For The Record
Bong Bue, former president of Zamboanga Press Club

In defense of the media

What’s the trend in City Hall nowadays? Find the answer elsewhere in this corner.

* * *

Headline: “Sulu, China City ink Sisterhood Agreement”
Sulu is getting connected to the world so fast under the leadership of Governor Ben Loong. Very recently the sisterhood agreement between Sulu and De Zhou City in the province of Shandong, China is one turning point for the much embattled Sulu province to have peace and development.

The coming in of the American Forces to help bring aid and development to Sulu is another major point of consideration. We’ve seen the beautiful presentation of Col. James Linder of the Joint Special Operations Task Force (Jostf) during our induction of the Rotary Club of Metro Zamboanga last month.

There have been significant changes now in Sulu. Infrastructures, social and economic activities have been in place as a way of convincing those in the mountains for years to come down and change their lifestyles for the betterment.

Gov. Loong with the participation of Col. Linder’s group and the rest are indeed making the difference. We love to see that of course! Zamboanga City will surely benefit if Sulu will once and for all be progressive.

* * *

Headline: “Jobless folks seek jobs at City Hall”
Why do people flock to City Hall as if it is an employment agency?
It is best for these jobless people to start looking for work elsewhere or maybe engage even in small businesses, which they can call theirs. Better wait because Shoppers Mall and two other malls will soon open in Zambo.

* * *

And speaking of City Hall. The trend around a City Hall nowadays is “it isn’t who you know but who you yes.”

* * *

Headline: “ Media asked to present beautiful side of ZC”
How about list down first the beautiful things of Zamboanga City and then ask the media to present them.

This call of the mayor appears to be a broken record. Our colleagues in media would just present Zamboanga’s beautiful sides if there are any. As a newsman myself for almost two decades now I don’t remember that there has been any suppression of news or things around.

As a matter of fact, we have been more compassionate in presenting beautiful things of Zamboanga City. Including birthdays of politicians are even published and presented to the public.

Maybe there are very few beautiful things to present that’s why we could hardly notice them. I don’t think Zamboanga City media men would want to see La Bella destroyed. I believe that as Zamboanguenos radio men, newspaper and TV personalities, including columnists, love Zamboanga City more than anyone else.

These are the people who move around and give comments and criticisms if they see things going wrongly so that those concerned would do something about them.

However, if the ones making the call meant to suppress the bloody incidents happening around as they definitely do not speak of Zamboanga City beautifully then it’s gonna be a different story.

The recent spate of killings in Putik, Pasonanca, Talon-Talon and anywhere else are incidents which we in media could not just ignore or suppress them from news and publication. Media reported them as they happened. It’s just too bad that the much publicized GUN BAN campaign isn’t working as desired. Well, this GUN BAN issue is another thing we want to talk about in this little corner soon.

All these ugly incidents happening around are not the faults of media. The media simply do their work and report them to the general public. Unlike in Malaysia, mediamen there told us (when we visited there in 1997), that they have to seek approval from a sort of information minister before publishing them in newspapers.So if the mayor wants media to present beautiful things --- then make them!

* * *

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: “Nothing speaks more clearly of God’s love than the cross of Christ.”