Frankly I fail to be impressed by all the huffing and puffing about how “shocking” the massacre of 57 people is allegedly in the hands of warlord Andal Ampatuan Jr. I also fail to be impressed by the people who are grandstanding about calls for “justice” and close public scrutiny of (and the proposed televising) of the trial of the Ampatuans. Add to that, by the way, I don’t really give a rat’s arse about how many of these 57 were “journalists”. To me they were all people — period.
Let’s talk about people, shall we? Let’s put fifty seven people killed in what is essentially an election-related politically-motivated crime in its proper perspective. Election-related and politically-motivated acts, whether they are heinous crimes like these or banal acts of stupidity are endemic in Philippine society. One study laid out the following statistics over a number of Philippine election years:
1988 elections – 188 dead
1992 elections – 89 dead
1995 elections – 108 dead
1998 elections – 77 dead
2001 elections – 98 dead
In terms of absolute numbers, ignoring for a moment its ratio to the number of perpetrators involved, 57 (perhaps among other unsung victims killed in 2009) stacks up quite conservatively with our renowned collective track record of election violence. I dare say, the only thing that makes the Maguindanao massacre remarkable is that it was a large number of victims perpetrated by only one man (or one clan, as the case may be).
Then again, is 57 killed by one man or one political clan really that remarkable in the Philippine setting?
When we do a bit of thinking outside the little square framed for lesser minds by our honourable oligarchs in the Philippine Media, we will consider how from 1987 through to 2008, a single shipping company — Sulpicio Lines Inc (SLI) — was a common denominator underlying the preventable deaths of at least 10,000 people at sea. Let’s say for argument’s sake, that SLI employs 50 senior management personnel and that every one of them can be deemed accountable for those deaths. That’s a victim-to-perpetrator ratio of 200-to-1. It is a ratio that dwarfs Andal Ampatuan’s alleged accountability for the deaths of 57 people.
Look around for a minute and take stock of the Media buzz and ask:
Who is huffing and puffing for the Sulpicio Lines victims today?
Still impressed by all the crocodile prayers being muttered by so-called “prayerful” Filipinos in commemoration of this atrocity? Where are the prayers and where is the Media-backed “commemoration” of the victims of the negligence of Sulpicio Lines?
Rather than take our queue from proclamations by a gaffe-infested Malacanang and the colourful song-and-dance blitzes of profit-oriented Media outlets, I recommend that we derive real insight and better perspective from what Yours Truly wrote back in 2009:
Sensational “news” should never be confused with important information. And if it is useful information we seek, it seems that no amount of the “press freedom” our society supposedly gained since 1986 helped us identify the relevant issues that determine what our calls to action should prioritise. In the same way that irresponsible property development and garbage disposal failed to make headline news — until Ondoy did it for us — warlords in Mindanao and the rest of the Philippines’ hinterlands amassed their wealth and arms under the radar — until the Maguindanao Massacre turned it to today’s talk of the town. Like everything else in the Philippines, whether it be disastrous flooding, or armed-to-the-teeth warlords, the Philippine Media — that supposed bastion of enlightenment, truth, and (get this) “information”, simply fails to lead the way in helping the public focus on what is important.
In the same way that Andal Ampatuan Jr is an individual person who oversaw the death of 57 innocent people, we are also a people of one Nation that have overseen preventable deaths numbering in the tens of thousands if not the hundreds of thousands. What we choose to focus our attention on – and what is glaringly absent from our national “debate” – is a revealing indictment of our claim to be a civilised society. The fundamental issues that underlie recurring disasters and accidents as well as chronic election violence – safety, environment, infrastructure, and security – are by themselves newsworthy in truly civilised societies. A routine focus on these issues is the hallmark of a society that truly cares about its lot.
Taken in the above context, it becomes a bit trickier to convince ourselves that Andal Ampatuan Jr is a “monster” who is fundamentally different from the average Filipino schmoe now, doesn’t it?
Get Real Philippines 
Except that the election deaths you posted are aggregate numbers. Different instances, different perpetrators. The 57 journalists, or people, as you acutely pointed out, were killed in one fell swoop. Yes, it is the only thing remarkable about it, but that in itself is what makes it truly shocking.
None of the sulpicio lines employees or owners WANTED their passengers or co-workers dead. It wasn’t planned murder, questionable policies on capacity notwithstanding.
Look, I understand the sentiment about some grandstanding calls for justice, but to downplay the event by comparing it to those things you point out is myopic and silly.
i don’t think the author is downplaying the EVENT.
He does make a strong point with this line:
“Sensational “news” should never be confused with important information.”
I don’t think the Maguindanao Massacre should be downplayed because it reflects wider problems in our country: patronage and warlordism. I’m willing to bet a whole month’s paycheck that the Ampatuans will not have the courage to do what they did if they did not have strong ties with GMA.
58 people dead – the victims were either women or journalists. If this is not enough to alarm us, then I don’t know what will.
THE Ampatuanization of 58 people will always be in the limelight bcause idiot peryodistas were killed. If it were you and me, it will be totally forgotten, like you and me.
if that’s the case then the HK tourist killer did not have the fear to do what he did coz of NOynoy. so easy to be blind.
GMA, a convenient excuse for everything that went wrong during her term. And yet she was the most hardworking president and the only woman to have become one ever on our benighted land. I am proud of GMA’s achievements in our economy given the constraints, she is one woman-leader I truly admire. Blame the Cory Aquino legacy for the rise of the Ampatuans to power. Get over your blind hatred on GMA and start thinking straight!!!!
women? so what about a dead male that’s less sensible than a death of a woman? really typical of a yellow zombie in terms of thinking. tsk-tsk.
