Two homecomings
Two homecomings
Updated 05:09am (Mla time) Nov 28, 2004
By Rina Jimenez-David
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A15 of the November 28, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
THE SUBDUED public reaction and how the media "behaved" this time around made a striking difference between the homecomings of Angelito Nayan and Angelo de la Cruz.
Of course, De la Cruz enjoyed the "distinction" of being the first Filipino to be held hostage abroad by Islamic militants; so the interest, concern and apprehension over his fate were naturally that much more intense and emotional. But Nayan was just the second, and however jaded we Filipinos may have become to disasters abroad involving our countryfolk, I don't think we could lose our sense of empathy so quickly. Besides, there is still poor Roberto Tarongoy being held in Iraq, and people are just as concerned about his fate.
No, I don't think it was simply a matter of "billing" that would explain why there was no fevered elbowing among press photographers and mob scenes at the airport when Nayan deplaned. Neither was there a wild exchange of accusations of thievery and libel suits between the two broadcast giants. And the reason for this was not because the media didn't care about one more Pinoy hostage successfully sprung from his captors. They did care, but they weren't allowed to run rampage in their coverage.
We need only to look back to the fevered and unruly welcome that De la Cruz received, and to the "saturation" media coverage inflicted on his family and his neighborhood during his ordeal. In contrast, Nayan's family and neighbors were allowed to keep vigil in peace and quiet, their privacy respected, even to the day of his arrival when he read a prepared statement and then refused to entertain any more questions from a curious media.
It took government intervention, in the persons of two women Cabinet members -- Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas and Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman -- before De la Cruz's besieged wife, father and children could find sanctuary from the glare of media scrutiny. And even then, the President was assailed for keeping the De la Cruzes away from the public eye, and for ordering a clamp down on information regarding the very delicate negotiations for Angelo de la Cruz's release.
* * *
IN NAYAN'S case, his family and neighbors in the Las Piñas subdivision took it upon themselves to impose their own news "blackout." His family appointed a spokesperson -- a sister of his if I remember right -- who exclusively dealt with the media, sparing Angelito's parents. His neighbors by and large kept quiet, though the intrepid TV crews managed to get video interviews with a few, who kept to general platitudes about the hostaged diplomat.
Having been sent to Afghanistan by the United Nations, Nayan was, of course, sheltered by UN security and protocol upon his release. But he also seemed quite prepared to deal with the scrutiny. When a Channel 7 reporter, with Nayan on the same flight from Dubai to Manila, approached him for a sneak interview, the young diplomat begged off, saying quite pleasantly that he wanted to concentrate on writing his arrival speech. Now that's a diplomat for you.
On hindsight, there was no way De la Cruz, his family or his neighbors could have prepared themselves for the onslaught of the media, and the sudden attention of local and national officials, which followed in the wake of his kidnapping. But there is also the socio-economic factor. Being poor and powerless, there was no way the barangay folk could have known how to deal with the demands of the media on their own terms. They might not even have been aware that they had the right to refuse to entertain the prying reporters.
* * *
IN CONTRAST, it's pretty obvious the Nayans were prepared to deal with the situation. Perhaps, they had already learned from the experience of De la Cruz and his family. Certainly, Nayan's status as a diplomat may have given them access to advice and pointers on how to preserve their privacy and dignity. And, given their level of educational attainment and economic security, they had enough self-confidence to turn away unwanted media attention, and to resist the siren call of short-term celebrity. I hope Nayan and his family don't prove me wrong.
Which just goes to show that the media are not that formidable a force. You can say no to reporters and to people in my profession, even if they train blinding spotlights on your face. Of course, being a journalist and thus dependent on the goodwill of others and their willingness to give me the time of day, I should hope that not too many people would be as savvy as Nayan and his family in dealing with our constant questions and probing interest.
But I can't help but cheer for them. There is something to be said at seeing your colleagues toe the line, giving a person who's just gone through a most harrowing experience the space and privacy to recover and regain his bearing, and respecting the preference of his family and community to keep their worries to themselves.
* * *
IT was really heartening to hear Nayan remind his country and the rest of the world of the continuing plight of Tarongoy, who remains a captive in Iraq.
Perhaps, it's not too late for the local media to turn their white-hot attention once more to Tarongoy and his worried family. Given that he is the sole remaining Pinoy hostage in a foreign land, Tarongoy and the family he left behind will have to brace themselves for the rapacious coverage of a media hungry for the next big story.
Even as we pray for Tarongoy's imminent release, let's also pray that he and his family survive the renewed media attention.
