Troubles of the Parols as Human Decorations

       At the start of December, ABS-CBN’s noon time program “It’s Showtime” began airing a contest called “TV Parol”, a word play of the networks major news program TV Patrol.

        The contest is about people who are dressed as giant parols (Philippine Christmas Lanterns) and they model around the stage. They introduce themselves and perform a Christmas song for the audience. The costumes look very uncomfortable to the contestants and Vice Ganda’s side comments don’t make it even more comforting for them as well.

       “It’s Showtime” has a knack for making crazy contests to attract the attention of viewers. A unique contest piques one’s curiosity. Thus contests like this one aren’t hard to find in television although this one really is very unique. One watches it to check it out, something good for the ratings

It feels like the contestants are constantly embarrassing or shaming themselves for money -- this is quite normal in the Philippine television industry. But to make these people dress up as giant Christmas parols and walk around stage at the same time is something new. The aim maybe is to promote Philippine decoration but there are other ways to do that.

         According to the KBP Broadcast Code, game show contestants must be treated with respect. The way the hosts of the program disrespect the contestant is hard to ignore and the discomfort they feel for wearing such costume parols to gain money is just an idea for ratings.

       A show like “It’s Showtime” has shown a lot of unethical taste but making someone wear a huge parol outfit just for ratings does not really place high on the ethical spectrum.

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Grieving Mother: Assessing the sensitivity of Aksyon

      The media have been very fond of interviewing family and other relatives of victims even if these people are still in grief. In one of the news published by TV 5 in their news program “Aksyon” (December 5, 2014), they interviewed the mother of a real estate agent who died from a shooting encounter. Majority of the interview were actually just clips of the mother crying. She was unable to speak properly because she could not stop crying.

      For me, the news team should have not included this in their report. First, I do not think it is essential to the story. The story regarding the death of the real estate agent can stand alone without having to show videos of his grieving mother. Second, it is insensitive to the family of the victim and a violation to their privacy. Article 7 Section 2 of the KBP Broadcast Code says, “Persons affected by tragedy or grief shall be treated with sensitivity, respect and discretion; they should be allowed to suffer their grief in private.”

      However, like many networks, aesthetic value is highly given importance. Videos of crying families of victims add a dramatic element to the story. For me, it is always important to be sensitive enough especially to those who are currently emotionally unstable. If I were in the place of the news team, I would consider whether or not this is needed to complete the story. If I was able to ask the side of the family, I would include it in my report without having to show (editor’s: in excessive duration) videos of them crying. We should always respect the privacy of these people. Using them to make our stories more dramatic is not only a form of disrespect. Turning news into drama or adding these kinds of dramatic elements to a report also challenges the truthfulness of the story.

2012-56259 (2)

Argumentum ad hominem?

T3 Reload June 30, 2014 Episode

       Maaaring may magandang intensyon nga si Raffy Tulfo, ang tumulong sa mga mamamayang inaapi't tinatapakan ng mga nakatataas. Subalit hindi yata tama ang pamamaraan niya sa pagtulong at pagtatama ng mga pagkakamali ng mga inirereklamo. Sabihin na nating may pagkakamali ang isang SPO3, pero kailangan bang hiyain ang isang tao sa telebisyon? Kailangan bang tawagin siyang "buwaya," "unggoy," "tanga," at "pinakawalang hiyang pulis?" Kailangan bang pagtawanan siya sa harap ng maraming tao?

       Kitang-kita kung paano nilabag ni Tulfo ang Article IV, Section 1 and 2 ng KBP Broadcast Code: "Personal attacks, that is, attacks on the honesty, integrity, or personal qualities of an identified person, institution or group, on matters that have no bearing on the public interest are prohibited. Programs intended to malign, unfairly criticize or attack a person, natural or juridical, are prohibited."

       Higit pa riyan, si Tulfo ay isang reporter; hindi niya dapat inilalagay sa mga kamay niya ang batas. Sino ba siya para makialam pa sa ganoong klaseng sigalot na namamagitan sa isang amo't trabahador gayong napag-usapan na pala ito sa barangay? Sino ba siya para lantarang ipamukha sa amo ang mga pagkakamali niya? Sino ba siya para gumamit ng kapangyarihan bilang isang "media personnel" sa maling pamamaraan?

