around the world expressed sympathies, including one from jurists as can be seen at https://www.icj.org/philippines-order-to-major-media-outlet-to-stop-airing-violates-freedom-of-expression-and-access-to-information/.

These trimedia journalists—many of whom now have social media presence—may not be the Marcelo H. del Pilar of their era, but they uphold the high ideals of pamamahayag anyway. Hayag lang nang hayag. Kalampag lang nang kalampag. Marami kasing abusadong namamayagpag.

Press freedom advocates and fighters of other freedoms know too well that they must follow the argument wherever it leads as Socrates rightly put it. And having the print space or air space is already a blessing. Like it or not, the Filipino journalist is generally happy. And whether s/he likes the job or not, there is joy deep inside her/his heart.

[Latest updates: Social media campaigning oversight may not be effective. IN Editorial, Manila Times (2025); DBM ties up with Manila Bulletin, other media groups to strengthen the commitment to open government, Manila Bulletin (2025); https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/sc-dismisses-contempt-petition-filed-against-abs-cbn/ (2024); https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/916355/quiboloy-smni-freeze-order/story/ (2024).]

Indignation rallies January 31, 2025

Asked to comment, I welcome the rallies slated today and since there are only 101 days before the 2025 National and Local Elections, it is well for me and you to pause and analyze calmly the organizers’ statements such as:

“We demand accountability from the Marcoses, the Dutertes, and our Congress”; “We call on Congress to repeal the General Appropriations Act for 2025, to rectify the flaws of the budget, enact a people’s budget by strengthening education, public health, and critical infrastructures, and to defund non-critical public works projects which promote corruption among our politicians.”; “We call on Congress to enact an Anti-Political Dynasty Law by the provisions of the 1987 Constitution to help effect good and responsible governance in the Philippines.”