Warning: Shameless plug ahead!

My interview with GMA 7 at the UP CMC ended a few minutes ago. In case you’re wondering if I said anything incriminating, please watch the segment on blogging on Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (GMA 7) this Saturday (April 26) at around 9 p.m.

Even if I won’t have access to television this Saturday (more on that in a future post, or perhaps a column article for Pinoy Weekly), I’m sure that there will be some UP CMC students who are looking forward to watching it. There might be footage of them consulting with me…under the tree! Yes, the producer decided to be creative by interviewing me at our college’s parking lot.

Hope this encourages you to watch the show this Saturday. Thank you for reading and sorry for this shameless plug.

If you watch 24 Oras or Saksi on GMA 7 tonight (April 16), you might see me explain my views on the wage hike debate.

I was just interviewed a few minutes ago by a GMA 7 reporter who, in the course of her research on the topic, came across an article I wrote in January 2007.

The article is titled “The Logic Behind a Legislated Wage Hike” published in Bulatlat Online Magazine. The reporter asked questions regarding the points I raised in this article.

I also provided updates on my computations with regard to how a wage increase could affect cost of production, at least in the manufacturing sector. If you would read my article, you would notice that I only used 2006 data, hence the need for updates. True enough, the effect on the overall cost of production is lower now than my estimates two years ago.

Just out of curiosity, I searched “legislated wage hike” in Google and, to my surprise, my January 2007 article currently ranks fifth.

I don’t think that this is a reflection of lack of more current research on a very important issue. Then again, I consider this a wake-up call to write once more about wages, especially in the wake of the current rice crisis.

Update (April 17, 1:25 pm): That’s me being interviewed by 24 Oras (GMA 7) last night (April 16, around 6:40 pm). I don’t know if I deserve to be called “political analyst,” but I agreed to it when it was suggested by the reporter. If you want to view the entire news cast, kindly click the image above. Thank you for reading.

My blog entry on the new, unofficial version of UP Naming Mahal (UP Beloved) was mentioned in an article by Dr. Elmer Ordoñez of the Manila Times titled “Anthem for the dedicated youth (The Other View, April 5).” It’s one of those rare times that the mainstream media cited Rising Sun blog entries.

PinoyPress also used my emailed reply to CC Hidalgo in the article titled “Why the Philippine Press Is Too Careful in Handling Brian Gorrell Case (April 7).” If you want to know my views on the Brian Gorrell case (particularly how journalists should handle the story), kindly read the PinoyPress article now.

Thank you for reading!

I was having my car washed at around 10 a.m. today (March 28) when I got this text message from Engr. Mon Ramirez, webmaster of Arkibong Bayan:

Wow! Frnt page pala sa inqr times gmanews tv. N 2 thnk na ala pang 20 katao.

My very loose translation of Mon’s text message: Wow, the activity got front-page treatment in the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI), Manila Times (MT) and GMANews.TV. And to think that there were less than 20 people at the picket.

I immediately looked for a copy of today’s issue of the PDI. Feel free the read the online version of the front-page article titled “Protesters hound Neri at UP meeting.”

When I arrived at UP, I looked at the front page of today’s issue of the MT and my friend Mon was right.

As regards today’s issue of the Philippine Star (PS), an article on page 5 titled “Neri jeered at UP” had an interesting source.

Yes, we thank our friends in the media for covering the event even if they were informed only at the last minute.

Of course, I should mention that Mon had been quick to upload the pictures of the activity to Arkibong Bayan. Here’s one of them.

That’s all for now. Thank you for reading!

Please check the front page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer today (February 29) and read the article titled “UP profs ask Arroyo to quit; schools go GMA-free” by Norman Bordadora. (I was quoted in the article, the online version of which may be retrieved here.)

There will be a press conference today at 1 p.m. at Quezon Hall, UP Diliman, Quezon City regarding the UP community’s call for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chair Romulo Neri to resign. It will be highlighted by a symbolic walk towards Philcoa where the participants will board buses going to Makati to join today’s Interfaith Rally.

If you’re near UP Diliman, you’re more than welcome to join. Thank you.

If I were to include the years I spent with the Philippine Collegian (UP’s official student publication), my involvement in journalism actually spans almost 20 years.