None of the sulpicio lines employees or owners WANTED their passengers or co-workers dead. It wasn’t planned murder, questionable policies on capacity notwithstanding.
Are you implying letting them ride their floating rust buckets didn’t mean they meant to murder these people? Ever heard of negligence? It is just as bad even if the intention doesn’t necessarily come out. Worst yet, they didn’t come forward and talked with the victim families for compensation! Thankfully they weren’t operating in the United States, otherwise they’d be swamped by lawsuits!
Look, I understand the sentiment about some grandstanding calls for justice, but to downplay the event by comparing it to those things you point out is myopic and silly.
OH look the people downplayed Aug 23 as an attempt to call it an isolated incident with a failed 8 hour negotiation and innocent chinese dead, besides the gaffes already being committed. Or lest we not forget Hacienda Luisita, were the current president can’t even admit to the murders of the farmers in his land no less.
58 people dead – the victims were either women or journalists. If this is not enough to alarm us, then I don’t know what will.
look at my example above. They haven’t woken up yet for anyone’s death, more so the more foreign they are!
I agree, Jay. Perhaps, the writer just needs to grandstand and be controversial.
I’m surprised no effort was made to completely twist facts and make the whole Arroyo clique (Ramos, Gordon, Morato, Lakas, etc) completely blameless and make Noynoy appear as the devil himself.
Looks like you’re misreading this article. Also, you call Ramos, Gordon, Morato, Lakas, etc the Arroyo clique? Haha, you’ve been believing in silly myths, my friend.
this is typical of the Filipino mentality these days — plurality in measure. treating a so-called minor crime less for a seemingly major one. tingi-tinging shampoo over a decent standardized amount. forgoing a city ordinance for illegal parking to focus on other more sensationalized issues in the city. kaya filipinos tend to be less professional with small things kasi they only love to be professional with big things. and di natin alam eh the small are components of the big. let’s not hold accountable the killers of that teacher who was beheaded months ago in mindanao kasi he’s just one. this massacre, however, is oh boy very big. both are still about deaths of the innocents.
Mirriam, you are either a dimwit or you benefited from the Arroyo family loot. You like Gloria because she is a woman and is hardworking? There are many hardworking women that you can look up to, including those who are honest, competent, and are not obsessed with power. You really like someone who would steal at the behest of her greedy fat husband–to whom she is still obviously infatuated–and her desperate actor-wanna-be son?
” There are many hardworking women that you can look up to, including those who are honest, competent, and are not obsessed with power.”
Mention someone so you can at least sound authentic.
WTF ChinoF? You don’t know strong willed/principled women in your life? Get off your high horse, cut off your dick, and look around you dumbass. Not every successful women is a psychopath like Gloria you dumbshit drunk fucker.
Depressing response, ChinoF. Your mother must be proud.
good point against the (forced) differentiation between the civilian and mediamen victims. I too also find it a bit strange that there’s way too much effort to underscore that some of the victims were journalists.
it’s unfortunate that putting more emphasis on the involvement of those journalists is sending out some kind of subliminal message that the fact that they were journalists is a factor in the level of indignation that should be shown over this heinous crime.
do mediamen have any special place in society that they should be held higher than “ordinary” people? i don’t think so.
like everyone else mediamen — and for that matter government officials, church people etc. etc) are just people.
to me, this is yet again proof of philippine media’s inability to rise above drama and histrionics. it’s not surprising really because mediamen are just people like everyone else. they are not necessarily better in any way than the rest of us. they are only as smart or as dumb as the man on the street.
“like everyone else mediamen — and for that matter government officials, church people etc. etc) are just people.”
—> Exactly. They’re human beings just like you and me. Like you and me, they also have loved ones who were deeply disturbed by the senseless nature of their deaths.
How would you feel if you died in the same way as the victims of the Maguindanao Massacre did, and people just shrugged it off?
you seem to be missing the point.
You are the one who’s missing the point. Their being journalists is being emphasized in order to show how the Ampatuans will not think twice about crushing press freedom just to keep themselves in power.
If the Ampatuans hated the Magundadatus so much, why did the former have to drag the journalists into their feud with the Magundadatus? The journalists were just doing their job (they were covering the electoral battle between the two families). Should the journalists manage to expose unsavory stuff about the Ampatuans in the process, then that’s not their fault anymore.
In the end, it all boils down to an arrogant display of power, as well as shooting the messenger. In order to prove that they “ruled” Maguindanao, the Ampatuans brutally crushed those whom they perceived to be threats to their power.
After killing journalists, what’s next? Going after ordinary citizens (e.g. bloggers) who dare to challenge the status quo? Possibly, if we keep on downplaying issues like the Maguindanao Massacre.
kristine0019,
i don’t think the perpetrator/s killed those people who happened to be members of the media to crush press freedom. those mediamen just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. the perpetrator/s were more likely just ensuring there won’t be any witnesses.
you see it really is irrelevant if they were journalists or not.
don’t think that i don’t care about press freedom btw.
Allow me to close this debate by saying that for me, it is relevant. Not because I consider journalists as better persons than the average Joe, but because their senseless deaths at the hands of the Ampatuans have serious implications in our society.
First, their deaths show how press freedom, the right to know and freedom of expression can easily be sacrificed on the altar of power (at least in our country). If they can do that to journalists, then they can do that to the average citizen.
