'Hello/Roger,' dokumentaryo ni Mav Gonzales | I-Witness
Aired (January 27, 2024): Sa panahon ng makabagong teknolohiya, naiwan ang isang komunidad na ang paraan para maging konektado sila sa isa’t isa ay ang paggamit ng two-way radio.
Alamin natin ang kanilang kuwento sa pinakabagong dokumentaryo ni Mav Gonzales.
#HelloRoger
#IWitness
Alamin natin ang kanilang kuwento sa pinakabagong dokumentaryo ni Mav Gonzales.
#HelloRoger
#IWitness
Transcript
00:00 May 2017, the Mauti group attacked Marawi City.
00:20 The Mauti brothers and their members are allies of the International Terrorist Group ISIS
00:26 or Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
00:30 They burned the houses of the civilians
00:39 and in all events, the main communication between the soldiers, civilians
00:46 and the news broadcasters inside the war zone was the two-way radio.
00:53 Suddenly, the radio became noisy.
00:57 Then the shots followed. It was noisy.
01:01 According to the provincial government of Lanao del Sur,
01:10 the two-way radio also became an instrument in the military's well-planned strategy.
01:16 Since the radio is open, there are no restrictions.
01:20 Anyone can talk.
01:22 The government side, negotiators and the Mauti members,
01:28 can talk during the shooting.
01:30 Some say, "I will shoot this."
01:33 Yes, it's live because there are no limits.
01:36 There are instances like that.
01:38 The government sector identified the frequency of the other side
01:46 and monitored it 24/7.
01:50 The headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines did not sign
01:55 the LGU's statement of Lanao del Sur.
01:58 But the two-way radio's role did not end with these riots.
02:06 In a time when almost everyone is dependent and dependent on their cellphones,
02:12 a nearby community was left without it.
02:19 And in their daily lives,
02:21 the word "Hello" is more often used.
02:26 Hello.
02:29 Roger.
02:31 Seven years after the Marawi siege,
02:37 Ground Zero was like a ghost town.
02:46 The noise and chaos were far from the forces of the terrorists and the government.
02:53 The only thing that reminds the people of this town
03:00 are the bullet holes in the abandoned houses.
03:04 The noise that you usually hear now
03:10 is the static of the two-way radio.
03:16 [Radio broadcast]
03:18 The Marawi was not disturbed,
03:29 but the monitoring and reporting of various radio groups in the area was still ongoing.
03:34 The largest two-way radio group in Lanao del Sur
03:43 is the Saksi Islamic Radio Forum.
03:46 And it is estimated that 50,000 people are listening and monitoring them.
03:52 We named this group Saksi
04:00 because we really want to be a witness.
04:03 Whatever we observe, we see.
04:07 For example, if something happens there,
04:10 if there is an accident, a gunshot, or something like that,
04:13 we have to propagate, we have to pronounce to the radio.
04:18 Because the Saksi Islamic Radio Forum is the partner of the local government of the province of Lanao del Sur.
04:26 From their group, a community newsroom was formed with news anchors.
04:33 But their news is not on TV or radio.
04:38 It is on two-way radio.
04:40 From the morning, they have different programs and newscasters.
04:45 [Radio broadcast]
04:47 Two-way radio in Lanao del Sur uses thousands of people.
04:52 It's like a cell phone that you can use to get information when you go outside.
04:56 There are municipalities that don't have signals, cell sites.
05:01 So it's really hard to communicate.
05:04 So we rely on two-way radio.
05:06 Although there came a time here in Marawi City,
05:09 that was in the 80s when we had a landline,
05:12 but there were financial challenges in maintaining that, so it was lost.
05:16 So it's good that we had a cell phone.
05:18 Unfortunately, not all cell sites reach far-flung areas.
05:24 So throughout Mindanao, communication in Lanao del Sur was really left behind.
05:34 One of the reasons why the province's security was slow to develop.
05:40 Maybe because of peace and order situations.
05:45 Like, I remember during the Marawi siege,
05:48 the cell site was one of the places where the Maute group went during the siege.
05:54 So the communication there was cut, the signals.
05:58 So that's one challenge actually for us.
06:00 So that's why we turned to two-way radio.
06:04 The peace and order situation is really challenging.
06:08 That's why the information is nationalized here.
06:13 Even though the listeners can report.
06:16 We have people in different areas.
06:21 If there's a fire or an accident,
06:25 they call us right away and announce it to our frequency.
06:29 If we hear it, we immediately respond.
06:33 In the reception of witnesses,
06:35 different items like IDs, passports, wallets, and money are brought.
06:41 What's lost and found here is also through two-way radio.
