Noontime Show Wars

Filipinos are identified with the shows they view. ABS-CBN beat GMA network in going international and both vie for ratings among global Pinoys.

ABS-CBN's Wowowee has a wider if not deeper acceptance and following among overseas viewers. The show concept, if there ever has one, has tapped on Filipinos overseas who want to reach out to less fortunate (if the word ever applies to the majority of Filipinos) noontime show audience. Thus, the give-aways to live audience (am not sure they have for home viewers as I rarely watch tv) and game contestants.

The rift between Eat Bulaga and other noontime television shows over ABS-CBN, as I viewed before, was corporate in nature. As we may be aware of, from RPN 9, Eat Bulaga transferred to ABS-CBN. ABS-CBN then was pulled up the rating games on the top of the heap with a little help from Eat Bulaga. And when you're on top o the heap, what the top wants, top gets.

Okay, in another angle, I see it this way: It could be that some bigwigs over ABS-CBN saw the heap Eat Bulaga was gathering, and say to themselves, "Hmmm, interesting." So, the concept for "Sanglinggo nAPO Sila" was born, while contracts have to be renewed. Eat Bulaga was kicked out, enter APO.

But Eat Bulaga, like it or not, is already an institution among viewers, if not the "masa". It has grown on our sense of humour like a natural joke. And APO Hiking Society is not a joke but a music trio, much unlike the Tito/Vic & Joey group. So, APO was replaced with that show "Magandang Tanghali Bayan" where Willie Revillame and Janice de Belen's ex made names. But more so with Willie.

Willie. I met Willie personally in his low period: after his rumoured annulment with Princess Punzalan (heiress of Lovingly Yours Helen---Vela). Willie tries hard to be funny, I immediately sensed in our first phone conversation. And, he sounded to me like he felt he's got an oozzing sex appeal (in other peoples' terms, the "m" word). I was a profile and press release writer back then for musicians and television personalities. In short, Willie struck me as far from smart, intelligent and sensitive artist. Previously, all I knew, he was a talented drummer. Period.

Wowowee.
I have never known a show over ABS-CBN exists at noon until I heard some kids singing "Wawawi sinong di mawiwili!" and saw the show while hubby was channel surfing. He was giving away P500 bucks (about US$10) per recycled and original joke shared by the studio audience). Then, there were kids' contests. And then, the hosts started thanking overseas donors. Donors. This is a highly technical term as against "sponsors". And it's all about taxes and legalities, but I won't indulge on that as I lack accountancy knowledge.

And then the tragedy. About 70 killed at Ultra before a grand show of Wowowee materialized. The whole nation was outraged. I myself have done several rock gigs and met a lot of impositions and warnings about punks. But the worst cases I ever got were a lost leather belt and a gate entry pocketing I still get embarassed when I remember it. The tragedy was the first in Philippine history and yet, ABS-CBN as well as the people of Wowowee got away with it, just like that. Brushing dusts off the biggies' boots. To the tune of "this boots are made for walkin..." Nancy Sinatra baby!

And now, here we are... while the whole nation is being led to think NOBODY's cheating during elections, Wowowee pictured in again. This time, it's about too many freakin' numbers in one box that is supposed to represent only one number. Watch.

Willie's point and response is quite pseudo-dramatic, as Joey de Leon pointed out. Well, yes, pseudo. Crocodile tears. And simply out of the topic. There's a conspiracy going on and Willie is seem to point that he was simply a "host" or a "talent" and...

Okay, over at ABS-CBN, I still am not sure if they already have regular or permanent employees. The thing is, it has remained contractual and floating, non-at-all status for most of their talents, workers, and segment producers for several years (recall the cases and issues about Magandang Gabi, Bayan)... Way back when I had a stint at ABS-CBN, the set-up was that, it was a "family" affair. Not in capitalist way. I am not sure if the set-up has changed. But many of those I had a chance to talk with in hushed voices informed me about the "system" which was quite medieval.

Anyway, it could be that Willie's tackless move on the circular box containing several numbers when it was supposed to be just one number is another "corporate" issue and Willie is just the frontman. So much like the Ultra tragedy... It's just that some has got to pay, or get hanged. And a goat will do.

Un-branded

Here are several juicy quotes from one Ms. Malu Fernandez which was an article in a glossy.