Updated 05:09am (Mla time) Nov 28, 2004
By Rina Jimenez-David
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A15 of the November 28, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
THE SUBDUED public reaction and how the media "behaved" this time around made a striking difference between the homecomings of Angelito Nayan and Angelo de la Cruz.
Of course, De la Cruz enjoyed the "distinction" of being the first Filipino to be held hostage abroad by Islamic militants; so the interest, concern and apprehension over his fate were naturally that much more intense and emotional. But Nayan was just the second, and however jaded we Filipinos may have become to disasters abroad involving our countryfolk, I don't think we could lose our sense of empathy so quickly. Besides, there is still poor Roberto Tarongoy being held in Iraq, and people are just as concerned about his fate.
No, I don't think it was simply a matter of "billing" that would explain why there was no fevered elbowing among press photographers and mob scenes at the airport when Nayan deplaned. Neither was there a wild exchange of accusations of thievery and libel suits between the two broadcast giants. And the reason for this was not because the media didn't care about one more Pinoy hostage successfully sprung from his captors. They did care, but they weren't allowed to run rampage in their coverage.
We need only to look back to the fevered and unruly welcome that De la Cruz received, and to the "saturation" media coverage inflicted on his family and his neighborhood during his ordeal. In contrast, Nayan's family and neighbors were allowed to keep vigil in peace and quiet, their privacy respected, even to the day of his arrival when he read a prepared statement and then refused to entertain any more questions from a curious media.
It took government intervention, in the persons of two women Cabinet members -- Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas and Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman -- before De la Cruz's besieged wife, father and children could find sanctuary from the glare of media scrutiny. And even then, the President was assailed for keeping the De la Cruzes away from the public eye, and for ordering a clamp down on information regarding the very delicate negotiations for Angelo de la Cruz's release.
* * *
IN NAYAN'S case, his family and neighbors in the Las Piñas subdivision took it upon themselves to impose their own news "blackout." His family appointed a spokesperson -- a sister of his if I remember right -- who exclusively dealt with the media, sparing Angelito's parents. His neighbors by and large kept quiet, though the intrepid TV crews managed to get video interviews with a few, who kept to general platitudes about the hostaged diplomat.
Having been sent to Afghanistan by the United Nations, Nayan was, of course, sheltered by UN security and protocol upon his release. But he also seemed quite prepared to deal with the scrutiny. When a Channel 7 reporter, with Nayan on the same flight from Dubai to Manila, approached him for a sneak interview, the young diplomat begged off, saying quite pleasantly that he wanted to concentrate on writing his arrival speech. Now that's a diplomat for you.
On hindsight, there was no way De la Cruz, his family or his neighbors could have prepared themselves for the onslaught of the media, and the sudden attention of local and national officials, which followed in the wake of his kidnapping. But there is also the socio-economic factor. Being poor and powerless, there was no way the barangay folk could have known how to deal with the demands of the media on their own terms. They might not even have been aware that they had the right to refuse to entertain the prying reporters.
* * *
IN CONTRAST, it's pretty obvious the Nayans were prepared to deal with the situation. Perhaps, they had already learned from the experience of De la Cruz and his family. Certainly, Nayan's status as a diplomat may have given them access to advice and pointers on how to preserve their privacy and dignity. And, given their level of educational attainment and economic security, they had enough self-confidence to turn away unwanted media attention, and to resist the siren call of short-term celebrity. I hope Nayan and his family don't prove me wrong.
Which just goes to show that the media are not that formidable a force. You can say no to reporters and to people in my profession, even if they train blinding spotlights on your face. Of course, being a journalist and thus dependent on the goodwill of others and their willingness to give me the time of day, I should hope that not too many people would be as savvy as Nayan and his family in dealing with our constant questions and probing interest.
But I can't help but cheer for them. There is something to be said at seeing your colleagues toe the line, giving a person who's just gone through a most harrowing experience the space and privacy to recover and regain his bearing, and respecting the preference of his family and community to keep their worries to themselves.
* * *
IT was really heartening to hear Nayan remind his country and the rest of the world of the continuing plight of Tarongoy, who remains a captive in Iraq.
Perhaps, it's not too late for the local media to turn their white-hot attention once more to Tarongoy and his worried family. Given that he is the sole remaining Pinoy hostage in a foreign land, Tarongoy and the family he left behind will have to brace themselves for the rapacious coverage of a media hungry for the next big story.
Even as we pray for Tarongoy's imminent release, let's also pray that he and his family survive the renewed media attention.
posted by Dante at 5:09 AM
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