My stint at UP so far..

This week classes at any UP system will resume and a horde of students will definitely flock to the campus - with excitement and of course, apprehension at the same time. The excitement will stem from meeting new friends or by being reunited with classmates after  four months of vacation lest spared from the stress and mental challenges during those times. But as the old adage goes, it's time to go back to reality. This where anxiety comes into play - the dreaded and tedious work each of the students would likely to anticipate upon entering the campus. I, for one is no excuse. And my case is ultra special since it would be my first time to experience the life of a UPian and engage with mentally gifted people converged into one setting.

I was already expecting that it would not be a smooth sailing for me. I knew it then since the time when I had to struggle accomplishing my papers for admission, getting myself examined whether I am physically fit or not even it means i have to battle my fear against needles and blood, up to this very moment where I have to walk to and fro offices under a extreme heat just to enlist my subjects and finally be enrolled.

Tomorrow I will be finally meeting my professors and classmates. I am hoping and praying that everything will fall into place. That my apprehension and emotional baggage me for the past few months will finally wear off.

I leave it all up to GOD. With Him I trust that my stay in UP would be easier and adjusted smoothly.

Cheer Me Not

I am bit curious about this world cup saga and why seem to have such a huge impact to our compatriots who are hooked into watching this ball game. I couldnt fathom the idea that there some Filipinos who are fairly knowledgeable about whose team got the most numbered of trophies but failed to recognize or even appreciate our own sports team competing in international event. When Brazil lost to a match with Germany, the whole nation was awed in disbelief and disappointment even to the extent of destroying properties every around corner. Honestly, I admire their relentless support to their national team. How can we not do the same thing? Because we feel our athletes arent good enough and often times throws our blame to the lack of gov't support. True to that. But look at Kenya and Jamaica. Political turmoil and famine aren't viewed as deterrent in their quest of becoming a world class athlete. It's people, undeniably the driven force why they push themselves to compete. They cheer out loud and still embraces them even at times of defeat. But here if our athlete get lost, it's easily for us to forget its name, much worse humiliate for just a second rate athlete. Poor Pinoy athletes! I wish we have that Brazil spirit imbibed to each and every one, so that by winning and losing, we will unite as one nation.

Excerpt from the Interview at UP

1. Give me your reason(s) why you are pursuing your PhD program. 

 I am taking this PhD program for two reasons. On a personal level, having a PhD degree is a prestigious endeavor since it required a lot of hard work, patience and intellect before one has to bear that elusive title. It would be an additional feather in my cap which i know would put me in a pedestal of success someday. As worker in an educational institution, we are committed to elevate ourselves from mediocrity to excellence. We have to study in order to better serve to our clienteles. On a higher level, I am aware that it’s not all about personal gain but any one who is working their PhD is expected to contribute to the larger academic spectrum - our researches must add to the body of knowledge in the field of development communication. 

2. What are your plans after finishing your doctorate degree?

So many things I have in mind if I would be fortunate enough to finish the degree. Definitely, I have to go back to the institution who feeds me and who made it possible to achieve this goal. I will pay it forward to the academe who trusted my capability by sharing to them what i have learned here at UP. For sure, I’ll go back into teaching. Another thing is that, it has always been my goal to create a culture of research in our department or college. I will mentor my co-faculty in writing a research proposal and conduct more and more relevant researches in development communication and allied fields. Lastly, I want to get involve in non-government organization who caters to the upliftment on the lives of our destitute Estehanons. If given the opportunity, I’ll serve as communication specialist who can contribute to the success of their program or project. 

3. What is to you is Development Communication?

Development communication is a field of communication which primary function is to put communication as instrument to the speedy transformation of a society or the upliftment of the lives of the people making all forms of communication viable means to realize that goal. It is a type of communication that is purposive and pragmatic. 

4. Your undergraduate course is Mass Communication and your masters is DevComm, what you do you think are similarities and differences between these two programs?

 When I took up my undergraduate program, we were taught on how to write on print, television and for motion picture. Although these skills are necessary for both masscomm and devcomm students, it sets apart on whom it cater - masscomm caters the general audiences while devcom has to write for intended audiences. Another thing is the form of communication used. In mass comm, only the tri-media were used while devcom shall resort to any tools of communication relevant to that specific audiences. Both are functioning to entertain and inform but in mass communication we are paid for the services rendered because it is a job while in devcomm the monetary aspect is just only secondary because our primary goal is to serve the people as social worker. 

5. Discuss what have you learn in your masteral program - the subjects taken and the activities you’ve done.

l During my first term at UPOU,I was able to take up the introductory subject in devcomm with Dr. Alexander Flor as my FIC. On that subject, my understanding on development communication has broaden. I got to know some of its concepts and theories which formed the foundation of this youngest field of communication. Part of the topic which we have tackled is regarding the meaning of development - how different decades perceived the meaning of it. Also, I learned that the rationale behind development communication is to place communication and media technology in the service of development and that communication should be placed as a major component for the success of developmental programs. 

On my second term as UPOU student, i took up Social Marketing/Social Mobilization course. This was a very interesting subject to me. Here, i was able to learn mixing up marketing strategy used in selling products to selling ideas of a particular cause or project to make it a successful one. Following the concepts and techniques imparted to us through series of exchanging ideas online and the textbook provided to us, we were instructed to develop our own social mobilization project. Mine was to create a campaign called KIDNEY CARE. The creation of this project was inspired through my own experience when i had an infection of this illness before. But of course, i followed the steps on how social mobilization should be done from knowing the problem, gathering the data, to strategies to be employed, stakeholders who will performed different roles to evaluation of the success of the program or projects. 

Communication of Scientific and technical information - this course primarily emphasizes on appreciation of science and other scientific advancements and how these contributions made available to ordinary people. The course gave us an insight on the historical perspective of science communication, how scientific knowledge should be organized, and taught us the techniques in writing scientific and technical information in a way that it should be understandable by the layman people. Popularizing research results, disseminate these information to the end-users and create an impact to the people are what this course wants to achieve. 

l The last two sems at UPOU was devoted into teaching us the practical guide to conduct a research. We were then asked to develop our own proposal and eventually proceeded to work on to our chosen topic. But of course, the topic need to be evaluated by the adviser. Luckily, it didnt take long mine to be approved by Dok Alex. My topic was about an evaluation of the Farmers Information Technology Services Center in terms on how effective the center to the farmers and look into the problems met by the rice farmers so that necessary recommendations shall be raised and imposed to the concerned agencies. 

6. You’ve said that you already conducted researches before, can you share what are the title of your researches. What are your researches all about?