Second, their deaths show how corruption can literally kill. More than just depriving constituents of much-needed social services, corrupt leaders will not think twice about killing anyone whom they consider to be a threat to their wealth and power. Ikaw na rin mismo ang nagsabi – pinatay yung mga journalists para walang maka-saksi sa mga Ampatuan.
Let me assure you that I respect your views. I just hope that you respect mine.
At higit sa lahat, sana magkaroon na ng katarungan para sa mga biktima ng Maguindanao Massacre. Kahit ano pa man ang papel nila sa buhay, they do not deserve to undergo such an atrocity. Like you and me, they also rights – rights that cannot be violated due to one family’s lust for power.
Ingat ka lagi.:-)
of course i do respect your opinion. we are discussing or debating things in a cordial manner, are we not?
anyway, last i heard people have been killing each other since time immemorial. i don’t think the deaths of those journalists would signal the start of more crimes against ordinary people. it’s been happening long before the maguindanao massacre.
ingat ka rin lagi. 🙂
who’s shrugging the issue of? no one, my dear. what we are shrugging off is the misplaced exaggeration in the form of sensationalized journalism. if someone from PLM kills you and you are an FEU student, would other people call your killer PLM student FEU killer? that’s what the press and the media are doing now when clearly they are doing injustice to the civilians who also died there.
*off
Yes, that is actually an under-highlighted point here — that there is so much emphasis on many of these victims being media people. The elephant in the room that is consistently missed by the vacuous sensibilities of Da Pinoy is that a continuous emphasising of these people being journalists implies that this is the reason that this tragedy is given so much air time by the Media to begin with.
They are people first and foremost, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters. That they are “journalists” ranks in the scheme of useful information somewhere alongside what brand of underwear they were wearing when they died.
I just hope you’ll still have the same mindset when someone kills you because of your views in this website.
As I’ve mentioned earlier, their being journalists is emphasized in order to show how the Ampatuans will not think twice about crushing press freedom just to keep themselves in power. If they can do that to journalists, then they can certainly do that to the average person.
a couple of years ago a member of the media was killed by a lone gunman. various news agencies reported it as a case media violence, an attack on press freedom. they came to that conclusion simply because the victim was a mediaman. it was later found out that the killer was a robber who just wanted to steal from the victim.
that incident was a cause for indignation because someone died under violent circumstances. however it was hardly a case of press freedom being curtailed. the same thing here.
the maguindanao massacre, as despicable as it is, was not a curtailment of press freedom. those mediamen victims were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. the perpetrator/s naturally didn’t want any witnesses. it’s as simple as that.
now don’t get me wrong. i’m not saying this makes it alright. a crime was committed and it should be dealt with accordingly, but just so we don’t confuse others let’s not make it out as something that it isn’t. if we insist on doing that we will be no better than those in traditional media who tend to cause more confusion than clarity
ps: if someone were to kill me and no one cared i wouldn’t feel bad about it for the simple reason that I will have ceased to be a part of the physical world by then. of course it would be a different story if it turns out that after death we do remain aware of what’s happening in this world. in that case i’d probably still not feel bad but i’ll make sure to give those who should care about my death a good scare. 🙂
tsk-tsk emotional rant. misplaced. typical of yellow zombies.
And what makes you think I’m a yellow zombie? Just because you don’t like my views?
Kung sa bagay, ganyan naman talaga mag-isip ang karamihan sa mga tao dito sa AP (karamihan, take note, hindi lahat).
“You’re not with us? Then you’re an idiot, paid hack, lazy bum, yellow zombie, yellow idiot, (insert anti-Noynoy expletive here)”
Lawak-lawakan naman sana natin ang mga pag-iisip natin.
clearly coz of the semblance in the arrogance of your statement >> I just hope you’ll still have the same mindset when someone kills you because of your views in this website. << which reminds me of Noynoy's arrogance during his Bloomberg interview.
and i stated typical of yellow zombies. not directly citing you as one. your comment was as emotional as a yellow zombie’s. get it, ‘tine? heck, your comment can even be compared to kris aquino’s arrogant one-liners on tv.
I came up with the statement “I just hope you’ll still have the same mindset when someone kills you because of your views in this website” in order to point out that if they can do that to journalists, then they can also do that to ordinary citizens (e.g. bloggers) who dare to challenge the status quo.
I never intended to promote any politician/celebrity/political group/ideology. Any semblance to Noynoy or Kris Aquino’s views is entirely coincidental.
If you agree with my aforementioned statement, well and good. But if not, then that’s not my problem anymore. I will not censor my beliefs just because they are too leftist/rightist/yellow zombie-ish for your liking.
You should stop putting the “yellow zombie” label on every idea that doesn’t match yours. Otherwise, you’ll be no different from George Bush, whose arrogance (“If you’re not with us, then you’re against us”) led to a senseless war that killed 4,429 American soldiers (as of 2010).
it’s an opinionated description of your comment, silly. who’s trying to censor you now? i did not. really, your lifting weights for nothing. imagining sanctions where there are none. it is you who imagined that you are motivated to censor yourself. why? kasi nga emotional ka lang. which is typical of yellow zombies. and why should i stop tagging your silly comments na typical of yellow zombies? OMG you’re censoring me BWAHAHAHA
Kristine, don’t waste your time convincing people who are writing with a fixed agenda. Besides, this is a blog and the writers here are accountable to no one but their egos and the politicians they want to perpetuate into power. Sometimes I feel like I’m watching Fox News or reading Manila Bulletin when I read the stuff here.
