If only

ENDING a year and beginning a new one usually elicits fond wishes among us. For me, I think I have many, but for now, I simply wish our media people become more human and Christian in our work. At least, that they—we, I include myself—have a deeper sense of ethics, and that we realize we need continuing formation, just like everybody else.

That might be too blunt to say, but that can actually be applied to everybody else, be he in media or not, and of course, myself included. Our humanity and Christianity are always a work in progress.

I just hope that we can be more serious and specific as to how that transformation, that humanization and Christianization can take place. In this task, I think everyone can and should help, can and should contribute whatever he can.

I was thinking that a more feasible and sustainable program of formation for media people that includes not only the technical aspects but also and more so on the ethical aspect, should be put in place. It’s a pity that with all the advances in technology and the profession, we remain largely puerile in our spiritual and ethical life.

You see, casual and random occasions lately provoked in me some intriguing if disturbing thoughts. While having a haircut the other day, for example, I overheard on TV (the set was at my back and above; I could hear it but not see it) things that made me immediately ask myself: Have we gone this far and this low already?

It was what I later learned to be one of our local reality shows. It was kind of investigative and confrontational in format. And I was shocked by what were exposed by a string of gays who openly said they were into regular sex with a young man who was living-in with a girl.

Lurid, almost pornographic details in foul language were mentioned, all impertinent to any ethical goal the show might be presumed to pursue. The interrogations were gossipy in character, creating a voyeuristic atmosphere, personal privacy violated with impunity. Many in the barber shop dropped our jaws in disbelief.

I could not help but suspect that money must be the reason those characters dared to present themselves and tell their stories there. Most likely, the poverty of people is again exploited to satisfy a big untapped market of misplaced curiosity that many people have, all for the sake of ratings.

Mischievous social observers might dismiss the parties involved as our low-lifers who should just be given their fifteen minutes of fame, since, anyway, that would be unavoidable.

But to me that would be inhuman and unchristian. Everyone is a child of God regardless of his defects and sins, and should be loved and helped. We should try our best not to expose to the public things that are not supposed to be known by others, especially if they are scandalous.

The hostess of the show pressured the poor fellow to admit what were claimed by both the gays and the girl, and even by some neighbours. I found it very disgusting, and wondered if anything can be done to police this kind of shows.

Also, while riding in a taxi recently, I heard over the radio the driver was listening to, some running commentaries of the recent floods in Cebu and the unavoidable references to Typhoon Sendong in Mindanao.

When there was a lull because no new data came in or the information were not clear, the commentators tried to fill up their time by dishing out some trivia, like cows can swim for an hour in the sea, being dragged by a pump boat.

No problem, there. But I was just thinking that with the gravity of the situation, could these media men not come out with more meaningful commentaries? I then realized that, of course, these men are lacking in formation. They could not talk about the spiritual and religious significance of the event.

This is a big challenge, since a lot of bias and prejudice prevent many people, including those in media, to see the importance and relevance of spiritual and religious formation in their work. They get contented with the technical and the professional aspects, not knowing that these need to be animated more deeply in one’s spiritual life.

Of course, things cannot be worse than in the political commentaries where a lot of bullying, insulting, all sorts of non-sequiturs are standard fare.

If only we, media people, get serious with our continuing formation...