Internet Use Among Students of the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences

This a quantitive research which assess how frequent are the cans students utilize internet services, what are the common sites they often visited and the purpose of which they are using the internet. This study also carried out their perceived relevance of internet to their academics. 

Post Assessment Survey of the Samar Island Natural Park 

In 2012, I was tapped as member of a team who will conduct the final phase of SINP project which an evaluation whether the project was a success or not. We went to different municipalities in ESamar covered by the SINP/SIDP. Through FGD, we asked our respondents if they were familiar with the project, their participation on the implementation of that project and what were the changes in their community after the said project was implemented. 

v Tracking and Inventory of ESSU Students After Super Typhoon Yolanda

I spearheaded this project upon the request of the president to conduct an assessment of the students across essu after that fateful day of November 8, 2013. I was then designated as Planning Director at that time when the incident happened so i took charge the responsibility. The research is tracer study which sought to determine the status of ESSU students and their present condition a month after Yolanda caused a massive destruction to the province. We asked the students about their plans with their lives and whether they will pursue their studies despite the toil of their present condition. Findings of the study became the basis for the university to conduct a comprehensive rehabilitation plan and also facilitated CHED in providing baseline information for their rehabilitation project. 

In addition to that i served also as an adviser to undergraduate thesis. Currently, I am working on a research regarding rice farmers use of communication media in receiving information on rice technologies. My aim is to assess if farmers are able to have access to information on rice technologies with the aid of various communication media. 

7. What will be your contribution to the academe while working your PhD? What do you envision to contribute to body of knowledge?

My previous researches are geared towards agricultural and environmental development which were greatly influenced by the researchers team in the state university I am currently working. It taught me a lot from appreciation to these fields as well as an understanding to the problems faced by the agricultural and environmental sectors. In other words, I already have connection to these fields of science. But the recent catastrophe that struck the Visayas ,which include my province as one those hardly hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda, has changed this perspective. I am now inclined to conduct studies on disaster risk or crisis communication. When communication line broke down, I was curious on how the government agencies were able to respond to emergencies and conduct relief operations despite the absence or lack of communication signals. My observation before, during and after the typhoon was that the government failed to create a concrete communication plan or strategy that supposedly direct them on what to do in all phases of the calamity. If there was a plan, it lacks the involvement of the people to participate in the planning stage and ignored their supposed participation during and after the typhoon. People are just passive receivers of the information provided to them by the government and media. There were some studies in America citing the importance or the benefits of the public involvement in all phases of a crisis response.

Another gray area which I have observed is resident’s lack of understanding of the terminology used in weather reports. There were abuzz that had PAGASA used a more common term, in this case using daluyong or dulok instead of ‘storm surge’, perhaps the adverse effects of the typhoon could have been averted. How people search for information in a natural disaster has not been the focus of much research. It is necessary to find out what information is needed by people and what terms they to need to describe a disaster event and how they use this. 

So all these observations had led my interest in disaster risk or crisis communication - my hope to mitigate the effects of the calamity that may happen in the future. The researches that may developed out of those observations may be an input to devise a comprehensive crisis communication strategy to be employed by our local government and if successful be an inspiration for some LGUs to adapt it as well. 

My Candy Pop

The one is on his 40’s and the other one has just turned his 20s. That is 20 years difference and in between those gaps is me - turning 30. I am talking about two of beautiful persons I have met in my life. They are extremely opposite to one another both in age and character but inside my heart they form a singular sphere of happiness - to me alone.

He is Mr BULALO addict, married, a daddy of a cute little princess and an airport maker. McRoy, as fondly called by his colleagues and friends, doesn’t have an artistahun looks, at least in my self-made standard, but he’s alluring sex appeal created a jolt of appreciation by the girls and bekis alike. Even the grannies can still be persuaded to like him. When I started to work at ESSU, I didnt pay attention anything about his popularity in school. Maybe because my full attention was concentrated on improving myself as a teacher. But his name was somewhat resonating in my head because his was too familiar to me. When I recollected my memory I knew then that I was right - he was the MC Jr we stalked wayback in highschool. I giggled the idea that my long time crush and the man of my dream was in fact my officemate. It didnt take long when we were finally introduced to one another. The good thing was we worked in the same department and he was handling a graphic design subject for mass communication students. Oh Man! That was it. That was the tip off point to finally get to know the person very well, to have had an access to his moves and actions, to whatever he does - just everything about him. I was literally and figuratively back into stalking once again. I even tried to steal a picture of him just to have it placed in my wallet and for me to indulge looking at his handsome face. That’s not yet the highlights of our blooming relationship as FRIENDS (lol). On 2013, ESSU hosted the regional scuaa meet. Different task force was organized to facilitate efficient and faster work assignment. Makel and I were assigned in the same group which will make a video presentation for different night activities. At first i was kind of hesitant to join the group since i was the only one who came from a different college - the rest of my team belong to CET. But i learned not to be intimidated by their presence. I was amenable to be working with them despite the strange feelings i have inside especially to Mcroy. I feel awkward at that very moment since i couldnt even looked directly to his eyes. I have this gut feeling that he knew already i have had a huge crush with him; only that he can handle very well not to be too conceited. As we proceeded to our assignment, he even cracked a joke just to make me feel at ease at times which i graciously accepted even the corniest one. One of the most remarkable moment that we were together was when we visited the different municipalities to take shots for our video presentation. He was always too generous to buy snacks for his teammates. Inside a van when he felt that we were too sleepy, he would blurt out with a noise or even fabricate stories just anything around that he could think of. But never had it been annoying to me. I always got carried away with his charm and his presence made me happy everyday. After the SCUAA, we got even closer to one another. During fridays after work, we usually go for a bottle of two or more in Baybay or at their house just to relax and unwind. Oftentimes he would insist to pay the bills or take charge for our drinking session if he has extra money inside his pocket. Beyond that charm looks, Makel is such a caring person, a true friend, honest and a family man. He never talked about girls in his past nor would you learn about him having an affair with someone. His sense of humor is his weapon to make someone enticed to appreciate his whole personality. He was never judgmental to anyone and I for one is a living testimony that he never humiliate homosexual individuals. He got many beki friends in and outside ESSU but I am fortunate enough that his treatment to me is beyond platonic; it is special in every sense of a word. There were many times that he had opened up about what he feels and what he envisioned about his life and his family. I took it extremely flattering since a guy usually not open with someone who has a different sexual orientation. May be he was just too comfortable with my presence and whatever it is, I will keep that trust bestowed on me. I hope our friendship will continue to flourish as time goes by. I don’t expect anything in return from him, not even his love, because I know where i have to stand in a situation like this. What I wish for is his continual connection to me - wired, virtual and better yet, in flesh. That admiration will never fade as long as I breath. Thank you for all the good memories!


