Elections are Largely by the Media

The results of the recent elections just show how important mass media really is in a democracy. The GO's triumph over the TU is mainly a result of mass media's treatment versus PGMA and her candidates. The Ang Kapatiran's disastrous performance, Pacquiao's loss, "Among" Ed's triumph, Ralph Recto's demise and Pangilinan's drop in rankings are just a few examples all the result of biased reporting and persuasion by the mass media.

People are wrong when they say that the Filipino is at last wising up when PacMan failed to win a seat in Congress. Pacquiao was consciously targetted by many in the mass media. Both ABS-CBN and GMA in their morning radio programs mock his running while making his opponent look like a Joan of Arc - a little girl with iron-fitted heart. Of course, mass media failed to highlight that the girl is equally opportunistic as coming from a dreaded political dynasty.

Kiko Pangilinan is called "Mr. Noted" by ABS-CBN. Wouldn't that explain his sharp drop from number 1 to number 5?. Ralph Recto meanwhile is a popular figure but made notorious by the same ABS-CBN DZMM radio anchors (as such we conclusively say paid hacks) Ted Failon and the DosPor Dos chuwariwaps. By calling Recto as the father of the EVAT as if the EVAT is single-handedly authored, pushed, and approved by Recto, and as if the EVAT is altogether bad he became the main reason for the entire bureaucracy's corruption!

Needless to say, the AngKap was largely ignored. They got less coverage than Keanna Reeves new movies and sexual exploits. If compared to Kris and Ruffa coverages, the AngKap coverage is a hiccup to their growl. Meanwhile, "Among" Ed gets an unusually good coverage. He got seen in some TV and newpaper features. He is pictured as a sanitizer in the middle of PGMA's dirt bag. A poor priest (who by the way has good write ups and well directed photographs, obviously well funded campaign masquerading as people power) fighting against corrupt dirty government allies.

Meanwhile, senseless oppositionists Escudero, Cayetano, Honasan and Trillanes are given respectability. Nobody remembered Escudero's wholehearted support for Erap and his charge against Davide. Nobody cared for proofs from Cayetano's charges against FG. Nobody questioned the evil of coup d'etats.

Maguindanao is now known to everyone as the dirtiest place in politics. The simple Koko versus Zubiri race cannot even be resolved by mass media. Amazingly, they forgot they had surveys done there. They are just waiting for the results and not analyzing the situation. They claim to not want to favor one over the other although they are actually favoring the real loser over the winner there!

I do not care either for Koko or Zubiri, or Trillanes or Pangilinan, or Escudero or Cayetano or Recto or Pacquiao. To me, they are all either opportunists or spineless politicians. The point here though is the power of mass media. The can make or break the nation. But we are not totally helpless against them. They are businessess and they live on advertising revenues- money from advertisers which we can only softly but surely persuade.

Post Election Public Works and those lucky rich people!

I am sure many notice a number of public works that started right after elections. Roads here and there are now being repaired or constructed. Some say this is perhaps a result of public works ban during the campaign period. Many of them are postponed and can only begin right after the elections. Really?

There is one opinion I heard saying that this is perhaps the payment to those controlling the construction company for their support for certain groups of candidates. It could be, but as usual we have no proof.

I cannot help but notice in the Bicutan area of the SLEX that many are forced to use the expressway because the west service road has been rendered one way from Nichols to Bicutan. There is no choice for those living or working in that side of the road but to use the SLEX. People with cars just have to shell out extra 30bucks to get to where they are going. Surely, the SLEX system earned a few million pesos more with the one-way scheme. Pure luck? I don't think so.

Now, the MMDA also advises (Inquirer news report here) that trucks use the NLEX instead of the MacArthur Hiway to/from Northern Luzon because of ongoing public works (rehabilitation of a bridge).

Officials of the agency said the alternate route it set up to ease traffic on MacArthur Highway was too narrow for trucks, container vans and other large vehicles carrying heavy loads.

In a statement, MMDA Traffic Operations chief Angelito Vergel de Dios urged drivers of trucks to take the NLEX instead of the congested highway.

The MMDA closed a portion of the MacArthur Highway on April 10 to give way to maintenance and repair work on the Tullahan Bridge, which had shown signs of wear and tear.

Wow, a few more millions of pesos added to the wealth of the lucky NLEX operator! Really, it is very easy for some companies to be lucky come right before or after elections!