Yes, I am indeed getting old and it took an interview with campus journalists of Ang Pahayagang Plaridel (APP) to remind me of that. Incidentally, APP is the official student publication in Filipino of De La Salle University (DLSU) where I got my master’s degree.

In its 23rd year,  APP published the Luntiang Alab (loose translation: “Green Passion”) issue in December 2007. I actually find it strange that this issue is labeled “Tomo 1 Blg. 1″ (Volume 1, Number 1) when in fact it should be “Volume 23.”

Anyway, you can find my interview on pages 10 and 11 of the article titled “Mga Mamamahayag sa Pagdaan ng Panahon” written by Susan Joan Dejan and Marvin Umandap.

Allow me at this point to cite the highlights of the article:

Tunay na pagmamahal sa propesyon

Halos dalawang dekada na sa kanyang propesyon na pamamahayag si Danilo Arao, isang propesor ng Journalism sa University of the Philippines-Diliman (UP-D) at kolumnista sa Pinoy Weekly. Sa pagdaan ng panahon, marami na siyang naging magaganda at masasamang karanasan sa kanyang trabaho at naging hayagan sa kanyang mga mata ang iba’t ibang suliranin sa kanyang piniling industriya.

Binigyang-kahulugan ni Arao ang malayang pamamahayag bilang isang “sitwasyon na hindi mo nakokompromiso ang iyong prinsipyo sa paggampan ng iyong tungkulin bilang mamamahayag.” Nakatutulong ito sa pag-unlad ng isang estado sapagkat nagsisilbi itong instrumento sa pagpapalaganap ng makabuluhang impormasyon at dahil dito, hindi nararapat na supilin ito ng pamahalaan sa ngalan ng kaunlaran.

“Ang sitwasyon ng midya ay salamin ng sitwasyon ng lipunan,” matibay na pahayag ni Arao. Naibahagi ni Arao na noong panahon ng pamumuno ni Pangulong Marcos, nagkaroon ng tahasang pagsesensura sa mga dapat na gawin ng mga mamamahayag. Bagama’t hindi pa rin umano ito nawawala sa kasalukuyan, hindi na ito naging kasingtindi noon na talagang may batas na nagtatakda ng hangganan ng mga impormasyong maaaring ilabas sa publiko. Batay ito sa kanyang mga karanasan sa mga nakaraang taon.

Ayon sa kanya, maituturing na mas maunlad ang industriya ngayon kaysa dati sa usapin ng teknolohiya at dami ng organisasyong pangmidya. Ngunit may ilang problema pa rin ang mga mamamahayag na nananatili hanggang ngayon tulad ng kakulangan ng sapat na pagsasanay sa pagsusulat, hindi sapat na mga eskwelahang nagtuturo ng kursong pamamahayag, mga maling oryentasyon sa nabanggit na kurso at ang monopolyo sa industriya ng midya.

Sa kabila ng mga suliraning kinakaharap sa napiling propesyon, mananatiling nag-aalab sa damdamin ni Arao ang pagnanais na magbahagi ng mahahalagang impormasyon sa publiko at hindi pagyaman ang mahalaga para sa kanya sa puntong ito. Nagsisilbing lakas para sa kanya ang mga komento, pahayag at sentimyento ng kanyang mga mambabasa upang ipagpatuloy ang makabuluhan niyang mga gawain.

Tuloy ang laban sa pamamahayag

“Dapat tingnan ‘yung pamamahayag ‘di lang bilang isang propesyon kundi bilang isang commitment,” isa itong mahalagang aral na kanyang natutuhan mula sa pagiging isang mamamahayag. Tunay ngang nananaig pa rin ang mithiing isiwalat ang katotohanan sa kabila ng mga balakid na kinakaharap ng mga Pilipinong mamamahayag ngayon. Patunay lamang si Arao na napapanatili pa rin ang prinsipyo ng mga mamamahayag ang kanilang inuuna bago ang sarili.

Gamit lamang ang kanilang isip at pagmamahal sa propesyon, naisasakatuparan nila ang kanilang layuning buhayin ang kamalayan ng bawat Pilipino sa mga kaganapan sa ating kapaligiran. Kung gayon nga, masasabi nating nawawangis sa kasalukuyang lupon ng mga mamamahayag ang mga katangian ng ating mga bayaning mamamahayag noon. Dahil sa kanila, abot pa rin ng ating sistema ng pamamahayag ang magandang pagkakakilanlan nito.