Okay, let us now proceed to the other person who skip my heart a beat during summer and even, ahem, until now. His name is Keith Baquilod, 23 years old, chinito look with a dark-thick eyebrow and perfectly molded nose. His only downside is that he is not that tall which I thought at first was a major turnoff. But his sharp eyes and all that on his face was the qualities that made me attracted to him. We first met in a disco bar together with his two other friends. I was about to leave the area when i saw them at the parking lot trying to discuss on something. I don’t know what drove me to introduce myself but next thing to happen i already offered them a drink inside the bar. We easily got along together and even ordered few more bottles of beer. Next thing we knew it was already past 4 in the morning and that we have decided to part our ways. The next day I incessantly requested his friend to go for a picnic in Linao - Boronganons perfect getaway place due to its relaxing view of the river which is just a kilometer away from home - but to no avail. I knew they were still intoxicated by the volume of alcohol we consumed that night. Days passed, Keith and I still didn’t see each other after that last incident in the bar. I was too eager to meet him once again that i have to ask a number of him from his friend which was graciously sent to me by the latter. I immediately texted Keith and asked if he was okay. My heart was pounding erratically the first time i received a reply from him. What followed next was a long queue of conversation as we exchange text messages every day. As time progressed, I was already trying to build a relationship not only with him but also to his circle of friends. Every time they have a drinking session, I was invited by them. The good thing about Keith and his friends, was that they were not taken me for granted. They bought their own drinks and never insisted me to pay for their bills every time we go out. They waited for me to shell out my money if I was the one who insisted it. I remember the time when I invited to chill and indulge some booze at home. He was so drunk and even asked him to stay at home until morning since he could no longer drive his bike by his own. That was the moment where I got to see his other side - he was funny. I enjoyed his company and the company of his friends - although sometimes i could not relate much of the things they talked about. But the idea of having them as my friends was somewhat refreshing to me. I could jive easily to their trips and other kulitan moments. It didn’t hit me that i was too old for them nor I felt awkward every time I dance with them in a bar. That was the perks of having such as a young heart. I never felt so insecure about my age as long as I am having a blast with the people who trust and believe in me.

Keith is now chasing after his dreams. I am hoping someday he will get his wishes - for himself and for his family - a good career and eventually, a good life. May our friendship will continue to flourish as well. I remain his true friends and that is a PROMISE TO KEEP.

Road to Success (Part 3)

My decision to finally gave in the idea of having UPLB as my choice to work on my PhD program created both a sphere of doubt and encouragement. For sometime, some of my colleagues were adversarial with my plan since they thought that i would be having a hard time dealing with a UP life. Although they cant utter it bluntly to my face, I knew that what they were trying to say was a sort of discouragement. I can’t simply ignore their despondency since they too have had a fair share of experiences as UPian before or stories passed through them by their friends or loved ones who struggled also to survive as Iskolar ng Bayan. These people whom I asked an unsolicited advice opted to enroll their PhD in private school in Cebu or Manila - an easy way out to get that doctorate diploma. According to them, there were no pressure, arduous requirements that can take away their time since everything seemed to be relax and easy. I didn’t expect to hear this from them since I thought PhD is like dwelling your entire life reading and researching. But anyways, I’ve listened more to the call of my heart - that is, to be part of UP community. I wanted UP as my habitat of learning since i want to go beyond my horizon - to expand my knowledge, to discover things which tend to be new to me and although the least reason, i want my family, colleagues and community looked up to me and value my education. In time, i’ll pay it forward to those who will need my help and service. It has always been my dream to serve the larger community through my works and researches. 

Road to Success (Part 2)

Road to Success (Part 2)





Yesterday, I was able to share the reason why i quit from my post as Planning Director and this has paved the way of my decision to push through my plan of going back to school again. It was a tough decision and this has drawn a lot of issues and talks from my colleagues as to why I vacated the position that too early. For some people who were closed to me, they would probably understand the reason behind it. In fact, they were too concerned about my health and often observed changes in my physical looks - the bulging eye bags, the thinning hairline and the slimmer physique. That was already a clear indication that I was able to developed a psychological stress and work fatigue out of the overwhelming work. So to fast track this thing I leave the office and started to plan anew. I was determined already to enroll my PhD program. I checked on the websites of schools who are offering PhD in Development Communication. There are only two state universities in the country who are offering the program - the UP Los Banos in Laguna and Central Luzon State University in Nueve Ecija. I first considered CLSU since one of my colleagues is finishing her PhD in that school and it would be easier for me to adjust to the environment if I have someone to keep me company. Then their is UP.









The UP Dream that was...









Ever since it has always been my dream to become a legitimate UPian . By legitimate, that is, one is not only that you passed the UPCAT but also someone who is able to survive the ‘the fittest of all’ specie. And that the validation is you wearing the Sablay, with your head up high and finally clinched that diploma stamped with a UP Logo. I happened to be an UPCAT passer and enrolled at UP Cebu before i shifted my course in Tacloban. Wayback 2001. Unfortunately, destiny decided that it wasnt really for me. I was so frustrated that i cut short my stay in UP Cebu. Not because i got eliminated but because the place wasnt ideal for my studies - the dialect difficulty, the financial constraints and the lack of sounding board - factors which hindered me to continue my stay in UP. I then told myself that someday I would be able to go back to UP and this time, by hook and by crook, i should finish my studies. The redemption began when i enrolled my masters at UPOU, the fifth system of UP. On April 2011, the board of regents of UP conferred me as one of the graduates of master of development communication program, I was in extreme happiness that time that i finally got my UP degree and my first time to have worn the Sablay. On that same day, i realized that dreams really do come true in a perfect time. It gave me a chill since i couldnt really believe that was happening to me. That incident had brought back my selfesteem that once had lost in me when i failed to reach my UP dream in college.

