MALOLOS City -- As the figures of media killings in the country continue to rise, the province of Bulacan maintains its clean record, having zero media casualties for the past years.
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Bulacan Chapter President Dino Balabo said that it has been a "phenomenon" in the province, stating that the “pag-iingat” of the Bulakenyo journalists could be the reason why.
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Bulacan Chapter President Dino Balabo said that it has been a "phenomenon" in the province, stating that the “pag-iingat” of the Bulakenyo journalists could be the reason why.
"Dito it's actually a phenomenon, natutuwa rin naman tayo doon," Balabo said. "Siguro kung titignan natin ang kultura ng [mga] Bulakenyo, mayroong mga mararahas dito pero nandodoon pa rin yung mga taong may paggalang. At the same time yung mga media rito, although may mga sumusundot, may bumabatikos, ay nag-iingat din naman."
Balabo also explained that despite their rights to demand safety and protection from the government, a journalist must also know his limits.
"Ang konsepto nung zero casualty, eh dapat din naman kasing maunawaan ng mga mamamahayag," said Balabo. "Samantalang kinukulit natin 'yung mga nasa gobyerno na, "alagaan ninyo kami, ingatan nyo kami, 'yung mga pulis eh gawin ninyong mga responsable, eh hindi naman ibig sabihin nun eh meron tayong tiket na batikusin at maging iresponsable tayo."
Same goes for Manila Bulletin online writer Ron Lopez, who believes that "knowing the limits" is a must-have characteristic that a journalist must possess.
“Kailangan mo lang gawin 'yung dapat mong gawin. Yung iba kasi minsan, sumosobra dun sa trabaho ng pagiging journalist," said Lopez. "Mayroong iba na feeling superhero na kayang gawin lahat, na kayang i-criticize, kayang tirahin ang lahat. Kailangan nating maging ethical sa trabaho natin. Kailangan maging patas."
Balabo, along with other local journalists and students from Bulacan gathered along with their signs and placards in front of the newly-built Marcelo H. Del Pilar monument on Thursday, calling the attention of the Aquino government to take immediate action towards the Maguindanao Massacre case in 2009, where 32 out of the 58 killed were journalists.
Among those who had given their respective organization's statement are Carmela Reyes-Estrope, president of Camp Alejo Santos PNP Press Corps Inc., Cecilio Franista, chair of Bulacan Press Club, GMA 7 Bulacan correspondent Rommel Ramos, and Shane Velasco of Philippine Information Agency (PIA). Representatives of student publications, sections and organizations also had given their stand.
Balabo also said that one purpose of holding activities and commemorations like this to remind and train the students on how to avoid such gruesome incident.
“We continue to do all these things, at the same time dun sa mga mag-aaral ay itinuturo rin upang wala mang nagiging insidente ng karahasan dito o pamamaslang sa Bulacan, ay walang masunod dun, walang mangyari na ganun."
Balabo also explained that despite their rights to demand safety and protection from the government, a journalist must also know his limits.
"Ang konsepto nung zero casualty, eh dapat din naman kasing maunawaan ng mga mamamahayag," said Balabo. "Samantalang kinukulit natin 'yung mga nasa gobyerno na, "alagaan ninyo kami, ingatan nyo kami, 'yung mga pulis eh gawin ninyong mga responsable, eh hindi naman ibig sabihin nun eh meron tayong tiket na batikusin at maging iresponsable tayo."
Same goes for Manila Bulletin online writer Ron Lopez, who believes that "knowing the limits" is a must-have characteristic that a journalist must possess.
“Kailangan mo lang gawin 'yung dapat mong gawin. Yung iba kasi minsan, sumosobra dun sa trabaho ng pagiging journalist," said Lopez. "Mayroong iba na feeling superhero na kayang gawin lahat, na kayang i-criticize, kayang tirahin ang lahat. Kailangan nating maging ethical sa trabaho natin. Kailangan maging patas."
Balabo, along with other local journalists and students from Bulacan gathered along with their signs and placards in front of the newly-built Marcelo H. Del Pilar monument on Thursday, calling the attention of the Aquino government to take immediate action towards the Maguindanao Massacre case in 2009, where 32 out of the 58 killed were journalists.
Among those who had given their respective organization's statement are Carmela Reyes-Estrope, president of Camp Alejo Santos PNP Press Corps Inc., Cecilio Franista, chair of Bulacan Press Club, GMA 7 Bulacan correspondent Rommel Ramos, and Shane Velasco of Philippine Information Agency (PIA). Representatives of student publications, sections and organizations also had given their stand.
Balabo also said that one purpose of holding activities and commemorations like this to remind and train the students on how to avoid such gruesome incident.
“We continue to do all these things, at the same time dun sa mga mag-aaral ay itinuturo rin upang wala mang nagiging insidente ng karahasan dito o pamamaslang sa Bulacan, ay walang masunod dun, walang mangyari na ganun."