No to showing of De Lima video

What a pity that Sen. Leila de Lima is being crucified by some members of the House of Congress by insisting that the alleged video showing her performing the sexual act with her former driver and lover be open to the public. Party List Representative Emmi de Jesus in her interview with Karen Davila, as well as a group of women in media have expressed their objection to the showing of the video, saying that it degrades women.

Television footages have shown the feisty former Secretary of Justice fuming, then breaking into tears, at her obvious harassment by the present Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre at the congressional hearings investigating drug-related killings. As news reports have it, she has infuriated President Rodrigo Duterte with her charge of his condoning numerous killings when he was still major of Davao city. She has been hard put to produce evidences of such killings, prompting Secretary Aguirre to tell her to shut her mouth, and threatening the showing of her sex video.

The prosecutors have yet to convince the public that the video would show that de Lima’s “adulterous” liaison contributed to her campaign kitty during the last senatorial election. Observers, some of whom agree that the President is right in ridding the country of destructive moral forces, do not, however, favor lambasting de Lima’s personal moral values. After all, a good many persons in high and low government positions have mistresses and beget children even while in incarceration –and much of Philippine society and the church have not put them under condemnation.

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Marvic Leonen has joined the chorus against the reported plan to make public the video in question. In his tweeters, he cited Republic Act 9995 or Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009” with the hashtags “everywoman,” “everyman”and “everyone.” The hash tag ”everywoman” as netizens expressed their objection to the House plan. Leonen, former dean of the University of the Philippines College of Law, also quoted a provision of the 1987 Constitution. Article 2 says “The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights.”

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The University of the Philippines-Los Baños is celebrating its 98th UPLB Loyalty Day and Alumni Homecoming with various activities. The celebration has already begun October 1st, with colleges sponsoring a Fa-Meal-Y Day, followed by a research forum, a flower and garden show, and a mini trade fair.

On October 8, there will be a “prelude” to Loyalty Day with all alumni meeting for a reunion at the Barradas Airstrip in Tanauan, Batangas. On October 9, there will be the grand alumni reunion, family fun and sports activities, a dog show, and music at the Park and outdoor movies. There will be a Loyalty Day parade and a luncheon salu-salo on October 10.

The steering committee is made up of Dr. Fernando C. Sanchez Jr., UPLB chancellor; Leo R. Ballesfin, UPLBAA president; Andrew O. Nocon, Class ’66, over-all chair, and Dr. Sue Liza C. Saguiguit, director, office of alumni relations, co-over-all-chair.

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A coffee table book, Grassroots Journalism: Early History of the Silliman College of Mass Communication, was launched recently in Silliman University, Dumaguete city on the occasion of the golden jubilee of the first journalism school outside Metro Manila.

This 32nd book authored/edited by Dr. Crispin C. Maslog, first permanent director of the school/now College of Mass Communication, and published by Silliman University, documents the history of the college founded in 1967. Dr. Maslog is now chair of the Board, Asian Media Information Centre (AMIC), a regional organization of media institutions.

The foreword is written by Dr. Florangel R. Braid, president emeritus of Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication. This 261-page book printed in high grade glossy paper is hard bound and contains hundreds of rare photos from the early years of the school. The book is being sold to alumni, faculty and students of the College of Mass Communication primarily, but will also interest journalists and mass communication schools in the Philippines.

All proceeds from sales of the book will be donated to a Trust Fund for scholarships for Silliman mass communication students, and for faculty research and professorial lectures. The book has the following chapters: 1. In the Beginning the Word Was To Fight Communism, 2. Building a School of Journalism Outside Metro Manila, 3. Martial Law Years: Bumps on the Road, 4. Beyond Martial Law – Innovations in Communication Education, 5. By Its Fruits a Tree is Known: The Lives of 73 Alumni.

Its appendices include a directory of college alumni from 1967 to 2015, a list of the college’s honor students, a list of editors of The Weekly Sillimanian and Portal, and the number of students enrolled through the years. The book sells at an introductory price of P1,200 in the Philippines and $100 abroad (inclusive of mailing costs). It is available at the College of Mass Communication, Emilio T. Yap Hall, and the Office of Information and Publications, Leopoldo T. Ruiz Bldg., Silliman University, Dumaguete City. For inquiries, email: [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected].

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Email: [email protected]