The idiot perydoistas deserved Ampatuan. The Filipinos do not deserve the media. Lookit the coverage of ZTE and Ampatuan and the Glorieta bombing. THEY ARE PURE ILLOGICAL IRRESPONSIBLE REPORTING …. Filipinso do not deserve Philippine Media. They deserve Ampatuan. They can analyze phantom politcal events yet cannot analyze the legal and forensc aspect of the massacre.
to satisfy kristine, what do we call the killed civilians? what cause did they die for? if the civilians were going to a party that day would we call them party advocates? why do we have to tag their advocacy to give dignity to their deaths? if the civilians had no worthy cause for dying that day, then did they die senselessly and lived without sense? that’s so unfair. especially if the journalists who died there are given the sense for their deaths and their lives.
The Maguindana Massacre really shocked the whole world if you ask me. Don’t worry benign0, I’ll share my sentiments here.
My simple sentiment is with the people of Maguindanao. Both Mangundadato and Ampatuan are abusive according to people who engaged with the two.
The only difference is that the former did his abuse of power in the cloak of professionalism. The other did it in a brazen uneducated vulgar attempt.
Educated lang yong isa – and that spells the difference.
right if gossip is to be the king in convicting someone then i can easily disseminate online how i came to know from a businessman friend who did had transactions in mindanao years ago that the Mangundadatos were milking him dry of his business proposal. but of course doing so is stupid because it’s the same as looking at ampatuan jr.’s face on tv and feeling hatred.
I don’t see it such a gossip or conviction. In fact it was just a norms for people in power. For example, a town mayor was reportedly acting like marcos who only approves local business to operate unless he has share of profits. The case of mangundadatu is just not unlike everybody else in power. It was never a gossip. It was a default behaviour.
The numbers cited here are “official,” recorded numbers. What about those that are unrecorded or unlisted? I’m sure there are a lot more than this.
That title of “Ampatuan Jr no different from the average Pinoy schmoe” reminds me of Hannah Arendt’s assertion that Nazi Adolf Eichmann, or any Nazi from that matter, was no different from any German, or any person, of the time. The Nazis were not these “specially evil” people that were different from the human race. They were no different from any one of us. Thus, it does not take a special breed to be evil – just as it doesn’t take a special breed to be good. Quoting Wikipedia’s article on Adolf Eichmann, “even the most ordinary of people can commit horrendous crimes if placed in certain situations and given certain incentives.” This is a warning to all Pinoys… we’re all potential Ampatuan Jrs here.
“Quoting Wikipedia’s article on Adolf Eichmann, “even the most ordinary of people can commit horrendous crimes if placed in certain situations and given certain incentives.” This is a warning to all Pinoys… we’re all potential Ampatuan Jrs here. ”
—> Exactly. That’s why the Maguindanao Massacre should not be downplayed under the pretext of rationality and critical thinking. It should serve as a reminder to everyone. By downplaying the Maguindanao Massacre, we might end up “normalizing” human rights violations. Andal Ampatuan, Jr. is no different from the average Filipino schmoe, anyway, so why bother if our loved ones – or worse, us ourselves – become the next victim of heinous crimes?
Besides, did the Ampatuans exercise rationality and critical thinking when they killed their victims? I don’t think so.
Did GMA exercise rationality and critical thinking when she coddled the Ampatuans? I don’t think so.
Looking above at BP’s and Benign0’s comments to you, here’s what I gather: the massacre made news only because journalists were killed; but if there were no journalists among those massacred, this news might not get wide media exposure. That means a double standard. That will be the side effect of the Maguindanao Massacre hype.
I’m not downplaying the Massacre, and neither are we AP writers, we do appreciate the attention this event gave the issue. It just might be that other victims of other massacres by other Ampatuan-like people are not getting the coverage they deserve. Media is selective and thus acting irresponsibly. Clan massacres should have gotten big coverage many years ago, since this is something that happens often in the provinces. It only so happened that a large number of journalists were among the victims and so media got mad. Does it need that for this issue of political massacres to get the right media coverage?
The Ampatuans’ victims are no different from the average Pinoy schmoe either… which is why the emphasis on their victims does seem overmuch.
we might end up “normalizing” human rights violations.
Funny, sex trade, dead Chinese from faulty 8 hour negotiation gone wrong, dead farmers from our current president are tolerated.
Hell, plagiarism is now normalized according the new law written now. Keep things in perspective. This is neither shocking or controversial. Just society growing more apathetic, as if they aren’t already with the divide of city/promdi mindset.
To be fair to GMA, the Ampas were there even before she was.
but you see, the yellow zombies seem to look at GMA as a goddes who started mayhem in the philippines, who continued it during her presidential term, and who is still in control of all power in the nation now. wow. they really idolize her to a fault. so much for being hung up on something. they really can’t move on to walk that straight path if their eyes are so yellowish to see their way.
All the focus on GMA is the red herring to draw away people’s attention from the more important things, like the gaffes of the current administration. If people say, jail GMA instead of Ampatuan for the MaguIndanao Massacre, that’s among the highest levels of stupidity.
one can only downplay something that’s not exaggerated. the maguindanao massacre, however is exaggerated and in the most incorrect way. it was being sensationalized by the press and media for tagging it as a anti-journalist crime. whenever they mention that it’s a crime against journalists, they are downplaying the death of the civilians who also died there.
