Metamorphosis
sgadia@theguidon.com
While reconciliation between the local government and Muslim militant groups are not far from reality, several insurgencies—kidnappings, bomb threats, and the like—still come as no surprise, affecting the innocent and the helpless. In Mindanao’s case, some of these individuals are the Bakwits.
According to Bakwit.org, the term “bakwit” (from the English word “evacuate”) refers to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) or persons forced to flee their homes in search of refuge, as in times of war, political oppression, and religious persecution. These Bakwits are innocents driven out of their homes because of violent activities in their communities, ones that may or may not directly concern them.
Though helplessness continues to rattle the Bakwits, there is still an apparent shortage of media coverage about them. The under exposure of the Bakwits is an observation that proves true primarily for mainstream media, as in major television stations and leading newspapers.
When news stories of Mindanao make the headlines, mainstream media institutions focus on insurgencies, land disputes, and attempts at peace talks. The IDPs are pushed farther away from the limelight until their case is disregarded altogether.
On August 17, Inquirer released a story on IDPs on its frontpage. What is puzzling, however, is how the Bakwits’ battles surfaced, only days after reports on the August killings in Basilan were released. Why do news on violence come prior to those of people in need of shelter and food?
Such inequity in media coverage can perhaps be attributed to media companies’ desire for profit. “[Mainstream media] is a business,” Jez Azra of Bakwit.org says. “In order to gain profit, they have to choose which story would sell. Sex and violence sells.” Azra cites the Hayden Kho sex scandals as a story that outweighs that of dying children in Mindanao.
At the end of the day, the reality that the media is foremost a business is comprehensible. But to learn more about the Bakwits through personal blogs or independent media websites is bordering on unforgiveable, when so much more people can learn about them through established news institutions—those with a wider audience reach.
Those who are in a position to spread greater awareness should therefore jump at the opportunity to shed light on the developing predicaments among IDPs in Mindanao. After all, much like stories that make the headlines, I do believe the IDPs’ is one that is timely and relevant. Their continuous struggle for safety in their own homeland caters to human interest as well. Why then can’t it merit more media coverage?
If mainstream media continues to focus on stories that are set on Mindanao killings, bombings, and other rebellions, not only will the IDPs’ story be overlooked all the more, but Mindanao will also be facing further consequences—the loss of tourists and business opportunities and the rise of political unrest, for instance.
Such consequences are letdowns for the South because the insurgencies in that area are not widespread to begin with, contrary to the public’s perception.
Given the phenomenon of today’s sex and violence-centered media, the choice is left to us: should we keep our eyes and mouth closed or should we make the conscious effort to become more aware of such causes? I hope it’s the latter.
