As our nation celebrates our independence today, the Freeport Insider joins every Filipino in the country and elsewhere in the world in commemorating this momentous event.
It was exactly 125 years ago when our Philippine flag-the three stars and the sun—became our symbol of freedom.
That glorious day in Kawit, Cavite when Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo proudly proclaimed the birth of an independent Philippines, remains a solid testament to the bravery of our heroes and their desire to throw off the shackles of the past that was marked by war and foreign rule.
June 12, 1898—a date that all Filipinos, whatever their status in life, must bear in mind and hold a special place in their hearts.
It was a historical point in our being a democratic archipelago that breathed life into a dying, albeit fighting, nation that can still boast of all sorts of heroes up to this very day.
This day also marks a new chapter for those fighting disinformation and advocating for the truth in the world of journalism.
At a time when freedom of the press is being stifled in all forms, worsened by the public’s distrust of the media, it’s liberating to see a group of young and veteran journalists trying to protect the credibility of the fourth state.
The public is in constant desire to be assured that there is a well-functioning media, which, of course, is very vital to the country’s democracy.
Add to the ever-increasing challenges that journalists face today the fading sources of news and information, or what we call legacy media.
Some may find it strange that amid the fast-growing digital world, that is, the online media, Freeport Insider is still going back to the basics of creating a news outlet that could easily pale in comparison with sought-after online pages or the popularity of the so-called “influencers” or “vloggers.”
But that’s what we’re trying to achieve here—to rebuild the public’s trust in the media.
We acknowledge the fact that readers nowadays are highly critical of what news outlets provide them, and we can’t afford to lose the public’s trust because of their unbridled cynicism.
Accuracy remains a large and essential part of our work as journalists. And since the public demands more, we ought to not only provide them with what they want but, more importantly, what they need, which is the truth—untainted facts.
We are going back to the basics of truth-telling as we offer our readers uncompromised journalism and truth in reporting.
