Tag: rappler

Who are behind DMT Ice Angels who own 17 percent of Rappler?

January 15, 2013 benign0 19 Comments

Indeed, it’s been one of Philippine Media’s greatest non-mysteries: the question of who owns “social news network” (pa)hipster news site Rappler.com. According to Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, all the answers to that question are in their sanitised About page which features a list of its illustrious Board members. But ever since a quick-and-dirty exposÃ© (actually,…

Media, Politics, Tech Talk

Where was Philippine Congressman Manny Pacquiao when Typhoon Pablo devastated Mindanao?

December 12, 2012 benign0 40 Comments

The other day I came across what I thought was a pretty poignant tweet coming from one of the humour Tweetizens I follow. It went something like this: Our boys in helmets who fight our battles halfway around the world should be paid more than the boys in helmets who pass around a ball in…

Culture, Environment, Media

Can social media ‘activism’ force Tito Sotto to apologise to Kerry Kennedy and Sarah Pope?

November 13, 2012 benign0 36 Comments

It seems to be becoming a showdown between the much-vaunted “power” of social media “activism” and the traditional institutional power of a Senator of the Republic. The most recent news report on the brouhaha over allegations of plagiarism being directed against Philippine Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III screamed “Netizens refuse to let Sotto off the…

Culture, Media, Politics

The cybercrime of libel and why Maria Ressa may have compromised the mission of Rappler dot com

October 3, 2012January 22, 2018 benign0 2 Comments

As the debate over the prospect of the continued efficacy, eventual repeal, or possible amendment of the recently-enacted Republic Act 10175 (a.k.a. the Philippine Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012) lights up the Philippine social media “activism” scene, there remains the elephant in the room highlighted by blogger Jaime Oscar Salazar who goes by the handle…

Civics, Crime, Media

PNoy’s call for a re-writing of Philippine history: Will it change the future for Filipinos?

September 23, 2012September 23, 2012 benign0 33 Comments

According to Philippine President Benigno Simeon “BS” Aquino III, history taught in Philippine schools should consist only of “truthful information” and not “the web of lies spun by propagandists and revisionists.” This is what he makes the underlying principle in his latest project — to rewrite Filipino history books according to what he thinks actually…

Development, Education, Politics

Filipino sentiments mixed over Manny Pangilinan’s threat to quit the Philippines

September 23, 2012September 23, 2012 benign0 44 Comments

Following a threat from tycoon Manny Pangilinan to leave the Philippines and take with him his money, House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II has warned that the Philippines may be in for a crisis of confidence, presumably if this sort of thing becomes a trend… The House majority leader warned Pangilinanâ€™s move would become â€œa…

Development, Economy, Money Talks

Rappler.com in bed with SMART in social media promo

September 19, 2012August 7, 2013 benign0 5 Comments

What exactly is the mission of “social news network” organisation Rappler.com? Is it to inform the public? Or is it to make news? I read about the most recent event it organised at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) campus, “the 7th leg of its “Social Media for Social Change Chat Series” today”,…

Education, Media, Money Talks

Three online writers who may be most at risk of being sued for libel

September 18, 2012July 5, 2017 benign0 71 Comments

Now that Republic Act 10175, also known as the Philippine Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, has been enacted to law, the question in most people’s minds now is “Who is gonna be sued first?” Here are three of them (or rather three classes of them) that immediately come to mind. * * * (1) The…

Crime, Media