It is easy to put up slogans like “Legal, honest, and truthful,” “In the service of the Filipino worldwide,” “Not siding with anyone, not protecting anyone; no untruths, just purely service!”
But that is not how people experience the output of news media giants these days. Is it?
In fact the Presidente-elect Rody Duterte said “pera-pera lang yan!” (It’s all about money!)
Here are excerpts from Duterte’s talk to media -
Let’s be frank. I am saying these without excuses. No apologies, no nothing. You like to hear it? Fine. If not, so be it. That’s the truth. Let’s not fool each other. You already know it: they abound - the vultures pretending to be journalists!
The problem is every son of a bitch who claims to be journalist makes money out of it, milking money, extorting money from the people… and he is killed and he is glorified because he is a journalist. There is always a paid hack. It is not only in other professions. Do not ever think that you are in a field of purity. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXRTdljXljA)
I am quite certain that the President-elect Duterte has had experiences similar to mine when he said about media in the Philippines (referring to giant networks) as "pera-pera lang yan!"(It’s all about money!).
Examples
Why will a network intentionally put in its news and international at that, a particular restaurant as serving good food when there are many that serve better? Doesn’t it follow that the journalist will profit from this news-riding advertisement?
Merriam Webster terms this as advertorial - an advertisement in the form of editorial content. Accordingly, the term "advertorial" is a blend of the words "advertisement" and "editorial." It is really an advertisement but with the face of news! How deceptive!
And why do we underscore this? Because news is supposed to be objective (no money involved) and advertisement is hard-sell (money is involved). So it is important that one must not dress up as another.
Why not let the restaurant owner buy space or time to advertise his restaurant? That way, it will appear as true-blue advertisement and not as news. And why does the Editor-in-Chief approve of such injustice to other restaurants?
By accepted universal standards, businesses must advertise their products or service and not ride on as news! What obtains is fooling the public! The audience can tell because it starts as news and eventually there goes the hype!
But what about those who cannot discern? Are they your target audience? What about those trusting in you that you deliver your service according to your slogan of honesty? Of truthfulness? Of being of service to the people? The reason behind may be... "pera-pera lang yan!"
Not newsworthy
There are items posted, printed, and broadcast by news media that are not newsworthy! Gossips about screen personalities like impending split of celebrities, the fight of two jealous contenders for a man in the fourth street of Bangkusay, a street vendor having a boxing spree with another vendor - these will not benefit viewers and readers. This is gossipmongering that is prohibited in the Bible!
PROVERBS 16:28 (GNB)
Gossip is spread by wicked people; they stir up trouble and break up friendships.
Fairness is a must especially in investigative journalism. While it is public interest and a right to know things about a popular person in the government, in the private sector, and in the religious world, both good and bad accounts about a person must be published by media practicing fair journalism! There is then balance in reporting.
II CORINTHIANS 6:8
By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
Focusing on the negative
Choosing to always cover one-sided reports about a person is unfair!
Brother Eli has been the subject of evil reports by media networks in the Philippines, sometimes the subject of headlines in some newspapers! Of the multiple cases filed by religious adversaries of Brother Eli in Philippine courts, most are reported as news and intended to malign him. However, when the case is dismissed or where Brother Eli is exonerated, there is no news about it, leaving an imbalance – like presenting to the public that I am an evil person - a menace to society! Is that the truth of it?
Here are some of those that media chose to ignore:
1. Criminal Case No. QO4-126059 (For Libel). This case was filed on March 31, 2004 by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) represented by Bienvenido C. Santiago against Ang Dating Daan program discussants Joselito Mallari and Wilfredo Santiago, and was finally judged on February 15, 2015. In a 13-page decision penned by Presiding Judge Manuel B. Sta. Cruz, Jr. of the Regional Trial Court, NCJR, Branch 226, Joselito “Josel” Mallari and Wilfredo “Willy” Santiago are acquitted of the crime of Libel for failure of the prosecution to prove all the elements of the crime charged, thus failing to establish the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. DISMISSED
2. Criminal Case 5957 (For Libel). At the Regional Trial Court, Fourth Judicial Region, Branch 76 of San Mateo Rizal, Philippines, this case sought a motion to declare accused Eliseo Soriano a fugitive from justice and to issue a hold departure against him. Judge Josephine Zarate Fernandez on August 31, 2007 denied the motion. Soriano’s counsel had underscored that his client is under intense persecution by the INC, explaining his failure to return to the country. DENIED
3. Criminal Case 06-248365 (For Libel). At the Regional Trial Court, National Capital Region, Branch 8, Manila, this case sought a motion to declare accused Eliseo Soriano a fugitive from justice. In a decision penned by Presiding Judge Felixberto T. Olalia, Jr. on December 15, 2009, in the absence of evidences to support accusations, the court said the accused cannot be declared a “fugitive from justice.” DENIED
4. Criminal Case 5957 (For Libel). In an eight-page decision penned by Josephine Zarate Fernandez, Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court, Fourth Judicial Region, Branch 76 of San Mateo Rizal, TV Broadcaster Eliseo F. Soriano was acquitted of the charge of libel. The order signed on January 14, 2014 said that malice was not proven beyond reasonable doubt. ACQUITTED
5. Criminal Case 06-248365 (For Libel) that failed to get its motion to declare the preacher as fugitive from justice, was archived. ARCHIVED
6. Criminal Cases Nos. 2002-4236-MK (For attempted murder). Bernardo Santiago of the Iglesia ni Cristo had filed a case of attempted murder against Bro. Eli Soriano and his companions. According to the order dismissing the case, the prosecution presented Witnesses Glen Fernandez and Rommel Elbambuena who both heard one of the accused say, “Patayin yan! Patayin yan! Utos ni Ingkong!” (Kill him! Kill him! Order of Ingkong!). Ingkong is a monicker for Bro. Eli Soriano.
