On-air Lingo and Behavior of GGV

            The truth about variety programs is that we enjoy watching it. We appreciate them -- the comedy bars in our locality and talent shows on television. We always seek different ways of relaxation and entertaining ourselves.

          One of the late night shows of ABS-CBN is Gandang Gabi Vice and we can’t deny the fact that it garners a good number of viewers. It is aired every Sunday night and is rated as Strong Parental Guidance (SPG). The episode last October 12, 2014 is a little bit tacky. The host, Vie Ganda, mentioned his passiveness when it comes to sex. He also gave emphasis to the phrases “Ginaganun mo sa leeg? Kasama ang ulo?” Article 28 (On-Air Decorum) of the Broadcast Code of the Philippines said that proper decorum must be observed by the persons in a program. He further exemplified the topic by mentioning, “Maliit lang ‘yung kamay mo, eh yung ulo malaki?... Ah malago ‘yung buhok?”Article 25 (Sex, Obscenity, and Pornography) and Article 27 (On-Air Language) stated that vulgar and indecent languages are prohibited especially double meaning words. Hosts, emcees, talents, guests, participants, and audiences must behave in a way that is considered acceptable to the audience. And what is surely pleasant to the public is when you speak politely without hurting other people’s feelings.

             The host even impersonated someone with a speech defect in saying the phrase "Wǒ ài nǐ” ("I love you" in Chinese) and I felt humiliated for all the people who are experiencing this condition. It is detailed in Article 23 (Mentally and Physically Challenged Persons) that we must respect all people’s race, religion, color, ethnicity, gender, and physical or mental disability.

            In like manner, he also replied an offensive term because of the age issue introduced by his guest. The part was censored but was still aired. This show is SPG but it doesn’t mean that you’re already free of saying what you want. TV personalities and producers still have limitations and accountabilities about the topics coming out of the screen.

            Likewise, name-dropping is not favorable because some people will buy the joke but some will take offence. In another episode (September 14, 2014), Vice Ganda brought up certain names when he teased his guest’s dream name. There are episodes when he asked his visitors about virginity and when he repetitively hurdled on the lap of his guest.

                  In these instances, we have to take an extra precaution in saying words or taking actions especially that you are being watched by lots of viewers. Many people sit on their couch at night hoping for good programs on television and many parents let their children watch unattended. There’s nothing wrong with extending laughter to your audience. However, one should remember that television may be a way for the Filipino people to escape temporarily from reality but in reality, it still has a big influence to the minds of the audiences.

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GGV: No Golden Rule?

Isa na siguro sa pinakamasakit na mangyari ay ang mapahiya ka sa harap ng maraming tao. Eh ano pa kaya kung sa buong Pilipinas at buong mundo mangyari sa iyo ito?

Marami sa mga komedyante ngayon ang patok na patok sa telebisyon. Nariyan sina Ai-ai de las Alas, Eugene Domingo at marami pang iba. Pero kung tatanungin siguro natin ang bawat Pilipino kung sino ang pinakasikat na komedyante ngayon, isa lang ang isasagot nila. Si Vice Ganda. Hindi lingid sa ating kaalaman ang istorya ng buhay ng komedyanteng ito. Sumikat siya dahil sa pagpupursigi niya at ang kanyang kakaibang talento sa pagpapatawa. Ngunit sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, tama bang purihin siya sa pamamahiya sa mga tao?

Oo, parte ito ng kanyang pagpapatawa. Oo, kailangang hindi KJ. Oo, kailangang open-minded. Pero hindi ba’t masakit sa pakiramdam ang mapag-tawanan at mapagtripan ka sa harap ng maraming tao? Kitang-kita ang maling gawaing ito ni Vice Ganda o Jose Marie Viceral sa kanyang programang ‘Gandang Gabi Vice’. Rated SPG ang mga episodes kung minsan dahil may mga malalaswa at sensitibong tema itong ipinalalabas.

Sa programang ito malayang nagagawa ni Vice Ganda ang lahat ng anumang gustuhin niya. Mula sa kasuotan na kung minsan ay hindi na maganda sa paningin, sa mga dance at song numbers at pati na rin sa mga guests niya sa programa, siya ang namimili. Hindi mawawala sa GGV ang pag-tripan si Neggy. Si Neggy ang kanyang assistant/friend/pet. Pangalan pa lang, nakakainsulto na. Palagi siyang pinagtatawanan ni Vice Ganda dahil sa kanyang itsura. Ito ay isang paglabag sa Article 22 ng KBP Broadcast Code (ARTICLE 22 - DISCRIMINATION, A person’s race, religion, color, ethnicity, gender, and physical or mental disability shall not be used in a way that would embarass, denigrate, or ridicule him) kung saan sinasabing hindi tayo dapat mang-discriminate ng tao ayon sa kanyang relihiyon o lahi. Malinaw na malinaw ang paglabag na ito ni Vice. Kahit naman sino ay hindi dapat minamaliit dahil lang sa itsura nito. Nagiging katatawanan tuloy si Neggy dahil sa kanyang itsura. Paglabag din ito sa Sec 3 ng nasabing article (Name-calling and personal insults are prohibited).

 Isa pang hindi magandang gawain ni Vice sa kanyang programa ay ang pagsusuot ng malalaswang mga kasuotan sa telebisyon. Minsan ay mahirap pang tignan ang mga kasuotang ito ni Vice dahil kadalasan ay malaswa ito. Isa rin itong paglabag sa Article 28 Section 1(ON-AIR DECORUM - Persons who appear in entertainment and variety progras such as hosts, emcess, talents, guests, participants, and audiences, espeially in live shows, shall be decently attired and behave in a way that is considered appropriate in public based on the standards of the community where the programs are aired) kung saan sinasabing dapat ay presentable ang isang host o guest paglabas sa telebisyon.

Pang-huli, marami sa mga sinasabi ni Vice sa programang ito ay may double-meaning. Minsan, may kabastusan na ito at kung minsan naman ay patama naman ito sa isang tao. Maling-mali ang gawaing ito. Maaaring ma-mislead niya ang mga tao sa mga ganitong uri ng joke. Paglabag din ito sa Article 25 Section 5 ng KBP Broadcast Code (SEX, OBSCENITY AAND PORNOGRAPHY - Offensive, obscene blasphemous, profane, and vulgar double meaning words and phrases are prohibited, even if understood only by a segment of the audience) kung saan mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ang pagsasabi ng mga double-meaning o may ibang deinisyong salita.

Sa bawat tawang naibigay ni Vice Ganda sa atin, ilang kalungkutan kaya ang kapalit? Sa bawat halakhak natin, ilang tao kaya ang naiinsulto? Sa bawat pagsang-ayon natin sa kanyang mga sinasabi, ilang taong nasasaktan kaya ang katumbas? Hindi masamang magpasaya ng tao. Basta’t wala tayong nasasaktan at natatapakang pagkatao, magiging tama ito. Tandaan lamang ang Golden Rule, kung ayaw mong mangyari sa iyo, huwag mong gawin sa iba.

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(Editor's note: It would have been better if specific episodes or scenes were identified as examples of the show/host's violations.)