Hello there!
Ramadan has begun this week, and Philippine volleyball is at its exposure peak! Please remember One Sports (TV5), who are currently overwhelmed. And, GMA, what's the deal with the NCAA delay? We had grown impatient with their antics of AI sportscasters and noontime show-style gimmickry during the basketball tournament the previous semester. How lazy are they?
📝 Deliverables
🥧 Happy Pi Day, math enthusiasts! Let's look at the mathematical complexities of running a television network and how to use basic arithmetic to spice up specific shows.
🗳️ March's Monthly Sundry Survey is live! We've got four juicy topics, covering everything from the volleyball craze to the impending Holy Week.
News from the Past Week
National & Diaspora
🐊 DENR Alarmed By 82% Drop In Phl Crocodile Population | One News
🛳️ Filipino cruise ship employee is nabbed in Florida over hidden cams in bathrooms | GMA News
📹 Ex-senator sues vlogger, Google, YouTube for cyber libel | PNA
Regional
🗣️ Student in Masbate shot dead allegedly for being noisy | GMA News
Violence erupts in Angeles City demolition; 8 wounded, 2 arrested | GMA News
DENR says viral Chocolate Hills resort continued operating without ECC | Rappler
International
🇺🇸 US Elections 2024
State of the Union
Last Thursday night (Friday morning, our time), President Joe Biden began his speech before Congress without waiting for Speaker Mike Johnson to introduce him (which could have been a first). He appeared to be aiming to win over voters in November, highlighting his support for Ukraine, beefing up border security, advocating for an assault weapons ban, and advocating for universal background checks—he covered it all.
Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama delivered the Republican rebuttal, expressing concerns about the nation's future, particularly the opportunities and freedoms of the next generation. However, some people were dissatisfied with her speech, claiming that she twisted the truth about a sex trafficking story, making it appear as if it occurred during Biden's tenure when it occurred during Bush's (Dubya). Furthermore, delivering the speech from her kitchen elicited some raised eyebrows and eye rolls, with some believing it was inappropriate. With that, Scarlett Johansson (Colin Jost's better half) spoofed her on SNL, displaying the Senator’s "scary mom" style due to her intense delivery.
🇵🇹 Global Election Watch
Portugal voted last Sunday. With 99% of the votes counted, the Socialist Party (PS) and the center-right Democratic Alliance (AD) were tied at 28.7% each. Chega, the far-right party, also experienced an increase in support, reaching approximately 18.1%. Voter turnout was higher this time than in the previous election in 2022, with major issues such as the housing crisis, low wages, healthcare, and corruption dominating the campaign.
The spotlight now shifts to Russia. (Seriously?)
Other International News
Sports
OLYMPICS
🛑 UFC 299
Bantamweight: Sean O'Malley successfully defended his title by defeating Marlon Vera by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-44)
Lightweight: Dustin Poirier bounced back with a stunning knockout victory over Benoit Saint-Denis
Entertainment
71st Miss World
Philippine bet Gwendolyne Fourniol failed to make the first cut (Top 40). Krystyna Pyszková from the Czech Republic was crowned as the new Miss World.
Meanwhile, Miss World 2013 Megan Young apologized after receiving backlash for fixing Miss Botswana's hair.
Oscars
Highlights (Harper Bazaar):
Best Picture: "Oppenheimer" with Charles Oppenheimer receiving seven Oscars that night, including Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Film Editing, Cinematography, Original Score, Actor in a Leading Role, Directing, and Best Picture
Best Actor: Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer)
Best Moments
To present the Best Costume Design award, John Cena humorously walked onstage naked, save for a pair of Birkenstocks.
During their presentation proper, Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling had a playful argument about "Barbenheimer".
