Saturday, May 5, 2012

Philippine Senator Tito Sotto slams CNN for negative feature on Philippines, threatens to pull out ad placements

Apparently failing to distinguish between the necessarily favourable content advertisements display in favour of whoever is funding them, and a news report which is in principle derived from direct observation and facts obtained from as reliable sources as can be possibly engaged by reporters, Philippine Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III lashed out at global new channel Cable News Network (CNN) for airing reports on poverty and other "negative" features of the Philippines despite the Philippine government spending millions on ad placements with the network...
“You won’t notice it, but the CNN had an agenda. I will be writing them (CNN) and also the DoT (Department of Tourism). I will tell them. ‘Take what they said back.’ Pull out the ads if they don’t, I will block the DoT budget during budget deliberations,” [Sotto] said.

Sotto said it cannot be helped but to feel that the country has been “stabbed in the back,” considering that the government poured in its resources on the cable news channel to uplift its image, only to be slapped in return by damaging stories on poverty in the country.

“We had to place ads in CNN and then that negative feature comes out? Why didnt CNN feature the fishermen who use their catch to feed their families? Why use the leftover food that is being highlighted? There was a bad intention. The ads should be pulled out of CNN.
Referring to a "special feature" which featured a native Philippine dish called pagpag which consists of ingredients obtained from garbage cans, Sotto lamented the way "negative" news dominates news media features about the Philippines when there are, according to him, lots of nice things to feature about the country instead...
“What they featured was about pagpag. There are 90 million Filipinos. Why didn’t CNN feature Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar who came from the poor but rose to become a billionaire? He was so poor then but then became an entrepreneur who became a billionaire. Why feature something like those scrounging for leftovers? There is an agenda.
Rags-to-riches stories are statistically exceptional with the majority of impoverished Filipinos having been products of generations of similarly poor ancestors.

36 comments:

  1. God, what an idiot. He absolutely does not grasp the concept of news at all.

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  2. The Senator has failed to distinguish what is reality from Cinderella-like stories(I ascknowledge that Sen. Villar worked hard to attain his present status). Poverty is what it is in reality in our beloved country. I am very poor. I'm just lucky to get out of the country to work and live in a foreign land. If not, I might be scrounging my food also in those waste cans or on garbage heaps. I feel so much for our suffering countrymen. The Senator should do something on his wealth- share it with the poor, not disparage them

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    1. This reply is a little late (about a year lol) but in the face of tito sotto's current controversy involving plagiarism and the rh bill, i find it kind of funny that he exhibited this level of disgust for the poor just a year ago, and now he's barring the passage of the rh bill because, he claims, the poor should not be considered burdens. Oh my.

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  3. Tsk, tsk. So small-minded.

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  4. Another onion-skinned politician.

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  5. What would you expect from a Politician who originally was and still is a comedian who came from the Philippine movie industry where most things are half thought of?

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  6. Bat puro negative ang naging cooment nyo? His point is that there are a lot of things about poverty that can be featured about the country, and yet the media kept on featuring this "pag-pag" story. Not only CNN but also the local media, syempre, madaling ibenta ang gantong stories eh..

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    1. Anong positive ang puede mong makita dito sa news na ito para sa Pilipinas? Ano na lang ang dignidad natin? Alam naman natin na nanyayari ito kahit saan parte ng mundo pero, kailangan ba na ipakita sa international news? Sikat tayo na ganyan lang ang ang buhay ng isang Pilipino dahil sa gobyerno natin? Anong kasalanan ng mga taong mahihirap na feature dito sa ad na to? Ganon na lang ba yun? Nasa abroad ka ba o nasa Philippines? Iba kasi ang concept kung saan ka nakatira... Ang sama ng dating nito dito sa bansa na tinitirhan ko.

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    2. It's all media blitz and politicians media mileage. Poverty is a global issue. CNN can feature better stories about the Philippines. There should be moderation in presentation. Something inspiring and awakening. Why poverty is existing for a long time in Philippines? Ask the government and the church. They know the answer. Poverty is a political weapon, politicians capitalized on the poor people so as the church to keep their numbers growing. Coupled with corruption and greedy capitalist. We need to emulate Singapore. Filipinos work smarter and more disciplined abroad.