Judge Geraldine Fiel-Macaraig of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 192 of Marikina City, however, dismissed the case for insufficiency of evidence on February 11, 2010. Conspiracy was not proven. DISMISSED
7. Criminal Case No. Q-05-136679 (For Libel). Ramil T. Parba as representative of the Iglesia ni Cristo along with Marianito Cayao and Bernardo Santiago, accused Eliseo Soriano and his companions, Danilo Navales, Jocel Mallari, Wilfredo Santiago and Luzviminda Cruz, of libel in a program aired on January 21, 2005.
In a 15-page decision signed on February 11, 2014 by Judge Jose G. Paneda of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 220 of the National Capital Judicial Region of Quezon City, Bro. Eliseo Soriano and his co-hosts at UNTV37 are acquitted of the crime of libel.
Comments are considered privileged communication when the subject in question is a public figure whose calling gives the public a legitimate interest in its doings, the decision said. DISMISSED.
Always Alert when Negative
But what is suspicious is that when a case filed by an enemy progressed or when Brother Eli is denied of his appeals, these media giants are the first to report them!
Isn’t it logical to think that these media are being paid for or influenced by Brother Eli's detractors? "Pera-pera lang ba yan?" Ewan ko. Alam nila yan! The involved know about it, for sure.
What’s Newsworthy?
It is not only the legal battle of Brother Eli with influential religions that is news worthy. There are a number of charitable works and community services being led by Brother Eli that did not merit the attention of these media giants. Maybe nobody paid them to put in their news line-up these newsworthy items!
a. MCGI as Number 1 Blood Donor: On average, around 10,000 blood units are amassed yearly by Members Church of God International (MCGI), which it donates to government and non-government organizations. (https://www.elisoriano.com/ang-dating-daan-supports-blood-donor-day/)
b. Distribution Partner of PBS: Bro. Eli is a lifetime member, regular donor and major distribution partner of the Philippine Bible Society. The congregation that he leads gives out free Bibles.
c. Free college project: La Verdad. La Verdad was first established in Apalit, Pampanga in 2009, envisioning an “institution that ensures quality learning and biblical moral standards.”
Abroad, La Verdad campuses in Ghana and Liberia were inaugurated in 2012 to extend free education to African natives. In 2014, Bro. Eli offered scholarship grants to Yolanda victims in the country, apart from the regular scholarships being offered.
Other MCGI projects with focus on education, with constant media partner, UNTV, include the Dunong-Gulong, a school-on- wheels project in support to DepEd’s Alternative Learning System, and the Manibela Academy, a roaming learning hub that provides driving and livelihood programs to the indigent. (https://www.elisoriano.com/bro-eli- offers-scholarship- grants-to-yolanda-victims/).
d. First in the country: The transient home project by the Kamanggagawa Foundation, a non-profit arm by the Members Church of God International (MCGI) caters to those unable to go home for the night. It has several of these in the country.
e. Infant Care Center of the MCGI. Established in 2012, this is a sanctuary for abandoned, neglected and abused infants.
f. Free Rides with vehicles plying the streets.
g. Daily free medical and dental clinic (http://www.mcgi.org/the-true-church-of-god/church-charities/)
While I cannot mention everything that we do, these are just examples of what could be reported on – and not the usual fare of tattler tales.
Address to Media
Because they cannot see clearly, this is the verse that these news media giants merit.
MATTHEW 23:24 (MKJV)
Blind guides who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
Clearly, this is about contrast in size. The hypocrisy in all your slogans of honesty, truthfulness and service is that you so pay attention to petty matters and report them but ignore the weightier ones.
You believe certain things that are really not important yet state that they are because it is to your selfish benefit.
What is important again about impending split of celebrities, the fight of two jealous contenders for a man in the fourth street of Bangkusay, a street vendor having a boxing spree with another vendor?
As media, aren’t you supposed to be guides to the common tao?