06:45 While we were in their office,
06:53 a driver arrived to report.
06:57 This driver was the one who left my car.
07:01 He was in an illegal vehicle.
07:03 He was going to Balue.
07:05 So I checked, there were passports,
07:08 and here, some items.
07:12 What was the item?
07:14 A bag of cigarettes.
07:16 A bag of cigarettes.
07:18 And the body and the passenger were brought to Marawi.
07:22 Illegal.
07:23 Illegal city.
07:24 And we brought it in a cartoon bag.
07:28 It fell.
07:29 Within a few minutes,
07:32 thousands of people from Lanao del Sur were informed.
07:36 In 1886,
07:40 German physicist Heinrich Hertz discovered
07:43 what's called wireless waves or electromagnetic waves.
07:47 It became an instrument to build a wireless telegraph,
07:52 radio and television.
07:54 The PDRRMO,
08:04 or Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Lanao del Sur,
08:09 also uses two-way radio.
08:14 I only use the radio for work,
08:18 when I'm in a rescue or disaster.
08:20 If there's a fire,
08:22 they'll call us on the frequency.
08:24 The radio is fast.
08:26 "Hey, there's a fire here.
08:29 We need this.
08:31 Firefighters, rescuers."
08:33 In 24/7 monitoring of PDRRMO
08:40 in so many available frequencies,
08:43 and personal life,
08:48 sometimes, it even goes through the radio.
08:51 Because the frequency is free,
08:54 it's now more than 2,000.
08:58 As long as there's a two-way radio,
09:02 you can talk to anyone.
09:09 "What's your name, sir?"
09:10 "It starts with, say for example,
09:13 a friend, who you don't know.
09:15 You have two friends, and suddenly, someone interrupts.
09:18 Until such time, it will evolve
09:20 that we'll just make a group.
09:22 To establish that group,
09:24 they'll have an eyeball.
09:25 When you say eyeball,
09:26 it's a personal that they'll meet in person.
09:28 Then, they'll establish the group.
09:30 There will be a membership.
09:32 Eventually, it will increase."
09:34 And when it comes to eyeball,
09:38 this is where it gets messy.
09:40 "Miss Tommy."
09:42 "My miss, yes, yes."
09:44 "Maybe it's a scam on your face.
09:46 You thought you were handsome.
09:48 No."
09:49 These stories are what relieves their fatigue
09:56 and helps ease the problem,
09:58 especially in their work.
10:00 In the more remote town of Picom,
10:08 this is a necessity.
10:12 It takes more than an hour to get here from Marawi.
10:16 When it comes to the barangays by the sea,
10:27 the cell phones are no longer working.
10:30 So almost all the residents here
10:35 are holding radios.
10:38 "This one."
10:39 Most of the residents here rely on fishing and farming.
10:50 The small two-way radio costs from P700 to P1,200
11:06 and the radio has 16 channels.
11:09 It's budget-friendly and user-friendly,
11:13 so it's a hit for the residents here,
11:15 just like the fisherman, Tata Ikay.
11:18 "But how can we help you
11:20 if you're in need of a radio?"
11:23 "For us,
11:25 when we go somewhere,
11:28 something happens.
11:31 So we can respond quickly
11:35 for emergencies."
11:37 "Like what?"
11:39 "When we're here in the sea,
11:41 when there's an emergency,
11:43 we can call home."
11:47 "Has that happened before,
11:50 when you're in an emergency in the sea?"
11:52 "Yes, it has."
11:54 "What happened?"
11:56 "When there's a big storm,
12:01 we can't go home."
12:04 "Do you have a cellphone?"
12:07 "No, I don't like phones."
12:10 "You don't like cellphones?"
12:12 "No, I don't."
12:13 "Because there's no signal here."
12:16 "No."
12:17 The residents here also have their own radio channel.
12:21 One of their main monitoring devices is the weather forecast.
12:28 "How many members do you have?"
12:30 "We have 20, 25, 30, 40.
12:36 It depends on the weather.
12:38 But if something happens to one of us,
12:42 we can help.
12:44 Because the organizations
12:47 can help each other."
12:56 The residents also have their own radio channel.
13:00 When father Kai got home,
13:05 we reached his wife who is a radio broadcaster.
13:11 It's hard to see and hear
13:15 the 77-year-old woman.
13:18 That's why she's been talking to the two-way radio for a long time.
13:24 "Final, over."
13:26 She tells stories to anyone listening to Frequency 833.
13:31 There's often a brownout here in Pico.
13:50 Father Kai relies on solar panels.
13:53 That's why he says the two-way radio is more practical.
13:56 Aside from not losing load
14:01 or not having to pay the bill every month.