Road to Success (Part 1)

It’s a lazy afternoon everyone! As promised, I am going to pound this keyboard with the hope to share with you my thoughts on certain things and anything that goes under the sun. Let me reiterate that I dont want to brag anyone to like this piece. It’s my personal account and i demand a little respect for this. Nor I urge anyone to criticize this even if your intention is as genuine or as good as mine. Anyways, what I am going to share now is my journey towards fulfilling my dream and that is to become a PhD holder. I had plan this out a few years back when myself was drawn with so much vigor and enthusiasm that by the age of thirty, that elusive suffix three letters should now be placed next to my name. But sometimes things didn't turn out according to plans, as the old adage says. Mine was a matter of decision rather than fate. I decided to accept a responsibility whom I thought was going to be handled easily. I was WRONG. I accepted a position that demands time, effort and which requires mental agility because of the figures and numbers I have to deal with everyday. Not to mention the major decisions i have to make which may affect the whole institution. I struggled to balance my primary function as an instructor to that of a planning director which consumed three-forth of my working time. At the middle of the year, I was on the brink of giving up because of physical and mental exhaustion in trying to dispense my responsibilities. Time came when at the last quarter of this year, I was already losing my grip to come to office, hair starting to fall, and a waning enthusiasm were already manifested in me. That was the deciding point for me to end my struggle in that office. On January this year I have terminated my directorship to the University President. I have justified my reasons why i have to vacate my post and which he eventually accepted.

To be continued...

THE RATING GAME

The TV industry in the Philippines is extremely competitive. There is fierce rivalry between the two biggest networks – ABS-CBN and GMA 7. And now, trying to snatch the airwaves is a newly-reformatted TV network – the TV5. Their competition for ratings is so intense that what goes into the primetime newscast is often determined by an evaluation of which stories will rate better than the competitor’s. When ABS-CBN news team created a tagline “Panig sa Bayan, Panig sa Katotohanan, GMA then took a clash back by formulating a slogan: Walang Kinikilingan, walang pinuproktektahan, serbisyong totoo lamang.” This was the start of the relentless battle of the two giant networks to win the favorable stand of its viewers. There was a time when ABS-CBN accused GMA 7 of infringement of copyright when the latter allegedly used footages owned by channel 2 without its permission. Another case that is too glaring for us viewer to notice their rivalry happened when an informant divulge an information purportedly GMA’s giving out freebies in different households in exchange of watching to their shows. This was categorically denied by the GMA network stating that they were maliciously degraded in attempt “by ABS-CBN’s desperate move just to ruin the credibility of their station.”
Apart from the paramount importance of ratings, many of the networks also had to deal with the biases and preferences of their owners and top news executives. These channels are too protective by its talents who also had a post in government positions. Take the case of former Pres. Joseph Estrada. ABS-CBN was too sympathetic to him, who was then undergoing impeachment trial. The reason: Erap’s daughter is married to a son of the network’s owner. We are not also blind how then senator noli de castro took refuge to his station in light of his candidacy to run for vice president. It would be for his best interest to advertise his candidacy free of charge without exerting much effort. Networks claim they do not favor any political candidate, including those who were once or still are in their employ. But the perception that the networks favor their own is becoming increasingly hard to dispel.
Now, what is your take regarding this issue? Write a 500-word essay regarding your observation on the rating games and networks biases. Make sure to acknowledge your REFERENCES. Send this to my gmail account on or before FEBRUARY 18, 2011.

Mass Media Corruption

Dear Students,

We are heading to the last three remaining topics as we closely approaching to the end of the semester. I hope that you still find this thread interesting and challenging as we continue to tackle some of the controversial issues that haunts mass media in the past - down to its present times. Undeniably, the relentless power of media brings lots of host to the world we live in. Media is blamed to have caused anti-social behavior, of poisoning the minds of its people due to some depictions of gross deeds and many others. But amid these downfalls are the numerous benefits that mass media had contributed since time immemorial. We are in a state of bewilderment whether its advantages can tap the growing problems thrown to the mass media especially so that media are directly pointed out as a tool in desensitizing the moral fabric of our society.

One added list to these problems is on the issue of corruption in mass media. Yes, that would be our center of discussion today. Initially, I am in doubt whether I shall include this one as a major topic since it immensely an issue within our profession rather than a matter of concern for everyone. But upon discernment, it struck me to know that media practitioners must be wary to their actions. Our deeds and behaviors cannot simply be projected as mere façade because in reality people relied heavily on our jobs as their shield against injustices and shenanigans of corrupt officials. Although I speak on the moral obligation of journalists, please open your minds in thinking why I brought out this issue that might have a huge implication to the people.

So what is media corruption? I don’t have time to browse the net as to its definition, ergo, I could not give you the technical definition to it. It would be suffice if through examples we can elaborately discuss the topic at hand.

Can you still remember the term ‘envelopmental journalism’? This might be the blatant example of media corruption. Payoffs to journalists have become so much a part of the journalistic culture that they have endangered a language of their own. We call it payola, under the table transactions, atm journalism, hao siao, smiling money and other terminologies that have already been familiar to us. The news writer is obliged to write an article that would build up the name of his source or cover up the wrong doings of an official in exchange for the gifts or money he receives. This is without a doubt a form of bribery. You’re compromising your name just for a bunch of money that may ruin your integrity and thus, losing people’s confidence in believing or trusting you.

For indeed, where do good journalists come from? Do they march out of journalism schools as soon as they’ve learned the five W's and the Hs,the rigors of the interview, honed a nose for the news, and mastered the color, the logic, the rhythm, the texture of ideas and events? Are they born of honest and honorable fathers and mothers? Or, do they fall from the skies like manna from heaven? And where do bad journalists come from?

There are no easy answers. At bottom, it seems like the good and the bad journalists co-exist in the same milieu.

I cannot help but to think what had gone wrong to my previous students. They are attached too much to politicians that they have lost their idealism I’ve once seen back when they were still my students. It pains me to know that though novice in the profession they act like a ‘pro’ in maligning the truth and in fabricating stories just to make a good impression to their big boss. I don’t know there real intentions are. But for sure they do it because it’s their bread and butter – call it for survivability sake! But why is it that money remains the by standard of journalists? Meaning, if some one pay you a pretty sum of money, would it be the only time to write a good article? How about if someone approached you and tells you that MR. POLITIKO have a mistress? You refused to write because it might ruin his political career. In a classroom, it’s easy for me to impose to do this thing and avoid this one. You follow what I preached because you want to have a good mark because to do otherwise means failing you. But the real test happens out of the four corners of the wall. It’s when actual scenario unfolds while analyzing how you would cope up in dealing with such kind of situation. This would be the determinant how effective you can be as journalist.

Credibility they say is what others think of us. Ethics is what kind of people we are. Corruption destroys both. It is a problem we cannot ignore. As a first step, let us acknowledge that it is a problem, and let’s talk over it.



Questions:

1. In what way do people can be affected by the deeds or actions of the journalists? Cite examples.
2. Can you give some situations that portray media corruption? (eg in advertising, public relation)
3. Comment on the article above at least in 4 paragraphs.

Note: Be responsible in quoting your source. Don’t plagiarize other author’s work. Submit your work at my gmail account. This is due on february 10, 2011.