You could also question why so many journalists were involved in the first place: would the filing of a candidacy in a minor province in the boondocks ordinarily be that big a news event? Of course not; they were there because they had a pretty good idea there would be trouble, and boy did they ever find it. I’m not downplaying their deaths, not at all. The fact that so many of them were so accurately able to predict the outcome is a sad comment on this whole society. But the news media kind of made their own drama here from the outset, and there’s something disrespectful in all that to all the forgotten thousands who didn’t go looking for trouble and died anyway.
I remember about the Nuremberg Trials. Those who were tried (most of them are German war criminals and even Nazi members) have the same excuse about the Holocaust: “We were just following orders.”
Now, every soldiers has the right to disregard & disobey inhumane laws.
To me, the Maguindanao massacre is shocking. Those who were killed were not just candidates. Most of them are civilians. It is not just a drive by shooting. It was planned. What also made it more shocking was the involvement of several groups. Tsk tsk…
I understand that media does sensationalize most of the time. A classic example for me is A H1N1. It was not only in sensationalized in local news but worldwide. Now, it turns out that A H1N1 is manageable. Those who died from it did not die from the severity of the virus but because of not getting immediate and proper medical attention.
I share similar sentiments over the mainstream media. I no longer trust what I hear, see, and read in the news. Nowadays, we need inquiry and discernment to know the truth.
Oh it was sensationalized since there are journalists from the mainstream newspapers. Otherwise, the news will be buried along with the victims.
yes, you better believe it, that is partly the reason.
you can basically predict the level of airtime a story can get by checking if there are any celebrities or mediamen involved. that’s how philippine news companies operate. remember rico yan’s death? remember how the major networks broke the traditional holy week sign off because of that event?
There, I missed your comment when I made mine above. This is it.
You’re a fucking retard Benigno, each of those dead journalists was not only a decent human being, each of them was a better person than you’ll ever hope to be, you pro-Ampatuan and pro-Arroyo Piece-of-Shit. Sana ikaw na lang talaga ang namatay sa petsa at paraan na iyon, hindi kawalan sa mundo ang pagkawala mo, at wala naman sigurong matinong tao ang malulungkot sa pagpanaw mo.
You mean “journalists” (like ‘artistas’) are a better breed than the average pinoy schmoe? Hhmmm…
Re: “wala naman sigurong matinong tao ang malulungkot sa pagpanaw mo.”
For me, personally, I won’t mind. I’m dead anyway. In fact, I requested my wife to bury me in the simplest, least costly manner. Most importantly, never inconvenience the public with the casket ‘parade.’
Yest JuanDelaCrap felt no remorse for innocent dead chinese. Fellow Pinoy journalists? Oh snap that IS BAD!
Troll harder, nigga.
Of all the 57 people died, most of them are people than journalists. I mean, the Sulpicio Lines Tragedy have a hundred deaths than 57 people. And what’s weird is that why it’s on the news compared to the Sulpicio Lines one?
Get the logic?
your comment well represents the violent Noynoy Aquino whose victim complex showed clearly when he was interviewed on Bloomberg during the presidential campaign period when he stated that if he did not win the election, then Filipinos might just go on another people power effort that was more violent that the recent mayhem in Thailand which was ongoing at that time. it’s crazy how we have a president now who loved to incite violence among his constituents… to think that he said it even before he became the president. that was captured on film and disseminated online as proof.
Not to mention the killings of the witnesses and their families even though Ampatuan Jr is already in prison. He is just way too powerful.
Got proof? Oh, yeah! Yo proof coming from the same very idiot peryodistas that misled Filipinos from the very beginning of time. The coverage and opinion pieces from these idiot peryodistas will never make it in the civilized world. Well, in the Flipland, if you speakengese goot englischtze illogical opinions end up in the papers. Because enlgischtzes is the measure of IQ in the Flippingland.
I cant give you the proof. I only watched it on TV Patrol. If TV Patrol is not enough proof then what would.
TVP is an Oligarch mouthpiece! You need more objective media.
which is?
as far as i know tv news reports do not make the best evidence. it’s like hearsay.
there’s no real objectivity in any kind of media. we’ll just have to strive to be more discerning.
discerning… hmmmm i like that….
Andal Ampatuan is a product of our Political System gone wrong. That is: political warlords monopolizing power. Anybody challenging their power, are eliminated. It is also the product of our cultural traits, of Datuism. The Policemen owe their loyalties to the Ampatuans, rather than the government that employed them. Because these people, were recommended by the Ampatuans to become policemen..The case is being used by the imbecile President Noynoy Aquino, to divert our attention from him..It is called the : Diversion Card. He played with us: (1) the Blame Card. (2) The Whore Card. (3) The EDSA Myth Card. (4) the “my parents are Heroes” Card. Now, it is the Ampatuan Card. So that he can blame Gloria Arroyo. We will play with him also the: Hacienda Luisita Mafia Card…the bribe-taker sacred cow , Sec. Puno Card…
Here’s my take:
The Maguindanao Massacre: Another Reason Why Filipinos Shouldn’t Be Proud
It’s been a year since that tragedy happened. The Maguindanao Massacre not only showed how politics in the Philippines are dirtier than a baby’s soiled diaper. It also showed not only the worst of election-related violence but also the worst in the history of journalism, not only in the Philippines. It also showed how political dynasties (like the Ampatuans for example) can be a negative aspect to our Philippine political system. It also reflects how rotten our political system is. And the worst of all, of course, us Filipinos. Most of us ask: Despite of this, are we proud to be Pinoy? Dahil sa mga nangyayari sa bansa natin (I’m not sure if natural disasters could count), gusto kong sabihin na hindi dahil true pride comes with humbleness and learn to accept our faults and mistakes. I want to thank the Lord because I’ve found this site. And I’m proud to be part of AntiPinoy.
