DOCUMENT RESUME ED 325 685 CS 507 326 AUTHOR Oseguera, A. Anthony TITLE 1986 Philippine Elections: Political Economy as Communication and Media Influence. PUB DATE Nov 86 NOTE 75p.; Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Speech and Communication Association (72nd, Chicago, IL, November 13-16, 1906). Best available copy. PUB TYPE Speeches/Conference Papers (150) -- Reports - Research/Technical (143) -- Historical Materials (060) EDRS PRICE MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS. DESCRIPTORS Elections; Foreign Countries; *Information Dissemination; *Mass Media Role; Media Research; *News Media; News Reporting; Political Issues IDENTIFIERS Filipinos; *Philippines; Political Communication; *Political Economics ABSTRACT This paper examines the Philippine transition of power as a communication event where the role of the print and electronic media is juxtaposed to cultural and political-economic determinants. The paper attempts to describe the similarities and differences between culture and communications in the Philippines and the United States. An historical-descriptive qualitative methodology is utilized. The paper uses selected stories that specify culture and political economy to glean the reality of what has transpired in the Philippines and the role the American and Philippine media, print and electronic, played both as observer and participant. Language and geography are considered principal elements of culture in the paper. The paper is taken from the content of a seminar in international broadcasting presently given at Eastern Illl.s.Ls University. (Seventy-five references are attached.) (Author/MG) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * *********************************************************************** 1986 Philippine Elections 1 1986 Philippine Elections: Political Economy as Communication and Media Influence A. Anthony Oseguera Speech Communication Eastern Illinois University "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL IN MICROFICHE ONLY HAS BEEN GRANTED BY .ri iyNriAia)Aie A paper presented 04.14.LAMIAN, to the Speech Communication Association TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." November 13-16, 1986 Chicago, Illinois U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office or Educational Research and Improver In: EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) o This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization Running head: 1986 PHILIPPINE ELECTIONS originating it. ri Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction Quality Points& view or opinions staled or thisdocir ment do not necessarii.. represent official OERI positionOfpolicy 2 CYD: , r 1, , '`;"';,»:;t4 vr," ;3,-44 svx,.;;Ltf : 'r ,..f4.,;40. '20 ';'44'11":74 1986 Philippine Elections Table of Contents Dedication 4 Abstract 2 Introduction 4 Methodology 4 Linguistic Base 5 Political-Economy Public Media 6 State Department *Papers 16 Communications American Print Media 29 American Electronic Media 35 Philippine Print Media 41 Philippine Electronic Media 46 Summary 54 Conclusion 57 Rerences 63 Footnote 71 Acknowledgment 72 4 1986 Ph lippine Elections 2 Abstract The Philippine elections became front pagenews, and in many cases headlines during the month of.February-- across the United States and in many parts of the world. Radio and television media, in the U.S., presentedthe Philippine elections with special attention that included, besides the regular installment of eveningand nightly news, frequent interruptions of regularly scheduled programming. The purpose of this paper, however, goes beyond the media's coverage of the Philippine elections during the month of February. This paper will examine the Philippine transition of power as a communication event where the role of the print and electronic media is juxtaposed to cultural and political- economic determinants. Methodology To accomplish the paper's purpose, a historical- descriptive qualitative methodology will be utilized. Enumerating the number and kind of stories may be considered, but those stories that specify culture and political-economy, in-depth, will be selected in order to glean the reality of what has transpired in the Philippines and the role American and the Philippine media, 1..int and electronic, had both as observer and a ,i14 - 1986 Philippine Elections 3 participant. Language and geography are considered principal elements of culture inthis paper. Educators must learn to read TV in the present as they have learned to read books in the past. Y7-47 6 1986 Philippine Elections 4 On January 1, 1986 Americans.and Filipinos both welcomed the New Year with the hope for good healthand prosperity. The Philippine situation, however, seemed entirely different