ANG HAGUPIT NI YOLANDA AYON SA MEDIA: The Significance of the Agenda-Setting function of television news media networks as depicted through the Typhoon Haiyan coverage of ABS-CBN Channel 2
Conde, Elyse Rafaela A.
University of the Philippines – Diliman
“ANG HAGUPIT NI YOLANDA AYON SA MEDIA: The Significance of the Agenda-Setting function of television news media networksas depicted through the Typhoon Haiyan coverage of ABS-CBN Channel 2”
Remember, remember the 8th of November!
On the fateful day of November 8, 2013, the whole world was taken aback by the immensely terrifying onslaught of typhoon Yolanda;leaving most, if not all, Filipinos in utter disbelief and shock at the enormity and extent of one of the greatest tropical cyclones ever documented in the Philippines. As it approached the country at a wind speed of approximately 195 mph, the cyclone first made landfall on Guiuan, Eastern Samar; makingits way toward several other parts of Central Visayas, including Cebu (Bantayan Island), Ormoc, Leyte (Tacloban), Surigao, and Capiz, among many other localities. Apart from the torrential rainfall, storm surges of 13 – 19 feet were recorded in different parts of Visayas, causing significant damage to property and extensive loss of life.
In its wake, typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) left at least 6,300 fatalities[1], 28,689 injured, 1,061 missing; totaling to about PHP 89,598,068,634.88 in damages. Its cataclysmic effects not only seized and destroyed the lives and livelihoods of those affected, but paralyzed practically the whole country as it struggled to respond and provide immediate relief to the latter.[2]It would appear later on that no one was supposedlythat prepared to face the aftermath of the super storm, with numerous cadavers and immeasurable debris scattered and spread all over the affected provinces; a horrendous sight that welcomed all who came in to lend their helping hands.
[1] The casualty count remains unclear, with victims of the disaster estimating at least 10,000 were dead in Tacloban, Leyte alone. (Wikipedia)
[2](Pangco-Panares, 2013)