For the sixth straight year, our erstwhile radio program Ngayon Na, Bayan! was a finalist in the annual Catholic Mass Media Awards.  This year, we were cited as among the best radio programs in the country in news commentary and radio drama.

            In the latter, our entry was our radio drama “Salamin ng Kasaysayan: St. Louis Exposition” about Filipinos “exhibited” by the Americans at the turn of the last century.  Members of that ill-fated band of “savages” were forced to wear their traditional g-strings in winter, were not fed well, were allowed to be attacked by dogs, and ridiculed by ignorant fair goers.  Some of them died of exposure, malnutrition and maltreatment.

            In the former, a remote broadcast type entitled “NNB Goes to Hong Kong” about the failure of the Hong Kong WTO Ministerial Meet to hammer out a substantial agreement.  Our main host was, of course, Sonia M. Capio.  Her co-host was our resident economics expert Prof. Danilo A. Arao.  And I was the on-the-scene co-host in Hong Kong.  (I remember that broadcast.  Victoria Park was in a jubilant mood as we witnessed how the imperialist powers desperately tried to cover up their defeat.) 

            After five years, we still haven’t brought home the glass and stone trophy.  Instead, we get two more certificates.  But we are happy nonetheless.  Along with our KBP Golden Dove and certificates, we’ve proven once more that a progressive and militant radio program can be good and popular among listeners.  We are among the best broadcasters in the business.  The other contenders are biggies—DZRH, DZMM, DZBB.

            More importantly, these citations are further proofs that our show’s cancellation by the station and the state’s terrorism are unjust.  Shame on gma for her attack against the critical media!

            Now, we are sure that we are on a blacklist somewhere.  No station is willing to take us in.  Even DZUP of the University of the Philippines withdrew its initial agreement to allow us a daily show. 

            Last June, the military burned down the FM radio station we helped put up in Cagayan.  They even threatened and harmed six of our colleagues. Bastards! 

            At the moment, we are making ourselves busy by canning previous broadcasts and recording new information plugs to be played in our network of radio stations and programs.  We do not have a program but we are not completely out of the picture yet. 

My officemate Lui Tumlos is flying to Amman, Jordan tonight to tell community radio broadcasters from all over the world this regime’s crimes against the Philippine mass media. 

Incidentally, gloria macapagal arroyo was the CMMA’s guest of (dis)honor and led the awarding of trophies to television winners.  The nerve, attending an event of media persons her bloodthirsty regime is relentlessly persecuting!  Forty five media practitioners were killed since she began polluting Malacañang, 33 of whom are radio broadcasters.

            (Had anyone of our media colleagues who won bashed you-know-who’s head with the trophy’s heavy stone base in front of the cardinal and a gaggle of bishops, I would have stood up to give him or her a heartfelt standing ovation.)

            We left after all the radio awards were given.  We were in an upbeat mood, despite our “hoard” being a lot lighter than we hoped.  Dani treated us to dinner.  I had tapsilog, and an adobong kangkong side dish for fiber.

            When the dark witch is ousted, radio stations would come knocking.  We’d again be receiving invitations to awarding ceremonies.  I would be wearing starched barongs and shined leather shoes. 

            Until then, we are homeless journalists, guerilla newscasters and commentators.  We are laptop broadcasters, heard only from CD players.      

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11-15-2006