It came pleasant to hear the president declare his acceptance of the apology that ABS-CBN expressed through its Chief Executive Officer Carlo Katigbak. The pronouncement was in response to the meek and humble statement offered by Katigbak during the senate hearing on the renewal of franchise by the media network. The humility of the statement drew positive reactions from the public despite some adverse comments from some sectors. The possibility of good communication between the president and the network came to light with the acceptance of wrong that may have caused the ire of the president.
Indeed, it is difficult to avoid conflict with both parties in animosity. The communication gap grew wider while the parties kept talking in different venues before different audiences. The talks reach each party differently as the message was distorted by various interest from both camps. Drawing near the expiration of the franchise, dark scenarios hovered many people who are affected by the resultant effect of the network’s closure. Fear of the workers losing their gainful employment was a primary concern as their families would suffer the economic consequences.
Another concern was on the aspect of press freedom should the network be closed. The deprivation of information is deemed an attack on the a democratic institution that is protected by the constitution. With the prospect of non-renewal of the franchise, the network is confronted with the risk of operating without the required franchise. So much confusion was lurking in the minds of the people who are at the receiving end of whatever outcome the conflict may end with.
When both parties opened their positions to acceptance of each other’s interest, the public saw a light at the end of a dark tunnel. This development paves the way towards a peaceful solution notwithstanding the pending action of the solicitor general and the lower house of congress.Somehow, the people saw an avenue to peace.
comments to alellema@yahoo.com

We recently marked the 34th Anniversary of the People Power revolt. A Filipino people celebrated the legacy of the country’s bloodless revolution that led to the restoration of democracy in our country.
After 34 years, we continue to face challenges because there are attempts to destroy the essence of the revolution. May the EDSA revolt serve as a warning to those who attempt to suppress our freedom with an iron first. The bloodless revolution is proof that Filipinos can stop abuses and corruption in our country.
It is very important to remind all of us to reject abuses and dictatorship. We have proven that Filipinos can work together and oppose abuses and dictatorship. It is important to reminisce about the lessons we have learned from the EDSA people power.
We have to learn from the lessons of people power and acknowledge that in the end, the strongest equalizer against abuses and tyranny are the people who act and stand up.
More than 3 decades since the EDSA revolt, our continuing duty is to remember. It is in remembering that we protect our country against all forms of human rights violations arising from authoritarian power.
We therefore honor the valiant heroes of EDSA and the countless others whose lives were touched by the bloodless uprising.
EDSA People Power was a catalyst for the restoration of our democratic institutions. The People Power Revolution remains one of the most remarkable events in our nation’s history. We have to defend and preserve the freedom we gained during the 1st EDSA People Power.
We pray that the legacy of EDSA will remain relevant in the years ahead.

Politicians supposed to be could be left alone to do their own thing, minding their own business, leaving us undisturbed. But no, they reach out to us, the common people, for support and all. That’s the nature of their jobs, especially in democratic states with elections as a means to catapult them to power.
But the people, too, tend to run after them for upward mobility, for jobs, for money, for connections, for power, for influence, and many more. Even if politicians are just staying put in their comfort zones, people keep flocking to their doors for various reasons, hence the building of politician-people relationship that may, if things go right, turn out to be good. But if things turn for the worse, then the outcomes may do harm than good.
You see, too much politicking doubtless harms our country. But there are times when it does something good, and that’s when it brings to the open some politicians’ secrets that, given a good relationship between political rivals, would never be disclosed and would thus remain unresolved.
Our kind of politics cannot therefore be deemed negative all the time, though we have been critical in characterizing the kind of politics that we have. Think of how irregularities would perpetuate if not brought to public attention. Imagine if nothing but darkness engulfs our systems. Configure how much corruption would deepen and proliferate if it remains unchecked.
But who can expose the anomalies best? Is it the media? Well, partly, yes. But the media is only good at documenting what have been exposed. Normally, the most in-depth disclosures are done by those who are driven by the motive to uncover evil practices, in the guise of heroism, albeit designed for political demolition purposes. Here, evil schemes and true colors of people really surface.
As we approach the time when the electorate has to be won to one’s side once again, such probes are getting numerous. Genius politicians have mastered this as an effective tool to undermine their opponents and, at the same time, to win the people’s support. It may be politics at its dirtiest tactic, of course, but it somehow uncovers anomalous activities that people should be vigilant against.
Fortunately, all this aid the people in choosing their leaders. They may not be able to select the perfect ones, but with the information they get from these ruinous revelations, they are likely to find the lesser evil.
That’s what we are for the most part—left with no options but to choose the lesser evil. It may be too simplistic, but it’s the practical thing to do. Why, then, should we opt for something that has been repeatedly proven to be unreliable through time? That would be a risky adventurism, gambling our future for something dangerous.