Other Entertainment
OBITUARIES:
Media
Former Fox and News Corp Chairman Rupert Murdoch, 92, is engaged for the sixth time | NBC News
Will GMA Network tap Michael V for a noon show vs Vice Ganda and TVJ? | Rappler
Talk TV (of UK) to close down their television channel, to go online only | The Guardian (UK)
Technology
🤖 What Can The Wonka Experience Teach Us About Customer Experience? | CX Today
🖼️🤖 News agencies recall the image of Catherine, Princess of Wales, citing manipulation concerns | CNN
Lifestyle
🤵🏼👰🏼 Genshin Impact-themed wedding in Iloilo | GMA News
📕 Filbar's Closing?! How Fans Reacted to the Surprise Announcement | Spot.ph
📕 On his vlog, the President and the First Lady give their eldest son on his 30th birthday a book called “Sex for Lazy People”
Insights
Within Substack
Outside Substack
📺📉 TV ads decline, influencer marketing rises: Why it’s harder now for TV shows to make money | Rappler
🛡️ Kalaban mo ang mga senador na protektor ni Quiboloy | Rappler
📺 Timow’s Weekly Editorial: Spectacle and cacophony
Last Saturday (March 9), former Senator Kiko Pangilinan and incumbent Senator Imee Marcos seized airtime on One PH, a Manny V. Pangilinan-owned channel that is no longer available on digital free-to-air TV and is restricted to Cignal subscribers and Cignal Play users. Their decision, while technically legal, reveals a lot about the state of our democracy and the risks of traditional media in the post-ABS-CBN era.
Let us dissect the situation. Pangilinan, who unsuccessfully ran for Vice President in 2022, has filed a cyber libel lawsuit against vloggers and content creators on YouTube who have disparaged him and his family. Now he plans to return to the Senate. Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos, the current President's elder sister, is embroiled in a controversy after defending Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy alongside three or four other colleagues. Both are considering a political comeback, with One PH serving as a launch pad for their 2025 Senate campaign.
But why the rush? It's over a year until the polls, but they're already vying for attention. This premature campaigning highlights the Philippines' flawed electoral system, in which national senatorial elections frequently yield skewed results. Recent polls have placed Marcos in the Magic 12, giving her an advantage. However, this advantage has a negative connotation, highlighting flaws in our political landscape.
The timing of their appearance on One PH could not be more fitting. It focuses on traditional media's struggles in a post-ABS-CBN world. The closure of ABS-CBN's free TV broadcast operations almost four years ago — and the subsequent cacophony of their remaining competitors — has resulted in fewer opportunities for diverse voices in mainstream media. One PH, once a haven for alternative viewpoints and a haven for former journalists and personalities from the South Triangle from the reverberating chaos, now features political figures maneuvering for their gain. This is a far cry from the media landscape we once knew, and it raises concerns.
However, don't forget the consequences of their actions. Pangilinan and Marcos are capitalizing on the few opportunities that exist, using traditional media — now in desperation mode — to support their campaigns. Pangilinan supporters call it a strategy, whereas Marcos sees it as a clever opportunity. While not illegal, this maneuver raises moral concerns; however, a chunk of the public is exhausted and unconcerned after the trauma of the recent contest. It contributes to an endless vicious circle of political opportunism in which media attention outweighs substantive policy debates. It's no surprise that some passionate netizens have repeatedly advocated for constitutional reform.
Furthermore, their appearances raise questions about potential conflicts of interest. Manny V. Pangilinan's ownership of the channel exacerbates an already tumultuous situation; he now plays second fiddle to Gozon, Duavit, and Associates outside sports. Is this an example of media manipulation or simply a strategic business decision? Regardless of intent, the optics are not good.
Amid this political drama, the Filipino people deserve better. We deserve leaders who put transparency and accountability above self-promotion. We deserve a media environment that encourages critical thinking and diverse viewpoints. Above all, we deserve an electoral and political system that accurately reflects the will of the people, free of manipulation and undue influence.
✋🏼Hey, Before You Go!
📖 A group of Masbate women leads the way to light up illiteracy darkness
🛡️🌐 Last Tuesday, JCI Philippines announced 10 recipients of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Awards.
🗨 Thoughtful Quote
In honor of Pi Day, here’s one of the famous mathematicians’ last words:
"Do not disturb my circles!"
~Archimedes (212 BC), his last words when he was confronted by a Roman soldier during the Siege of Syracuse before being killed
Don’t forget to cash that paycheck and/or transfer that on your e-wallets.
Your Chief Tiller in the humble patch of the cyberspace,
~~ Timow
News of death confirmed the past week; he died last March 1.