Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Why I asked President Aquino if it was true he played video games during the Manila bus hostage crisis last year

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By Raïssa Robles

Some have criticized me for asking such a trivial and dated question of President Benigno Aquino. They said the hostage taking of Hong Kong tourists was over a year ago and there are far more important and urgent topics to ask a president besides video games.

I disagree and I would like to explain why.

Before I go on, I’d like to say that I am thankful that this time, the uproar over my video game question was not as loud and as angry as when I had asked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo about sex nine years ago.

And this time, I can explain myself over the internet.

Why did I use the historic occasion of a Philippine head of state meeting with the foreign press after a five-year snub from Malacañang Palace?

Shouldn’t I have used my rare chance to ask him about corruption or the economy?

I did ask him about corruption, before that question on video games and on his ideal woman. Others before – and after me – grilled him extensively about the economy and his programs of government.  I decided, therefore, to explore new territory.

At breakfast today, when my hubby Alan and I were doing a post-mortem analysis of what had taken place yesterday, he reminded me:

When a government official shows up in a press conference like that, the goal of his team is not to answer questions but to manage the image, the truth, the news. They are not there to answer questions frankly, but with an objective in mind – to spin and build an image.

President Benigno Aquino is grilled by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines - PHOTO by Raissa Robles

Why my question is not dated

Filipinos would rather bury the Luneta bus hostage taking as part of our sordid past.

But remember, this was a meeting of Aquino with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) and I was there to represent my newspaper South China Morning Post, Hong Kong’s foremost English language newspaper and the oldest news daily in Asia.

In Hong Kong, the bus hostage taking continues to be a hot button issue especially because no one has been convicted in court for the hostage rescue fiasco.

And why I asked

I have long read on Facebook, Twitter and blogs about allegations that PNoy was playing video games on that day, to relieve stress while waiting out the crisis. But I have never been able to confirm these.

That PNoy plays video games is also one of the issues constantly being raised against him.

Here’s one dated over a year ago:

Video Games - addict

During the presidential campaign last year, Philippine Star columnist Carmen Navarro-Pedrosa had raised his playing video games as one of the arguments that he was unfit to become president. Pedrosa mentioned that PNoy lacked the drive and the ambition to do something with his life. All he did was play Sony PSP (Play Station Portable) when he was in Boston back in 1982, Pedrosa said.

Unfortunately, her narrative does not match reality. The Sony PSP was first introduced to the market only in 1994.

Unwittingly, PNoy himself gave life to the issue when, during the same campaign, he told  Philippine Star that video games had become his way of unwinding since he could no longer play billiards and do practical shooting. Here’s the link to Aurea Calica’s article.

This video game meme – or idea that is passed electronically from one internet user to another – continues to this day.

Only last week October 4, Manila Standard Today columnist Jojo Robles wrote this piece below about President Aquino taking time out of a state visit to go to Akihabara – Tokyo’s electronic goods quarter – to buy a gaming console. See  below:

Video-Games-WEB--Jojo-Roble

Here’s the link to the article. 

Alan and I both believe that the video game question is part of a systematic campaign against PNoy. Alan said it best when he told me this morning:

The question goes into the heart of a systematic campaign that’s being waged against the president, to deprecate his image, to systematically belittle him.

Because these stories are being invented. This video game meme has been with him since the start of his campaign. It’s not as if it popped up from nowhere. People are always calling it up, digging it up.

PNoy’s political enemies cannot get him on corruption. So they try to get him on the following:

His smoking – which I discussed earlier in my article – Awful but genuine President Noynoy Aquino photo goes viral on the web

His mental fitness – which I discussed in my articles:

PNoy haters continue to call President Aquino ‘Abnoy’

Part 1 – Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is “autistic”? Here’s the proof

Lately, rumors have even started about his women. But that’s for another piece.

Alan noted:

These are all constants.

