MANNY Pacquiao is not just a top-rated boxer and a celebrity. He has also become media savvy not only in the way he has exploited and enhanced his fame by coming up with a hit album. Moreover, he has learned how to handle the part of media that preys on scandals and the sensational. Bombarded with questions about his love child and the mother, Pacquiao deftly asked them to shoot questions on boxing instead.
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Meanwhile, Msgr. Achilles Dakay lamented media feasting on the rape charges against a parish priest. “The damage has been done,” Dakay said, as he pointed out that the priest should also be treated as innocent until proven guilty.
The good monsignor has raised an interesting point. It seems media has glossed over the innocence of people accused with crime. Though we describe somebody as a suspect, in the eyes of the reading public, he is already guilty as charged.
But then, a priest being accused of rape is news that the public has also the right to know. Somehow a balance must be struck.
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While the Koreans are coming in droves to learn English from us, our leaders now worry about the deteriorating quality of the teaching of English in our schools. One only needs to listen to how some teachers speak in English.
Some politicians blame the use of local languages as medium of instruction for the deterioration. What a shortsighted view.
I think using local languages in pre-school and early elementary years is best because the students understand their lessons better. Then, we teach them English. I believe it is easier to teach English by saying “bird” is the English word for “langgam” instead of the practice of penalizing the use of the vernacular. It seems the mindset is still teaching English by erasing in school the language most students use at home.
Perhaps, these politicians should look into the Waldorf system that was developed in Germany and used in some schools here in the Philippines. One of my daughters studied in a pre-school under the Waldorf system and the medium of instruction was Cebuano. Now that she is in grade 6, I find her English grammar better than some journalism interns.
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While the growing Korean tourist and expatriate community is welcome news, authorities should look into the arrival of criminal elements. For instance, the local smuggling community now includes a Korean connection.
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Cebu’s Budoy seems to have caught the attention not just of Cebuanos for his wit, leadership and musical skill. He definitely has compensated much for his un-matinee looks as he continues to wow his growing number of fans in the current Big Brother celebrity edition.
Still, I don’t think the show reflects reality. Just like the first, this edition also seeks to draw our attention away from what is really happening.
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Valentine’s should be a good day to muse about love and how it makes a difference in our lives. But that is something I prefer to do on more leisurely moments in my Friendster blog and share it with my small circle of online friends. Still, I wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day.
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