Shouldn’t ABS-CBN apologize to Jejomar Binay as well?

Perhaps it’s too much to ask of ABS-CBN, though.

Common sense should dictate that the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) student body was not the only aggrieved party. They weren’t the one who was “mistakenly” reported as being shouted at with trapo. Vice President Jejomar Binay, the one invited to the forum, was.

jejomar binay uplb

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Then again, common sense is not so common in the Philippines.

The question that people should be asking next is this: did ABS-CBN apologize because they truly regret what they did, or is it just because they got caught?

This whole incident also makes me wonder about other certain other things. Filipinos are generally not known for admitting they made mistakes, much less apologizing for them, especially if they happen to be in a position of authority or influence. Like the media. Getting them to admit their mistake, even if caught red-handed, is like pulling teeth, what more if no one speaks up or complains?

So let’s start from there: Why did ABS-CBN apologize to the UPLB student body, but not Jejomar Binay? Is it because, at this point, only the UPLB student body has complained, and not the office of the VP? So, if nobody complained, no harm, no foul? Ganoon na lang ba iyon (Are we supposed to leave it at that)?

One would think that the office of the VP would be an entity that no one would want to mess with. The student body of the state university is no less a big and frightful prospect, but let’s be real about things, it would be very, very foolish to even think of aggrieving the second highest elected government position in the land.

But of course, this is the Philippines, where common sense and logic do not seem to penetrate.

Curious of that which defies logic, we ask next: what did ABS-CBN see in the UPLB student body, or what does the UPLB student body have, that forced the media company to apologize? Were they that afraid of the social media backlash, primarily with the Twitter hashtag #ABSCBNSaySorrytoUPLB? Just because the office of the VP has comparatively less social media presence, it can be ignored? Babalewalain na lang sana ng ABS ang opisina ng Pangalawang Pangulo, ganoon lang?

Next thing we confront is a most likely reaction: Bakit naman magsosorry ang ABS-CBN kay Binay, eh totoo naman na trapo siya? (Why would ABS-CBN say sorry to Binay for what they did, he is a trapo anyway.)

Whether Jejomar Binay is a trapo or not is strictly beside the point. Whether you are pro-Binay or not does not matter. The issue here is simple: ABS-CBN committed an error against two entities: the UPLB student body and the VP. It should apologize to both aggrieved parties because it is the right thing to do.

It is that simple.

Isn’t that a familiar theme in Philippine society, though? That the aggrieved deserve whatever they get because they’re bad entities from the Filipino point of view, so therefore Filipinos have no fault? The end justifies the means? There’s always an excuse and “a good reason” for everything Filipinos do?

Hmm…

I’ve got no words for such type of thinking, really, except maybe just one:

Pathetic.

[Photo courtesy: minibalita.com]

28 Replies to “Shouldn’t ABS-CBN apologize to Jejomar Binay as well?”

  1. It was an “intended mistake” or an “apparent error”…but in truth, it is part go the political strategy of Aquino and Roxas. To make Binay, look bad. It is part of the “dirty tricks” in politics. ABS CBN has been the Propaganda Machine of the Aquinos, ever since.

    They even made Cory Aquino, a Saint; and the stupid Filipinos, swallowed , it : hook, line and sinker…

  2. May be out of topic, but FallenAngel touches on logic, rationality and commonsense.

    Guys, check out below link, as it might help. Do check it out, or you miss half of your life.

    20 Cognitive Biases that Screw Up your Decisions
    >> http://goo.gl/AjVlMf

  3. yes, common sense is sorely lacking in the archipelago…and getting a Filipino to see a mistake they’ve made or an apology is as much a rarity as a Mt.Pinatubo eruption.

    Aquino really doesn’t ‘HAVE’ to make Binay ‘LOOK’ bad. Binay is a Filipino politician and they are all crooks. ‘LOOK’ing bad goes with the territory. With the elections being rigged, all this BS about ‘he said,she said’ is much to do about nada and something else entirely is usually going on. Like during the SC hearings, the DAP scandal was taking place and everyone was busy ether crucifying or crying for Corona and the truth of the matter nothing happened to the guy, he kept his money and got off scott-free without answering a single question, LOL !!!.Meanwhile the DAP funds were being funneled out of the treasury and not a single person realized it till after the funds disappeared.BWAH HA HA and Good luck getting those peso’s back, LOL !!!!

  4. haha. . It’s funny how “FallenAngel” talks about logic, common sense and the like; when actually the writings above obviously did not able to grasp the essence of the clamor. If you(fallenangel) have those shits(commonsense/logic), why are you asking those rhetorical, obvious, and dumbest questions above?hahaha

    1. haha… It’s funny how “rodel” said that the writing above did not able to grasp the essence of the clamor when he himself failed to show why is that? Oh wait, he’ll tell me to read it myself. Well, I read it that is why I don’t agree with rodel. One can always say he sees Red when everyone else sees Blue. That is why I want him to explain his comment. Otherwise, his comment, because it lacks an intelligent argument, I think is far dumber than the questions raised by FallenAngel.

