Filipino Diasporic Identity and Space as Mediated by ABS-CBN News Channel

Abstract

The history of the Filipino diaspora has been traced back to 1565 and this phenomenon has prevailed until present times, leading to the creation of multiple cultural identities and communities. Hence, there is a constant need for media to expand and evolve through the advancing accessibility of media platforms and the globalization of content. This article, anchored in Daniel Dayan’s Media and Diasporas (1997) theory, seeks to provide a better understanding of diasporic media content as well as its corresponding influence on Filipino diasporans by delving into the current state of the Filipino diaspora, media penetration and ownership, the diaspora’s lived and imagined experiences of the homeland, and the construction and negotiation of diasporic identities as mediated by ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) content. The findings show that ABS- CBN News Channel plays a vital role in the representation and transmission of cultural and social consciousness which affect media reception, intrapersonal and interpersonal engagements, and identity construction of the diasporic audience. Also, the channel is able to sustain cultural affiliations through providing relevant information that elicits involvement among its audience. However, a notable lesson is that people’s perceptions are more likely to create an impact on one’s identity and ABS-CBN News Channel contents are merely mediators. Individuals and communities reform online and offline culture as they contribute and validate information and serve as extensions of the media outfit. This symbiotic relationship between diasporic media, the audience, and the public space supports the need for the production and distribution of diasporic content.