JERRY OLEA
“Maria Ressa does not deserve the Nobel.”
Pahayag iyan ni F. Sionil Jose sa Facebook nitong Oktubre 9, Sabado ng umaga. Ang 96 anyos na si F. Sionil Jose ay National Artist for Literature at Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Awardee in Journalism.
Paliwanag ni F. Sionil Jose, “I will be damned for stating this. Sourgrapes, etc. because I was in the listing of possible Nobel literary prize winners as published in international media.
“I have criticized Duterte but not on press freedom. The Philippine press is alive and well not because of Maria Ressa.
“No writer is in jail. There is no censorship. Duterte hasn’t closed a single newspaper or radio station.
“The closure of ABS-CBN was made by Congress which did not renew the ABS-CBN franchise. Sure, he influenced Congress but the real issue against ABS-CBN as I have pointed out is not press freedom but money, politics, power and its abuse by the Lopezes who own the TV network.
“Sure, journalists have been killed in the Duterte regime just as it was in past administrations. But those killings cannot be laid at Duterte’s door. Usually, they are made by minor politicians or officials attacked by journalists.
“The real test for journalists was made during the Marcos dictatorship when he imposed censorship, closed all media and jailed journalists.
“Now, let us look at Maria Ressa’s credentials. The most important is she worked with CNN. I haven’t read anything memorable by her.
“She had developed important connections as this award has shown and was able to get foreign support for Rappler.
“Duterte was not serious with Maria Ressa, else he could have nailed her like he did with Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Senator Leila de Lima.
“For sure, we always had great journalists who fought Marcos, among them the late Letty Jimenez Magsanoc and Betty Go, Eggie Duran Apostol (RM awardee), Sheila Coronel (RM awardee), Marites Vitug and Chi-Chi Lazaro on TV.
“Those Nobel judges were taken for a ride by western media hype.”
Balitaktakan ang netizens sa pasabog na ito ni F. Sionil Jose. Sanrekwa ang pumuri sa kanya, lalo na ang mga troll, subalit maaalab din ang kumontra sa kanya.
Pasaring ng artista, feminista at aktibistang si Nikki Luna, “You’re the one taking the Filipino people for a ride! Kissing ass again on fascist leaders. Sad man pls just go enjoy your loved ones.”
Sa mediacon ni Raffy Tulfo nitong Oktubre 9, Sabado ng gabi ay hiningan ko siya ng mensahe sa award na natamo ni Maria Ressa.
“Congratulations. Sana all!” bulalas ni Raffy Tulfo, na kandidato sa pagka-senador sa halalan sa Mayo 2022.
GORGY RULA
Komento ng human rights advocate, journalist at 2020 TOYM finalist na si Francis Baraan IV sa FB post ni F. Sionil Jose, “Well, I guess it’s no surprise that you’re questioning the credibility of the Nobel PEACE Prize Awards.
“I would expect nothing less from someone, who vehemently and shamelessly supports a divisive WARLORD.
“And yes, you are right.
“You are just sourgraping.
“Your words — not ours.”
Tinanggal ang nasabing komento ni Francis. May backup si Francis kaya ni-repost niya ang screenshop at ang post script niya, “P.S. I just realized that FSJ actually wrote below his name that he is a Magsaysay Awardee for Journalism.
“How sad that he had to include his resumé just to stroke a battered ego for not having been deemed worthy or accomplished enough to win the Nobel Prize for Literature that he has always longed for.
“Terribly sad, indeed.
“It has also become apparent through this status post that Mr. Jose is living in a parallel Philippines. He is divorced from reality.”
Bahagi ng Instagram post ng radio/TV host na si Anthony “Ka Tunying” Taberna, “Puwede bang maging masaya na lang kung may Pilipinong nagtatagumpay?
“Napakaprestihiyoso ng Nobel Peace Prize. Hindi araw araw ay puwede tayong makasungkit nito.
“Kaya nga nararapat lang na batiin si Maria Ressa ng Rappler dahil sa award na ito. Congrats, Ms. Ressa.
“Sa mga nagsasabing hindi Pilipino si Maria, patunayan ninyo! At kay F Sionil Jose na nagsabing hindi deserving si Maria Ressa sa Nobel Peace Prize, e di wow!
“Uulitin ko, puwede bang maging masaya na lang tayo pag may umaangat?
“Kung hindi, Ano ang ipinagkaiba natin sa chismoso na nung nakabili ng sasakyan yung kanyang kapitbahay ay magkakalat ng kuwentong ‘ninakaw lang niya yan,’ ‘nagJapayuki kasi yung anak,’ ‘drug dealer yan’ at kung anu-ano pa!
“Alam nyo tawag dun? Inggit. Huy, nakakamatay yung inggit!”
Facebook post ni Felipe F. Salvosa II, head ng UST B. A. Journalism Program, “For F. Sionil Jose to diss Maria Ressa’s Nobel Peace Prize while mentioning his own failed bid to become a laureate for literature is pathetic enough.
“But he goes beyond that to deny the damage Duterte has done to our institutions and freedoms, despite his own mention of three prime examples — the closure of ABS-CBN at the instigation of a rubber-stamp House, the unseating of Chief Justice Sereno on dubious grounds, and the jailing of Senator de Lima on trumped-up charges.
“I have kept my views on Sionil Jose’s intellectual degeneration to myself and within intimate Viber groups, out of respect (and who was I, really, to pass judgement on a titan?). At the Varsitarian, where I became editor in chief, I felt unworthy occupying the post he once held.
“Sadly I can no longer hold him up to students as a role model. At 96, he could be using his lucidity and sharp pen to educate young readers and writers. Instead, he’s become just a bitter, angry writer fast fading into irrelevance.”
NOEL FERRER
Ang daming nagko-comment at na-turn off sa tinurang iyan ng isang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining — to think na ang kapwa niya National Artist na dating NCCA Chair na si Virgilio Almario ay tinulaan pa si Maria Ressa na inihanay kina Hidilyn Diaz at Leni Robredo bilang "Mga Tatlong Bituin Sa Aking Watawat."
Dalawang kapwa natin media practitioners ang nakitaan ko ng matatalim na comments that I share.
Isa rito ang respetadong journo na si Howie Severino na ang sabi, “My opinion as a reader -- I’ve read your books and I’ve read Maria’s books. She’s a much better writer.
“Your books are hard to finish. Your dialog is stilted and unrealistic. Even your columns contain little to no insight. But I like your bookstore.”
Mas matapang ang tinuran ng Directors’ Guild Of The Philippines President na si Paolo Villaluna na ang sabi, “Dear F Sionil Jose,
“Let me explain this to you in simple words.
“The journalist won because she stood up to a monster. And you're the bystander cheering on the monster.
“The monster isn't the worst villain in this tale. It's the spectators, applauding as the blood spills.
“It's people like you.”
Ang masasabi ko lang, si Maria ang unang Filipinang binigyan ng pinakamataas na parangal at dapat nating ipagbunyi iyun. Para kay Sir F. Sionil Jose… MAHIRAP TALAGA KUNG ANG AMBISYON AY PARA SA SARILI AT HINDI SA BAYAN.