ToM Undergoes Political Rehabilitation

Volume 3, Issue No. 27

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

. . . . . A community service of The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail. com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America and beyond . . . . . .

 

 The News UpFront: (TOP STORY) as of Wednesday, January 26, 2022 

~ Dead by coronavirus since 2020, the Taste of Manila (ToM) street festival has been practically buried, its existence lingers only in the subconscious. In its wake, however, a hybrid fest, currently in virtual mode, has risen, giving us a preview of what it would be in the future. New name, new sponsors, new outlook - all geared to rehabilitate certain personages and to fit a blue-coloured political narrative. 

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CANADA'S LARGEST FILIPINO STREET FESTIVAL

Reincarnating Taste of Manila . . . for Politics?

(Third of Three Parts)

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

“Even journalism has ethics and everyone should follow them.” ― Aishwarya R. Dhanus

TORONTO - A seemingly furtive successor to the highly successful Taste of Manila (ToM) festival is out, virtually, of course, for the meantime, to suggest efforts are underway to rehabilitate certain personages in the Filipino community and the festivities as well.

To all intents and purposes, ToM is dead by coronavirus. I don't mean it was medically infected in the first place; the health protocols prohibiting mass gatherings are still in place three years into the pandemic. So ToM is one of those forced to discontinue.

The first attempt to revive it in 2020 fell flat. Now, a second reincarnation is very much in progress on the web complete with a change of name, an exclusive sponsor, and a new group reputed for worldly activities handling it.

That much is manifest in at least three videos entitled "International Taste of Manila - Virtual Presentation" (ITM-VP) which appear to rejuvenate the street revelry that had dominated the local summer scene for six years until the pandemic forced its discontinuance in 2019.

After carefully watching the patchy ITM-VP videos on this obscure Tomz Radio Toronto (TRT), it became evident there's an attempt by questionable individuals to distort historical facts by adding the adjective "international" to ToM and spinning it to fit the narrative of disgraced politicos and their followers. 

The shift from ToM to ITM-VP is similar to changing political stripes from Liberal (red) to Conservative (blue). Put another way, the transition signals a reposition of allegiance, a full transformation from a neutral communal activity overtly influenced by red to a blue-coloured political reach out.

The interest the Conservatives had shown as early as 2015, the second year of ToM, appears to be shaping up again with what could be interpreted as a total takeover and makeover of THE biggest Filipino street festival in Canada, if not in North America. 

ToM's allure had been so irresistible as to embolden the Tories to sneak themselves into the parade of participants in August 2015, making it appear they were the spearhead of the march much to the chagrin of Philippine diplomats and organizers. (Story and video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNkHG36opmI).

According to its own video blurb, ITM-VP's exclusive media sponsor is GMA, the Manila-based network, which includes GMA Life TV, GMA Pinoy TV, and GMA News TV. That probably accounts for the changing spin.

Was GMA aware that some footage of the spotty ITM-VP was taken without permission from my coverage for my Filipino Web Channel? (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/user/FilipinoWebChannel#g/u).

It wasn't quite a big deal for me had the people behind the ITM-VP asked a small favor to use for their promo some segments of videos of which I have sole proprietary rights. Respect, courtesy - those things matter.

No source of comfort either that since ITM-VP was re-uploaded on January 8, 2022, it had only 2 views (perhaps my visit would be the third), a shameful drop from the original video that had garnered 10 views, then 11, 12, and 13, the last three views owed to me checking on what was pirated from my channel.

The dismal showing is, to be kind, pitiful. Out of compassion, shouldn't ITM-VP just be permitted without being sanctioned? But there are rules to be adhered to, laws to be followed, and ethics to be observed. 

Plagiarism - defined by scribbr.com as "using someone else's work without giving them proper credit" and involves copying words and images - is definitely a no-no in journalism. It is not countenanced. It is forbidden.

I suppose the creators of ITM-VP knew this. Or if they professed ignorance, the more they should be cited for incompetence, indolence, or just plain carelessness. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AanA5a2V6y4).

I happen to come upon ITM-VP while reviewing the many videos I created about the Taste of Manila (ToM) festival from its very beginning in August 2014 to its last staging in 2019 preparatory to the series of articles I was writing.

An upstart group called Tomz Radio Toronto (TRT) was perhaps hoping to cash in by filling up the vacuum left by ToM and devised the ITM-VP in two segments and uploaded it on January 8, 2022. The first part runs for one hour and 23 minutes and the second, for 58 minutes. 

Previously, on December 30, 2021, TRT had its initial ITM-VP that ran far longer - two hours and thirty-two minutes - and had only 10 views. The very few souls (my guess they're TRT staff) who patiently watched it must have mistaken it for a full-length movie. I know, I know it was a waste of time.

Even then, I based my original complaint on this presentation in an email to info@tomzradio.com dated January 9, 2022. In that email, I demanded the removal of the video clips, if not, pay for using them plus attribution. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8o2o8D4Xpk).

All three parts of the ITM-VP videos carried footage of my interview and coverage of Toronto Mayor John Tory and ToM revelers. Unfortunately, none acknowledge that those parts were sourced from my YouTube channel. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3djfjNVR8Q).

I had hoped that the latest and previous ITM-VP uploads would bear edits crediting The Filipino Web Channel, or myself as the videographer, but none exists. I also had hoped the people responsible for ITM-VP would seek permission, and that never materialize either. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms1K7JYpzZk).

Copycats, internet pirates, plagiarists, whatever they're called, are everywhere in the Filipino community. Not at all surprising as the local media landscape is populated by people who know little, if at all, or have no business being identified as media, press, or journalists.

They don't understand that misappropriating someone's work for another person's benefit is a practice loathed by professionals, academics, notably those in the journalism business. Does TRT belong here? (Copyright 2022. All Rights Reserved).