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    3. agree ako, mas maigi ipakita na natin ang katotohanan para narin magising ang goverment natin...

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    4. meme bobo ka ba? if you show to the whole world these negative ads about our country, tourists and investors will shy away.

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    5. @meme: pwede naman sigurong ipakita na natin ang katotohanan para narin magising ang goverment natin...peru with less audience...not across the border with our fellow countrymen. Kasi may impact din sa kanila yun.

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  7. thelongfallofprose05 May, 2012 17:55

    You can hardly blame CNN for the story, because it is true. But DOT paying CNN for some sort of product placement / PR services (and not a news story) is another matter.

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  8. The whole wide world saw already this disgusting scene. What is the use of pulling it out? It is so sad to say that our country, Philippines is so deteriorated because of such tv idiot who is a senator.
    I feel lucky / unlucky to be in a foreign land which you mean money. However, with this kind of news projected abroad we Filipinos are known to be; poor, scavengers and prostitutes. So shameful!

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  9. Nakita na ng buong mundo ang scene na ito. Ano pa ang importansya para i pull out sa CNN? Nakita ko na rin ito sa isang local tv news sa bansa na tinitirhan ko. Isa lang ang tanong dito; Paano natin napapayagan na ang isang idiot ng television ay magiging senador? May nagawa ba na mabuti itong tao na ito sa kapwa nya Filipino para ibigay ang malaking responsabilidad na hinahawakan nya para sa ating bansang Pilipinas?

    Minsan iniisip ko... swerte ko ba na ako ay nasa ibang bansa? May trabaho, kumikita ng mas malaki... pero, yun lang ba ang kailangan ng isang Pilipino? Puedeng oo. Sa sarili kong obserbasyon bilang isang Pilipino, ang manirahan sa ibang bansa ay hindi lang para kumayod. Makipag integrate din ang isa sa mga layunin ng isang pinoy kung saan man bansa sya nabubuhay, pamilya nya... makikisama tayo. Parang indirectly ay nire represent mo ang kultura ng isang pinoy. Kaya ko nasabi kung swerte nga o malas ang tumira sa ibang bansa, lalo na pag may lumabas na mga balitang kagaya nito, as a Filipino, naka reflect din sa amin ito dito. Mas mahihirapan kami makibagay kung saan man parte ng mundo kami naroroon. May mga anak ako na pinanganak na dito at lumaki dito.Madalit sabi ay nandito na buhay nila. Hindi natin maalis sa kanila na mapahiya sa mga kaibigan nila bilang Pilipino. Sana naman bigyan natin ng chance ang mga batang Pilipino sa buong mundo . Saan man sila naroroon ay may right din sila na mabuhay ng may dignidad. Nalulungkot ako sa mga mahihirap na bata na nasa Pilipinas lalo na nung nakita ko itong scene na to. Bakit kaya hindi nya (senador) ibigay ang kinikita nya sa mga mahihirap na mga bata sa Pilipinas para may magawa sya na mabuti at ma compensate nya ang pagsira nya sa dignidad ng lahat ng Pilipino sa buong mundo.

    Dalawa lang ang kailangan ng Pilipino para mabuhay ng masaya; pagkain at respeto. Sa scene na pinakalat mo tungkol sa Pilipinas (senador), pinakita mo na wala silang makain, ibig sabihin wala sila nung isa sa mga kailangan nila para mabuhay ng masaya. Ngayon, sa mismong scenario na pinakalat mo sa buong mundo, inalis mo rin yung pangalawa na kailangan ng isang Pilipino para mabuhay sya ng masaya. Napakalupit mo senador! Sa ngayon, ang karamihan na nasa abroad na Pilipino ay may natitira pa sa dalawang bagay para mabuhay sila ng masaya; pagkain! Para sa amin dito sa abroad, madali lang i maintain yung una, pagkain, hindi mo kayang kuhanin ito sa amin sa abroad. Pero ang pangalawa, kahihiyan, binalatan mo kami ng buhay! Paano na lang ang mahihirap na na focus mo sa scenario na ito? wala na nga sila nung unang bagay, inalisan mo rin sila ng pangalawang bagay! Ano kang klaseng mamamayang Pilipino? Pakiusap lang po na sana ay mula ngayon, i filter natin kung anuman ang mga kasiraan tungkol sa Pilipinas para na rin sa protection ng mga batang Pilipino...

