Kids, they've served notice.[<]
Got a call in the morning just before the last show from a key officer of the station. The caller was asking if we could possibily "balance" our show by having one of us play devil's advocate in the show. In other words, one will act like a pro- Erap guy. We said: "No way." First of all, we never pretended to be a news show -- this is commentary, not journalism. Secondly, this is why we're subukán -- challenge -- to start with.
The caller also asked us to ease off on the anti-Erap music -- you know, the funny album and the white album. Again, we said "No."
We reminded him that the administration has most of the airtime available for its propaganda -- specifically, it has bought most of the airtime before and after our show. The caller countered that the administration does not play anti-Cory or anti-FVR songs. We said: "Why don't they? Aren't they creative enough?"
The caller said that there was "great pressure" on them.
We again reminded him that the reason we put up the show was because the station needed to balance perceptions that they have been bought by the administration, considering a top officer of theirs was implicated in the Jimpol tape -- that tape revealed by Chavit Singson of his phone conversation with Presidential Legislative Liaison Officer Jimmie Policarpio where the latter was asking for more money (aside from the P2 million jueteng funded budget for media) because of the rising expenses. Jimpol named a number of media persons -- radio persons including that RMN officer, specifically -- as having benefitted from these funds.
Well, the caller asked us to consider his "inputs." We said we would.We went on with our show as is, anyway.
DO WE STILL HAVE A SHOW FOR NEXT SUNDAY?
ABANGAN!
Show # 4 10 December 2000
Still more Erap inspired music filled the airwaves as we got hold of another CD, this time called The White Album: Erap. It's marked "proudly underground, bravely patriotic."
We interviewed one of the Dacer daughters just to get some feedback on their father. She reports that the NBI has been keeping them updated now -- not that they're learning anything new. Some hope was raised that Bubby may stikll be alive with some report from FVR's side, but that's still all up in the air.
We also interviewed Bill Luz of makati Business club where he debunked the President's claims on the economy's performance as cited in the 3rd quater GNP and GDP reports. Bottomline: third quarter stats don't meansquate-- 4th quarter and 1st quaretr next year will be the clincher. We all feel it now. It's baaaad.
On Eraps' reforms -- well, they should have been done a year ago. This is just to score pogi points. No real reforms there. Cronyism, lack of transparency, corruption -- they're all there and they won't go away.
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If you notice, we don't really say much in these updates -- best to listen in on the show. It isn't because we don't want to let you know what went on -- it's just that we haven't had the time to transcribe the show.
So just tune in. You can pick up, too, on the discussions by reading the column of Jarius Bondoc, Gotcha, in Philippine Star every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday and his Filipino column caled Sapol in Pilipino Star Ngayon.
Joe Torres' stuff can be read in Sunday Paper.
As for JP Fenix -- well -- just catch his squeaky voice on the show.
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