Newspaper Controversy

What are the issues/concerns confronting the newspaper industry?

Just like any other medium of mass media, the survivability of a newspaper depends primarily on advertisement which serves as the “lifeblood” of any news organization. While scanning a newspaper I have observed that paid advertisements occupies I think 20% of the entire paper. This poses a critical question to me: Does an ad in any way influence the content of a newspaper? Let’s face it. This is question between the role of a mass media to ferret out the truth or to slant the news in favor of its advertisers. It is fact that newspaper is obliged to satisfy the advertisers, their audiences and the government. They cater to advertisers primarily by suppressing news that reflects badly on advertisers and their products. I supposed that some newspapers will resort to hiding some irregularities involving its advertisers and mislead the public readers just to protect the reputation of a product’s company; otherwise, it means losing their main source of income and perhaps leads to its closure. And to a lesser extent, they cater to government power so as to avoid harassment (for instance, over licenses) and in return, for favors to obtain leaks and other handouts. I would like to believe that there are two existing kinds of newspaper organization in the country: the pro and anti-administration newspapers. The pro-ad newspapers being allies of the government enjoy the privilege from getting a free and easy access to information to receiving gifts in exchange of a favor. On the other hand, we have an anti-government newspaper who suffers from the harassment of the administration and who is deprived from exercising their rights to information.

What is your take regarding this issue? Can you also mention some of the underlying issues concerning the print industry (magazine, books)today?

Your comment is due until feb 3, 2011.

Sex Violence

Read my discussion below and answer the question posted below. You send your answers to my email account at bonsky123@gmail.com. Please be guided accordingly.


What is ‘pornography’?

The 1986 Attorney General Commission on Pornography defined pornography as material that is “predominantly sexually explicit and intended primarily for the purpose of sexual arousal.” (cited from the article of Kerby Anderson entitled: The Pornography Plagued)

There are two types of pornography mainly; Hard core – it is sexually explicit in the extreme and devoid any apparent content or purpose and the soft core- a mild pornography since depiction of sexual violence is not too harsh.

Another important term that is closely associated to pornography is the definition of obscenity. According to the Miller case, one of the landmark cases which had opened the issue on pornography, the material is obscene if all three of the following conditions are met (Anderson):

a. The average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest.
b. The work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law, and
c. The work taken as a whole lacks serious, artistic, political or scientific value.

Forms of Pornography

Pornographic materials could be found and/or shown on the following types:

1. Adult magazines – these are primarily directed toward an adult male audience. Popular examples are playboy and penthouse. In the country, FHM and Pinoy Playboy could fall under this classification. However, this can be distributed legally in all paper stands in the market. If you think this is a pornographic material, then why is it allowed by the government?

2. Video Cassetes- these are rented or sold in most adult video rent houses. People who would never go to the theater to watch pornographic material will get a copy at the video rent house or downloads these materials at the internet. They usually play these materials at the confines of their home for private reasons. Usually video displays a high degree of hard core pornography and illegal acts.

3. Motion pictures – videos or movies which contain extreme sexual activities are shown in theater. The MTRCB classifies this type of movies into “X-Rating” which means only adults or 18 above are allowed to view this film.

4. Television – the most restricted medium in terms of showing intense sexual activities. However, TV is not totally spared from the depiction of highly intimate sex scenes which easily could be viewed by the children. Some programs are not suitable to children, thus, the station flash an advisory message prior to the airing of the program. This is to forewarn parents or guide their children from exposing obscene acts.

5. Cyberporn – hard core pictures, movies, online chat, and even live sex acts can be downloaded and viewed by virtually anyone through the Internet. What was only available to a small number of people willing to drive to the bad side of town can now be viewed at any time in the privacy of one’s home.



Psychological and social Effects

It is believed that brief exposure to violent forms of pornography can lead to anti-social attitudes and behaviors. Male viewers tend to be more aggressive toward women, less responsive to pain and suffering of rape victims, and more willing to accept various myths about rape.


Activity 5

Question: Do you think pornography can lead to some undesirable effects in human such as committing the crime of rape? Cite one study in the web that can attest or affirm to your answers.

Activity 6

Berl Kutchinsky, a criminologist at the University of Copenhagen, is the most famous proponent that pornography can lead to violence. Find in the web the theory that was presented by this person. What are the flaws or drawbacks of his research?


Note: Do not practice the copy-paste syndrome. Try to analyze to the meaning emphasized by the author and relate this to your own understanding.


In the essay written by Irving Kristol titled Pornography, Obscenity, and the case for censorship, he emphasized varied points and ideas whether we shall take against pornography or legalized it. He cited two school of thoughts: the radical minds whose view towards pornography is that it is a healthy practice in a democratic and civil society and the conventional thinkers who obviously contradict the former’s ideas saying that it demean or debase the moral fabric of our society. According to the libertarians, there is no way for the government to suppress individual minds from writing or doing something. This is in reference to the issue that showing nudity or expressing in their literary works what is said to be a ‘normal’ human activities of copulating or having sex is indeed a no big deal issue. That is why they called their piece as an ‘art’ rather than ‘obscene’. Meanwhile, these contentions were castigated which relied mostly on its moral aspect – its ethical or metaphysical justifications. For one thing, pornography as D.H Lawrence puts it, “an attempt to do dirt on sex…It is an insult to a vital human relationship. Furthermore, pornography differs from erotic art in that its whole purpose is to treat human beings obscenely, to deprive human beings of their specifically human dimension. It was also reiterated that sex – is both an animal and human activities – meaning it’s really normal. However, in the context of human being making love is a sacred thing just like marriage; it has sentiments and ideals involved in this kind of activity. But when sex is public, the viewer does not see- cannot see- the sentiments and ideals. He can only see the animal coupling. And this really what set us human apart from animals.

Activity 5:

1. Make a 500-word essay any topics that deals with pornography. You may get one of the following titles:

a. Child Pornography
b. An Obscene ‘Art’
c. The Value of Parental Advisory
d. What Went Wrong?
e. Cybersex: It’s growing popularity to youngsters

These are just examples of the title of your essay. You can formulate of your own but focus the body of your essay on the topic at hand.

Criteria for Grading:

Originality – 30%
Composition (Grammar, coherence and clarity) – 50%
Source reliability (facts citation) – 20%



Note: Deadline for submission is on January 20, 2010. Late papers will no longer be entertained.