I remember of an article (it’s an e-mail, actually) from the Philippine Daily Inquirer a few months ago. It was written by one of the daughters of Weng Orejana, former ABS-CBN news reporter whose family have migrated to New Zealand (correct me if I’m wrong), probably before the tragedy. What really made me surprised is her disgust and disappointment to the Philippines, as it was written in her article. As she stated, there is a time that when they found out the news about the infamous massacre, Weng Orejana’s husband said this: “Ayoko nang bumalik sa Pilipinas.” That is striking to me, but because I’m a very open-minded individual, I have read the whole article and she has a point: we can be stupid when we say “Proud to be Pinoy” even this kind of brutality have happened if you ask me. She even said this: “Kahit magprotesta tayo dahil sa trahedyang iyan, walang mangyayari. Dahil bulok ang ating sistema and worse, dahil din sa mga hambog na nakaupo sa puwesto. So what’s the point?” Finally, she stated this in her conclusion:
“I’M FILIPINO. AND I’M NOT PROUD.”
Anyways, she was right. And I’m sure she’ll also say the same statement when she saw how an idiot became the president of this country thanks to the fellow idiots who put him into office. She’ll also say that same statement when she saw the Manila Hostage Crisis, where 8 Chinese nationals were dead due to some police guy, the stupidity & the incompetence of the police, the mayor, and some government officials, and even the President himself, causing international outrage and humiliation. She’ll do the same when she saw the current President as a “smiling dog” to the people of Hong Kong. She’ll do the same when she saw the “smiling dog” eating some hotdogs in New York for questionable reasons or much worse. She’ll do the same when she saw one stupid speechwriter whining about the wine in Vietnam. She’ll do the same and laugh her a$$ off when she saw the idiocy of the president’s men, including a jerk who wants to change the Philippine Tourism slogan into something that was unworkable and at the same time, retarded. She’ll do the same when she saw moronic kolehiyalas took pictures from the bus where the tragic event occurred, with a smile on their faces. And when Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s name appeared as one of the people who are involved in the infamous massacre, believing that the current president will always chase Gloria for that alleged wrongdoing or something and not the most important things like education, infrastructure, etc., probably not only she’ll say the same statement, not only she’ll laugh, but a face palm full of disappointment. Well, who knows?
So what are we going to do? Forgetting about our problems in the country, not being aware of the issues and focus on watching too much telenovelas and too much Willing Willie & even delude ourselves with so-called “Pinoy Pride” when we saw Manny Pacquiao in his bout, or Arnel on his tour with Journey or Charice appearing on Glee (that’s why I spent most of the time studying my musical pieces and watching anime, tokusatsu, and even the news and other interesting TV shows, hobby-wise) and other nonsensical things about Da Pinoy culture? Well, let’s try to face our problems and try to humble ourselves as people and as human beings, just like what I’ve read an AntiPinoy article entitled, “The Failure of Filpino Pride”. We can’t change our society unless we start the change in ourselves, and even the community. Naniniwala ako sa ganitong mga kasabihan: “Hindi natin kayang baguhin ang bayan kung hindi natin kayang baguhin ang ating mga sarili.” So it’s not corruption is the root problem in our society. And about being “world-class”, I prefer to have a World-Class Philippines instead, just like most of the people here have stated.
The attack in Pearl Harbor during World War II has made America stronger, making it the world’s most powerful country after the war. The 9/11 terrorist attacks for Americans is a tragic day. But it’s not like the Maguindanao Massacre with stupid rallies and other nonsense that spewed out (I think that martial law in Maguindanao is necessary, I think). I saw an ad from the 700 Club during that time, showing that most Americans have revived their faith in God after that tragic incident. But I don’t know about Obama’s case so I can’t comment on it.
Unless we can’t change ourselves and change our way of thinking as countrymen (especially on voting for public officials), making reforms (including the media) and look forward to a genuine, truly new Philippines, I will say this once more: “I’M FILIPINO. AND I’M NOT PROUD.” And if this tragedy will happen again, I’ll do a facepalm then I’ll go my room and pray instead: “Lord, please punish these people if they didn’t repent.” And if we talk about “Pinoy Pride”, please stop triumphalism crap.
Nice mentioning Weng Orejana’s example. Good thing she got out of the spin doctoring channel so she could use her properly working head somewhere better.
“I’m Filipino and I’m not proud…” —> certainly what decent people will feel after the Bus Hostage Crisis. Take note, skeptics… she does not deny that she’s Filipino… but she says that it’s nothing to be proud abut.
Equality starts with treating everyone EQUALLY. I do agree the Maguindanao deaths are sensationalized, and even more disturbing that it involved journalists, thus it seemed that certain business ventures (ABS-CBN, etc.) are willing to stick their necks out for their own, and trying to trace it back to GMA’s high laundry list.
The article already mentions the suplicio lines, especially with the princess of the stars being also a product as bad as murder based on negligence and without any form of compensation. Lets not also forget Aug 23, where pinoy society tried to turn it around on the Chinese with such accusations as the lone premeditated murder of pinoys and the poisoned milk. Oh and the Hacienda Luisita murders of dead farmers which Noynoy won’t even talk about.
