Philippine Politics in the Blogosphere: What do You Think?

Posted by nikoy in February 25th, 2008

I have been exposed to a very few political blog ever since I’ve been so this involved in blogging, and honestly, I don’t pay too much attention reading those kinds of stuff. Funny, I just feel that I’ll be opened up with the same opinions that I have already been seeing and hearing from the television and radio. Though I have those feelings into pinoy political blogs, I really don’t have anything against them. I’m honest!
I was browsing entrecard’s recent campaigns when I encounter a particular blog, gloria-resign.net, that really caught my attention, it gave me an awkward impression to tell you the truth. The blog’s name is very descriptive, is purpose-driven the right term? The idea of bringing this kinds of political agendas to the blogosphere is quite annoying though. Alright, alright! Periodicals have them in their frontpage, televisions got them in their headlines, and radios? Oh, not just the am frequency, even fm stations, indeed, it’s becoming every Filipino’s paranoia!!

In my own point of view, these kinds of blogs may give negative impressions about our country and should stay out of the blogosphere. Freedom of expression alright! But isn’t it getting too far? Getting too far in places it shouldn’t? I’m just worried about the impact it may bring to our country, and of course to us, Filipinos. We might be dealing with the same problems again and again and again, but is this a compelling reason to broadcast to the world wide web that the Philippine government sucks? I don’t think so.

It brings back the memories of the year 2000. I was first year high school back then when the impeachment trial of the former President Ejercito Estrada was being held. All my favorite tv shows that made me go home early those times where eaten by the impeachment trial. That feeling sucks!! With all my efforts, I tried to go home as early as possible so I can watch my favorite anime show but ended up not to see it because of the impeachment trial. Really annoying isn’t it?

And now, again and again, it’s becoming another dejavu. Though my concerns are much more different compared when I was more younger, the feeling remained the same. It does not mean that I don’t care of what’s currently happening, and that’s not really the point of this post. What I’m trying to say here is that everything has it’s own place, and I believe it should stay out of the ground of the blogosphere.

This article is opinion-based.

As a blogger like me, will you permit blogs like those to enter the blogosphere? Please feel free to give your opinion in the comment section below.

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Coy Said in February 27th, 2008 @3:42 am

People have every right to express their opinion and advocacies. Each individual/blogger has their own niche in the blogosphere. If you find them annoying, then you can always not visit them.

Jon Limjap Said in February 27th, 2008 @4:02 am

Found this thru Pinoyblogero’s blog, and I’ll restate here the comment I posted there:

Seriously, the Philippines appearing as “negative” to the outside world isn’t that big a problem as compared to how negative Filipinos are about themselves and their country in general.

We get what we deserve because we dwell in that negativity. No need for negative blogs to taint our country, Filipinos will tell any foreigner how ugly their country is anyway.

nick Said in February 27th, 2008 @4:03 am

I know you’re right. Pero ikaw na nga din nagsabi, lahat tayo ay may karapatan na sabihin at isulat kung ano an opinion natin sa mga bagay bagay, and I have just expressed mine through this post. So I hope you don’t take it badly, I’m just sharing what my stand is.

Coy Said in February 27th, 2008 @4:30 am

I agree with you 100%, Jon.

bloggingmix Said in February 27th, 2008 @4:52 am

I got the heads up at PinoyBlogero.com and I want to drop the same comment I dropped there.

I always take pride of telling my Chinese colleagues how freedom of expression makes the Phil’s media one if not the most reliable source of news. As a blogger who advocate freedom of expression… I don’t want to be dictated of what I should write on my blog. I assume full responsibility of my content so I exercise full discretion of what gets posted and what gets not.

So sad that some bloggers only want to paint a good image of the Philippines. Wake up you hypocrites!

Happy blogging everyone!

Gaijin Pinoy Said in February 27th, 2008 @7:03 am

Don’t worry so much about the website giving us a bad image to browsers abroad. Foreigners wouldn’t probably be placing “Gloria Philippines” in their Google searches anytime soon or ever. It would be more like “Boracay resorts”, “beaches Philippines” or something like that.

nick Said in February 27th, 2008 @7:37 am

@ bloggingmix - I am not telling here that we should tell the world something that we are not, which I believe is the definition of hypocrisy. The term is inappropriate.

@Gaijin Pinoy - Finally, someone who almost got my point in this article. Why broadcast to the world the negatives? TVs, radios and periodicals have done those things for us. So bakit pa natin tuluyang ibabaon ang bansa natin kung meron naman tayong kakayahan at meron naman tayong magagawa upang kahit papano pwedeng makatulong sa pag-angat nito?

