On the 7th of May 2022, the AdU Communication Department invited the COMM-unity for the annual Media Summit with the theme COMMprehend: Understanding Media’s Role in Building National Consciousness through Public Discourse - just in time for the elections that happened on the 9th. The red and green tandem won most of the votes, yet the decision sparked arguments due to the alleged miscounting of the poll. Going back to the department’s gathering, let us dig deeper into what the speakers say about our right to vote.
First speaker, Ms. Sarah Raymundo, a full-time faculty at the University of the Philippines - Diliman Center for International Studies, talked about how to promote a progressive and human rights-oriented national consciousness. With the ideas of media and public discourse, we cannot fully interconnect freedom and democracy because it means rule by the people. Concerning the elections, even if it resulted in chaos and the number of votes was suspiciously high despite the faulty VCMs, many netizens still spoke about acceptance as it all boils down to the winning candidate who gained more trust. But as per Raymundo, society can be shaped by inequality and a global economic system skewed to the interest of profit-making rather than the fulfillment of people’s needs.
Second speaker, Mr. Howie Severino, Filipino Journalist and retired Vice President for the Professional Development of GMA Network, said people should believe more in natural laws than superstitions. The way people think right now may have resulted from the age of enlightenment - the power of religion and government representation where the administration embodies the masses. This is why the Illustrados did not just present ideas but also proposed an attitude that encouraged people to not believe in everything but research before they react. In line with this are the fake news during the campaign period that shaped the minds of others in the wrong way. Before we educate others, we should educate ourselves first on how to become one of the most reliable sources.
It is true that the loudest and proudest of the voices will scream what the majority thinks is right, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are correct. Meanwhile, the silent and proper amongst the wave of noise is the one that COMMprehends better than most. Truth is hard to hear and often seen at the end. What matters now is that you know you made the right choice and exercised your right to vote.
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