12 Years, 3+Million Views, 5.91K Subs - A Million Thanks To All!

Volume 4, Issue No. 20

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 . . . . . .

 

 Our latest as of Wednesday, October 26, 2022 

~ A struggle of epic proportions led to the creation of an online news outlet twelve years ago next month. That's my flagship The Filipino Web Channel (TFWC) on YouTube (youtube.com/@FilipinoWebChannel), which was born of a need for informative and enlightening news reportage in the Filipino community. Chalking up millions of views is a cause for celebration as it is also an occasion to thank the people underlying those numbers who stick for the latest community news, and more. 

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

12 YEARS AND THREE-MILLION-PLUS VIEWS

TFWC Chalks Up a First

A Big Milestone for the Online Filipino Web Channel

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ 

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

"The greatest joys in life are found not only in what we do and feel, but also in our quiet hopes and labors for others". - Bryant McGill

TORONTO - Short of three weeks before its 12th year of service to the community, my flagship outline news outlet has chalked up what might be the first social media entity in Canada's largest city to attain a high level of confidence among its diverse audience.

Spreading the news, scrutinizing contents, interpreting the hidden meanings, and vocalizing them for easy understanding have been the guideposts since The Filipino Web Channel (TFWC) came to light on November 15, 2010.

From that time on, it struggled to cover news and events ignored and neglected by both mainstream newspapers and the local Filipino media, the latter preferring socials and gatherings that have little to no impact on the growing but the less informed community.

I've been monitoring the rise in the number of views from 2,999,782 on October 21 to 2,999,969 the next day, to 3,000,133 to 3,000,289, and to 300,000,435 on October 24th. As of this writing this Wednesday, TFWC on YouTube (youtube.com/@FilipinoWebChannel) has amassed 3,001,063 views and 5.91K subscribers.

In comparison with views and subscribers of established networks and corporate-funded news outlets with large staffs and inexhaustible budgets, the numbers notched by the solo-run TFWC are mere drops in the bucket. 

But taken in the context of free social media where content is generated by users, vloggers, ordinary citizens, non-journalists, and the public at large, the same numbers gain strategic significance.

YouTube and other social media have encouraged and strengthened citizen engagement in what was once the exclusive domain of media behemoths, thus paving the way for the emergence of citizen journalists, or those with a nose for news but with no formal training in journalism.

In a community, or shall I say a world, corrupted by fake news by pseudo-journalists such as what we have in the Filipino community, eyeballs that translate to views are an indication of trust, acceptance, and reliance on the information being dished out, in this particular case, by TFWC.

The unstated belief is that the people behind those millions of views feel comfortable with the information being handed to them in the form of news, analysis, and videos of interviews, incidents, and situations involving the authorities, public and private officials, and the public. 

It's faith in TFWC's ability to inform them of the truth; faith in the ability to provide them with accurate information through honest and objective reporting.

Twelve years is quite a laborious time to earn the respect and trust of a broad community that the TFWC has been serving voluntarily and without expectation of rewards, financially or otherwise. 

Truth to power has been its guiding principle from the get-go. And while that stance has brought about legal troubles, and professional, and personal challenges, none has impeded our mission to inform and enlighten even at great cost and sacrifice.

TFWC has never traded its independence, never succumbed to pressure, never hesitated to tell the facts, and never sacrificed truth for convenience. It remains steadfast to what it advocates. 

With at least 1,211 videos of the most relevant happenings in the Filipino and the broader community under its belt, TFWC has grown to be a preferred chronicler by persons in high places and organizations wishing to advance their initiatives.

Even as the numbers (of videos and views) rose to new highs, TFWC stays grounded, selective of its coverage but never aloof, candid but never presumptuous, and honest but not mendacious.

TFWC has earned its place in the social media world through hard work and an uncompromising attitude. Our viewers may find some stories and filmographies annoying, upsetting, and disgusting, but that's how truth evolves.

Our allegiance is to the truth and not to friends and momentary supporters who endeavor to convince us to discontinue the slippery path we have taken for the sake of neighborliness and charity.

No, TFWC's outreach to the community is not beholden to anyone. For the record, the birth of TFWC was spurred by the prevarications obtaining then as it is now 12 years and counting.

As editor and founder, I see the increasing number of patrons of TFWC and the six other YouTube channels under the umbrella of Romar Media Canada as an overwhelming vote of confidence for the work and news coverage we're doing for years.

There are more than three million reasons to celebrate this milestone. 

And the best way to do that is to thank viewers all over the world, mainly in the Philippines, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, and several countries in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East who continue to keep track of the many happenings here in our base of operations, Toronto, Canada's largest city.

Your collective patronage has humbled us. We are eternally grateful. Thank you. (Copyright 2022. All Rights Reserved).