      Wait, I’ve seen this before. I will be replied with “the argument is in the comment itself”. Well, that is what every loser I’ve met has told me.

        1. “please read all my comments…” I knew it. I always get this.

          Ok, fine. I’ll do that.

          But thank you for taking time to elaborate your opinion. I’ll come back before the day ends here in Manila.

  5. And maybe I would think you were critical if you scrutinized first the issue. Like what is the real situation. Seems like you were also underestimating the other side of the two entities that you were talking about. When actually, the one you underestimate did a lot of work which also represent the country more than the other..hmmmm Actually, I can’t see any problem on the VP’s side regarding this particular case. The reason why I was dumbfounded by your article. Aside from being arrogant, it was also very shallow.

  6. I don’t want to narrate the reasons behind my statement on my previous comment. However, for the sake of argument, let me clarify my point reacted from the authors view:
    1.] This statement summarizes the author’s view:”The issue here is simple: ABS-CBN committed an error against two entities: the UPLB student body and the VP. It should apologize to both aggrieved parties because it is the right thing to do.”
    2.] My reaction is that, why would ABS-CBN have to apologize the VP when:
    a. The title of the ABS-CBN report does not directly point to the VP(It foolishly states that the STUDENTS shouted”trapo” instead of “sample”).
    b. The original issue raised by the students was about RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM where truth is the theme(got nothing to do with the VP).
    c. The apology of ABS-CBN towards the incident will automatically disregard what it says–TRAPO(The media is lying and the VP got nothing to worry then).
    d. What they used–TRAPO in the report was just the same label as others would tell him when he did not show up in the senate(Doesn’t make any difference at all).

    Simple logic eh?

    1. And the title of FallenAngel’s article is “Shouldn’t ABS-CBN apologize to Jejomar Binay as well?” That in mind, read the article again and perhaps you’ll see the author’s point.

    2. Three comments from you, and You.Still.Do.Not.Get.It.

      a) Because the VP is part of that event, which is part of what ABS-CBN covered, then any mistake ABS-CBN makes in its reportage will, by association, has an effect on him, too. You don’t need to think too hard to realize that.

      b) But the issue I am tackling in my article is not the complaint of the UP students. It is about the so-called apology of ABS-CBN, or lack of it.

      c) So you’re saying that because ABS-CBN apologized, even to just one of the entities affected, ok na? But the VP, by being part of that event, is part of the entities affected by their “unintentional mistake”! But why apologize to the UP students, but not him, when the ABS-CBN mistake has an effect on him as well? Unless you’re ok with bina-balewala at binabastos ang VP? Shows what kind of bias you have. Tsk tsk.

      d) Just because others use Trapo on the VP, does it make it right?

      Did you really read the article, or do you just like missing the point on purpose?

      It’s simple, really, but not for the small minded.

  7. This is your false sense of freedom of the press, which the yellows keep harping on. This is exactly one of the reason why they were shut down during Martial Law.

  8. The journalism of ABS-CBN and its subsidiary media companies are predominantly paltry and worthless. Its pretensions are enormous, but its achievements are insignificant.

  9. “a) Because the VP is part of that event, which is part of what ABS-CBN covered, then any mistake ABS-CBN makes in its reportage will, by association, has an effect on him, too. You don’t need to think too hard to realize that.”—–really??haha can’t believe your conclusion.What a total fallacy. LOL.
    Consider this statement: Rodel shouted “trying-hard-narrow-minded” to FallenAngel before his speech on the GRP post.
    Given Rodel as UPLB students and FallenAngel as Binay; Would FallenAngel be affected by the headline when he was in that particular event and he knew that Rodel was shouting “sample”?
    It was clear that the subject of the statement from the reporter was Rodel(UPLB) and it doesn’t concern on the direct object of the sentence because FallenAngel(VP) was just mentioned as part of the sentence.
    I have no idea where you get your common sense and logic.haha
    Besides, if you have that two things in terms of politics, I know I don’t have to elaborate more for us to meet at the center.

  10. “b) But the issue I am tackling in my article is not the complaint of the UP students. It is about the so-called apology of ABS-CBN, or lack of it.”
    I just can’t believe this rebuttal again.. wew! It’s like saying a kid, hey! don’t study history, we ain’t part of it now, we are in the contemporary times. Okay!. I can’t believe why I’m wasting my time here. haha We all know that ABS-CBN had already apologized, what more? To your alleged 2nd aggrieved party? whatta,,it’s just your imagination that illogically concluded it. I have said enough about it on my previous comments. WEW!

  11. “c) So you’re saying that because ABS-CBN apologized, even to just one of the entities affected, ok na? But the VP, by being part of that event, is part of the entities affected by their “unintentional mistake”! But why apologize to the UP students, but not him, when the ABS-CBN mistake has an effect on him as well? Unless you’re ok with bina-balewala at binabastos ang VP? Shows what kind of bias you have. Tsk tsk.”
    Rhetorical again. duh… like saying “being part of it” as the one really accused? I suggest you should study law so that you may have the right to talk all those stuffs in your article..

