On Shahani's Demise, Media Praise Fails To Rise
The news is that Leticia Ramos-Shahani gave up the ghost, at 0240 hours, Monday, 20 March 2017, according to her daughter Lila, in a Facebook post (facebook.com/lila.shahani):
Mom left the body, by the awful grace of God, at 2:40 am this morning, just a few hours after my 50th birthday. ¶ Bereft and full of grief, but still strangely peaceful in the knowledge that she is now free from all suffering.
Did Pinoy media light a candle each? Very slim & small candles, yes, as I have googled for news via posts & links on Facebook. Only sad-to-say news reports have been published by ABS-CBN, CNN Philippines, GMA Network, InterAksyon, Philippine Star, Rappler, The Manila Bulletin, The Manila Times. I would particularly fault BusinessWorld's Amina Rasul, having just written about International Women's Day (08 March) featuring her mother former Senator Santanina Rasul and Leticia Ramos-Shahani as "Filipina Icons" – but it was mostly about her mother (bworldonline.com).
CNN Philippines came up with 219 words but not much about what the former Senator meant to the Philippines and to the world.
GMA News came up with 335 words, another uninteresting news report, but at least Anna Felicia Bajo mentioned that Shahani is "credited for initiating and advocating for the Moral Recovery Program, which is aimed at integrating ethical values into nation building and government" (gmanetwork.com). Don't we need that today!
InterAksyon had 224 words, but not an inviting reading either. It merely said that she "was a foreign policy expert."
Rappler had 139 words, and all it could say was that Shahani was a "respected politician" (rappler.com).
The Manila Bulletin came out with 177 words on her death. Scrimping on a national – and international – personality even after her death.
The Manila Times had 193 words written by Jeff Antiporda, nothing said about any outstanding achievement of Shahani (manilatimes.net).
In all those sad-to-say reports, the news read like an obituary that was so expensive they had to scrimp on the number of words!
So, I will have to move out of Facebook and google for more reports on Shahani.
Inquirer had 237 words, with text as lackluster as the title, "Former Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani passes away" (KS, 20 March 2017, newsinfo.inquirer.net). No mention of any outstanding achievement, or contribution to Philippine society.
A badly written news report came out of OFW Newsfeed (ofwnewsfeed.com). But there, I caught an interesting statement from Shahani herself when she won as Senator:
(I as) Senator cannot just be a class legislator. I also wanted to help the youth, the farmers, the men, the people, in general. There is, indeed, a plethora of choices for an incoming Senator. Although I was not just a Senator for women, I never forgot that women’s issues were my priority.
"Women's issues were my priority" – not the sole concern. But the reporter did not pursue the matter further; what were the other priorities? In fact, that quote came under the subtitle "A girl of many hats." Why did not the reporter ask about her many talents, or do research on them?
The reporter reproduced a boxed quote with Shahani saying:
We cannot create anything substantial and profound, especially in government and politics, unless the moral and spiritual values of honesty, cooperation and respect for each other's human rights are the foundation of our endeavors.
I know she had wanted a moral and spiritual renewal of the Filipinos nationwide. But the report did not weigh that in.
Politics.com was more resourceful than the other Philippine media combined. It collected thoughts from quite a few well-known people who admired Shahani.
Grace Poe: Ngayong araw, nawalan tayo ng isang matatag na tagapagtaguyod ng karapatan ng kababaihan, isang pursigidong maka-kalikasan at isang bihasang diplomat. Mula sa kanyang mahabang karera sa ugnayang panlabas hanggang sa panahon niya sa Senado, ipinakita ni Manang Letty kung paano dapat ang serbisyo publiko: tapat, buhay na buhay, at natatangi. Inspirasyon siya sa maraming henerasyon ng kababaihan dahil sa kanyang hindi natitinag na prinsipyo at tiyak na aksiyon. (My translation: Today, we lost a steadfast advocate of women's rights, a fervent environmentalist and a seasoned diplomat. From her long career in foreign service up to her time at the Senate, Big Sis Letty showed how public service should be: honest, very much alive, and special. She was an inspiration to many generations of women because of her steadfast principles and concrete acts.)
Loren Legarda: One of the finest and distinguished legislators we ever had. As a legislator, diplomat, environmentalist, educator, culture and women’s rights advocate, she fervently pushed for women empowerment both here and in the international arena. Manang Letty, thank you for your untiring service to the Filipino nation.
JV Ejercito: She will always be remembered for championing women's rights.
Nancy Binay: An exemplary diplomat, an outstanding legislator, and a remarkable Filipina who Filipinas can look up to.
Gregorio Honasan: Senator "Manang Letty" Shahani was a public servant, patriot and statesman whose professionalism, integrity and competence transcended the many administrations she worked with. We wish her Godspeed as she journeys to everlasting life in our Lord's bosom. She will forever live in the hearts of the Filipino people she loved and served.
Tito Sotto: Principal author of the anti-rape bill, was an excellent legislator. I enjoyed every minute of my debates with her! God Bless her!
Risa Hontiveros: Our great elder sister, Letty Ramos Shahani, respected woman Sen & champion of mental health.
Erin Tañada: A colleague of my Tatay, Sen Bobby Tañada, first batch of Senators after EDSA 1...an advocate of women's rights.
Teddy B Baguilat: Founder of @PLCPD1989 and one of the greatest champions of Reproductive Health.
Roilo Golez: Stateswoman, diplomat and a good citizen of the Philippines.
Manuel L Quezon III: She served the Republic faithfully and well.
Renato Reyes Jr: Staunch advocate of an independent foreign policy vs foreign dictates.
Rafael Alunan III: She lived a moral and selfless life of service. Thank you Ma'am for all the good you did for the country and for humanity.
Surprise! In just 67 words, Malacañang gave the most intelligent summary of Senator Shahani's life, saying:
The Palace is saddened by the news of former senator and career diplomat Leticia Ramos Shahani’s passing this morning. ¶ Senator Shahani served the nation well as Senator of the Republic and worked tirelessly in the executive branch in various capacities under different administrations. ¶ Our condolences and prayers to the family and friends of the former Senator. She was a profound humanist and her voice will be missed.
I must congratulate Malacañang spokesman Ernesto Abella for coming out with those precious few gems of wisdom on Leticia Ramos-Shahani.
No, none other of those stories from those media sources is a tribute to a star that has fallen and yet shines brightly.
Finally, I can share something. Roger Daranciang and I saw her at her hideaway Bahay Kubo in Urdaneta City on 17 December 2016, where among other things, she signed documents as Chair of the Danggay Foundation, and where now I am the President (see my essay, "My Warrior Princess: Leticia Ramos-Shahani," 18 December 2016, Common Cause, blogspot.in). "Danggay Foundation is my legacy," she told us; she meant in Asingan, Pangasinan, her hometown. "Keep it alive. Don't let it die." We promised her, "No Ma'am, we won't."
Do you celebrate a death? No, you celebrate a life! And Leticia Ramos-Shahani was so extraordinary she deserves a series on her life by Philippine media. Today, all our journalists have been caught sleeping on the job! @
20 March 2017. Total word count, excluding this line. 1314
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