       Bilang "public figure," hindi ba dapat siya ang nagsisilbing modelo ng tamang pakikipag-usap sa mga manonood? Pero bakit siya pa ang nangunguna sa pagtataas ng boses at paninigaw sa kausap nang dahil lang hindi niya narinig ang gusto niyang marinig na sagot? Bakit parang hinahayaan lang niya 'yong "complainant" na sabihan ng kung anu-anong mga salitang nakakabastos sa pagkatao nung inirereklamo? Bakit niya pa tinatawanan samantalang alam naman niyang maling i-tolerate ang pagkakamali ng ibang tao? Bakit siya pa mismo ang bumabastos sa taong pumayag na makausap siya?

       Hindi man lang ba niya naisip na maaaring mapanood ito ng karamihan, lalo na ng mga kabataan, at baka isipin nilang ayos lang na gawin ito sa iba... ayos lang sigawan ang mga taong nagkamali... ayos lang hindi patapusing magsalita ang ibang tao dahil mali lang din naman 'yong mga sinasabi nila... at ayos lang tawagin ng kung anu-ano ang ibang tao dahil sila naman ang nagkamali.

       Maaaring nagkamali nga 'yong tao, pero sana naman irespeto pa rin sila kahit bilang tao man lang. Karapatan din naman nilang ipahayag 'yong mga opinyon at saloobin nila para maayos nilang ma-explain 'yong side nila. Karapatan din nilang mapakinggan ng may kasamang respeto at pag-intindi. Kaya dapat kahit nagkamali sila, huwag pa rin silang basta-bastang hinuhusgahan.

       Hindi dahil  mukhang aping-api 'yong "complainant," siya na agad ang tama at dapat panigan. Dapat maging patas si Tulfo, hindi 'yong parang sinusuportahan pa niya 'yong "complainant" kahit nakakabastos na 'yong sinasabi.

       Paano kung wala naman pala talagang kasalanan 'yong pulis, ano pang mukha ang ihaharap niya sa publiko gayong sirang-sira na ang pangalan niya. Sana isipin din ng sinumang mamamahayag na may pangalan ding pinangangalagaan 'yong pulis at anumang akusasyong ibato sa kanya ay maaaring makaapekto sa kanya at maging sa pamilya niya.

       Kung ako si Tulfo, kakausapin ko na lang sila nang maayos at masinsinan nang hindi na kinakailangan pang ipalabas sa telebisyon. Dahil kung tutuusin, hindi naman ganoon kalaki 'yong problema... pero nang dahil sa panunulsol niya, parang mas lumaki 'yong isyu.

       Ang mga bagay na ganoon, hindi naman na dapat pinakikialamanan pa ng "media." Sa halip na makisawsaw sa mga ganoong klaseng isyu, bakit hindi na lang sila maghanap ng ibang balita, mas "newsworthy" at mas kailangang malaman ng mga tao.

       Sapagkat, ang isang pagkakamali ay hindi naman kayang itama ng isa pang pagkakamali. Sa halip na maayos ang problema, mas lumala pa.

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Bagito, exploiting innocence?

Bagito: Pilot Episode

           

            Having a wide scope of audience ranging from young kids to matured adults brings us to the difficulty of filtering appropriate shows. When it comes to showing programs on television, sensitivity and sensibility is a must especially if we will consider the wide array of spectators who can obviously see what is shown. What may seem as an “eye-opener” that improves moral values for others may be unethical and vulgar for some people. And with that comes the issues intertwined with ABS-CBN’s new teleserye, Bagito.

            The story of Bagito follows the life of a 14-year-old boy who goes through the boon and bane of puberty, his teenage life and at the same time, the responsibility of being a young father.

            In the pilot episode of the said teleserye, there were already a lot of flaws than can be noticed. There was a part where Nash Aguas who plays “Andrew,” together with his friends, naughtily sneaked into the girl’s changing room. According to Article 25 sec. 3 of the KBP Broadcast Code of the Philippines, “Explicit depiction of sexual acts, sexual perversions, and nudity are prohibited”. The mere act of “sneaking” into the changing room of the opposite sex is an act of disrespecting their privacy—an act of sexual perversion.