If somebody were to pass a rumor that the president was an alien and has 3 tentacles at the back, I wouldn’t probably use that. But this story (of PNoy playing video games while Hong Kong tourists cowered in a bus) is very specific and there is a very specific overall, overarching concept behind it. The concept is to try to diminish the presidency by showing he is childish, incompetent and immature.

That’s why I asked. And PNoy gave a direct answer, denying he played video games during the hostage taking crisis.

As for playing video games per se, he avoided answering that. Not because he had something to hide but because, I think, he had learned not to answer certain questions that would give life to further rumors and innuendoes.

 

Comments

  1. Actually you and Carmen Pedrosa are both wrong, while the original Sony Playstation was
    released in 1994, its pocket version the Sony Playstation Portable or the PSP mentioned was released in 2004.

    But I guess I know too much about video games, I shouldn’t be able to spell and I am very lazy. This post does not actually exist. ;)

      • Yes, Sony’s website is correct. Sony Playstation was released in 1994, Playstation Portable in 2004 :)

      • Someone already told you that what you wrote is wrong and instead of correcting what was obviously a mistake, you became defensive.

        I understand if you don’t know the difference between a Sony Playstation console and Portable Sony Playstation (PSP), but if somebody corrects you, please take the time to check your source carefully. You’re no gaming expert, so at least have the humility to accept mistakes in that topic.

        It’s already there in the link that you provided. To make it easier for you:

        1994/12/03 – PlayStation® [SCPH-1000] introduced. (RRP 39,800 Yen)
        2004/12/12 – PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) “Black” [PSP-1000] introduced. (RRP 20,790 Yen, including tax)
        PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) Value Pack “Black” [PSP-1000K] introduced. (RRP 26,040 Yen, including tax)

        So, I hope you correct your blog entry.

        • No mea culpa after two years? Konting humility naman dyan, Ms Robles. This will make us respect you more. Everybody makes mistakes anyway.

  2. Nothing wrong w/ you asking the video-playing question. There are certain things we need to know about our President and his competence to rule the country – not that playing video games makes him incompetent. What was just annoying about the question was how you asked it. You have this way of asking questions that is pa-cute or pa-inosente, it doesn’t sound appropriate for a grown woman, let alone a veteran journalist such as yourself. That’s all. But thanks for asking the President that question.

    • Sorry I’m not a man with a command voice.

      Hmmm. I didn’t know my voice was cute and innocent.

      Thanks for enlightening me.

      • I had admired raissa’s journalism but not this one. . . It’s an UNNECESSARY Question asked at the wrong place at a wrong time. . . It’s hard to understand even with your explanation does not satisfy me at all. . . There is malice – so what is the intention..? ? ?

        • You’re very right Mark! Raissa is a very good journalist, but whoever put her up to ask that question (even, it seems, her own self), had a very malicious intent of proving guilt, or suggesting a pejorative, by disguised innuendo/ suggestion … it’s like asking someone “is it true that you are a wife-beater, and that you kicked the dog when you got home last night?”

  3. Timing is important. . . Right question is important in order to get correct answer. . . I can see an intention of humiliating the President at that event where questions like that was inappropriate. . . Inappropriate in the sense that PNoy in front of international Press was selling our country, spreading the good news about the Philippines and then suddenly a question like that was raised. . . The question is valid but not at that time. If not to humiliate the President or Discredit him, what else could be your point in raising that question? When he did not answer your question and showed some irritation what did you felt? Where your questions answered? First it was unfounded, second, you personally wouldn’t think of that situation, lastly, he won’t do it even if he wanted to. . . . . PRESS FREEDOM should be used wisely. . .

  4. i commend you for asking those questions….have those questions been answered truthfully, the persistent rumors about the president’s “addiction” to video games that results in his tardiness and incompetence would have been cleared.

  5. The president is a public figure. His every act is scrutinized and reported by the media as it impacts the state of the country and the country’s image in the world stage. To expose the real President Noynoy Aquino where he is most vulnerable, Raissa’s courage to ask “surprise questions” that can put her outside the “in group of palace pundits” has to be highly appreciated and we should be grateful for it. I really do.