“…I forgot that the hub was in Dubai and the majority of the OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) were stationed there. The duty-free shop was overrun with Filipino workers selling cellphones and perfume. Meanwhile, I wanted to slash my wrist at the thought of being trapped in a plane with all of them.”

“…While I was on the plane (where the seats were so small I had bruises on my legs), my only consolation was the entertainment on the small flat screen in front of me. But it was busted…” (dumb line, don’t you have an editor? Or you simply want Emirates to make up with you? I’d ban you a thousand kilometres if I were a voice at Emirates). “…dozed off to the sounds of gum chewing and endless yelling of “HOY! Kumusta ka na? At taga saan ka? Domestic helper ka rin ba?”... I thought I had died and God had sent me to my very own private hell.” Uhm, Satan for you must be VERY kind.

"On my way back, I had to bravely take the economy flight once more. (If I could afford to brag about a genuine fake Louis Vuitton from China, I would not have second thoughts of buying me an additional ticket to avoid people that could make me think about slashing my wrist! And I hope reader you get it the first time!) This time I had already resigned myself to being trapped like a sardine can with all these OFWs smelling of AXE and Charlie cologne while my Jo Malone evaporated into thin air."


Ms. Fernandez is a walking advertorial who had it in her head that she has what it takes to flash global brands while working (oh, OK, travelling. as I understand, she is one of the few which, downsizing publishers freeload on). In the article alone (June 2007) she did not waste opportunities as she enumerates Baygon (a brand that means mosquitoes and cockhroaches, eeeech!), Holiday Inn (her minimum travel requirement. sheesh, expensive nga!. my minimum travel requirement is a glass of drinking water!), Adidas (if a company meant fitness, and I was brand manager, I would not be caught being used, much more plugged by a pig), Havaianas (give me Islander any time!), Discovery Shores (Boracay is already over-exploited before Discovery Shores shored in the island! So, what’s with discovery Columbus?), Emirates (my husband is awed how Jahal-requiring carriers let a live pig in their plane!), Ledra Marriott hotel, Louis Vuitton, Ruby Tuesday, Chili's, CNN, Axe, Charlie (she sure knows her local brands, eh! If I had been limited to using Estee Lauders, Calvin Kleins, Paloma Picassos, et al, I would not know what Axe is!), Jo Malone.

If newspaper lifestyle and glossy magazine editors nowadays have to settle to write-ups like this, I now put up my chin for not choosing the local mainstream media to work with.

I have never known Filipino mediapeople could stoop this low, and squalidly crawl like the mad woman in "Yellow Wallpaper" (Charlotte P. Gilman's).

This made me recall of an experience way back in mid 1990s when I had a short gig at ABS-CBN's talent Center and had to write about Star Circle Batch 2. While interviewing Diether Ocampo, I asked what his television appearances were, and he enumerated promptly.

When I asked what specific television station these shows appear, he sneered at me, "Dito ka nagta-trabaho, hindi mo alam?" meaning (ei, as if naga-English lahat ng readers ko ah!) "You work here and you don't have an idea?"

I replied, "I don't watch tv."

What I am trying to point out is that if one person claims to exist in a world she calls HER OWN, then, she should not even have the slightest idea another world exists! OKAY? Ulit: Sa simpleng salita, kung nabuhay kang Jo Malone at mas mahal pa ang pabango mo, would you know what Axe cologne is?

Anyway, I chanced upon the issue on Ms. Fernandez' article via salbahe.net

Mr. Manuel L. Quezon III commented "I’m not for firing people on the basis of what they write."

But the articles (including one that appeared in manila Standard I guess) obviously pointed out how the publishers and the editors were being toyed on by a "cursi" (aaaaaaargh!) Mala Malu (in Mr. Quezon's words). It only means the editors and publishers would rather freeload on a thrash-writing cursi than have a quality contribution from more deserving writers. Advertorials or even attracting advertisements this way is...

Pathetic.

I know of one major local media network (feeling international)who is so fond of freeloading on its own fat (sa Tagalog, nagsarili, o nagluto sa sariling mantika, and freak out, you go figure what I mean!) when in fact, it is following the footsteps of Enron.