            Another example of unethical portrayals from the same episode was a scene after Andrew’s 14^th birthday, when they went to a bar—of which in the very first place is inappropriate for minors like them. Sensationalizing the minds of the audiences that anyone at the age of 14 is already entitled to such behavior is really wrong.

            Furthermore, another example is the scene where Andrew and his friends deliberately showed how to actually kiss, or make a move to catch the attention of the girls. Though it may have been intended as a joke by Andrew and his friends as a part of that certain scene, still the mere portrayal of such acts are indecent in terms of putting at stake the number of audiences—young or old—who may more likely react negatively on such acts which are televised. In support to this, KBP Code’s Article 11 Sec. 11 states that “Children should not be made to perform acts that are vulgar, obscene, indecent, or inappropriate for children.”

            It can be said that one of the main purposes of the teleserye, Bagito is for social awareness aligned with the advocacy of the Philippine government about teenage pregnancy, pre-marital sex, etc. However, not all audiences are aware of the real objective of the show and others may interpret the context of the story the other way around. With this, I would like to suggest that utmost care should be taken in portraying these actions considering that a whole nation of varying ages is the audience of this televised drama.

            The pilot episode of Bagito is just the beginning of more issues that may pop out in the long run. Hopefully, ABS-CBN can find a way to promote the moral advocacy of the show prioritizing the preservation of the dignity and innocence of people particularly the child cast members and the young audiences.

2012-52278 (2)

Two Wives, Too Much

Pangalan pa lang ng programa, may problema na. Para bang nagdudulot ito ng masidhing imahinasyon kung tungkol saan ba ito. Oo, nakakakuha ito ng atensyon, pero etikal ba na ipalabas ang ganitong mga programa?

Ipinalalabas tuwing alas-nuebe ng gabi mula Lunes hanggang Biyernes ang programang “Two Wives” na pinagbibidahan nina Erich Gonzales, Kaye Abad at Jason Abalos. Matatandaang pumatok sa mga manonood ang mga programang may temang agawan ng asawa. At sa ngayon, patuloy pa rin ang pagpapalabas ng mga estasyon ng ganitong mga tema. Maraming dapat isaalang-alang kung gagawa o magpapalabas ng ganitong mga programa.

Napakasensitibo para sa akin ng mga ganitong tema ng palabas. Higit pa rito ay nagbubukas ito ng isang malaking tanong sa mga manonood. Ano ba talaga ang tama? Tama ba na gawin ang lahat para sa pag-ibig kahit na mali na ito? Ang tema ng programang “Two Wives” ay tungkol sa relasyon ng isang babaeng na-inlove sa lalaking may asawa na.

“Kabit”, naging matunog ang salitang ito matapos ipalabas ang mga pelikulang No Other Woman, A Secret Affair at marami pang iba. Ngunit malinaw na naipahayag sa dulo ng mga pelikulang ito na kahit kailan ay walang magandang kahahantungan ang pagiging kabit. Papasok na rin dito ang katatapos lamang na palabas na The Legal Wife kung saan parehong tema ang iprinesenta. Naging malinaw naman sa dulo ng mga palabas na ito na hindi tanggap ng lipunan ang pakikiapid sa may asawa. Ngunit hindi kaya dahil sa paulit-ulit na pagpapalabas ng mga ganitong programa ay maging bukas ang mga taong nakakapanood sa mga ito sa ganitong klase ng relasyon?

“Two Wives”, kung ipapasa-korte ay mapapatawan ka ng kasong Bigamy. Maling-mali ito dahil sa Pilipinas, hindi pinapayagan ang Bigamy maliban sa mga Muslim at iba pang relihiyon. Hindi ba’t titulo pa lang ng programa ay mali na? Bakit pa ito ipapalabas? Para ipakita sa mga tao na mali ito? Oo, maaaring isang dahilan ‘yun. Pero bakit kailangang ulit-ulitin pa? 