  7. Bravo Raissa. Whatever the effect, your question was valid. And frankly,I would have asked it myself. In short, parang naka scoop ka lang. Your hubby is also correct. Image. Spin. Projection. Not the truth!

    • Every individual has his on way of coping with pain or stress. I, for instance, would go inside my room, try to be alone while in prayer to find wisdom to overcome pressing problem. Often, my wife would notice how I seem to chop the wall with my bare hand continuously beside our bed while lying down (without the intention of course of breaking the wall. It was only as if I am exercising to harden my hand.) .
      I never remember finding any gadget to play with my fingers to release any tension. Growing up in an environment of just living within the small means may have help me find a way to relieve me from my unwanted fate.
      So, I would understand it if in the midst of Hong Kong tourists incidents, P’noy would look for ways of easing himself while waiting for feed backs from those he thought who were commissioned to handle the case properly and professionally.
      What you did however, is something to be proud of.

  8. Why can’t you just allow our president to be a normal human being? I’m sick & tired of media that is just waiting to see every mistake, every act that can possibly be turned into a scandal. For what purpose, other than to turn readers’ attention to themselves! Stop it you vultures!! This is not hollywood, star cinema or the buzz!! Our president is trying to run the country & not to look good for your benefit. Focus on the positive naman!

    • I find it highly interesting that different people can look at the same thing and come to opposite conclusions.

    • Miss Cory, I am on your side with what you said.
      However, our environment was build like a business corporation where every establishment expect its employees from top to bottom or from the rank and file to produce the goods at an optimum if not maximum efficiency.
      There fore, the system is not all eyes 24/7 on the good score that you are expected to give because you are being paid for that. So, often that you may never receive even a pat on the shoulder for a job well done yet one mistake may even cost your employment. That is how are brought into this world.
      And our media mostly making more money in exposing scandals than reporting good works all the time,
      Still, I cannot put the blame on the media on it completely but the larger market who prefer to hear about gossips and scandals rather what is good.

  9. I saw the press conference. But was not paying close attention. However I did feel uncomfortable when I saw you ask the question. I know your intention was good. Maybe the timing was off. Maybe you could have asked that question after someone else asked trivia. Or maybe it was the way you phrased the question, maybe you didn’t put it in the context you do now. But it’s good you asked the question because we heard the answer from the president himself. Now we’ve heard his unequivocal answer. Unfortunately the matter will not be laid to rest. Professional black propagandists will simply ignore his answer and continue pushing their meme.

    • I agree with this observation. I thought “at last somebody was willing to ask the President about playing video games.”. Unfortunately, I think Ms. Robles did not articulate the question very well, thus the diminished impact. Actually I thought the issue was trivialized because of the poor delivery of the question.

      Ma’am Raissa, I hope I’m not being rude by saying I was quite disappointed hearing you say (on your interview with Tony Velasquez) that you asked the question straight, I honestly do not believe you did. I think you skirted the question by asking if PNoy liked playing video games and further lost the impact of the question by stating “examples” of video games. I was hoping for a more direct “Mr. President, are the constant social media rumors about you losing sleep over video games true?” Simple and direct to the point.

      But having said that, thank you still for having the guts to ask that question.

      Btw, I was a really disappointed by your other question about PNoy’s taste in women. As they say, “gasgas na gasgas na ‘yon”. I actually thought that was cheap shot. I don’t think it is proper, regardless of the times, to ask someone, President or not, such questions in public. I believe it is about time Philippine Media becomes more mature. There are a whole lot more important questions to ask a president. Save those questions for when PNoy guests for one of those showbiz programs.

      • Don’t base it on my interview with Tony Velasquez. Base it on the actual questions I asked. .

        I prefaced the actual question on video games with the Luneta bus hostage incident. That was the context of the question. Was he playing video games at any point that day? Because that is the charge circulating in the internet.

        You suggested I ask: “Mr. President, are the constant social media rumors about you losing sleep over video games true?”