FYI* I didn’t ask for any action against gloria-resign.net. I just published my own point of view, and that’s it.

Prudence Said in February 27th, 2008 @12:07 pm

I do not find it annoying that there should be sites like gloria-resign.net. I may not exactly agree with all that has been said in those kind of sites, but I find the blogosphere better with those sites in it rather than without. Like what I’ve said in Pinoyblogero’s blog, I think it’s rather more positive than negative because it shows that we’re still enjoying freedom of speech in this country, despite the political rabble we’re stuck in.

Maybe the thing is that we’re looking at the same object but through different lenses.

I think what irked most people was that you said that those kind of political blogs “should stay out of the blogosphere”. I’ve to admit it’s a kind of sweeping generalization that can be interpreted or misinterpreted in many ways.

PinoyBlogoSphere.com Said in February 27th, 2008 @4:32 pm

“these kinds of blogs may give negative impressions about our country and should stay out of the blogosphere” -Nick

Stay out? Take it down? C’mon, they don’t have ‘to
Instead of taking it down, they should just KEEP IT UP!!!

Makibaka! Huwag matakot! Mabuhay ang malayang pamamahayag!

jhay Said in February 27th, 2008 @6:19 pm

Well your feelings and concerns are valid, I’m glad you voiced out your opinion and most of us do respect that. But that’s just about it, it’s an opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own, even if it will be embodied in a blog dedicated therefor.

The moment we tell other bloggers what they ought to do or not to do with their blogs or in the blogosphere is something else. Something the rest of the blogosphere would not like.

We could disagree without being disagreeable.

umleo23 Said in February 27th, 2008 @8:23 pm

I will repost my comment from PinoyBlogero.com
====================================
Nick has a point actually, naiintindihan ko yung sinasabi nya na LUBOG NA ANG PILIPINAS, BA’T BA NATIN IBABAON.

For me, I think, we better stop complaining and whinning na lang, and TAYO NAMAN ANG KUMILOS. Yes there are some peoblems in our Goverment currently. But my question is, what help did we do to solve it? Kailangan nating mag tulong tulong, hindi sa pagrereklamo kundi isipin na lang natin ng sama sama kung paano maayos ang problema.

Oo maliwanag na ang lahat sa atin na may problema ang Pilipinas, what’s the used of complaining still? Inuubos natin at inaaksaya ang panahon sa pagrereklamo, pero kapag tayo na ang tinanong kung ano ang solusyon, hindi natin ito masagot.

Asking the Pres. to resign is not the solution either. Ilang Presidente pa ang kailangan nating pababain. Oo cge sabihin na nating corrupt nga ang gobyerno natin, Pero sino ang dapat sisihin? Sila na mga Politiko? or tayong mga Bumoto sa Kanila???

Sa akin, walang dapat sisihin. Hindi na dapat tayo magisip kung kaninong kasalanan ito. ANG ISIPIN NATIN ANO ANG PARAAN PARA HINDI NA MAULIT MULI ITO?

Kat Said in February 27th, 2008 @9:39 pm

Hi, Nick. I commented on PinoyBlogero and then I thought, “WTF??? I didn’t even read (your) original post.” So in the spirit of fairness, I went over here and read it.

I still have the same opinion, though.
Can’t keep anybody out of the blogosphere.

But I think the way you answered over at PinoyBlogero is classy.

Karlo.PinoyBlogero Said in February 27th, 2008 @10:24 pm

Hi. I don’t think that the one transpiring on my blog can be considered a controversy. I see more as a healthy discussion regarding your topic. With a topic like yours it’s only natural that you will receive such comments.

I placed it on my blog so that it could have more exposure than what you have written here.

I also don’t think that there is hypocrisy on your article, either. Like everyone else you’re just expressing your opinion. And I respect that.

Yes you didn’t say that you want to take it down. Nor did I imply that you want that to happen. I just based the title on your comment “…everything has it’s own place, and I believe it should stay out of the ground of the blogosphere.”

Peace. Happy blogging!

bloggingmix Said in February 27th, 2008 @11:15 pm

“In my own point of view, these kinds of blogs may give negative impressions about our country and should stay out of the blogosphere.”

I may sound a little over the top but you have indirectly conveyed a message that the Blogosphere should only paint a better Philippines.