       Nilalabag ng programang ito ang Article 24 Section 1 ng KBP Broadcast Code (CRIME AND VIOLENCE - Crime and violence and other acts of wrongdoing or injustice shall not be presented as good or attractive or beyond retribution, correction or reform) kung saan nagsasabing hindi dapat tinuturuan ang mga manonood na gawin ang mali. Isa itong paglabag hindi lamang sa Code of Ethics kundi sa Sampung Utos ng Diyos. Bawal maki-apid. Sa palabas na ito, kitang-kita kung paano magtaksil ang lalaki sa kanyang asawa habang kasama nito ang kanyang kabit. Tinuturuan nito ang manonood kung anu-ano ang mga pwedeng gawin ng lalaki para maitago ang kanyang kabit sa kanyang tunay na asawa.

        Ipinapakita rin sa palabas na ito kung paanong ang dating kabit ay siyang naging babaeng pumalit sa asawa noong sila’y naghiwalay na. Na ang kabit ang nagwagi dahil napaghiwalay niya ang mag-asawa. Tinuturuan ng programang ito ang mga babaeng nasa ganitong sitwasyon kung paanong mapaghihiwalay ang mag-asawa.

       Maaaring magandang ipalabas ito upang turuan ang mga manonood - turuan ang mga babaeng lumaban para sa kani-kanilang mga asawa. Pero sapat na siguro ang dalawa o tatlong programa. Hindi na kailangang ulit-ulitin pa ito dahil sa paulit-ulit na pagpapalabas dito, mas nakukunsinte ang mga manonood na gawin ito.

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Asking Minor Rape Victim to Recount Traumatic Experience

NEWS5: NOVEMBER 17, 2014.

“13-ANYOS NA DALAGITA, HALOS 8 BUWANG MINOLESTIYA NG TIYUHIN”

            Habang pinapanood ko ang balitang ito sa TV 5, wala naman sa isip kong husgahan ang laman ng balita nila o ang pagbabalita nila. Nakita ko rin naman sa paglalahad ng balita na silhouette lamang ng menor de edad ang pinapakita at hindi ito pinangalanan.

            Tila laging nababanggit ang paglabag sa RA 7610(Rape/Protection Against Child Abuse, Child Exploitation and Discrimination).  Pero bukod sa kaso ng suspek, mismong ang estasiyon ay mayroong nagawang paglabag sa KBP Broadcast Code of the Philippines.

SITUATION: Isang trese anyos(13) na dalagita ang halos walong buwan ng minomolestiya ng tiyuhin. Nais ng ina ng dalagita na mabigyan ng hustisiya ang nangyari sa anak at sana’y mahuli na ang suspek.

ANALYSIS: Mayroong programa ang TV5 na “T3 ENFORCED” kung saan ang programang ito ay laan para sa may mga reklamo o nais manawagan. Marahil nasa kagustuhan ng NEWS5 na mahanap ang suspect na nagtatago na matapos masampahan ng kaso.

DECISION: Inere ang pagsasalaysay ng menor de edad habang humahagulgol ito sa paglalahad ng ginawang pangmomolestiya sa kaniya.

            Nilabag ng programang ito ang nakasaad sa KBP Broadcast Code of the Philippines Art.3(Coverage Involving Children) Section 7 na nagsasabing, “Children should not be required, coerced or bribed to recall and narrate traumatic experiences, demonstrate horrific acts, or describe them in graphic details.”

            Sa programang ito ng NEWS5, umiiyak na ang dalagita habang nilalahad ang mga linyang, “Hinuhubadan na po niya ako ng shorts, pati panty. Tapos po, nung hinubadan na niya ako ipinasok niya yung kamay/daliri niya sa ari ko.”

            Hindi ko alam kung paano ito naatim na ipalabas. Naaawa ako sa menor de edad. Naaawa sa sinapit niya at lalo akong nanghina habang umiiyak siya at sinasabi niya ng detalyado kung paano siya minolestiya ng kaniyang tiyuhin. Para bang paulit-ulit na pinapaalala sa bata ang bangungot na kaniyang sinapit.