14:04 That's why he's always talking to his wife.
14:10 But even though he's used to the two-way radio,
14:16 he still dreams of having a signal in their area.
14:20 There's a limitation in the distance
14:32 that can be reached by this type of radio.
14:35 It depends on the capacity and the size of the antenna.
14:38 Even in other countries,
14:43 cellphones can still reach the signal.
14:46 "You're a man, right?"
14:47 "I'm a man."
14:48 "I'm a woman, sir."
14:49 "You're a member of the group?"
14:51 In the neighboring barangay,
14:53 we reached the group of men and women who are talking.
14:58 They are members of two other radio groups in Pico.
15:02 They also have their own iBall event.
15:05 The women on Channel 10 are talking.
15:13 They call each other "sister".
15:15 Usually, they only hear each other's voices.
15:19 But today, they are meeting for a chat.
15:26 The president of the group, Omayra,
15:41 Women Empowerment is the goal of their organization.
15:44 Now, they have more than 50 members.
15:51 We don't talk about love life.
15:54 We talk about finding a way to live.
15:59 Because our organization has a cooperative.
16:05 We have monthly dues every month.
16:10 We have monthly dues.
16:13 Every three months,
16:15 they also have an iBall to meet each other.
16:19 They also have games when they meet each other.
16:28 "What do you feel when you meet each other for the first time?"
16:32 "Because you're used to only hearing voices from the radio, right?"
16:35 We're happy when we meet each other in person.
16:39 "Oh, so it's you."
16:41 "These people are not all neighbors."
16:45 "No, they're far away."
16:47 "So it's good that you have a long distance relationship."
16:51 "Yes, compared to cell phones, it's a problem."
16:55 "And there's no signal."
16:58 "This is better."
17:00 After the iBall,
17:02 Omayra's case is a business.
17:07 Their cooperative is far away,
17:09 so they have to use the radio.
17:12 Later, Omayra called their cooperative.
17:17 "Brother, how are you?"
17:19 "I'm fine."
17:21 "I'm going to pass the time."
17:31 "Okay."
17:34 "I'll call you at 3 o'clock."
17:39 But there's a chance that the signal is weak.
17:44 "Yes, the signal is weak."
17:46 "We're going to pass the time."
17:49 "Okay."
17:51 So they need a relay.
17:54 This is what they call a "medal man."
17:59 "You're a bad man. You're not a good operator."
18:04 Mr. Omayra, who is a retired Colonel Abing,
18:11 is led by the group of men.
18:15 They are in Channel 2.
18:17 Sir, in a small barangay,
18:20 do you really need a two-way radio
18:25 in the absence of cell phones?
18:29 This time,
18:30 in the absence of cell phones,
18:34 we really need a two-way radio.
18:37 We don't use it in the city.
18:40 We have a roll call every night
18:44 to the frequency members.
18:46 After the roll call,
18:48 there are Islamic education sessions.
18:52 If there's no one talking about Islamic education
18:57 or about the roll call,
18:59 some people wake up,
19:01 talk, joke around.
19:04 For the Pico family,
19:09 using a two-way radio is like a boat.
19:13 Every night,
19:15 they have a roll call of members.
19:18 It starts with reading the Quran.
19:21 Then,
19:24 each member is called by their name.
19:27 Okay, monitoring.
19:29 So, this is the same as the first two.
19:32 So, roll call.
19:34 One, three.
19:39 One, three.
19:43 Why do you think you have a roll call every day?
19:47 So that we can know the situation of the sisters every day.
19:51 Why do you need it?
19:53 It's like a celebration.
19:54 Like sisterhood.
19:57 Omaira says,
19:59 sometimes they have a maritess after the roll call.
20:03 Sometimes, we can't avoid the maritess.
20:06 What are you talking about?
20:09 Sometimes, it's fun to have a maritess.
20:15 Even if they live far from home,
20:18 they are still connected.
20:22 The two-way radio is located 5 kilometers away.
20:25 Colonel Abing of Antena built it
20:28 to make their radio louder.
20:31 He said that it cost 10,000 pesos.
20:34 But it's worth it
20:36 because they are also volunteer force multipliers in Pico.
20:40 Because the people in their area are quiet and small,
20:47 they rarely receive reports on the radio.
20:51 But this week,
20:52 they received a SOS.
20:55 Last year,
21:03 the two-way radio was used again by the people of Lanao del Sur
21:07 to bomb Mindanao State University in Marawi.
21:17 Using the two-way radio,
21:19 the news about the explosion spread quickly.
21:22 Within 10 minutes,
21:25 it became a scene for the entire city of Lanao del Sur to panic.
21:29 What was a bit conflicting was how many died.
