(mis)Communication Group

Columnist Danny Fajardo opines that “when you engage in bizarre and blatant display of extreme extravagance, such as procuring overpriced laptop computers for the Palace communications group without the mandatory bidding, a berating is what you deserve—courtesy of a woman named Mitos. Time to move on and look for another job.”

When asked if he was doing a good job in messaging shortly after receiving a severe tongue-lashing from feisty Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay last Thursday, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) Secretary Ricky Carandang was quoted as saying that “the issue is a matter of opinion.”



Excuse me, Mr. Carandang, but I beg to differ.



You see, it is not a matter of perception on whether you are doing a good job in putting across the message of President Benigno Aquino III for his beloved countrymen.



Communication is simply the activity of conveying meaningful information.



Ergo, you know when you are doing a good job when the people understand the message, and when they accept the message you are sending simply as facts and not propaganda.



When they acknowledge your message as the truth, well then, brownie points for you. You’ve served your master well.



But when your actions get in the way, when you issue scathing remarks not sanctioned by the President, when you breed animosity by making inflammatory statements, when you make sarcastic answers to questions addressed to you by an elected official—vituperation from your colleagues is just around the corner.



When you engage in bizarre and blatant display of extreme extravagance, such as procuring overpriced laptop computers for the Palace communications group without the mandatory bidding, a berating is what you deserve—courtesy of a woman named Mitos. Time to move on and look for another job.



For the likes of you, an appointed official, your own opinions have no place if not sanctioned by the President.



You represent the President. And whatever comes out of your mouth, whatever actions you beget, should all be for the good of the Chief Executive’s office.



Other than this, anything else is considered an impediment to what you are supposed to deliver.



Mr. Carandang, you are supposed to build bridges not burn them.



Your office should be a source of enlightenment and understanding.



Not a provenience of confusion and even embarrassment on the part of the President.



You, being a mouthpiece, when people see and hear you speak, they should see and hear the President.



Bottomline—the communication process is complete once the receiver has understood the message of the sender. The sender in this case is the President and not you, Mr. Carandang. Your sole role is that of facilitator.



Indeed, the question begs an answer, courtesy of Carandang, as raised by Rep. Magsaysay: What is the mandate of your office, and how is this different from the functions of Undersecretary Manolo Quezon, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, his deputy Abigail Valte and even Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma.



Your horde should be doing a good job considering your numbers.



But in any case, when it is not Lacierda who is committing the blunders, there your are, not far behind to take over the jester’s place.



For failing to project the best image for President Aquino, the Communications team should step aside. There are other people out there who could do a better job and let the better Noynoy shine.



People like you, whose corrosive personality supersede that of the President’s, have no place in Malacañang.



You should have stayed on as a “news reader” at ANC.



But then again, maybe not.