  12. “d) Just because others use Trapo on the VP, does it make it right?”——-
    –I never said that, you should read my sentence again and ponder my point.

    “Did you really read the article, or do you just like missing the point on purpose?”—
    —-Seems like I am more entitled to tell you this. 🙂

    “It’s simple, really, but not for the small minded.”——
    ———okay,, not for small minded who thinks otherwise.. haha 😀

    Summing up, you’re article is a total mess. It lacks cohesion,unity, and direction towards the subject/the main topic.

  13. The error in ABS-CBN’s sloppy reporting is in being subject to their own cognitive bias which resulted in their assuming that the UPLB crowd were chanting “trapo”. That assumption, was based on a pre-conception of the Vice President’s character.

    As such, ABS-CBN should apologise to the Vice President not for harbouring that pre-conception but in allowing it to make its way into their so-called journalism.

    It’s simple, really — not to say, however, that small minds grasp the simple instances of elegant brilliance.

    1. I know, right! But if you are on the ABS-CBN’s side? Would you apologize to the VP? Knowing that it is your real intention? –Now, Is that a correct application of common sense by which the author wanted to say?
      It’s to their discretion and I have no concern on it though. My point is, UPLB deserves the apology that the said media has given to them–honest or not.

      I guess there exist a confusion here between positive and normative occurrence. I get your point and much has been said.

      I have much respect on this site though but regarding this particular article, it’s a null.

    2. @rodel, yes I would apologise. I believe I made that point in the comment above to which you responded to. Or are you one of those types that need to have things repeated to them more than twice?

  14. Now, I want to accept your challenge. Let us break down every sentence and/or paragraph of your article. Let’s see if each of them hold some water.

    Paragraph 1:
    “Common sense should dictate that the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) student body was not the only aggrieved party. They weren’t the one who was “mistakenly” reported as being shouted at with trapo. Vice President Jejomar Binay, the one invited to the forum, was.”
    In this paragraph, you concluded that “the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) student body was not the only aggrieved party” based on the premise of common sense? wow! So you’re thinking that the media involved and those people who think otherwise have no common sense at all? I wish you can answer a logic by basing the conclusion on “common sense” per se and not on postulates which you should have laid before the inference such that it may sound convincing and logical.
    “They weren’t the one who was “mistakenly” reported as being shouted at with trapo”—- duh, I have dealt with this a thousand times in my other comments. Maybe you don’t realize which/who is/are the subject of the statement on the report that you were talking of.
    “Then again, common sense is not so common in the Philippines.”—- Wow, here we go with that arrogant, self-proclaimed common sense. And what kind of common sense was it again? Ah, the one you used to conclude. What a shame!

    Paragraph 2:
    “The question that people should be asking next is this: did ABS-CBN apologize because they truly regret what they did, or is it just because they got caught?”
    -Your point here was just the same with the UPLB students but I wonder why your tone in the article sounds like the former doesn’t deserve the ABS-CBN’s apology. Ain’t it weird? haha
    Anyways, it doesn’t matter much, at least they apologized. hmmmmmm…

    As much as I wanted to debunk the arrogance of your every paragraph, I only have few minutes to spare and I apologize for that. Ain’t nobody got all day for this piece of shit.. 🙂

    1. Therein the above comment lies the reason you fail to see the point — because you are evaluating the dots piecemeal rather than connecting them to create the bigger more coherent picture. This is not Twitter. It’s an article.

      1. ahuh, you think so? Then tell me what is the whole picture please?
        Actually, I just don’t like the attitude of the writer in this matter because he thinks he has the monopoly of knowledge when in fact, his writings was poorly made of wrong assumptions. And he should rather stick to honest, non-hypocritical view.

      2. @rodel, I already mentioned it in an earlier comment. Here it is again for your reading pleasure:

        ABS-CBN should apologise to the Vice President not for harbouring that pre-conception but in allowing it to make its way into their so-called journalism.

        You may count the above as another item in that growing list of points you’ve so far missed.

        And if you don’t want to be treated like a little boy here, act a bit more like a big one by not letting how you feel about the “attitude” of a writer colour your comment. It just makes you sound like a 2-year-old in the middle of a quaint tantrum.

  15. Maybe you’re right that Abs should apologize to all parties. But the question is, who cares?!

    Don’t be such a cry baby. Apologizing won’t change a thing. Ang trapo ay trapo, kahagawan nya yun. Any apology from Abs won’t change Binay’s image. So to this rant = insignificant, unless you’re a cry baby Binay supporter.

  16. ABS-CBN should have apologized to everybody not just the UP students. They supplied us with wrong information. Lahat tayo ay umaasa sa media para maging tulay natin sa mga kaganapang hindi natin napupuntahan. And they lied to us in a way. Pero sa akin lang naman yun.

    Malamang hindi humingi ng public apology si Binay kasi sa tingin ng PR nya mas lalo syang magmumukang trapo.

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