I've shed copious tears lamenting the fact that Filipinos are not exposed to alternative, commercial-free (read: relatively independent) and listener supported media that's actually common fare for thriving and progressive democracies.
It's common fact to friends and readers that I view a majority of Filipinos as naive and unenlightened children and that we are where we are precisely because of that fact.
Why? There's, I'm sure, an 898 page thesis for that but for now I'd like to focus on the fact that it's partly because we're more attuned to visceral newstertainment (see "Cristy Ferminute") than to cerebral discussions on...let's say..."How Brazil got out of poverty and became part of the so-called BRIC countries of newly developed economies."
"Boring," you'll say. "Exactly, what I mean," I'll retort. Yes, I'll agree with you when you say that the US also has its share of junk culture, but I ask: Do not discount the fact that at least 10% of it's population listen to National Public Radio and its informative news and cultural programming.
Lately, though, my tears have turned slightly into that of joy. It's not quite close, but "Bayan at Batas," at least, is well within radar-range of the BBC.
Over dinner at my parent's place (thanks for the fish fillet, Mom), Marvin Aceron - one of the brains behind the program and whose day-job is being a lawyer - intimated that it all came about by accident. "My law firm partner's father had a program on that station (government-owned DZRB) and they we're looking for somebody to fill in a vacant hour. My partners and I thought, 'Why not?'"
What started out as discussions on celebrated court cases soon elevated into something quite unusual in the Philippine setting. I suppose episodes dealing with Jesus Christ's trial, Oscar Wilde, the Yamashita treasure and the Galman case is but natural if it's made by brainy, Jesuit-educated lawyers who happen to be fans of the Beatles and whose tagline seems to be "Love is greater than justice."
It flies high when they attempt to give voice to personalities and ideals Filipinos have not been exposed to (Mandela, Gandhi, St. Thomas More) and shed light on forgotten Filipinos who've helped shape this country (Enrique Jurado, Gomburza, Amado Hernandez).
It's common fact to friends and readers that I view a majority of Filipinos as naive and unenlightened children and that we are where we are precisely because of that fact.
Why? There's, I'm sure, an 898 page thesis for that but for now I'd like to focus on the fact that it's partly because we're more attuned to visceral newstertainment (see "Cristy Ferminute") than to cerebral discussions on...let's say..."How Brazil got out of poverty and became part of the so-called BRIC countries of newly developed economies."
"Boring," you'll say. "Exactly, what I mean," I'll retort. Yes, I'll agree with you when you say that the US also has its share of junk culture, but I ask: Do not discount the fact that at least 10% of it's population listen to National Public Radio and its informative news and cultural programming.
Lately, though, my tears have turned slightly into that of joy. It's not quite close, but "Bayan at Batas," at least, is well within radar-range of the BBC.
Over dinner at my parent's place (thanks for the fish fillet, Mom), Marvin Aceron - one of the brains behind the program and whose day-job is being a lawyer - intimated that it all came about by accident. "My law firm partner's father had a program on that station (government-owned DZRB) and they we're looking for somebody to fill in a vacant hour. My partners and I thought, 'Why not?'"
What started out as discussions on celebrated court cases soon elevated into something quite unusual in the Philippine setting. I suppose episodes dealing with Jesus Christ's trial, Oscar Wilde, the Yamashita treasure and the Galman case is but natural if it's made by brainy, Jesuit-educated lawyers who happen to be fans of the Beatles and whose tagline seems to be "Love is greater than justice."
It flies high when they attempt to give voice to personalities and ideals Filipinos have not been exposed to (Mandela, Gandhi, St. Thomas More) and shed light on forgotten Filipinos who've helped shape this country (Enrique Jurado, Gomburza, Amado Hernandez).
Other standout episodes include those on the Balangiga massacre, the landmark US abortion case "Roe v.s Wade" (heart-wrenching piece that rivals any telenovela) and the OJ Simpson Trial (a "CSI"-like dissection of what was once a convoluted, media-driven affair).
If, however, you'd just like to try and see first what the program is all about, do yourself a huge favor and check out their best (so far): "Sumilao Farmers Case." Done together with figures involved in this story of Mindanao tillers who walked 1,700 kilometers for their land, it becomes memorable for being one about faith, hope, love and the importance of wearing a good pair of flip-flops.
It's not a perfect program. Typical of mainstream fare, it falters when it is marred by "pabatis," slow starts, insider jokes and unfocused "barkada"-like discussions (I've to admit the latter is part of the charm. The show is the answer to that question: "Wonder what would happen if my drinking buddies put on a radio show.")
Undeniably, though, it's democracy at work. It's where alternative voices and thoughts are given a fun and entertaining venue, a writer can go toe-to-toe with an Undersecretary and bombshells like "seats to the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) board are rewarded to religious groups for their electoral support" are thrown around.
Sidenote: The last answers my long-running question of why 1/4th of AM stations are run by these organizations.
True democracy works best when its citizens are informed and enlightened. We've done a half-decent job on the former but been abysmal with the latter. It can be considered mature and progressive when it allows - defends - those who bring forth topics that are not supposed to be brought forth.
At the rate we are making babies, intelligence is what's going to save us. To keep pace, we'll have to move away from being merely a labor export and manufacturing economy to one that will rely on creativity and knowledge. By extension, "Bayan at Batas" is helping save the Philippines. Who knows, they just might enrich enough of us to help change the status quo in about....oh....387 years.
Radio is one of the last frontiers of media democratization brought about by the internet (see what it's done to print media and films) and "Bayan at Batas" through its podcasts is paving the way. It's not quite a revolution yet, but, there's undeniably a whiff of "Spring " coming out of my headset.
Now that I've let the cat out of the bag and, thus, forcing the government to probably shut them down, catch them Sunday nights on 738 AM (DZRB) from 7 til 8 PM or better yet, spend Sunday night with the kids and the loved ones and then download them from iTunes (last 20 episodes only) or here http://bayanatbatas.podbean.com and listen to them Monday morning to ensure a more enlightened week ahead.