Media Construction Of Reality

To understand the foregoing phrase, it would be best fit if we try to describe the variables involved: the term ‘reality construction’. The words may seem contradicting because according to a realist, real cannot be constructed since it is already ‘out there’, given, concrete or it is a finite thing. Others may argue that to perceive something ‘real’ one should accept that fact that it is a product of human social interaction thus, we came out with a term ‘socially constructed reality’ as pointed out by Berger and Luckmann. This social constructed reality is the biggest influence on what we perceive as reality and how we perceive it, especially in the world as we know it today. The main vehicles which convey this meaning: symbols, including language, cultural myths -- larger social meanings of objects, actions, signs, episodes, the structure and practice of our institutions, our rules for congruent action. These vehicles of meaning together construct: our world-view -- our sense of how the world works, what is valuable, why things are the way they are.
To view reality is something that is also universally accepted knowledge, ideas, actions, events and situation. One classical example is that if all Christians believe that God really exist then He is ‘real’. But this doesn’t hold true if only one person or even group of person would claim that they’d seen Jesus.
But how are these viewed realities become universally acceptable? There must be an agent that affirm or reinforced people’s view towards reality. Is this agent serves only to depict what is real or is it an effective vehicle to construct reality?
The agent that I am talking here refers to the media who serves as an active player in the process of constructing reality. According to John Pungente, the media do not present simple reflections of external reality. Rather, they present carefully crafted constructions that reflect many decisions and result from many determining actors. In his paper Media and the Construction of Reality, Stefan Weber highlighted variations in constructivism: the ontological and empirical approaches, which to him are important basis to understand more how media constructs reality. The common thread between all forms of constructivism is that they do not focus on an ontological reality but instead on a constructed reality. The ontological constructivism presupposes the ‘constructed nature of the world as an unalterable fact’. It means that construction of reality is not something made by a man because it is ‘always there, whether one wants it or not’ or simply Reality-As-It-Is-In-Itself. To apply this in the media context, I look at it as something that media will and will always have construct reality even it is not told to do so. On the other hand, the empirical constructivism as what has been proposed for instance by Walter Benjamin, is concerned with ‘constructiveness as an empirically measurable trend on the basis of a non-dualistic epistemology’. This form of constructivism asserts that media is consciously and deliberately constructs reality to the extent of turning a fiction thing to a ‘real’ thing. However, I will not set an argument between these two forms of constructivism but I will be looking more if it is really possible that media can really present the exact reality or it just merely construct for a human to perceive what is ‘real’.
To some extent I agree with the perspective of constructivism. Its foundation is analytically useful as it focuses on the processes of media’s construction of reality. However, to doubt the possibility of experiencing reality sensually would seem futile. No concrete evidences could deny the fact that reality can indeed be experienced by human beings. But to the level of extent on how media presents reality is that which I am not keen to defend. Therefore, it would be safe to say that media serves dual purposes: to present what is only ‘out there’ – the absolute reality and to re-present ‘something’ to make it real - constructed reality. To illustrate the first function, media include or cover genuine events as newsworthy items. Genuine events are independent from mass media and their reporting, they take place whether the media notices them or not and do not change in character if they do. Such events are natural disasters, crime or incidents of every day life (Scherer et.al). These particular events are reported objectively since media is beyond its control to alter anything while these things unfold and therefore it has to present only the ‘absolute reality’ of the event. On the other hand, all media products such as news and advertisements are said to be a construction of reality. Lang and Lang expose the media’s image of reality as artificial and not at all similar to what witnesses on site observe. This is particularly true in news which is difficult to be a true reflection of reality, due to many factors involved in the production of news. Human error, human interest and the fallacies of management all conspire to blur the line between truth and friction. Potter (1998) stated that “news is not something that happens; instead, news is what gets presented. We almost never see news events as they happen. Instead, we are shown the media’s manufactured construction of the events.” Moreover, the media being an agent of socialization can affect our way of thinking and change our perception of reality. We tend to believe that drinking a certain brand of alcoholic beverages as projected in advertisement can bring us real fun and enjoyment and that acquiring a unit of cellphone makes us to believe that we are “in” a society. All of these perceived realities are reflected by this powerful and influential agent – the media.

References:
1) Berger P.L & Luckmann T. (1967). The Social Construction of Reality; a treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge. Penguin, Harmondsworth
(2) Pungente, S.J. From Barry Duncan et al. Media Literacy Resource Guide, Ontario Ministry of Education, Toronto, ON. Canada, 1989.
(3) Scherer, Helmut., Arnold, Anne-Katrin. and Schltz, Daniela . Media’s Creating Reality: Construction as a Social Process. (Available online at www.allacademic .com)

Second Orality

I. THE SECOND ORALITY

In his book, Orality and Literacy: Technologizing the Word, Walter J. Ong examines the transformation in consciousness which occurs when oral cultures become chirographic or writing based. By oral culture, we mean, a culture that rely on communicating purely an oral-based and has not been exposed to written communication. It has two forms: primary orality and residual orality. Primary orality refers to language and its use in both thought and speech that exists completely outside of the knowledge of writing. Residual orality, on the other hand, refers to a language that has been exposed to writing but has not completely incorporated it into daily use. Ong had put emphasis more on primary oral culture on the aspect on how human consciousness reacts when oral cultures are shifted to chirographic-based form of language. He took side on oral culture by defending its value and importance as compared to that of written-based language. In addition to pinpointing fundamental differences in the thought of processes of the two types of culture, Ong also had mentioned an emerging form of language culture he dubbed as ‘second orality’. This second orality combines the elements of chirographic (i.e writing) and orality modes but practically uses new technologies in communicating. According to him, the arrival of electronic media has led to a change in our thinking. He has foreseen a society that is more engross in spoken words than written words. Ong had drawn his conclusion primarily on the non-linear structure of an oral culture, which is also to be found in the structure of the internet, for instance. What is also interesting to note here is that Ong made a presumption that the 21st century will become a market of ‘interactivity’ – a place where words (spoken, read, and thought) stream from the screen to the page, from virtual to actual and whose information speed is by far exceeding what McLuhan predicted more than forty years ago. Ong also added that the ‘second orality’ will be a period in which the principles of both and literary culture will coalesce.
This Second Orality also provides us a handful of implications from the human individual thinking and his social interaction to the development of his languages. With the growing opportunities provided to us by the electronic and mainstream media, people are becoming more independent in terms of acquiring new learning, in sharing information and expanding its horizon through its active involvement in different virtual activities. In other words, second orality liberates human from his ideals and actions. Meanwhile, Ong also suggested that people in oral cultures live in close, intimate connection with their environment and with each other. This ‘collectivism’ way of thinking in oral culture was later transformed to ‘individualism’ as reading or writing is commonly an individual activity. Second Orality likewise will generate a strong group sense but will be much more global oriented. This is a case where internet chatting, email, voicemail and social networking become a commonplace for everybody to communicate and to social interact and also to identify themselves as active member in this ‘global village.’ What is also interesting to note here is the way people interact with the spoken and written word now that second orality prevails in the modern world. In print culture we gather news at distance, in an oral tradition people tell about happenings in person. In second orality, people are not a passive player but “contributes to the work in performance. The listener is author, scarcely less than the performer is author (Paul Zumthor, in Fowler 1994). It goes to show that people can freely interact and to intervene in a discourse albeit written or spoken. Since it is participatory, people can verify, add or question information in any forms (documents or video) that will be included in a body of knowledge thus, making it more reliable and accurate. On the other hand, second orality will not only bring positive development in human thinking and to society but as well as the negative consequences. Since people are now immersed with using modern technologies, too much exposure & consumption in it could lead to a destructive effect. It is feared that more people (even literate people) will not engage into reading anymore since it is replaced with modern mode of learning (books versus audio-books and classroom vs. virtual setting). There is a contention also that second orality changes the uses of our language. I am referring those languages that are used in the Internet that for some are quite difficult to comprehend. And lastly, second orality is castigated because it promotes gap to individual member of society since more will be convenient to communicate via phone or email instead of a face-to-face contact which is more personal and intimate than communicating virtually.
To recapitulate and to give light to the topic, second orality seemed to be in effect today and indeed the changes that Ong had mentioned are now taking place. Second Orality emerged because we anticipate it to happen but more so because human continue to embrace to many changes of his environment brought about by cultural and technological developments.