At least in America, its easy to understand local news coverage. Columbine got major coverage because it hit suburban america. That kind of thing happens in the inner city for the most part. The profit for the news looks better with surburban kids committing violence than inner city kids who are already exposed to violence on a daily basis.
So treat death like its sacred. Go beyond what the news networks are trying to make it out. If you treat those who died with the ampatuan and say you are a good person, do the same for the others who also died out of neglect and had an ability to live.
it’s the same as tagging a criminal according to his profile for example journalists stating in their reports that a muslim ran over someone in a certain city when it can be simply put as name of the criminal. we don’t read how hubert is being tagged as a catholic rapist on their reports. this only means that journalism in the philippines is sensationalized. it’s not public service anymore. it’s for private businesses. they meant to show it like public service because they always have an outreach segment in their 30-min news program.
Andal Ampatuan is the escape goatee of fakked up justice system. Forensics are extremely fakked up. Instead of sifting layer by layer to reach thru the burried cadavers without disturbing the crime scene and maintain integrity of evidences, they used the very same backhoe, the weapons of crime, that burried them. WoW! Galing talaga itong mga englischtzes-speaking-ivy-school-foreign-educated prosecutors natin!
OJ Simpson was acquitted just because of that friggin’ glove and hint of racial epithet during the investigation. Here in the FlipLand, they can talk openly that they are againsting Ampatuan. WoW! Galing Filipinos! SUPER – GALING!
The guilt of Amptuan are proven thru incredible accounts of witnesses. One witnesses said that Ampatuan killed all 40 victims. Therefore, forensics should prove that there was only one gun thru ballistics from the same angle at close to same distance. WoW! Galing Filipinos!!!! No forensics proved it. But forensics of the witnesses account proved Andal’s guilt. WoW!
ZTE is composed of tsismis. No evidence. No forensics. Hello Garci is tsismis. No voice print proof of Pandak. FLIPPINOS ARE ONLY GOOT IN ENGLSICHTZES NOTHING MORE. UP Grads can tell writer’s finger print THAT IS ALL THEY CARE BECAUSE TO THEM ENGLISCHTZES IS HOLY! ADORABLE! HA!HA!HA!HA!HA!
wow. as in wow philippines. lol
I believe Philippines has got a good justice system. The only bad thing about it is the people who are handling it. Sad…very very sad.
Would you call a justice system blinded by wealth, power, or publicity a good system? Verily, vigilantism is a better alternative than THAT!
yes filipinos are more concerned about having the filipino royalty on the paper bill than actually being logical
hi benigno, you blogged about Ampatuan here . How about Gov Toto – do u have any say about him? do u think he is the reason why all those 58 people died? Now that he is the governor of Maguindanao – do you think he is able to make changes in that place?
yeah what about the many kagawads and councilors killed this year? and what about that school teacher who was taken from a jeepney in Mindanao and beheaded days later? why are the living journalists sensationalizing the killings of their so-called own kind especially for the Maguindanao massacre when obviously civilians were also killed? if someone is killed for allegedly focusing on someone political in his/her column or radio station then why not tag it as just a crime? why call it a crime against journalists when the crime committed is the same type that happens to businessmen who have spats with other businessmen? if they will give a special law for killing journalists does this mean that there should also be a special law for killing a business person?
Exactly, dude. Why doesn’t our local media cover these guys? They’re just as important as journalists.
im going to share this to you TPG.
“a death of one is a tragedy, a death of millions is a statistic.”
i could be wrong though.
btw its not josef stalin who wrote/said this.
I heard that on C&C: Red Alert.
Found the possibly more accurate source: Erich Maria Remarque.
Apt words for the Ampatuan case.
@phil g: “beheading” in bangsamorons (silent n) is not a crime… it’s cottage industry, a business dealings… no money/ransom = beheading;… likewise, business spats, personal differences, etc are settled by the 50cc honda… it’s not a crime… it’s “first come, first served”… unahan lang ‘yan… padre damasos y santa doktora ate glo, phd, used them all the time… whereas, ampatuanization of maguindanao is not a crime… it’s masa care (aka massacre)… to thin out muklos, a form of population control down in the south of ‘tang inang imperial manila…
“Andal Ampatuan Jr: No different from the average Filipino schmoe”…. this is flipland democrazy in action… you are free to do anything…. yep, anything… and not be accountable for your action…. steal/rob, rape/molest, murder/maim, etc., etc…. no problem… this is pure democrazy… freedom with not limit… viva lawless devout catholic flipland… matira matibay or if you can’t hack it, ‘bakwet to ‘merka… let’s pray…. bwi hi hi hi hi hi…
You give Flips democracy, they practice it irrespnsibly. You give Flips religion, they believe that the world is flat. You give flips fish and they starve praying for fish. FLIPS HAS LEARNING DIFFICULTY. It is easier to teach an old dog NEW TRICKS than Filipinos OLD TRICKS.
Why focus on the Ampatuans and their victims only when there are so many killings happening down south more than that? Media spin din yan. Philippine media is corrupt
Why the idyot peryodistas focused on Ampatuan massacre? Because Ampatuans were alleged to have killed 50 of their compatriots. Idyot peryodistas are like muslims. Kill one of their own and all idyot peryodistas all over the world will descend on you.
This is a long-stretch from this pare-pareho lang iyan, but I think that Noynoy Aquino is different from NINOY.
Noynoy got on a helicopter to fly to Baguio to show his appreciation to Jollibee who had provided food/catering through Noynoy’s two campaigns. Ninoy? He would also get 😐 on a helicopter to fly to Baguio.