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  10. he is referring to the good ole"utang na loob" syndrome.we pay,you dont touch us. oh my idiot trapos...

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  11. does he think the world has no idea of what was shown in the news to ask it be pulled out? Sotto is in dreamland ! I sure hope his term ebbs soon.

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  12. Tito Sotto is a moron.

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  13. may punto si tito sotto, ginagawa ng mga Amerikano yan sa buong mundo, ang "ipaisip" sa mga tao na mahirap sila. "You will become what you think you are" ika nga, mind wars yan. Malamang ang hidden agenda na binabangit ni Tito ay ang ginagawa ng CNN sa ating bansa, ang ipaisip sa mga Pilipino na mahirap tayo, ganun din ang image na lalabas para sa mga foreign investor na nakapanood, to discourage them to invest in the country. So lalong babagal ang pag-usad ng ekonoiya ng Pilipinas. "HINDO PO TAYO MAHIRAP" "HINDE TAYO KAWAWA" wag kayong maniniwala sa lahat ng napapanood sa TV. hinde ko sinasabing walang mahirap, meron syempre, lahat naman ng bansa may mahirap, may homeless kahit mismong sa America maraming pero positive ang tingin nila sa buhay, "HINDE KINAKAAWAAN ANG SARILI" kaya may pagbabagong nagaganap sa buhay nila. Opnion ko lang ito. Salamat :)

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  14. How many Filipinos actually ate "Pagpag"? It's not even a whole town! It's not even a whole barangay. It just caters to a block or two. It's the same Pagpag carinderya featured for years.

    CNN featured it for it's shock value. Of course with the help of fellow Pinoys who are only too eager to help CNN find it.

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    1. what are you talking about? the poor eat pagpag everywhere... they just don't call it pagpag! i walk down the street everyday and once in a while there's a kid eating scraps from chicken bones out of a garbage pail at the corner. :P Face it. The Philippines is a sh*thole of poverty and corruption.

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  15. dear senator: THE TRUTH HURTS BITCH!!! news is news. instead of bickering and trying to hide the truth DO SOMETHING WITH THE COUNTIRES POVERTY rather than tell CNN not to expose the truth. hello... i've been to the philippines and i have seen how bad it is there STUPID!

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  16. To think this was simply "CNN Asia's" Eye on the Philippines.. here's the actual News Report, the only Philippines news report shown in America

    http://youtu.be/VQdHG66ZhXA

    That's what America saw. The Truth Filipinos are too ashamed to even watch.

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  17. His "Eat Bulaga" mentality is still running even during the Senate.

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  18. Gusto niya bulagain tayo at ang mga dayuhan sa katotohanan, palibasa galing sa shobiz sector na puno ng mga ignoranteng inutil at mga tanga.

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  19. kahit dto sa USA, california may mahirap and they ask for money and eat from the garbage... kahit saan meron nito..di lang na feature. Tito Sotto is correct bakit sa pinas lang ang feature nilang kahirapan ? hwag kayong maging balat sibuyas , may punto sya na dapat di ipakita yan dahil wala ng pupunta sa pinas kung ganyan ang image na makikita mas lalo walang mag travel sa pinas.... bakit sa Paris, France London America Germany etc ba walang mahirap..mag magnanakaw, wala rin mga pagkain pero di nilalabas sa news......sa lahat ng parte ng mundo may mahirap OK OK OK....pero di na feature sa CNN yun ang punto ni Sotto .

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  20. O sige i-accept natin yung point na poverty is a global issue. Pero let's think it this way, iba naman kasi talaga ang situation sa Philippines. Kung gusto nyong ikumpara yung rate ng poverty ng Philippines sa US and European countries, eh di mukha tayong tanga non, diba. Iba ang economic status ng America at ng mga European countries kesa sa Philippines, at it's safe to say na rin na our case is totally worse in all levels.

