Saturday, July 21, 2007 Mapiles: Don’t insult us! By Joel P Mapiles Soft Touch and Views
ON FRIDAY, groups of local media organizations in Central Luzon trooped to the Capitol not to give way to the supposed 1st Media Fellowship and thresh out differences with the new lady chief of the generals at the provincial government.
What they did is an impressive show of unity and camaraderie among the local press in sending a strong message of protest and grievances to what they describe as the height of arrogance and hypocrisy at the Capitol.
For me, if this chief of the general at the capitol will continuously look at herself as untouchable lord, I’m afraid, this woman who has a pending disbarment case of unethical conduct at her own professional organization where she belongs, is preparing the way for the eventual downfall of her king. I think, this early, she must institute self-reform because whether she knows it or not, she provides headaches to her king because of her dual character. Dual, because for her king, she has the best character for the job, but for the media and other publics who had a personal encounter with her, viewed that she is not fit fot the job because of his attitude. Anyway, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
In my own view, that lucky lady is spoiled. She enjoys the complete, total, fundamental and radical trust and confidence of her king. Thus, she is braved enough to impose what she thinks is right event at the expense of others feelings and interests. Kaya ang utos ng hari at ng kanyang punong babae ay hindi mababali.” The lady general seems she has the holds of the king’s balls. I hope not.
For me, the lady general should take some days, months or years of retreat to make a worthwhile self-meditation and analysis. She should ask herself, “In spite of my efforts to help my king, am I doing good and right for his political career?” What shall I do? I think, lady, you must resign before you or your king would end up in “kangkungan.”
I remember last July of last year, I started to write a column about the former head of this province, I reminded him that if he fails to shape up, pupulutin siya sa kangkungan. Eventually, it happened. That’s how I read the political situation during that time. It’s not purely my own opinion. It’s the public pulse during that time.
Now, the problem of the king is not his good and pure intention but his chief of the general and their letters addressed to the August body.
However, if the ordinary employees are still on the stage of building their confidence in expressing their complaints and grievances, the local media of Pampanga headed by Bong Lacson, an institution in Pampanga journalism who felt that they were insulted and embarrassed, they have sent a very strong message expressing in strongest possible terms the arrogance and unethical conduct of the poor lady general. They want her out of the Capitol.
I support and we support this message of the Pampanga Press as I believe in the maxim, “sakit ng kalinkingan, sakit ng buong katawan,” We also feel and share the embarrassment and discrimination of our colleagues in the local media.
The local media as the vanguard of truth and advocate of development in the countryside deserve the highest regards in private and public office.
To the Governor, listen to media people, they talk through their hearts, they write through their souls. They are the ears and eyes of the public you pledged to serve. However, whether you take their advise or not, they will respect you. They won’t insist, however, you cannot stop them from telling and writing what they think and believe is right. So, insult and belittle us. We need mutual respect.
For the lady administrator, examine you’re soul and ask yourself, “Am I the right person for the job? If your answer is in the negative, a voluntary resignation is not bad but can help pacify the situation at the capitol. But if your answer is “yes’, that’s conceitedness. Anyway, its just my opinion. Sopan me rugu ing boss mu, sasakit ne buntok anggyang ali na sasabian. Magresign na ka pamu to give him the time and pleasure to choose a better one. Dakal la pang aliwang puwedeng-puwede.