21:32 They said 11, but actually, only 4.
21:34 So that's the information relayed over the radio
21:37 that 11 died, but actually, 4.
21:39 Because we have a two-way radio here, ma'am,
21:41 here in PIO.
21:43 So they said on the two-way radio,
21:46 that 11 died, but actually, 4.
21:47 But because the information is coming from different sources,
21:51 it's more dangerous to spread fake news.
21:54 There are so many groups,
21:56 two-way radio groups that have been formed since the 1980s.
22:00 The challenge is how can they come together
22:03 so that they can work together.
22:05 This program started,
22:07 unifying all these two-way radio groups.
22:10 It started after the siege
22:12 because we saw the need.
22:15 We saw the need during the siege.
22:16 And many were afraid
22:18 because of all the fake news that were being spread.
22:21 So we said, one way to counter this information
22:25 is to use the two-way radio groups
22:27 because they are the ones who can provide
22:30 the most extensive information all over Lanao del Sur.
22:33 Unfortunately, they are also the ones
22:35 who can give false news.
22:37 So we need to unify them
22:39 and to tell them that it's important to relay
22:43 the information for the development of the province
22:45 and for the safety of the people.
22:47 The National Telecommunications Commission
22:51 has licensed radio groups.
22:53 To better spread information
22:56 and to avoid fake news,
22:58 the coalition has formed
23:00 the Radio Groups of Lanao del Sur.
23:02 It is called the Coalition of Lanao Media and Radio Frequencies.
23:06 So this started in 2018, right after the siege,
23:09 when everybody was so vulnerable
23:12 and everyone was afraid.
23:13 So we needed to provide the right information.
23:15 During the rehabilitation, after the siege,
23:17 we planned to have a two-way radio media summit
23:22 here in Lanao del Sur.
23:24 The disinformation was so rampant.
23:26 For example, during COVID,
23:28 many said not to get vaccinated
23:30 because you'll become zombies.
23:32 Many people believed that.
23:34 So we needed to counter that.
23:36 Every member of the coalition
23:38 who lives in the municipality
23:41 was accredited
23:42 to their local government unit
23:44 so that all the news
23:46 can be received.
23:48 They are also the ones
23:50 who are in charge to avoid fake news.
23:52 Many were in danger
23:54 because of the misinformation.
23:56 We gave a suspension
23:58 to members of the SACSE Islamic Radio Forum
24:01 or to their frequencies.
24:03 From the big events
24:07 and the spreading of the right information,
24:10 the two-way radio plays an important role
24:13 in their daily lives.
24:16 They're on their bikes.
24:18 Just like Tatay Kai
24:20 who is preparing
24:22 with other fishermen in the sea.
24:24 It's almost 7 p.m.
24:26 It's so dark here in Picong.
24:28 The fishermen are about to go home.
24:30 Their main focus now
24:32 is the light and their two-way radio.
24:34 The fishermen's guide
24:36 is only available once a month
24:39 when they're in the sea.
24:40 That's why their radios are a big help
24:42 especially when the tide is high
24:44 or the weather is bad.
24:46 This is their only communication
24:48 in the sea
24:50 because they feel like they're fishing.
24:52 The two-way radio also works
24:57 in times of emergency.
24:59 Just this week,
25:05 a group received a report
25:08 from a nearby barangay.
25:09 An accident happened
25:13 in a barangay in Malabang
25:16 where a big tree fell
25:18 and the electricity cables
25:20 on the side of the road were damaged.
25:23 Because of the two-way radio,
25:25 the area was quickly responded to.
25:28 There's a signal in Marawi City
25:32 but many people still use the two-way radio
25:36 just like the residents of Picong
25:38 who have long been depending
25:40 on their two-way radio.
25:42 As long as there are many people on air
25:45 and many people monitoring the members,
25:48 the communication is really fast.
25:52 What we really want is
25:56 that it's not only the two-way radio
25:59 that will be the source of information.
26:01 We hope to have more cell sites
26:04 so that everyone can use their cell phones.
26:07 The members of the coalition
26:10 are trained to counter disinformation
26:15 because that's the biggest challenge here.
26:18 Even if you're far away,
26:21 we're still close
26:23 to the technology
26:25 like the telephone and cell phones.
26:27 But as time goes by,
26:32 the personal connection
26:34 and friendship between people
26:36 is gradually fading.
26:38 I hope that even if the residents of Picong
26:43 are leaving,
26:45 they can still keep their two-way radio
26:47 far from each other.
26:49 Good evening.
26:53 I am Mav Gonzalez
26:55 and this is "Eyewitness."
26:58 [Music]
27:20 (upbeat music)