Second Orality
(1) Dekker, Annet. Language in Art. (Available online at http://www.montevideo.nl/en/nieuws/detail.php?id=1&archief=ja&showjaar=2002&beginjaar)
(2) Fowler, Robert M., 'How the Secondary Orality of the Electronic Age Can
Awaken Us to the Primary Orality of Antiquity or What Hypertext Can Teach Us About the Bible with Reflections on the Ethical and Political Issues of the Electronic Frontier', http://www2.bw.edu/~fowler, 1994
(3) Ong, Walter, Orality and Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word,
Methuen &Co. Ltd., 1982 (reprinted by Routlegde, London & New York)

My Cue on News Blackout

Who wouldn’t forget the Manila hostage crisis which had taken the lives of nine individuals who were gruesomely killed by a policeman in that fateful day of September 2010? This has made our country one of the most dangerous places in the world to live in, which is at par to that of war-stricken nations including Iraq and Afghanistan as viewed by some tourists all over the world. This pathetic event had caused much trouble on the part of Philippine government because it cannot directly pointed out on whose going to be punished for the failure negotiation. Our police authorities are pointing fingers to all those who directly and indirectly interfered to the failed negotiation including the media, saying that the media’s live coverage during that deadly hostage-taking incident may have jeopardized the police operation. Then there is a proposed news blackout during a hostage crisis and similar incidence. Let us try to analyze both sides. On one hand, media should have set limitations as to what extent should they cover such as delicate event especially when a life is in danger. I personally believe that media is partly should be blamed for this mess. P/Insp. Mendoza went berserk when he saw his brother on television forcefully drag by police authority for allegedly with the latter’s concealed contact to him, making his brother an accessory of the crime. While the media was putting emphasis on this, nobody had anticipated to the perpetrator’s raged reaction. He counter attacked his captives by firing his guns to the victim’s body. All of them had sustained more than two gun wounds, an indication that he was totally dismal and fury for what he saw on television. On the other side of the coin, the media who are used to covering all kinds of obnoxious events from a war to massacre to pity crimes should not be told as to what kind of material they will be published/broadcast or not worth to be published or broadcasted. This is a curtailment of press freedom. It is our credo that media people has responsibility to deliver reports to all sorts worthy of public interest including to what had happened in manila. The public has the right to know to what is happening to his surroundings and that what media is owed to its public – free yet accurate information. But the question will rise again on what if? Should the media continue to deliver news reports while unfolding a sensitive event such as hostage drama where the perpetrators have access to television? My cue here is not for the government to pass a bill just to legislate with has supposed to be an organization’s internal standards in conducting such kind of an event. It is not necessary because I perceived it as something which government tries to control to the undertakings of the media. It would simply mean that they can impose on what the media has or has not to do. We are not anymore under authoritarian government wherein anything that is reported by the media against government shenanigans is restrained. Media serves as the fourth state in a free government apart from executive, legislative and judiciary governments. Each has specific function and cannot therefore encroach to the work of another. What I specifically would like to share is for each news organization to review its existing guidelines on how to deal with this matter. I want that guidelines not media centric, meaning, to what is only perceived good for the organization but most importantly it should be people-centered and that is, lives should not be compromised in favor to a good lead or exclusive coverage. We have moral obligation to the people to disclose all vital information that affects our well-being but we also have social responsibility to exercise utmost care to sensitive issue. This should always bear in mind to all our journalists.

MY HOPE

Is there still hope for the Philippines?

Poverty, greed, inequality..the list is endless, we could all talk for hours or type for hours about it, but everyday, when we step out of our doorsteps all of those hit us in the face. But i am not a pessimist. I have high hopes for this country that one day we will try to rise from the mud and make ourselves stand to its own feet. Nobody would dare to laugh at us again by other nations invented name tags on our country such as the land of indolent people, land of helpers, land of slaves and many more name calling that are truly far from reality. the tragic death of those tourists in the manila hostage taking had brought us in the international limelight again. the shameful response of our authority caused much hatred from our neighbor country china. We cannot help but just to accept their negative comments making our ears open for their obnoxious remarks. There would be revenge and clash back but i remain optimistic that sooner or later, the two would make appease and eventually heal its wounds. Let bygones be bygones as the old cliche goes. But i hope this bad dream wont happen again. I just hope also that our people will not be forgetful about that fateful day of sept 27 2009 wherein hundreds of people were drowned caused by bagyong ondoy. a lesson learned is to be caring to its environment. let there be no waste in our sorroundings although this is close to impossible. Let everybody has it own good caused for the benefit of mankind.


Is there still hope for this country? A big YES.

I think what everyone needs is opportunity.


The government needs our cooperation.
A non-governmental organization wants our supports.
A poor needs an opportunity to get a job to provide something for himself and his family.
For every person, faith in God.