Last November 6, a student from De La Salle University (DLSU) sent me 15 questions about my life as a blogger and journalist. My hectic schedule prevented me from replying to her immediately. In any case, please find below my answers.

When did you start blogging?

I started blogging in August 2005. My blog then was titled Solar Power. In March 2007, I posted my first entry on this blog titled Rising Sun.

When you first found out about blogging did you accept the technology right away or was there reluctance at first?

At the start, I did not see the need to blog as I’ve been maintaining a personal website since 1999. However, its growing popularity prompted me to use this technology in a manner that complements my main website. At present, the main website dannyarao.com remains and the blog is just a subdomain of it. What’s interesting to note is that my blog has been getting more page views lately than my main website.

What are your reasons for starting a blog?

Aside from its growing popularity, it’s much easier to post information through a content management system (CMS) like Wordpress. Besides, the said CMS is open source, giving me the option to tweak the themes and other widgets/plugins according to my needs.

What are the topics that are usually covered in your blog?

I normally blog about political issues. I also use the blog to post class-related announcements. There are also times when I talk about my personal life but in the context of overall social realities. I can safely say that unlike other personal blogs, mine is relatively more formal and serious.

Who are the regular readers of your blog?

Based on site statistics and the kind of feedback that I get, those who read my blog are students, professors and researchers from the Philippines and overseas, particularly the US and Europe. There are also a lot of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who send me feedback from time to time.

Do you feel like there is much more freedom in writing online? Why?

There is freedom in the sense that unlike print and broadcast, new media allow you to become your own gatekeeper. I should hasten to add, however, that bloggers and other webmasters are also vulnerable to certain restraints experienced by print and broadcast journalists like censorship.

Do you consider yourself a journalist? Why?

I’ve been a journalist even prior to blogging.

Does your blog have a print counterpart?

My column articles for Pinoy Weekly, a tabloid in Filipino, are uploaded to my blog. This is the only “print counterpart” of my blog posts.

How knowledgeable are you about the new online technologies?

While I do not work for any IT company, I know the basics of HTML and I teach web authoring at UP.

How often do you log on to your website? How often do you update your website?

I maintain my blog daily though I do not necessarily post every day.

Who moderates your blog?

I moderate my own blog. I do not allow others to post entries on my blog. Just like most other blogs, however, readers are allowed to post comments, subject to my approval. I should stress, however, that the moderation of comments is only meant to avoid spam.

How is your blog moderated?

My blog is moderated through Wordpress, of course.

As far as you’re concerned, what are the disadvantages/advantages of blogging?

Blogging allows you to communicate with not just fellow bloggers but also other online users. The disadvantage, however, is the limited reach of the Internet. This would explain why, as a journalist, I prefer to straddle different forms of mass media. I do not see the new media as a panacea to reaching out to the people.

What are the topics that are usually covered in your blog?

I talk about media, politics, economics and culture. My degrees, after all, are in Journalism and Philippine Studies.

Do you think online journalism will replace printed newspapers in the future? Why?

I seriously doubt it. The different forms of mass media have their own unique characteristics. Besides, the limited reach of the Internet primarily explains why television is still the most powerful medium in the country.

A student from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) interviewed me via email regarding my experience as a campus journalist. Allow me to share with you my answers to her questions.

Naging bahagi po kayo ng Philippine Collegian, ano po ba ang mga naging karanasan ninyo bilang isang manunulat para sa UP noong panahong iyon?

Naging bahagi ako ng Philippine Collegian mula 1988 hanggang 1991. Ito ang panahong nagiging kritikal ang mamamayan sa mga polisiya at programa ng administrasyong Aquino. Isang susing usapin noon sa publikasyon kung paano magiging responsable at mapagpamulat ang mga artikulong sinusulat namin. Bagama’t may debate pa kung ang pagtutuunan ba ng pansin ay ang mga lokal o pangkampus na isyu sa halip na mga pambansang isyu, nagkaroon pa rin ng kasunduang maraming pambansang isyung hindi dapat palampasin tulad ng repormang agraryo, base militar ng Estados Unidos at karapatang pantao.

