I recently saw a discussion where someone mentioned how the Philippines’s level of press freedom lets our media freely report on whatever they want. As a side effect, a lot of the negative news can easily make their way abroad and give foreigners lasting impressions on the country. There is also the appearance that PH is singled-out on many issues, as if we’re the only country with these problems.
Foreign media can come and report on topics like teenage pregnancy or child prostitution, and they can’t do that in some of the neighboring countries with lesser press freedom.
There are similarities on the Florida Man phenomenon when it comes to that, partially because of its relatively open FOI laws… or at least in the past.
With that in mind, to me, it explains why a lot of countries do not like freedom of the press—they fear, not without reason, na yung news coverage sa kanila would border on the slanderous. On the flip side (heh), parang chad wojak yung dating sa Pilipinas kasi they’re adamant on the press freedom despite all the slander.
Big con lang sa press freedom and yung focus sa Pilipinas sa issues na mukhang tayo lang ang may mga ganung problema (as mentioned in the earlier paragraphs). Ayun, nafufuel yung self-hate. I was once a card-carrying self-loathing Filipino who uncritically believed whatever bad news I see. It took me spending a few years outside of the country to change my perspective. The overseas experience phenomenon is a thing sa Australia. Malaking tulong sa mga Pilipino yan (bukod sa pagiging OFW) para maground sa realidad yung tingin ng mga tao sa Pilipinas. Madaming problema sa Pilipinas, pero hindi tayo nag-iisa sa ganun. There’s a way to improve things.
A lot of the self-hate and despair is because of that apparent helplessness and futility. Nagiging echo chamber kasi puro local “familiarity breeds contempt” perspectives lang ang available eh, to add to the rose-colored glasses view towards almost any foreign country.
Thoughts?
I checked out r/philippinesbad and I actually liked it. While it was designed to whine about r/PH, they at least take the time to disprove why the thread is wrong unlike sa r/2ph4u na iyak at conspiracy theories lang about the moderating. If nagre-reddit pa ako, I probably would have applied there as a dual mod. lol.
And about Australia, hindi ako nakatira dun but most of my relatives are and nakapunta na ako dun. Kahit bayaran mo pa ako 1 million to live there, I won’t. Ang mahal mahal ng basic necessities, mami-miss mo yung 200 pesos na gupit or 500 para ayusin ng karpintero mga issue sa bahay. The weather sucks lalo na pag Christmas na daig pa summer natin dito sa init. Yung internet diyos ko po, minimonopolize ng dalawang carrier (Optus and Telstra) na nagpapaligsahan sa bagal at hina ng signal. And to think proud na proud tayo na Telstra was supposedly going here, lol. May racism to the point na yung car ng pinsan ko vinandalize with slurs while parked outside on a party. Ang aga magsara ng mga shops. Food is expensive. Insulin is expensive. Lahat expensive, haha. Yes, malaki sweldo but that’s to cover the high cost of living. Pag nagsisimula ka pa lang dun, kawawa ka.
But may mga okay din naman about the country. I’m just saying that it’s not all hunky dory as most people make it out to be. I’m not going to a different country just to start over and slowly make my way to the top. If that’s you, then good for you and I wish you all the luck. But I’m fine here being able to enjoy life even if it’s not exactly something you could brag about.