**********Comment on Dr. Delaney’s “WIRING AN INTERACTIVE OCEAN”****************

In this fast-pace changing world, new and new discoveries are introduced to mankind. Many of these great inventions of our time have long been an important part of our daily existence, from the discovery of a miracle medicine of antibiotics that cure and prolong the life of sick people, down to the most sophisticated micro chips that gave rise to the invention of today’s most valuable device – the computer system. In other words, all of these are attributed to the ingenuity of no other than - the man himself. If without those scientific brains such as the likes of Einstein, Alexander Fleming, George Mendel and Charles Babbage, we are probably living in discomfort, pain and extreme poverty. The world must be completely and forever be grateful for their intelligence, dedication and compassion for making this world a better place to live in.
Meanwhile, it’s been a while since we have heard and seen a person which can truly follow the same path or level of our great scientists such as those which I have mentioned above, not just in terms of popularity but more so of the quality of invention created. It’s hardly to assume that there is almost nothing, if not, little to be discovered nowadays. That is obviously not true. It is safer to say, that some scientists are probably afraid that their inventions would not be recognized or much worse, infringe their patent rights when someone is claiming their original works. But here’s a deal. A new set of scientists from the University of Washington is stealing a limelight in the world of discovery. They might be an answer to the long years of drought of a scientist or a group of scientists who can actually make valuable contributions in science and technology. Although they could not tap or surpass the great works of our great scientists, they may be at least at par in terms of the complexity of their works, significance of their inventions, as well as the attitude of a real scientist.
The Revolutionary Method of Exploration
Dr. John Delaney presented about an innovative research project that would change the course of exploration – that is, wiring an interactive ocean. Specifically, together with his team from the University of Washington, it aims to build “a cable network of deep ocean sensors that will study, over time and space, the way the ocean’s complex process interact. By networking the ocean to gather data, he’s helping to revolutionize ocean science.”I did say it is innovative. For the past few decades, super power countries such as America, Russia and Japan are battling over whose going to lead in launching a spacecraft in the outer space. It was through this ordeal that gauged the superiority and greatness of a nation over the other countries; a battle that had led to invent not just machines used for space exploration but as well as nuclear artillery. Throughout these years, the same countries are continuously doing the efforts and tirelessly make some space discovery even it would mean costing billions of money. Admittedly, it’s all worth the effort. Not because we are amazed when Neil Armstrong was the first man to set on foot the moon nor we are fascinated every time an astronaut makes fun of himself while doing the 360 degrees turn inside the spacecraft. But the beauty of it all is that, news around the globe is quickly relayed and much more accessible at the confine of our homes. Thanks to the satellite that has been set up in the outer space. It wasn’t just that because in reality, everybody seemed to benefit the many good things that were brought to us by space discoveries. But is this all what we’ve got? Scientists are preoccupied of producing sophisticated inventions with little value of improving the lives of its people. Time, effort and money have been extravagantly consumed to search what could still be left valuable in the outer space. But little has been improved in the life of its people since then. Space exploration is not the end solution of the human planetary crisis. We cannot afford to lose hope at this point in time. Though this world is full of problems, the solutions are also just right here in this world.
How about an exploration in the ocean? There is a paradigm shift that is taking place in the area of exploration. This time, a group of scientists from University of Washington, is spearheading a new method of exploration that could probably answers what other exploration has failed to provide solutions to diverse human problems. Dr. Delaney pointed out on his lecture of the possibility to emerge to a new wave of discoveries through ocean exploration. His main emphasis of his presentation is to give us an understanding that ocean is central to all natural activities that is happening around us. For instance, Delaney pointed out that “oceans control correlate with the growth patterns, and the drought pattern and the rain patterns on the continents.” This means that plant growth could be linked to oceanic activity. For the longest period of time, people don’t know about this thing. They are used to believe that everything what they see and what they do to their environment are only the things that matter to them. They lost with the idea that something beneath the earth’s surface could probably give more of an impact to save their lives and improve the quality of their life’s existence.
Its Implication
With the new approach of exploration, we have here much something to gain than lose. The study to be conducted can offer insights to the scientists and to us –the nature’s consumers, on how to deal better with our ocean. Let me again reiterate as what has been hypothesized by Dr. Delaney, that oceans are linked to nature’s activities. That it is ‘central to the quality of life on earth’. A farmer who is aware that plant life is linked to oceanic activity will decide when the appropriate planting time is or when to harvest better based on the oceans’ current. This is beneficial to the farmers to augment their farming production. The project might also conduct a monitoring system that will determine the number of sea species that would still be made available for human consumption until the next generation. The implication for this outcome would make our people to be more conscious to their actions and attitudes towards our water environment. Another perceived outcome of this experiment is that, seismic activities would earlier be forecasted such as when and where an Earthquake will hit a certain place and what time does a volcano will erupt so that people will take precautionary measures before these things to happen. It is also close to certainty that the said project may result to the discovery of new variety of medicines that will emerge from the ocean. Hopeless patients inflicted with incurable illnesses and diseases can catch now a sigh of relief if these things would be made possible. And lastly, the effect of this grandiose project will finally put to an end to the never ending hearsays as well as the made up stories capitalized by the media and other unscientific minds, that our planet Earth will be dissolved by that year and so on, just like what was portrayed in the movies Doomsday and 2012. Though it’s too early to predict the outcome of this exploration, I am very much hopeful that findings of this experiment will lead us to find out what’s really at stake in our planet in the future.
All of which that I have mentioned so far are still remain to be seen. But more appropriate question now is to ask if the project is doable. How could the project be materialized? As Delaney himself noted, his team will be using robotic equipments, applying the so-called nanotechnology to get for instance a sample of fluid of microbes deep below the sea floor (which have never been to the surface of the earth) using autonomous vehicles. Specimens taken from the sea floor will then be transferred to the laboratory for examination. The good thing about this is that all operations can be done live “bringing an entirely new telepresence to the world, throughout the ocean.”
Just like anybody else, who knows very little about the works of scientists, I am not in authority to doubt and oppose their capability to hold such a huge project. My concern goes primarily to the expenses that will be incurred from its operation and maintenance. We are talking here not just a million bucks of money but billion of dollars just for the single project alone. We cannot afford to put the money into waste again because in reality there are numerous problems in the world that need to be prioritized. The bottom line here is to question whether the benefits derived from this project could tap or answer to the growing problems of humanity. If not, let us drop down the case and back to square one again. But looking at the intent and desire of this pool of scientists to conduct a new approach of exploration, and not to mention, what has been emphasized on the data during Dr. Delaney’s lecture, I am convinced that with proper preparation, extensive analysis of the project and the continuous support of its government then there is no way for it to fail and be realized. This is indeed a feasible project. Everybody can’t wait to see and experience what our oceans can provide more other than just home of variety of sea species as well as the route for sea vessels. It’s too early to tell but more so I would like to predict, it’s going to be more exciting to live in a place that is full of endless possibilities.
References: