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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DEFINITELY FILIPINO/KICKER DAILY: CANNIBAL MOTHER TRIES TO EAT HER OWN BABY

            Sa ibang bansa nangyari ang insidenteng ito. Pero may isang online writer dito sa Pilipinas na nagsulat tungkol sa isang nanay na tinangkang kainin ang sarili niyang sanggol.

            Situation: May isang ina sa China na nagtangka umanong kainin ang sarili niyang sanggol. Sa lumabas na article sa Pilipinas na pinublish ng Kicker Daily at shinare ng Definitely Filipino, kalakip nito ang ilang litrato ng sanggol na sugat-sugat ang kamay. Sa isang litrato ay bahagyang makikita ang mukha ng sanggol.

            Analysis: Bakit kailangan maglabas pa ng litrato nung sanggol na sugat-sugat ang kamay dahil sa kagat ng kanyang sariling ina?

Lumabas yung article ng mga bandang 3:30 ng hapon sa Facebook ng Definitely Filipino. Nakita ko siya ng hapunan habang kumakain, kaya’t na-bother ako. Paano kung may ibang tao pang nakakita sa article habang kumakain?

            Pakiramdam ko’y na-violate ang dignidad nung sanggol na nasa litrato dahil napakita bahagya ang kanyang mukha; hindi man siya kilala sa ibang lugar/bansa, makikilala na siya ng mga kapit-bahay nila dahil sa pagbanggit ng pangalan ng nanay na involve sa insidente.

            Decision: Hindi maganda yung ginawang pagpublish nung litrato nung sanggol. At pagpabibigay/pag-publish ng article kasama yung pangalan ng babaeng/inang sangkot sa insidente. Hindi magandang ma-expose lalong-lalo na yung bata sa mga ganitong klase ng publication. Kahit sana naka-blur man lang yung litratong bahagyang nakita yung mukha nung bata, at hindi na pinangalanan pa yung nanay at nurse sa article na nilabas.

            Kahit pa sabihin nating bata pa siya’t hindi pa alam kung ano ang mga nangyayari, siya pa rin yung involved at pinag-usapan eh. Bukod sa nakakahiya ang mga nangyari para sa bata, nakakahiya rin kasi ito lalong lalo na sa nanay at sa buong pamilya nito.

            At uulitin ko ulit yung tanong ko kanina, paano kung may ibang tao pang nakakita nung article habang kumakain? Wala naman sigurong taong gugustuhing makakita ng ganong mga litrato/balita habang kumakain. Sana talaga nilabuan na lang nila or di nalang sila naglapat ng litrato.                                                                                                                 2012-68565 (2)

(Editor’s note: Kailangan din nating pangalagaaan yung reputasyon ng ina. Posibleng may sakit sa pag-iisip o tinatawag naa psychologically-unstable ang ina kaya niya nagawa ang aktong ipinaparatang laban sa kanya. Marapat din na bigyang-proteksyon ang mga nasa ganitong estado ng pag-iisip.)

FOREVERMORE NOVEMBER 11 EPISODE: INDIRECT DISCRIMINATION

            Hindi naman talaga ako nanonood ng mga teleseryeng tulad ng Forevermore, [Ang Forevermore ay teleserye ng ABS-CBN na pinagbibidahan nina Enrique Gil at Liza Soberano.] pero isang gabi ay nasaktohan ko lang nanonood ang mga kasama ko sa bahay kaya’t naisip kong makinood na rin habang kumakain. Pero hindi ko rin inakalang ganitong episode ang naabutan ko.

            Situation: Sasali sa isang beauty contest si Agnes [Liza Soberano’s character] para mapanalunan ang isang multi-cab para makatulong sa kabuhayan nila sa La Preza nang madisgrasya at mabalian ng paa si Andrew [Yves Flores’ Character] na kaparehas nito sa isang dance number sa kompetisyon. Kumuha sila ng kapalit nito, Si Antonio.

            Analysis: Hindi man direktang sinasabi ng mga karakter sa teleserye, alam mong sa mga itsura at salita nila ay dinidiskrimineyt nila yung karakter ni Antonio, na aaminin ko din ay di masyadong kagwapuhan kung ang basehan ng kagwapuhan ay si Enrique Gil.

            Ilan sa mga linya sa episode na pakiramdam kong nagpakita ng diskriminasyon sa pisikal na anyo ni Antonio ay:

            “Oh my god” – *dismayadong mukha*

            “Bakit siya?” – *dismayadong mukha*

            At nagtinginan/natulala lahat ng mga karakter sa nasabing teleserye. Maraming beses pang nagpakita ng reaksyong hindi kagandahan ang mga karakter. Sinabihan pa siya ng “Parang zombie ah.” May mga dialogue pang:

            Joey Marquez’s character: “Agnes, mas may pag-asa tayo pag si Xander ang pinili mo. Kesa dyan sa kung ano man yan.”

            Liza Soberano’s character: “Paano ka nakakasigurong mananalo tayo kapag ikaw ang naging partner ko?”

            Enrique Gil’s character: “Di mo sagutin yang tanong mo? Sino’ng mas may chance Manalo? Ako o siya?”

            Indirectly, niri-ridicule yung character ni Antonio dahil sa pisikal nitong kaanyuan at sa hindi masyadong magaling na pagsayaw.

            Decision: Sana hindi naging ganun yung mga linya sa episode na ito ng teleserye. Sana’y kumuha sila ng talent na kagwapuhan din para hindi sobrang na-down yung gumanap sa karakter ni Antonio. Hindi man direktang sinabi sa mga linya ng mga karakter, naramdaman kong may diskriminasyon dahil sa mga linya at mukha ng mga karakter nang ipakilala ang karakter ni Antonio.

So pag hindi mo kasing-gwapo si Enrique Gil, hindi ka na pwedeng sumali sa mga patimpalak? So kung hindi ka masyadong kagwapuhan, wala kang pag-asang manalo sa mga patimpalak?                                                                                                 2012-68565 (1)

(Editor's note: Sa analysis, sana'y gumamit ng mga batayang values o prinsipyo sa pagtingin sa isyu.)

#RubyPH: Is it really a "Yolanda-like" typhoon?

It was Friday night while I was walking on my way home when I passed by a stand that sold newspapers. I held up one of the newspapers lined in a single file that caught my eye. It was a copy of an Inquirer, and the banner headline read: ‘‘Yolanda’-like typhoon heads for PH”, in bold, large fonts, written across the page.

It struck me knowing that it was only last month that the anniversary of the Yolanda tragedy that took thousands of lives and displaced hundreds of families, was held.

It was another figurative yet also literal storm looming ahead.

 However, just as I was watching the news, a section of news aired regarding the storm warning that said that the data recorded regarding the storm ‘Ruby’, the one mentioned in the headlines of the Inquirer, indicates that typhoon Ruby, with the international name Hagupit, did not have enough wind velocity to match that of Yolanda’s according to PAG-ASA. The record shows that it sustained wind velocity is similar to that of typhoon Pablo, not Yolanda, unlike the newspaper report.

Such ethical lapses or incidents regarding bouts of misinformation cannot be hard to avoid. It is done if we want to target the market for our stories. But ethically speaking, information, and the lack thereof produces consequences that may prove fatal. In this case, it may even cause public panic.

It’s difficult to imagine what kind of storm is brewing over the horizon. (Editor’s note: Incidentally, Ruby was nowhere near Yolanda in terms of damage and casualty.) But one thing is for certain, one false move may spell yet another disaster.

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(Editor's note: The comparison between Yolanda and Ruby stems from the fact that the paths of the two typhoons were similar, but not on wind velocity as framed by some media reports.)

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.

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It isn't time yet!

      We all know that it is two years till our next national elections here in the Philippines. With all the news about the government, Makati cakes being over priced and the Pork Barrel scam you can really feel that the 2016 Elections will be a very tight and dirty competition. But I am not here to talk about how dirty Philippine politics is but about the campaign mainly on the commercials that appear on television today.

      A few months ago as I was watching my regular weekend television I came across this commercial that might be familiar to most of you who tune on their televisions. It is the “Bahay Teacher” PSA. Analyzing the commercial it was more of a campaign ad than a PSA to me. It featured Congressman Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian.

      Although the commercial centers on the program, it gave a detailed description of who Congressman Win is and what is his current position in government.

      Another recent example who shows a more obvious campaign on television is Vice President Jejomar Binay. His commercial goes on as far as to show on primetime television where it is assumed that more people are watching.

      Even if these people from the broadcast industry are being paid to show these commercial they must think that this is not only against any ethical taste but also possibly against the law.

The broadcasting stations should have done the ethical approach, not air these commercials. It is unfair to those who will strictly follow the campaign period which is still not yet in effect until 2016.

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(Editor's note: Please also check out the other blog entry about another potential premature campaigning issue.)

Vice Ganda jokes border on discrimination

     Vice Ganda has been known by millions of Filipinos for his funny jokes, sense of humor and wit. For years, I’ve watched him on TV and on the Internet, trying to make people laugh by telling jokes, and sadly, by throwing insults at others.

     In an episode of the show “The Showtime” a few weeks ago, Vice Ganda was trying to make a joke using the name of Gary V. His words were “Sa Liti, Gary V. Dun sa Liti, manuod kang Prinsis Sarah, ang kapartner si Cidi. Ang kinakain niya ispagiti.” (Sa Leyte, Gary V. Dun sa Leyte, manuod kang Princess Sarah, ang kapartner si Cedie. Ang kinakain niya spaghetti.) He said it in a way that would imitate and mock the accent of people from Leyte.

     This is not a first. He has been very fond of making fun of others not only for their accent, but usually for their appearance or their performances. However, in the situation given above, I found it unethical because it is a form of discriminating other people or group of people. Article 22 of the KBP Broadcast Code says that “A person’s race, religion, color, ethnicity, gender, and physical or mental disability shall not be used in a way that would embarrass, denigrate, or ridicule him.” In this case, although the joke was said lightly and was kept short, it was still an insensitive act to mock people from Leyte on national television. Also, we are aware of the current issues about the lack of support to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda, who are mostly from Leyte.

     Vice Ganda has been very fond of doing these kinds of jokes because he values his job as a comedian. A little too much, maybe, that sometimes, he fails to consider what others would feel about his jokes. He wanted to make people happy but he fails to realize that some may actually get offended or embarrassed by his jokes. For me (or if I were in his place) he should be more aware of his limitations. Being a comedian does not give him the right to discriminate other people. There are more ways to make people happy and promoting discrimination in any form should not be one of those.

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