from ourown. This paper will attempt to dJscribe the similarities and differencesbetween our two cultures based on our political economiesand our systems of communication. Further, this paper supports the notion that without a freepress and meaningful support from the populace at large, it is virtually impossible to dethronea dictator. The 1986 Philippine election will serve as a stage wherea variety of players can be seen performing their respective roles: the Filipinos with maximum audacity and candorand the Americans with enthusiasm and yetreserve. Methadology A theoretical framework of politicaleconomy as communication is closely scrutinized in orderto provide the reader with a backdrop for the players, theFilipinos who sought democracy and the Americans who inspiredthem to succeed. The print and electronic media ir the UnitedStates and in the Philippines are examinel tosee if they serve as a catalyst, mobilizing public opinion and sentiment in their respective countries. Midweltern American newspapers, especially the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1986 Philippine Elections 5. popular American news magazines, the major television networks and international radio news services comprise the.mainstay of news about the Philippines in this country; Philippine newspapers, magazines and videotape provide their story; finally,.the American-Philippine newspaper, Philippine News, is also presented asa viable linkage between our two worlds. As pointed out in the introduction, this paper attempts to describethe similarities and differences between culture and communications in our two countries: the reader is asked to draw a relationship, if one exists, between thetwo. Linguistic Base The Philippine Archipelago with 7,100 islands is located in Southeast Asia: between the Pacific Ocean On the east and the South China.Seaon the west (See map). "The archipelago lies a thousand kilometers fromthe Asian mainland, stretching 1,850 km. from northto south and 965 km. from west to east" (Philippines: A Diver's Paradise, 1986, p. 30). The islands are mountainous and volcanic with seemingly endless coastlines. The country is divided into three regions, Luzon to thenorth, Visaya:3 in the middle and Mindanao to the south. The nation's capital Manila is located in Luzon (p.30). The 55 million Filipinos of Indo-Malay, Chinese and Spanish stock are of predominantly Christian(90 s 1986 Philippine Elections 6 percent) and Muslim (10 percemt) beliefs (p. 30). The Philippines had a distinct culture and system of government long before the Spanish arrived in the 16th century. The Spanish conquistadores, led by Ferdinand Magellan, were resisted by Lapii-Lapu, datu of Mactan Island near Cebu, where Magellan was slain in 1521. "Three centuries of Spanish colonization, marked by occasional rebellions, ended when the martyrdom of Dr. Jose P.Rizal, an influential writer and propagandist, sparked a fullscale revolution" (p. 30). After the defeat of Spain in the Spanish-American War, the Philippines were ceded to the United StLtes. American rule came to an end in 1946 when the U.S. granted them independence: the Philippine Republic eillerged. In the Archipelago, 87 languages with 111 dialects are spoken. "Pilipino, based on the Tagalog dialect, is the national language" .(p. 37). Today, however, most Filipinos are bi-:;.ingual, with English still the basic language in business, government, schools and everyday communications" (pp.36-37).1 Political-Economy Public Media If the United States has contributed significantly to the historical development of the Philippines in this centáry, it is important to note that the two major 9 1986 Philippine Elections 7. legacies we leave to theFilipinos are our values of "democracy and free speech" (Rusher,Feb. 26, 1986, p. 3B). Since the end of WorldWar II, a succession of presidents have ruled the Philippines,of whom the longest lasting has been FerdinandE. Marcos, first elected in 1966. According to William Rusher, "none of them has been exactly notedfor fiscal probity" (p. 3B). Moreover, Marcos suspended theconstitution and, between 1972 and 1981, ruled bydecree. He blamed communist guerrillas for making thisnecessary. Nevertheless, he was "overwhelmingly elected to anew six-year term in June 1981" (p. 3B). Rusher declares that the United States "had everyreason to congratulate itself on having had, for more thana third of a century, a stable ally in a region of growing importance" (p. 3B). Since 1981, Marcos' gripon the Philippine political predicament deteriorated. In 1983, the assassination of the opposition leader, Benigno Aquino,rallied the anti- Marcos forces (p. 3B). Because of Marcos' inability to dispel the communist threat in hishomeland, the Reagan Administration,