FILMING

BATAS MILITAR

In 1972, Martial Law was declared by Former President Ferdinand
Marcos. Philippines were generally fall down except the ruling of
Ferdinand Marcos. Everything is ruled and everybody has to follow.

As what I have read, the Martial law period can be described as the
“Era of Guided Media and the Rise of the Alternative Press”.

Ferdinand Marcos commands some stations and publications to stop
airing or publishing, and he sent his people to handle it. There are
absolutely no issues published against him.

At the early martial law era, it lessens the democratic behavior of
the citizens because the media are already allies of Marcos.

It’s hard for the people to voice out because they can’t find help
from the media. They need to gather together and speak out
directly to the public. I think that is the reason why EDSA people
power was made.

For me, Ferdinand Marcos is so brilliant because he knows how media
would influence the people and how powerful media is. Marcos also
knows that the Media is the only tool who can pull him out from his
long-term or regime.

Media owners are also afraid to fight against Marcos because they
are afraid to be imprisoned. News and stories at that time are not
worthy to be read, it is so bias and injustice.

"The CHURCH says media should not immediately name a suspected priests on the basis of mere allegations. For priests, their only investment is their good name. While the MEDIA says priests who are suspected of committing criminal offense are treated like an ordinary suspect, whether he is a pastor or monsignor."

Both church and media have their own point. Both can shape and change the way living. It is hard to judge which of them is correct. For me, media only do their job. Media is a business and it is a competition. That’s why every media needs a story to sell, which is unusual to the public. But they must know what kind of story they would publish. Media should not immediately name a suspected priest on their basis of mere allegations, because at first priest is person and a person is not perfect, no one is exempted to commit a sin and they are not a ordinary people. Second is no one  could already believe a priest if his name has already a bad record. But priest must also know their responsibility to be a role model of each believer of God. They must also think that not only their self are to be affected but the parish or the church where they belong could also be affected. For my own opinion, media can be called traitor if he or she writes bad issues against his or her church.