‘Share truth with the needy’
Sept 25, 2005
Telling the truth to those who need it most is what media practitioners should aspire to do nowadays, Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal said.
(Sun Star, September 19, 2005) In a homily yesterday, Vidal challenged media workers to be like St. Matthew, the only one among the Gospel writers who “reported” the Parable of the Merciful Landowner and “reported it faithfully, as he heard it, for us to reflect on.”
Vidal officiated yesterday’s mass to begin the celebration of the 11th Cebu Press Freedom Week. The activity began with a fun walk from the Cebu Provincial Capitol grounds to the University of the Visayas gym, where the mass and opening program followed.
The parable, which talks about a landowner who gave workers a full day’s wage, though they only worked part of the day in his vineyard, “shows an act of mercy that went beyond the call of justice.”
“The landowner gave to those who was truly in need, free from any outside pressure, free to do what he wished to help out of mercy,” said the cardinal.
In the same manner, there is more to just telling the truth, the cardinal said; media practitioners should be able to share it with “those who need it the most.”
“Kinsa man gyud ang unahon ug palabihon nato nga mahatagan sa kamatuoran? Daghan sila...sila nga gigutom, giuhaw, naghubo, dumuduong, nagmasakiton, gi-priso...ug the marginalized (Who deserve to know the truth most? There are many of them-those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, prisoners),” the prelate said in his homily.
He further said that sharing the truth with “those who need it the most” should be everyone’s responsibility, given the equipment and “instruments” the media now have.
“We should move forward and address the more important and urgent problem of grinding poverty of our people,” Cardinal Vidal said, alluding to media’s recent preoccupation with political controversies.
No blame
Meanwhile, Vidal also clarified he did not accuse the media of dividing the bishops as earlier reported in a national newspaper last week.
Vidal said he only asked those who interviewed him if they were dividing the bishops.
“I was not affirming that it was the media who divided us. They just perceived my question as such,” Vidal said.
Vidal granted the interview at the height of allegations that some bishops have been receiving donations from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. These donations, Vidal had said, have been used to help the poor.
Activities
After the mass, various activities aimed at promoting camaraderie among media practitioners were held.
Major and minor prizes were given away, aside from various door prizes that were given to nearly everyone who attended.
Between the raffling of prizes, two special awards were handed out - Gayest of the Press and Miss Press Freedom.
Broadcaster Bobby Inoferio of radio dyLA hosted the Gayest of the Press, which had two participants from the broadcast industry and two from print.
Ryan Borinaga of The Freeman went home with the crown and P10,000 worth of prizes. Sun.Star Cebu’s Oscar Pineda was second runner-up.
Jude Bacalso of Sun.Star Cebu then took over Inoferio’s stint and ushered in the four candidates for Miss Press Freedom.
Tanya Chica of Cebu Daily News was adjudged the winner, with Charmaine Rodriguez of Sun.Star Cebu being named first runner-up.
The Freeman also won the liveliest group and best in costume awards.
Sun.Star Cebu finished second in both categories, aside from winning the biggest delegation award.
‘Share truth with the needy’