The Important Role of Media in the Democracy of the Philippines

The media are the communication channels or tools that are used to store and transmit
and transmit information or data. The media has the ability to shape our ideas, perspectives,
and opinions. Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, social media, and the internet are
examples of communication channels. Media has become an integral part of our daily lives. In
the past, media played a significant role in our society. It provided information and kept our
ancestors updated with the latest happenings that time. The Filipinos before relied on media to
be informed about national news and political affairs. The media lit the spark that led to the
EDSA Revolution or People Power Revolution that happened on February 22, 1986 to February
25, 1986. The EDSA Revolution involved campaign and protest against the dictatorship of
President Ferdinand Marcos.
We asked our first teacher a series of questions about media and the EDSA revolution.
The following questions were included in the questionnaire: (1) Do you know what is media and
what are its uses; (2) Do you know why media is important; (3) Are you aware of EDSA
revolution that happened in the past; (4) Do you know what is the important role of media in the
preservation of democracy and democratic process in the Philippines; and (5) If the same event
happened today, Do you think media will still play a major role? Here are his responses to the
following questions:
1. Do you know what is media and what are its uses?
 “Yes, Media is an information to everyone.”
2. Do you know why media is important?
 “Yes, it plays an important role in dissemination of information, and our check and
balance with one another. Not all facts are known by a single person; sometimes we
have to be criticized by the other. We need to see things from a different perspective,
the point of view of others in order to relate, so we can determine what is true and
correct.”
3. Are you aware of EDSA revolution that happened in the past?
 “Yes.”
4. Do you know what is the important role of media in the preservation of democracy and
democratic process in the Philippines?
 “Yes, just like what I have said before that the media plays an important role. Different
issues would not be exposed if it weren't for the media. And if it weren't for the media,
we wouldn't be able to see the things that are hidden from us and only known to them.
And, with the help of the media, we can learn the truth and claim that the truth has been
revealed to us. One way or another the media is beneficial; it plays an important role in
the revolution.”
5. If the same event happened today, do you think media will still play a major role?
 “Yes, of course. Especially in our present situation, there are a lot of things that goes
through media, even through social media which is why it has big role. That is why
 social media is needed in order to strike the balance in media because sometimes we
never know what is the truth, but media plays a big role or a big help in the present day.”
We also asked our second teacher a series of questions about media and the EDSA
revolution. The following questions were included in the questionnaire: (1) Are you aware of
what happened during the EDSA revolution; (2) How did the news about the said event reached
you; (3) What media forms were existing during that said event; (4) Do you believe that media
took part in the preservation of democracy in the Philippines; and (5) If yes, how do you say so?
Can you give as an elaboration of how media preserve the democracy and democratic process
in the Philippines? Here are his responses to the following questions:
1. Are you aware of what happened during the EDSA revolution?
 “Yes, I am aware.”
2. How did the news about the said event reached you?
 “When I was in my elementary years, I used to read it from the books. In fact, it was
being shown as well in the television through news media outlets, especially when the
EDSA day was being celebrated. Now that we have this developing platform, which is
the internet, it is a convenience for me to search about the different events that
happened behind it during that historical event.”
3. What media forms were existing during that said event?
 “Like what I've said, when I was younger, I used to acquire some information about this
event through television where these news outlets present some recorded events that
happened during that time, remembering the EDSA.”
4. Do you believe that media took part in the preservation of democracy in the Philippines?
 “Yes.”
5. If yes, how do you say so? Can you give as an elaboration of how media preserve the
democracy and democratic process in the Philippines?
 “Based on my own view, these news media outlets in the Philippines are very powerful
right from the start of the 1987 Constitution where they were given the power to cover all
the events happening in our country whether it be political, economic, or educational. In
this situation, we citizens are being given the chance to hear, assess, and be aware of
these societal issues. Like for example, if there are anomalies happening in a certain
government owned corporation (e.g. PhilHealth), these news media outlets have the
power to cover it for our transparency and awareness which is very important. We are
almost being taught on how to follow these due processes. So, in this way, I think they
take their part in preserving our democracy despite some challenges we are facing.”

We have learned that the media is very significant, that it has always been very
important even back then. It has always played a huge role in spreading out or giving out
information to many people before and now. We have also learned from the given answers that
the people have different perspectives and different point of views when it comes to media, and
we, the people, should know and learn from their different perspectives in order to determine
what is true and correct. Media played huge role in informing us about the different issues which
is why it is important in our present situation. Now through social media which is an example of
a communication channel, we can get to know and learn about the latest issues with the help of
information given out by the media. We learned from our teachers that the media was critical to
the preservation of democracy and the democratic process in our country. Televisions and
newspapers were previously used to inform the public about societal issues. As a result, the
EDSA Revolution occurred. We, the people, have the opportunity to assess and criticize societal
issues and government anomalies via the media. Transparency and awareness are important
nowadays, and media facilitates this. Finally, the mass becomes aware of what is happening
through the use of broadcast media such as television and print media such as newspapers and
books; even now, we can know and be aware of what happened during the EDSA revolution
with the use of these media.
Even in the modern era, corruption and anomalies are common in government. The
media continues to play an important role in keeping those in power in check. We can also help
to keep those in power in check. The internet and social media were created as technology
advanced. We can share and amplify oppressed people's voices with the help of new media.
For example, consider the corruption in PhilHealth; with the help of social media, we were able
to identify and share this issue with a large number of people in a short period of time. However,
along with the benefits of new media, there are some drawbacks. Fake news and unreliable
sources abound on social media platforms such as Facebook. This fake news has the potential
to influence many people's opinions and spread quickly. And it is up to us to determine which
information and news sources are trustworthy and accurate. We should always be cautious
about what we share on social media because it can have negative consequences.
To summarize, the media played a critical role in the EDSA revolution's success. They
helped to broadcast events as they unfolded, amplifying the opposition's message, bridging the
gap between the government and the people, and protecting protestors. The coverage of the
revolution in the media demonstrated to the world the value of a free and responsible press in a
democratic society. The media has been critical in the preservation of democracy in the
Philippines, and it continues to serve as a check and balance for those in power. It has aided in
the exposure of injustices and the protection of the rights of the Filipino people. The media is a
powerful tool that has a large impact on our lives, and we must be aware of the consequences.
We should strive to become media literate and consume appropriate media. It is our
responsibility to ensure that the media positively shapes our society.