But Noynoy, the Inquirer-dot-Net reports — “……declined 😦 an audience with Cordillera and Baguio officials seeking answers to various issues, including the repair of roads damaged by typhoons in 2009”
I believe that Ninoy would have given 15 minutes or 30 minutes audience to the Cordillera and Baguio officials, if only for photo-op/camera camera (with Ninoy nodding his head to make it look like he was concerned about Cordillera issues).
HA!HA!HA! Bahala na yung Cordillerenos … Day after Thanksgiving, I SHOPPED and OWED!!!!! Till my pocket drops!!!!! HA!HA1HA1HA!
AMPATUAN from the word “Amputate” means to kill and amputate is the last name of a clan that rhymes with impunity. Philippine idiot peryodistas knew that Ampatuan are perceived as killers. The Philippine idiot peryodistas only raised their collective Filipino Voices when 50 of their idiot peryodistas were ampatuanized. Those who were killed allegedly by the Ampatuans prior to idiot peryodistas massacred were persona-non-grata. Meaning, they are worthless scum of the earth and do not deserve humane treatment and justice ONLY THE IDIOT PERYODISTAS ARE DESERVING OF JUSTICE AND HUMANENESS.
Dati, “salvage” ang tawag. Mukhang “Ampatuanize” na ngayon.
yeah, thats what puzzles me most. Does being a journalist makes you more important than an ordinary citizen? Is that why the Maguindanao Massacre is the most karumaldumal.
Honestly, Flipino logic is so disturbingly shallow.
Philippine journalists are above humans and Americans. Because they speakengese goot country-club engl;sichtzes. Englischtzes to Flippers is HOLY!!!! Englsichrzes is measure of IQ like color of skin is measure of beauty. If you are tsinita, tisoy, tisay you are beyutipul …. Other colors than that you are only goot as benatonan …. that is benatonic beauty ….!!!!!! HA!HA1HA1HA!
Something is wrong with Ampatuan prosecution. The system of prosecution elevates gossips over and above forensics that perpetuates idiocy of judicial system whose practitioners were educated in America’s ivy schools. Here re important points that cannot be found in idiot peryodiko because they are run by idiot peryodistas, idiot prosecutors, idiot lawyers and most of all by Filipinos:
1. In America, forensics sift layer and layer of dirt to reach to the cadavers so as not to disturb the crime scene and preserve evidences;
2. forensics do not move the bodies so they can recreate the last seconds of the victims lives;
3. ballistics. Where there ballistics done? If Ampatuan were alleged to have shot 40 idiot peruodistas, it should be coming from one firearm. Or, maybe Ampatuan has houseslaves waiting in line with rifles with fully loaded clip so Ampatuan’s entertainment cannot be interrupted.
4. determine where Ampatuan was standing and angle of gun(s) and distance. Was he clappity-clap clap everytime he hit someone. Was he going around smiling? ;
5. Diod they check his trigger finger with blisters and sore?
6. Why there were no forensics presented in the prosecution unlike Hong-Kongese bus massacre?
7. Why the idiot peryodistas knew it was Ampatuan who ampatuanize 50 idiot peryodistas before the Quantico-trained idiots arrived and conducted their foreign-tsiks?;
8. the defense should call idiot peryodistas where they got the information that Ampatuan ampatuanize the victims.
There are plenty more questions ….
REMEMBER YOU CIVILIZED ANTIPINOYS … O.J. Simpson was acquitted to go to Vegas, held hostage people so he can get what he wanted in a hotel … just because of that friggin’ glove that didn’t fit him and racial slurs made by investigators ….
The anti-ampatuan slurs made by idiot peryodistas should be enough to acquit my friend, Ampatuan.
Add to those numbers the number of Filipinos dying everyday from jaywalking and road accidents simply because getting a driver’s license in the Philippines is Fckd up:
You dont even have to take the driver’s exam as long as you pay the Fixer his fees. Failure to use his services leads to your application being placed at the bottom end of the stack.
The result: You have 90% of motorists who a e mang mang and totally unaware of road rules and courtesy.
In america, Right-Of-Way is something that you “Give”, here, its something you “GRAB”.
“Right-of-Way” in the Flipland is POWER!!!! Only the tisoys, tisays, intsik-kwakangs, wealthy, glutathioned-skin, botoxed face gets the Right-of-Way. The brown-skin, punk’d-nose, non-englsichtzes-speaking Filipinos has no Right-of-Way. They are 2nd class citizen 99% of 100,000,000 Filipinos because the tisoys, tisays and the beautiful are only a fraction of 1%. Sad thing is, the brown-skin, punk’d nose Filipinos allow this to happen because they adore the beauties and prettiness of the tisoys and tisays
I got my license from the LTO-Uniwide Mall in Baclaran, and to the surprise of my Dad and I, we found out that there was no driving test at ALL, fixer or no fixer. All you have to do is pass the written exam – though I don’t think you actually need to do well there either.
to Antay-antayan: manila bulletin? you must be kidding me. i know you’re not. you obviously have not read the headlines of the daily inquirer. or either in denial that the daily inquirer is not sensationalized. this alone disrobes your contention that we have a fixed agenda here if you’re thinking of a fixed agenda as being hung up on martial law like most yellow zombies are. i personally have a fixed contention that journalism in the philippines nowadays is sensationalized based on its approach to the ampatuan issue. a crime against journalists? ok let’s tag a few recent deaths in the public market a crime against the palengkeros. what does that even mean? only sensationalism.
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