I stand with ABS-CBN and all other news organizations in the line of fire for critical coverage of events affecting the nation.
The pandemic-related quarantine teaches us a lot about the value of freedom. We need both press freedom and freedom of expression at these critical times. We need credible and critical information to better understand what’s happening and to navigate our way forward.
To my fellow artists, I reiterate my message to LODI in Baguio in 2018: “In a free and democratic society, all artists should be unrestrained in the making of their art. We should be free to decide what we will create and how we will create it. Those who feel threatened by the power of art should not be allowed to repress human creativity. We have the right to create work that pushes boundaries and promotes discussion of controversial topics. We need the freedom to offend without fear.”
Only in an atmosphere of freedom can the artist and the journalist give their best. Freedom enables the nation to confront the poverty, treason and rising tyranny that make the pandemic much worse than it already is.