I’m one with you. I’m sick and tired of the corruption in the government. I’m sick of EDSA that is beginning to lose it’s essense. I’m sick and tired of the political immaturity of our people and I’m sick and tired of politicking. Should this feeling of exhaustion and tiredness towards the prevailing problems of the Phils sufficient enough to enourage only good publicity.

Still, we have our own views. Regardless of whether your’s is different from mine, I respect it.

Cheers,
Rocky

agnesdv Said in February 28th, 2008 @3:51 am

“As a blogger like me, will you permit blogs like those to enter the blogosphere? Please feel free to give your opinion in the comment section below. ”

The important thing is, you’re sure of what you think (and want).

nick Said in February 28th, 2008 @7:09 am

I really appreciate the exposure Karlo, and of course the discussions with other bloggers here as well, it’s really great. This is the first time I published an article and lots of people reacted, that’s why I was overwhelmed on how things turn out. I’m happy and, well, I feel I am really becoming a blogger now
Thanks for the opportunity karlo

rodaflip Said in February 28th, 2008 @5:30 pm

re: “Your blog gives the philippines a bad face, take it down” ,

I dont think you own the blogosphere , so you dont have the right to command, its also a non respect for fellow bloggers. Its a command it may had been lighter if you made the statement with please. So i feel repulsive. I don’t know you but does it reflects your character?

“Gives the Philippines a bad face ? I think its hypocrisy ..its cowardice? its not objective ? subjective ? its superficial?

No man is an island. Man is made to be social . He is not for himself alone but had a responsibility for others. What the people now exposing and fighting for truth is doing their duty for others or for his country. Whatever the gains , co fellow man will have a share.
The question is do you want to have a share, when you did nothing for the fight..

jepoy Said in February 29th, 2008 @9:52 pm

our country’s in a sh*tpit for the past few decades anyway… But it sucks to see Cory and Erap together after what we fought for in EDSA 2.

lyza Said in March 1st, 2008 @10:36 am

Hello!
Regarding the blog that you saw, i must disagree with you that people shall stop letting the negativity out of the blog world. There are a lot of bloggers who have posted in their blogs about the unpleasant government we have and I don’t see anything wrong. Let me tell you “The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praises, than be saved by criticism” (PJP II) People must SEE how AWFUL our country is. Walang tatayo kung wala silang naaamoy na mabaho.

nick Said in March 1st, 2008 @6:41 pm

@lyza - I do get your point. Pero kasi, ang dami ng forms of media na gumagawa niyan eh, our negativity is no longer a secret anyway, so why add up to that? Why don’t we try flipping up the coin and try looking at the other side?

That’s what I chose, to look at the other side of our negativity.

Karlo Mikhail Said in March 2nd, 2008 @5:05 am

Hey there,

I must disagree with your points here.

The rise of blogs, as a relatively recent phenomenon, empowers people from all walks of life to write and publish views in the Internet. This is diverse and can range from the mundane to the intellectual and of course, advocacies like say, the removal of the president.

It is not the bloggers who are “broadcast(ing) to the world wide web that the Philippine government sucks” that is giving the country a bad name. Rather, it is the Arroyo-led government itself that is fuelling this negative perception by its anti-people actions. Instead of calling on people who blog about politics and governance to stop talking about Philippine political and social realities, we should instead call on government to put its acts together to stop “giving negative impressions about our country.”

However, the Arroyo administration, with its continuing crisis of legitimacy, legacy of Marcos-like corruption and human rights abuses, and mixed signals of staying beyond 2010, seems to be doing everything to oppose this.

Karlo.PinoyBlogero Said in March 2nd, 2008 @7:24 am

Just want to let you know that I could not subscribe to your feeds using Google Feed Reader. I think there’s something wrong with it. You may want to check it out.

Oh and another thing. Nice layout.

happy blogging!

agnesdv Said in March 2nd, 2008 @12:16 pm

nick, i think you should practice what you preach..

batang buotan Said in March 3rd, 2008 @3:58 am

I appreciate your opinion. In national crisis like this, we need to sustain sharing of opinions and sentiments.

The NBN controversy, the rallies and much more - the declaration of former president Estrada that he is willing to lead transition government when called upon - are all putting the Philippines in bad light.

We are seeking way out of this desperate situation but it seems we don’t know how as a nation.

I call everyone to calm down and continue to be vigilant. I condemn those who continue to call ‘bad names’ to our leaders. If we want moral recovery - it’s better to show now ‘what are moral’ to our children.

I commend you for writing this great post.