Filipino journalists went to Israel and were immediately attacked with criticism. The strongest attacks were from fellow media practitioners who have never been to Israel. The nineteen journalists took a great risk in seeking the truth.
The criticism did not stop there. They even went against those who supported their actions. Including Gretchen Ho’s sentiment and her trip to Israel.
“Never pay any attention to what critics say. Remember, a statue has never been set up in honour of a critic!” – Jean Sibelius
The Embassy of Israel in the Philippines invited these journalists on a sponsored trip. A fanciful offer to experience and see Israel for themselves, which looks like a media junket for the untrained eye. Yet, the Israeli Embassy can rest assured that they will write anything they want.
The same path that Marie Colvin took in the spirit of journalism. The celebrated war correspondent took sanctioned trips to Libya that helped her career in foreign reporting. Unlike her, these Filipino journalists faced criticism not from authoritarians but from professional critics.
“We always have to ask ourselves whether the level of risk is worth the story.” – Marie Colvin
The Filipino journalists took the risk, hopeful to get a story out of the trip. So far, the journalists’ trip has gotten more than what they expected. Unlike Eric Lafforgue on a guided tour of North Korea. Lafforgue got banned for the candid capture of North Korea.
The bunch of Filipinos on a bus to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Not referring to the “Boys on the Bus” or “Girls on the Bus” but a bunch of various age groups. Journalists from Baby Boomers to Gen Z get to pry around on the streets of Israel.
Their prying around led them to bump into other kabababayans. Filipinos are definitely all over the world when you bump into one. The bunch of journalists met Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and even residents in Israel.
The Filipinos on the bus got more than they bargained for. They were at the border of Israel, where the last conflict started. The journalists were 1.2 kms away from the Gaza Strip. They also visited the Lebanon and Syrian separation at 1.8 kms.
The bunch of journalists met with the Palestinians living in Israel. Unforgettable interaction with the Yemenites, Bedouins, and Muslims in the market area. Finding out the rich culture of Israel along with its Jewish and Christian heritage.
This is why journalists take the risk to actually be there rather than prying around on social media. A clear distinction between media practitioners and journalists. Travel is an important tool to give clarity to the truthfulness of the context. Ending on a Mark Twain quote:
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.” – Mark Twain
While they made the choice, they came to understand it.