            Kung ako ang nasa sitwasyon ng reporter ng mga oras na iyon, hindi ko na tatanungin pa kung kamusta na ang dalaga. Galing siya sa malagim na pangyayari, malamang ano pa nga ba ang mararamdaman niya kundi pighati. At higit sa lahat hindi ko siya tatanungin kung ano at papaano ang ginawang pangmomolestiya sa kaniya. At kung sakali naman na sa kaniya mismo manggaling ang paglalahad, hindi ko na ito kukunan pa ng video o ipapakita sa publiko.

            Ang mga bata, marami pa silang hindi nalalaman sa mundong ‘to. Kaya sana, kung may pinagdadaanan sila, ‘wag na natin ipaalala ito ng paulit ulit pa at baka humantong pa ito sa mas malalang trauma.

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Tulfo Brothers on T3: Hecklers or Heroes?

       Many of us know that the Tulfo brothers are known for their tough and badass persona especially when it comes to criticizing and attacking corrupt bullies. I'm sure that some of us have already heard their straightforward and hard-hitting comments against people on television. The Tulfo brothers are what we call "big brothers" who stand up and speak up for people who are presumed weak to defend themselves; others refer to the brothers as modern day heroes. But when does one cross the line between speaking up and shaming another person?

       "T3", airing 12:30 pm on TV5 allows profane language from the three Tulfo brothers -- words like "tanga", "bobo", "inutil", and "walang kwenta" are heard from time to time. These words are not supposed to be used by a public figure or specifically, a media practitioner. This is also a violation of the KBP Broadcast code Article 27, Section 1 stating that "vulgar, obscene, or indecent language is prohibited". These banters are used by the brothers to "defend" helpless citizens who have been victims of all sorts of abuse. The brothers insult and challenge those who allegedly committed the wrongdoings. By only knowing one side of a story, the brothers play god and think they have the authority to reprimand the people on the other side. 

       The Tulfo brothers also fail to consider their audience. They have failed to think that children may also be watching their show. In an episode aired on July 24, 2014, a woman who was beaten up by an engineer was featured. Aside from describing the engineer as "napakababang uri ng lalaki" and "mas masahol pa sa ipis" (also a violation of Article 27, Section 3 stating that "name-calling and personal insults are prohibited") Raffy Tulfo challenged the engineer by saying "Alam mo kung gusto mo ng bugbugan, pagbibigyan naman kita kahit na mas bata ka sa akin eh. Gusto mo?” They also said foul words like "jumejebs" and to think that the show is airing at lunch time is just wrong. The said episode also showed pictures of the woman after she was beaten without censoring it which violates Article 6, Section 13 where "images that are gruesome, revolting, shocking, obscene, scandalous, or extremely disturbing or offensive, shall not be shown or described in graphic detail."

       Media is indispensable and a vehicle of information at the same time that holds ethical standards. As public figures, the Tulfo brothers should have known better than saying hard-hitting words and libelous comments on air; even if the person they are attacking did something bad.

The Tulfo brothers' program, "T3", is said to provide and strengthen public service but I say otherwise -- the show strengthens their "macho" image, declares their strength to beat some guy up, and boosts their familial ego.

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Jollibee TVC: Company Promotions as Peddlers of Hope?

Jollibee, a fast-growing Filipino fastfood chain in the country, recently came up with a promo in partnership with Ford entitled "Scratch 2 Snatch A Ford." Apart from advertising the promo, the TVC¹ also strengthens the company’s value---family.

 However the television commercial, with the intention to showcase and promote the promo, did a rather outrageous thing on the last line of the script. The last line of the TVC---habang may promo, may pag-asa---gave me a different idea of its purpose. The line implied a different concept of hope and promos. This unmindful "claim" of hope could have an impact to some struggling families by changing their outlook towards life. After watching the TVC, they might fall for the subtle message and consider promos as the answer to their daily woes. In addition, the last line was partly delivered by the child whom I bet did not have any idea that she would be a part of this distasteful yet subtle message.

I came up with the judgment that the TVC is unethical by simply putting more value in KBP’s principle of Pananagutan. Although the said principle is intended for broadcasters, it could also be applied to the ad agency of the TVC. As communication students and soon-to-be part of the industry, we should be responsible for all the things that we will make, write, or release because our name is at stake every time we “fulfill” our roles in our society.

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