Yellowtards are of the belief that the numerous journalism awards won by journalist-turned-politician Jiggy Manicad are no longer valid testaments to his professional chops. “Human rights” honcho Caloy Conde, for example, believes that the “100 journalism awards [Manicad] received don’t mean shit the moment [he] misused them to support this madman [current Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte].”
That attitude is problematic. Conde is, in effect, second guessing the wisdom of the awarding bodies that, at the time, deemed Manicad worthy.
More importantly, Conde inadvertently highlights just how exceptional a person Manicad is. What traditional politician, after all, would, in their “right” mind, risk blacklisting from a powerful bloc of “influencers” in order to stick to his or her principles? Indeed. Blacklisting. That “Philippine Journalism” actually blacklists people on the basis of what principles they choose to stand for is the real criminal act here.
Suffice to say, those award bodies are dens of boys’ clubs and cluckity hen houses that are blighted by extensive histories of colluding to prop up allies and crush opponents to their political agendas. It is no secret that Philippine journalism is a community of hopelessly politicised crooks and Manicad has so far exhibited the courage to point that out.