        Here’s the problem with that question. He could answer “no” but you wouldn’t know if he means he doesn’t lose sleep over video games because he plays them at daytime; or his usual sleeping time is really late and so he doesn’t really lose sleep over it; or he doesn’t play video games, period.

        As for PNoy’s women, I will disagree with you na gasgas na gasgas na yon. Shalani was one of his secret weapons during the elections. If she had broken up with him during that period, his candidacy would have been sunk.

        He’s the first bachelor president of the Philippines. The world is watching. It’s interested. You’re interested.

        Besides, before you judge me, you should have listened to all the other questions being asked that day. When you are a journalist in a forum like that you try to see what the others are asking. And you try to balance that with other types of quesitons. I noticed that no one was asking human interest questions. Usually, in the past, the late Nelly Sindayen of Time magazine and Barbara Mae Dacanay of Gulf News would ask these questions. But Barbara did not seem to be there that day. And so I did.

        Asking questions is just the first step in a journalist’s job. The next step is writing. Judge me on what I write.

        • It is simply painful to gain criticism to a mistake that you did. Yes you did. You just asked a question incorrectly and you should have known what kind of reaction you would get each time you ask question. It doesn’t make sense defending yourself. Such question does not suit to the occasion, I might sympathize with you if internet wasn’t your source and you did some verification first before asking it first hand to PNOY. EPIC FAIL. make it better next time because readers are well aware of the journalist’s intentions. . .

        • The best verification was the president himself.

          My example coming from the monk was just one of the comments, meant to illustrate the reports and the rumors.

          I’d like to see YOU ask.

        • Asking about playing video games at the height of hostage crisis? Yes he is fond of playing video games, that’s true. . . but during his free time or his way to relax.

          Do you sincerely believe that he played video games at that time? Was your source reliable enough to humiliate a President at such occasion? Or, maybe you’d really like him being humiliated because that’s what your Chinese counterparts wants to see. . ? It was a valid question however at a wrong place and time. . . I repeat – What was your Intention of HUMILIATING the PRESIDENT..?

  11. I agree with you 100%. Yung mga detractors ni Pnoy, laging sinasabi na wala raw ginagawa, tamad daw, addicted daw sa video games – all without any solid proof. Iyon yung laging pinag-uusapan all over the net etc, but not in these kinds of forums. It’s about time someone addressed the elephant in the room.

  12. Ms. Robles gave us the link to a Philstar report in which PNoy admitted that he played video games to relax. Yet PNoy barefacedly told Arnold Clavio that he NEVER played video games in his life! So who’s lying? Ms. Robles has become a shameless apologist for PNoy.

    • Give me the URL to Arnold Clavio’s interview.

      I am just stating what I’ve found out.

      Would an apologist ask a question that the subject would find insulting?

      • Yes, I was able to watch that on TV, when Noynoy told Arnold Clavio that he never played computer games. Blatant lie.

    • actually, he said he’s never played PSP. that is one of many different consoles.

      so he may still play video games, but NOT the PSP.

      i agree 100% w pnoy. this is a non-issue. everyone unwinds, and if its video games, so be it.

      his strategy is also right — when he was running, its ok to answer these private lifestyle questions to humanize him. now that he’s president, no longer running, there is no point.

        • There is no PSP in 1982, baka ATARI pa! Correction Miss Raissa or according to you from miss pedrosa’s column during the 2010 elections. Matindi ka talaga, pinahiya mo si Presidente sa harap ng madla! lagot ka!

        • So you’d rather I don’t ask him questions that a lot of people on the internet keep talking about? That actually contributes to lowering his popularity and trust rating?

          It’s a journalist’s job to ask these questions, I feel.

          But that’s only half of the job. the other half is the writing.

        • Oh no. . . Raissa better be mindful in everything you do. Hey, it’s not yet too late to clean up. . . Look, yesterday u were clean now you’re tainted. . . That mistake is not worth defending for. Accept and Move-on. . . Just do better next time. . .

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