Para sa karagdagang detalye, basahin mo ang dati kong isinulat na sanaysay sa wikang Ingles sa URL http://www.dannyarao.com/2001collegian-reunion.html.

Ilan taon po ba kayo sumulat para sa pahayagang Kule?

Naging probationary member (o probee) ako ng seksyon ng balita ng Kule noong Abril 1988. Bukod sa balita, nagsulat din ako para sa seksyong lathalain at paminsan-minsa’y nagbigay ng mga tulang inilabas ng seksyong kultura. Noong 1991, ang huling taon ko sa publikasyon, naging patnugot ako sa balita.

Nakaranas na po ba kayo ng pag-suppress sa pahayagang Kule? Ano po ang komento ninyo tungkol sa panggigipit na naganap noon sa Kule ng administrasyon ng UP?

Sa aking pagkakaalala, ilang beses na akong binantaan ng ilang opisyal ng UP na baka magsara ang publikasyon dahil haharangin nila ang paglalabas ng pondo namin. Ito ang panahong nagsulat ako ng mga artikulong kritikal sa ilang opisyal ng UP dahil sa pagkakasangkot nila sa korupsiyon. Hinggil sa isyu ng Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP), naalala kong isinulat ko ang planong ipatupad ito kahit hindi sapat ang konsultasyon sa mga estudyante, at sa kabila ng malawakang protesta laban dito. Tulad ng inaasahan, nagalit ang administrasyong UP hindi lang sa akin kundi sa publikasyon mismo. Pero ang lahat ng ito ay hanggang banta lamang. Dahil obhetibo naman ang publikasyon, inilabas namin ang lahat ng kanilang mga liham sa patnugot, gayundin ang mga panayam na ginawa namin sa kanila.

Nang dahil po ba sa naging exposed na kayo sa Philippine Collegian kaya po ninyo itinuloy ang pagiging ganap na manunulat, sa larangan ng midya?

Malaking impluwensiya ang karanasan ko bilang manunulat at patnugot ng Philippine Collegian sa pinili kong propesyon sa kasalukuyan. Nakita ko kasi ang kahalagahan ng responsableng pamamahayag hindi lang sa pamamagitan ng pagsusulat kundi sa pakikisalamuha sa iba’t ibang tao. Nalaman kong ang makabuluhang pagsusulat ay may malaking ambag sa minimithi at kinakailangang pagbabago. Hindi ko iniisip na ako ay “ganap” nang manunulat dahil hahayaan ko na lang ang mamamayan na humusga rito.

Kumusta po ang pagiging isang manunulat noon sa loob lamang ng UP at ang ngayon sa iba’t ibang midya?

Kumpara sa gawain ko noon sa Philippine Collegian na nakatuon lang sa print media, masasabi kong ang gawain ko sa kasalukuyan ay hindi lang print kundi online at brodkast, bagama’t ang huli ay mas nakatutok sa radyo kaysa telebisyon. Sa usapin ng nilalaman, mas marami na akong naisusulat ngayon tungkol sa mga pambansang isyu. Gusto ko ring isiping mas malawak na ngayon ang naaabot ng mga sinusulat ko, kahit na sabihing ang Philippine Collegian noon at ngayon ay nakakaabot din naman sa ilang komunidad sa labas ng UP.

Anu-ano po ba ang pinagdaan ni Danilo Arao bilang isang media man?

Nakakapagsulat ako sa mainstream at alternatibong midya, bagama’t ang huli ang mas pinagtutuunan ko ng pansin. Dahil sa karakter ng alternatibong midya, karamihan ng mga sinulat at sinusulat ko ay may progresibong pananaw hinggil sa nangyayari sa lipunan. Tulad ng nakasanayan ko sa Philippine Collegian, nagsusulat ako sa wikang Ingles at Filipino, bagama’t nitong mga nakaraang buwan ay mas marami akong sinusulat sa Filipino.

Sa inyong obserbasyon, ano po ba ang lagay ng campus journalism dito sa ating bansa? Maaaring maikumpara sa mga naging estado noong sa inyong pamamalagi bilang isang manunulat ng Kule.

