I arrived a bit late at the 888 Forum at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel yesterday, so it was only 3rd District Congressman and Cebu gubernatorial candidate Pablo John “PJ†Garcia who was let on the forum with host Ricky Poca. One question asked by my good friend radioman Choy Torralba was about the high budget of Sugbo TV… that it was costing the Province of Cebu so much and whether such costs could be justified. After Choy was done, I stood up and gave my pitch about Sugbo TV.
The problem really is… here in Cebu, we are so familiar with our Cebuano culture and language; we all take these things for granted. But I go on many numerous trips on my bike in our neighboring provinces and islands and let me tell you that for a Cebuano staying in a hotel in Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Davao or in Legazpi or even in Manila, it is quite refreshing to watch a Cebuano-based TV program done in Binisaya. Sure, we also have the Cebu Catholic Television Network (CCTN) programs appearing in some places. But don't forget, these Cebuano TV stations are hobbits if you compare them to the giants of mainstream TV… like ABS-CBN, GMA-7 or TV-5.
So is the cost of operating Sugbo TV quantifiable? Perhaps it is time to ask ourselves, is the cost of operating Sugbo TV (the satellite feed costs some US$14,000) which is promoting Cebuano culture and shown not only all over the Philippines but all over the world worth it? I believe that it is not quantifiable. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) many of whom are already linked to the Internet can watch Sugbo TV on their TV screens or on their computers. If I find it refreshing to watch Sugbo TV in areas that I visit outside Cebu… how much more for those Cebuanos living and working abroad?
Now we ask, should the issue of the Sugbo TV be thrown into the ugly game of politics? I think it is a gross error for politicians to do so. Sure, it may have been used to promote Governor Gwen…but isn't that what most government TV stations are for? To promote the activities of the government where mainstream TV would never be interested to show?
All one needs to do is open your TV sets to PTV-4 and yes… it was used by the previous administration under Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to promote her Presidency… now that Malacañang is under Pres. Benigno “PNoy†Aquino, III, PTV-4 now promotes their new master… so life goes on. Now you ask the question… how much is the budget for PTV-4? You can look it up if you wish…but no one questions its existence…so why should we also question the existence of Sugbo TV, which by the way, had its budgets approved by the Cebu Provincial Board?
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The cash gift that Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (JPE) gave away has shaken the Senate like never before… with Senators accusing one another of misusing Senate funds for personal purposes. But then isn't this the reality in this sick country today… that the existence of the Pork Barrel is the biggest motivation why we have politicians from so long ago who never want to relinquish power because politics has become their family business?
The most vocal Senator is Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago who lambasted JPE to the hilt… but JPE got the support of Sen. Panfilo “Ping†Lacson who was only returning the favor to JPE… after all, he was a fugitive from the law and the Senate gave him the protection only Senators can give. So what is going on in the Senate is the same old, “You scratch my back and I will scratch yours!†But lest you have forgotten… these Senators are using or misusing our precious tax money… monies that should be appropriated for development projects that benefit the poor.
The heat of the debate in the Senate has already taxed the health of Sen. Santiago who has since requested a leave of absence because of health reasons. But this hasn't stopped JPE's lapdogs from snarling back at Sen. Miriam for attacking their master.
Fearing that his unethical behavior would result in a loss of confidence in his Senate leadership… plus the fact that Sen. Antonio Trillanes has openly declared that JPE would be ousted soon, the Senate President made the decision to step down, saying, “As I have repeatedly said in the past, I serve at the pleasure of the majority of my colleagues. I claim no vested right to his position.†That move took the Senate in the defensive… so now they had to come up with a no-confidence vote or keep JPE at the helm of the Senate.
Well, as expected 11 Senators blinked and voted to keep JPE as Senate President. Only two Senators, Sen. Trillanes and Sen. Pimentel voted against JPE. In truth… there are many Senators who may no longer want JPE as Senate President but their problem is, they have no other names that they could trust to follow the footsteps of JPE. This is why they kept him.
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