    Tama lang naman na i-disclose yan. Bakit, ano lagi na lang tayong magsstick sa positive side ng bansa natin? Di na ba tayong matututong tumanggap ng constructive criticisms? Ang masama kasi dyan, majority puro kaagad reklamo at denial sa kung ano naman yung totoo talagang nangyayari.

    AT SOME POINT, KAILANGANG MALAMAN NG MGA PILIPINO NA OY, IT'S TIME TO OPEN YOUR MINDS, MAGSIMULA NA TAYONG MAGBAGO KASI BUKOD SA NAKAKASULASOK NA YUNG SITWASYON NG BANSAN NATIN, ANG TATANGA PA NG MGA PULITIKO NATIN.

    Bobo mo Tito Sotto, bakit ka ba senador, peste. Kung sino pa yung mga naturingang nasa pwesto, sila pa tong hindi marunong gumawa ng mas matalinong aksyon sa mga totoo naman na mga komento. Hay.

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  21. Tama lang na ilabas ang baho ng ating bansa dahil para magising tayong lahat. Mahirap sa ating mga Pilipino ay mahilig magkunwari. Isipin mo nalang nag elect tayo ng mga opisyales na walang alam at masaklap pa i diktador pa. Ang bansa natin ay malabo na ang pagunlad dahil ang mga opisyales ay ubod ng pagka corrupt. Illegal recruitment at human trafficking ay talamak kasabwat ang mga opisyales ng gobyerno lalong lalo na ang mga taga DOLE/POEA protektado ng presidente ng ating bansa.

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  22. Correct ka diyan.Lahat ng mga opisyales natin puro mga magnanakaw ninanakawan nila ang sariling inang bayan kaya madaming mga gutom sa atin.Magagaling lang naman sila pag eleksyon , konting bigay konting pakain...sus!!!!magkano lang iyon kumpara sa kinukurakot nila at binubulsa.Maawa naman kayo mga ginoo ...dapat magkaisa hindi puro salita ...GAWA ang kailangan kung ayaw niyo ng ganyan na publicity e di gumawa ng programa na magpakain sa mga homeless ,ang dami ninyo diyann mga OPISYALES di ninyo kaya..anong ginagawa nang mga asawa ninyo mga nagbibilang ng pera o mga bahay sa abroad???Kase nga naman mga asawa nila busy pumunta sa Amerika para magdala ng mga pera at nahuhuli naman sa immigration kaya ayon nakukulong...hayyy naku maawa naman kayo...may karma rin darating sa inyo kung hindi ngayon o bukas....iyon ang nakakahiya ...pero ang pagkain sa basura hindi nakakahiya dahil hindi galing sa nakaw...dito sa amerika kahit hindi kami mayaman nagpapakain kami sa mga homeless at nagbibigay ng pera sa kanila ,how much is one dollar kung nakatulong ka naman at hindi kailangan maging opisyales para gawin mo iyon sa kapwa tao mo ke pinoy, puti o itim....GISING kung may PUSO pa kayo....

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  23. THEN MAKE A STEP, PUT IN INTO ACTION!! NOT TO WAX THE TRUTH.
    TRULY I AM SADDENED ABOUT THE NEWS, BUT IN OTHER HAND I'M HAPPY ABOUT IT BCOZ THESE POLITICIAN CAN'T CONTROL/MANIPULATE AN INTERNATIONAL MEDIA. THIS MAY PUSH THEM TO REALLY LOOK UNTO THE REAL STATE OF OUR COUNTRY.

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  24. I am deeply offended by the word "native dish" this is not native to us Filipinos, this is an isolated case..... The author should choose his words correctly

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  25. bbc also featured pagpag before.. :(

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  26. Isa lang ang masasabi ko, itigil ang kurakot. Mapa mataas na positon o mababa kurakot ang laging nasa isip...

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  27. I agree with Tito Sotto. Imagine, of all times, they will feature the Pagpag story at the launching of the "It's more fun in the Philippines" campaign? Good grief CNN! I hope that this sets a precedent that if a country launches a tourism campaign in your channel, you will also air their bad side (e.g. Cannibals of China, Pedophiles of Europe, Incest as a Common Practice in America, and the Hidden Gay Life of Coopal Anderson!)

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