We beg to differ.
Ancient astrologers used to look to the heavens, check an elaborate diagram, then “interpret” the positions of various heavenly bodies to come up with “insights” on society and life. This ancient and unscientific form of correlation was convincing enough to influence the decisions and rulings of powerful monarchs. To this day, in 21st Century Philippines,…
Read More “Filipino ‘journalists’ have become modern-day astrologers” »
Something very disturbing occurred at the recent Senate hearing into the spread of fake news on the Net. First off, Senator Bam Aquino couldn’t hide his anger towards two pro-Duterte bloggers — Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson and RJ Nieto a.k.a. “Thinking Pinoy”. During the hearing, Aquino kept berating and questioning their credibility. He was…
Another non-surprise today. Cocoy Dayao, the man seemingly at the centre of a vast network of anti-government websites and blogs was a no-show at today’s Senate inquiry into “fake news”. Instead of Dayao, it was Malacanang bloggers RJ “Thinking Pinoy” Nieto and Assistant Secretary for Communications Mocha Uson who had to stand under the harsh…
Across the political spectrum, Filipinos still completely miss the point of social media and the so-called “free market of ideas” it represents. The latest project of Malacanang allowing “bloggers with a following of more than 5,000 to cover presidential events” is attracting a lot of questions. Unfortunately, true to form, all the questions being asked…
You know why “activists” in the Opposition camp are not going anywhere nowadays? It’s because they keep whining about “fake news”. Fake news this, fake news that. To them, all the Philippines’ problems of today can be summarised in two words: (1) “fake” and (2) “news”. This is a disturbing developing trend. It highlights an…
Read More “My timeline is filled with Fake News Crybabies!” »
The brouhaha around Malacanang Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson now having “editors” for her blog raises questions around the whole point of “social media management”. It becomes an issue of authenticity. Mocha Uson has more than 5 million followers most of whom were amassed during her time as an erotic blogger and performing artist. During the…
Read More “Mocha Uson has become part of ‘edited’ mainstream media” »
It is quite rich that the venerable Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) would so pompously issue a list of Websites Carrying False or Unverified Contents [sic]. This is coming from a clique of renowned Filipino “thought leaders” who endorse medieval ideas like creationism and, as a matter of policy, apply only circular logic…
Read More “Why the CBCP is not a credible judge of who or what is “fake” or authentic” »
People who keep shrieking about “fake news” are overdoing it. They are now starting to come across like The Boy Who Cried Wolf. The tale of The Boy Who Cries Wolf concerns a shepherd boy who repeatedly tricks nearby villagers into thinking wolves are attacking his flock. When a wolf actually does appear and the…
Read More “People shrieking about ‘fake news’ are starting to sound like The Boy Who Cried Wolf” »