What do you think about how the news affect us? ... huge fire destroys...
By laydee
@laydee (12798)
Philippines
April 25, 2010 7:56pm CST
I opened cnn.com today and found this news regarding a huge blaze destroying shanty Homes in Manila. (the News: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/04/25/philippines.fire/index.html?hpt=T1)
What had caught my eye was the estimate of damages. These were shanty homes and the estimated damage was $10M about P450M Philippine Peso. I thought, "That couldn't be right". Most of these homes are made of ply wood, boxes and other pieces of junk.
Do you think they're over estimating? Perhaps to get some funding or something?
Don't get me wrong, I am a Filipino, but that's well too much for a shanty town.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@cowboyofhell (3063)
• Philippines
26 Apr 10
I think not only the cost of homes were calculated but the cost of equipment and appliances that were burned alongside the shanty houses. Many have lost their belongings and one even said that what they were able to save were just their clothes. Washing machines, television, refrigerators, until slippers and foods stored that they weren't able to save must be included at the estimate.
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
26 Apr 10
These people are living in shanty houses. The ones that are piled up to each other. I doubt that they have a lot of appliances other than the usual small television, and electric fan.
Anyway, I do understand that though these people are living that way, they still have a life that's precious, I do understand that, but to estimate it at $10Million that is pretty huge. The same amount that could have given them new life (if they sold what they had).
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
29 Apr 10
Regardless, you cannot compare it to Hurricane Katrina because that involves the whole state, while we're talking about a street or a couple of homes here. I don't think they have insurance at all, not to mention that America has the same type of shantyhomes as those.
@cowboyofhell (3063)
• Philippines
26 Apr 10
CNN is an international news channel and because America is the one who watch the most, the estimate was based on the cost of damage as though the fire happened in America. Hurricane Katrina for instance cost them $81 billion so $10 million is way too small and therefore, accurate but biased when our country's tv station shown that amount.
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@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Laydee,
Such devastation includes a great deal more than just the value of the materials from which homes are built. Insurance companies decide the values, in most cases, and they take the most from those who can least afford it, so shanties are very valuable, indeed!
Shameful, isn't it?
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@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
29 Apr 10
Thanks for the reply, though, I don't think they are covered with insurance because insurance company don't cover such areas or situations (where houses are piled on top of the other), I should know because I'm a licensed insurance agent.
Though I could say that for the people who lived there, those were really valuable for them and the rest of their family.
@katumbal77 (29)
• Philippines
26 Apr 10
News media is one of the greates influences in our time. Try to think about it, how many politicians do we have that has news reproting experience. Compare them to politicians who actually have political science majors or backgrounds. Television and radio is quite influential. Come to think of it, people has always been attracted to entertainment to the point that they let entertainment rule their lives.
How many people did they say die because of the song "My Way"? And how many lives and reputation ruined because of erroneous reporting of news? And how many successful campaigns do we have because of news propagation. We came to learn about a lot of things, current events and the like because of the news.
News media is a very powerful tool. We hope that it is not abused by our fellowmen. Although we know it has already been abused. God bless those with good intentions.
1 person likes this
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
26 Apr 10
It's really true that most people let entertainment and the media control their lives. I could remember my late grandmother who's suddenly become overly worried and stressed out because she spent her days watching the news and reading the newspapers.
I think these people have got to take it easy with the newsreporting. It's not causing entertainment anymore, they're causing fear to most of the readers and watchers.
Which is why, I only choose what to read and watch about. I couldn't do anything about these situations either.
@LillyBelleDaisyRose (285)
• United States
26 Apr 10
I think the news likes to over estimate things because they want ratings. It's like how they can only focus on anything negative. It's pathetic and I find it sad that we as people find the bad things and the over exaggerated things so interesting. I truly believe if the media said something good or focused on the good then we would be happier people. We would be much more pleasent. Don't get me wrong there is bad in the world.. bad things happen everyday but I believe the good out wieghs the bad always. Good triumphs over evil always
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
26 Apr 10
I truly believe if the media said something good or focused on the good then we would be happier people. We would be much more pleasant.
True enough, if only they could find ways to look into positive things more than the bad things.
I could even recall back then when they've exaggerated things about the city where I am in, to the point that people think that we're living on trees or something and that we're carrying grenades everyday. Whew! It was pretty funny that people don't really know the real thing because of the lies of the media.