And back to Mala Malu, nais kong ipaabot sa mga kapwa ko Pilipino na nasilihan at naantig ng kanyang pakiramdam, we can only speculate. Baka sa ganoong paraan lang nakakakuha ng atensyon si Mala Malu.

Maswerte tayo, di natin kelangang matutong mag-spelling ng mamahaling brand ng bag at magpakahirap magkaroon nung mga brands na gusto niya (o nilang) i-promote. Why, I feel 103 years old, pero laking pasasalamat ko na at me gusto pa ring makipag-date sa 'kin kahit Johnson's baby cologne lang kaya kong bilhin! At para kay Ms. Malu, yebba babe, para sa 'yo talaga 'yang pic ko (sa taas)! Taken a few minutes ago. No brands to brag. No need.

Kung ipagpipilitan mong journalist ka, AYOKO NANG MAGING JOURNALIST!

Ano kamo ulit? You're just being true to yourself? E di sana, naglaslas ka na nga nung time na 'yon... Malay mo, maunahan ka nung mga nag-send sa 'yo ng death threat?

Hay Pinoy When Will We Ever Learn?

Eto, napakabilis kumalat sa mga e-mail. Kuwentong taglish (pidgin, hiphop, etc) na nilangkapan ng sangkaterbang figurative speech. Sabi ni Derrick, totoo naman daw na napakaraming Pinoy ang mag-Inglisan, kesyo nasa labas ng Pilipinas, e, first language nila ang foreign language.

Sa mga na-o-offend na literally educated mag-English, excuse me po, 'ika nga nilang mga kapwa Pinoy na ayaw lumingon sa kanilang natural na pananalita.

Take a bow, eehe, take a look below.

Pero kung ako ang tatanungin, bilib din ako sa galing sumulat ng kung sino mang pinanggalingn ng 'wentong ito. Ako, napa-husay kong mang-pilipit ng kuwentuhan, pero 'di ko kaya 'to, 'day! Kahit siguro si Ms. Annabel Rama, wlang panama. Inggit ko lang. I can imagine Atty. Maximus seriously speaking "pero okey sya ha? Magaling ang pagkakagawa niya...":

We' ve been friends for a long time ago. We come from the same alma
mother. Actually, our paths crossed one time on another. But it's only
now that I gave him a second look. I realized that beauty is in the
eyes. The pulpbits of my heart went fast, really fast. Cute pala siya.
And then, he came over with me. He said, "I hope you don't mine. Can I
get your number?" Nag-worry ako. What if he doesn't give it back? He
explained naman na it's so we could keep intact daw. Sabi ko, connect
me if i'm wrong but are you asking me ouch? Nabigla siya. Sagot niya,
The! Aba! Parang siya pa ang galit! Persona ingrata!!! Ang kapal niya!
I cried buckles of tears.

Na-guilty yata siya. Sabi niya, isipin mo na lang na this is a
blessing in the sky. Irregardless daw of his feelings, we'll go ouch
na rin. Now, we're so in love. Mute and epidemic na ang past. Thanks
God we swallowed our fried. Kasi, I'm 33 na and I'm running our time.
After 2 weeks, he plopped the question. "Will you marriage me?" I'm in
a state of shocked. Kasi mantakin mo, when it rains, it's four! This
is true good to be true. So siyempre, I said yes. Love is a many
splendor.

Pero nung inaayos ko na ang aming kasal, everything swell to pieces.
Nag-di-dinner kami noon nang biglang sa harap ng aming table, may
babaeng humirit ng, "Well, well, well. Look do we hav e here." What
the fuss! The nerd ng babaeng yon! She said they were still on. So I
told her, whatever is that, cut me some slacks! I didn't want this to
get our hand kaya I had to sip it in the bud. She accused me of
steeling her boyfriend. Ats if! I don't want to portrait the role of
the other woman. Gosh, tell me to the marines! I told her, "please,
mine you own business!" Who would believe her anyway?

Dahil it's not my problem anymore but her problem anymore, tumigil na
rin siya ng panggugulo. Everything is coming up daisies. I'm so happy.
Even my boyfriend said liketwice. He's so supportive. Sabi niya, "Look
at is this way. She's our of our lives."

Kaya advise ko sa inyo - take the risk. You can never can tell. Just
burn the bridge when you get there. Life is shorts. If you make a
mistake, we'll just pray for the internal and external repose of your
soul. I second emotion.