RPN 9 and its True Story: And What the People expect of government

For many days now, I've been agonizing on how best to approach this. As what many of my readers know, I supported Noynoy Aquino in the belief that, at least, things would change when he ascends power. Yet, four months prior to his one year rule, and things seemed worse than before.


On paper, things are really starting to "get going". Yet, on the ground, things are really getting seriously bad. People are suffering. I know---my family and I am one of them.


You can see these changes from bad to worse, in the streets. Ordinary Filipinos are hard-pressed coping with high prices of basic commodities. There's no hope in the horizon because even Noynoy Aquino does not think that a salary adjustment is the right answer for this. 


On paper, there is a marked improvement on the economy, but who actually gains from the windfall? Those who really earn much are the capitalists and foreign investors, not the people. There is still no mechanism in place that guarantees the trickle down effects of every economic gain. Gainers are still those who occupy a stellar place in the social ladder, not those who sweat it out at the bottom. 


Many would say that is structural rather than a problem of governance style and I agree. Yet, Noynoy Aquino has the power to change all these thru an exercise of his executive powers. For eight months, it seemed that he is, well, not planning anything as "life-changing" as what the people expect of him. When everybody is experiencing life-threatening things every single moment of their lives in the Metro, here comes the Chief Executive playing XBOX and his spokesperson telling the people, that the palace simply do not care.


Here is government. The government was established by the People not just to govern them but moreso, to manage their assets. The assets are agencies which allow People to exercise their rights under a democracy and live a normal life. A normal life is a life where People are able to live normally and work. 


People elect officials for government in the hopes that these people provide solutions, not create further problems.


The People expect government officials elected or nominated to their posts as people with the highest integrity, probity and expertise. For example, if you're assigned in the finance department, we, the People, expect you to crunch the numbers for us in a jiffy, and not show us your profit margins.


When you read in the papers that the solution provided for by these government experts is just to sell government assets instead of finding solutions to revive these assets, you tend to think of incompetency rather than expertise.


One example is RPN 9. Someone commented that I know more about this than Noynoy. YES, I definitely know more about RPN 9 operations than Herminio Sonny Coloma or Noynoy because I spent my seven years of existence helping RPN 9 regain its lost glory.


I am now involved in the marketing communications industry and I know that there are many opportunities out there for RPN 9. 


I know that given the right support, RPN 9 can still "hack it". Why? RPN 9 has the most number of media professionals who know their stuff. What RPN 9 lacks is a vision, and a realizable mission, and some morale-boosting. 


RPN 9 was earning a modest income during the time of former president Joseph Estrada. Primetime evening was still being managed by the RPN 9 board led by former Chairman and now Laguna representative and Cielo Villaluna. I know---I was part of the RPN 9 family when these things were happening.


Ramos and Estrada did not give up on RPN 9 because these two presidents know what Noynoy Aquino does not---its assets are the people running the network, not the Board, and surely, not its physical assets. 


When Solar Entertainment entered into the picture during Arroyo's time, RPN 9 suffered tremendously in terms of revenues and income. RPN 9 was turned into a milking cow and revenues were given to Solar instead of RPN 9. There were no improvements back then. Infrastructures remained the same and worse, facilities were left to rot and why? To dilute the value of the station in case government decides to sell it. 


Which is why it is dis-enheartening to hear that Malacanang decided to turn over RPN 9 wholly to Solar Entertainment. Why? What investments did Solar give to RPN 9? What improvements even in programming did Solar give? NOTHING!


RPN 9 is one asset of government that the Palace should retain instead of sell to a Chinoy. For one, Noynoy was gloating over media outlets churning bad news instead of good news and even tried to persuade advertisers to boycott media outlets "sensationalizing" the news. 


Why not transform RPN 9 into a reputable news and public affairs organization, committed to the Truth? RPN 9 can help expand the government's "propaganda" machinery by telling the people the activities of the President? 


If TV5 was able to transform itself from a lackluster station to a blockbuster, why not RPN9? RPN 9 can still hack it by:


1. Government supporting the infrastructure improvement plans of the station. Improve RPN9 transmission by investing on satellite dish improvement. That will bring back advertisers.


2. Give some funds for the creative team of RPN 9 to come up with shows that sell. During the time of Ramos, RPN 9 pioneered in the telenovela genre. I am definitely sure that those creative people over at the station would again come up with another genre that the people will love and support. 


3. Change the current board and appoint people who know the advertising industry. 


4. Re-programming is another key. RPN 9 must re-program itself and the station can very well come out with exciting new shows that will not only promote good values but also earn itself some money. Make news and public affairs its central theme. 


TV stations generate revenues thru their creative programs. The secret lies in innovation and creativity. And RPN 9 is extremely competent and abundant of all these. If they come out with extremely good shows, people will again take notice and advertisers will not be far away.