Ipinatupad ang Campus Journalism Act (CJA) sa panahong nagtapos na ako sa unibersidad at natapos na rin ang gawain ko sa Philippine Collegian. Sa aking pagsusuri ng mga pangyayari sa ilang pahayagang pangkampus, maraming kaso ng panunupil dahil sa paggamit ng ilang opisyal ng paaralan ng mga probisyon ng CJA, lalo na ang kawalan ng obligasyon sa pagkolekta ng publication fees. Sa antas elementarya at hayskul naman, may malaking papel hindi lang ang adviser kundi ang principal mismo sa pagpapatakbo ng publikasyon. Masasabi ring biktima ang ilang manunulat sa kampus ng pulitikal na panunupil sa ilalim ng administrasyong Arroyo.

Nabasa ko po na ilang beses na po kayong naimbitahan para magbahagi tungkol sa campus journalism, sa pagsusulat at pagsasalita, ano po ba ang madalas ninyong iniiwan na importanteng mensahe sa mga mambabasa at nakikinig sa inyo?

Madalas kong sabihing ang pamamahayag ay kinakailangang responsable at makabuluhan. Para maging mahusay na manunulat, hindi lang kinakailangan ang galing sa paggamit ng wika (partikular ang pagpili ng mga angkop na salita para ihatid ang mensahe) kundi ang husay sa pagsusuri sa nangyayari sa lipunan. Walang lugar sa kasalukuyang panahon para sa mga mamamahayag na ang hangarin ay sumikat lang at magpayaman. Mas kinakailangan ang mga mamamahayag na may mahalagang impormasyong makakatulong sa paghubog ng pampublikong opinyon. Hindi dapat mawalan ng pag-asa ang isang tao kung siya’y may kahinaan sa pagsusulat sa kasalukuyan. Ang pagsusulat kasi ay hindi isang talentong iilan lang ang mayroon: Ito ay produkto ng tuluy-tuloy at malalimang pagsasanay para matutuhan hindi lang ang paggamit ng wika sa komunikasyon kundi ang malalimang pagsusuri sa mga pangyayari.

Pardon this shameless but “socially relevant” plug.

If you plan to stay up late tomorrow night (October 2), please watch Reporter’s Notebook on GMA 7. It airs immediately after Saksi.

I was among those interviewed in the segment on political censorship aptly titled “X-rating `Rights’” to be anchored by broadcast journalist Maki Pulido.

As you may now by now, Rights is a collection of 30 to 120-second public service advertisements on the country’s human rights situation. These political ads are directed by independent filmmakers Paolo Villaluna, Kiri Dalena, King Catoy, Anna Isabelle Matutina, Pam Miras, JL Burgos, Nino Tagaro, Sigrid Bernardo, Mike Dagnalan, John Torres, Jon Red, RJ Mabilin and Sigfreid Sanchez.

According to the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), Rights was given an “X” rating (not for public exhibition) because “scenes in the film are presented unfairly, one-sided and undermines the faith and confidence of the government and duly constituted authorities, thus, not for public exhibition.” What’s my take on this decision? Please watch Reporter’s Notebook to find out.

The GMA 7 crew led by Sankie Simbulan went to my office at the UP College of Mass Communication last September 26 not only to interview me but also to get footage of me reading at the College library and walking along the parking lot.

Sankie said that she was prompted to interview me due to an article I wrote on the MTRCB published in Bulatlat titled “New Media, Propaganda Make Review Board Irrelevant.”

I hope you’ll find time not only to read this old article but also to watch the segment tomorrow night. Thank you for reading.

I found out today (September 11) that my interview on blogging and academic publishing has already been published in Volume 8, Number 4 (July-August 2007) of the UP Forum, a publication of the University of the Philippines (UP).

The article on pages 12 and 13 where my interview serves as primary source of information is titled “HYPERTEXT: Is cyberspace the next frontier for academic publishing?” written by Alicor Panao. He interviewed me exactly two months ago (i.e., July 11) and I almost forgot about it until I visited the UP website and read the online verson. (The only difference between the print and online version is that the former has a picture of me in my usual unsmiling self.)

The UP Forum article has an analysis of the principles and standards of online publishing  in general and blogging in particular. If you’re a blogger and you’re interested in web standards and accessibility issues, I hope you’ll find time to read this article. Thank you for your attention.