Hail to the chief!

“And when the band plays ‘Hail to the chief.’ Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord.”  — Fortunate Son, Creedence Clearwater Revival

FUNNY how the sparkling new Armed Forces chief of staff has just admitted to red-tagging us journos because of our bias to the truth and actual reality. It is nice to know that he is folding like a cheap suit without actually needing to. However, the thought that he has trained its cross-hairs towards us is disconcerting.

Late last week, CNN-Philippines quoted newly appointed Armed Forces chief of staff Lt. Gen. Noel Clement advised journalists to avoid showing their “biases” towards the armed communist insurgents.

He was quoted as saying that journalists who have the tendency to “favor” the enemy than the state forces will most likely get red-tagged.

“Red tagging is a very strong word to be used actually kung sasabihin mo na may article kang isulat then automatic ire-red tag ka na agad,” CNN-Philippines quoted Clement as saying.

Please don’t get me wrong. This is not something new to us. The state forces have been red-tagging journalists, rights defenders, and even sitting lawmakers. The secretary of defense himself has said something to that effect. Earlier, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana challenged the Makabayan lawmakers, a minority bloc at the Lower House, to condemn the communist movement so that the red-tagging will stop.

However, as a red-tagged journalist, how can I denounce something I have never been a part of?

As journalists, our role in society is quite well-defined. We are the fourth estate — our mandate is to inform the citizens of the republic for the latter to arrive at intelligent and well-informed decisions. This means that we cannot just take only your side of the story, hook, line, and sinker. Doing so will negate that mandate.

We are not stenographers of events. As journalists, we present the facts whether or not we like or agree with those facts. Objective reporting is meant to portray issues and events in a neutral and unbiased manner, regardless of the writer’s opinion or personal beliefs.

Freedom of the press cannot operate on a culture of fear, Sir.

How can we practice our profession when you have blurred the distinction between an unarmed civilian — which you have sworn to protect, by the way — and an armed guerrilla? Pfft.

Fabilioh!

“Fabilioh! Halikinu.” — Ateneo traditional cheer

I AM an Atenean although I would rather call myself a “Xavierian” for emphasis. These insecure sphincters hate that. What with all the “branding” this certain university president wants and all.

But for all intents and purpose, I am an Atenean at heart. I bet even the national hero Jose Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda yelled that same cheer above when he attended the Jesuit-run school in Manila.

Look, I understand where these people are coming from. Heck, as I’ve said, I have spent most of my formative years in Xavier-Ateneo — that’s what they want to call it now, not Xavier University, as it should. Pabalik, yes. Fabilioh, no.

Here’s the skinny, in its July 17 statement, the Cebu Landmasters Inc. received a “notice of interest” from Xavier University for “the development of the latter’s Manresa, a 63.5-hectare property. The Jesuits in Cagayan de Oro wants to build the “campus of the future.”

One, it is their property. Two, it is their property.

By the way, a cursory check on Google about the impending sale of the Xavier University-Corrales campus will show you how it is supported by a number of groups. Many of my “Spartan” batch mates support it, too. Mind you, we were not mere “transferees.” Most of us in Batch ’91 started our Jesuit education since Kinder 1.

However, when you include a troll in your advocacy to oppose the sale, you can be sure your campaign will fail. Its very presence reeks of bovine excrement and political ambition. Believe me, because I have been at the worst end of this thing’s social media drive in the midterm polls.

I mean, the thing is the very textbook definition of a pathological liar.

Saying that this piece of excrement is an Atenean and that it has every right to express its thoughts on the matter at hand is naive at best. Women and men for others can, certainly, do better than this. It has already announced its ambition for the mayoral seat only months since its spectacular loss in the midterm polls.

Saying that this advocacy transcends political lines is way worse. I have been told that the organizers have been able to enroll a few politicos in their cause. But why was it the only one given the podium to speak last week? Its foul mouth will spell the failure of this advocacy. Even its own batch mates know why it is riding the opposition of the XU sale — to earn political brownie points. It will create more enemies than allies to the cause.

I know my agaw Antonio Montalvan II does not support this sale as is evident in his series of columns, but I know he will agree that he would not want to trek this campaign with the main architect of the deluge of fake news online since 2016.

So, good luck with who you go to bed with on this journey, my beloved Atenistas. Have a field day in getting alums to support the cause with this sorry excuse of an Atenean at your side. Pfft.

The blues

DEPRESSION is this generation’s silent killer. It does not also help that until now, there is still a stigma attached to any mental illness. The reason why most people who suffer from depression opt to keep it to themselves or worse, be in denial.

Major depressive disorder, as psychiatrists call it, is a common but nevertheless serious and lethal mental illness. It affects your ability to function at school and at home.

The realness of this issue hit close to our home when a cousin of my ex-girlfriend took her own life at the age of 18. It left all of us in shock. We just couldn’t believe she could do that because she seemed bubbly and outwardly happy.

Depression is different from sadness and grief. The sadness felt during the grieving process comes in waves and are accompanied with positive memories of that special person who passed away or a loved one you broke up with. While, when you are having major depression, you lose interest, pleasure with most things for at least 15 days.

Depression can hit anyone, even people who seem to be living in a relatively comfortable status. According to the American Psychiatric Association, there are several factors that trigger depression in people.

• Biochemistry: Differences in certain chemicals in the brain may contribute to symptoms of depression.

• Genes: Major depressive disorder can run in families. If a sibling has depression, the other has a 70 percent chance of having the illness sometime in life.

• Personality: People who are easily overwhelmed by stress, or who are generally pessimistic, or have low self-esteem are most likely to experience depression.

• Environmental: Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse, or poverty can also make people more vulnerable to depression.

With grief, a person’s self-esteem is pretty much intact. Depression, however, feelings of worthlessness and self-hate are common. This is the reason why many depressed people, when left untreated or unaddressed, almost always lead to suicides. Grief and depression may overlap but they are two different and identifying between the two can help people seek support and treatment.

According to the Department of Health studies, the suicidal rate in the country is 2.9 per 100,000 people. In the Philippines, males are more prone to suicide than their female counterparts at a ratio of 550 females against 2,008 males. Here in the city, there have been seven suicides involving young people in March alone. Although we enjoy the lowest suicide rate among Southeast Asian countries, it still remains a serious problem, especially among young people.

Earlier this month, we commemorated the World Suicide Prevention Day. The health department has launched the “Hopeline Project.” Since it is a phone-based counseling service, it aims to remove the stigma from mental health issues.

For landline calls, you can reach (02) 804-HOPE (4673), for cellphone calls you can reach 0917-558-HOPE (4673), and you can also dial 2919, it is a toll-free number, for all Globe and TM subscribers.

If you’re suffering from depression, know that there are people that can help you. Please do not be embarrassed to admit you have depression. The sooner you embrace that reality, the sooner you can get help and treatment.