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>>Philippine TV is very sick >> >>Plagued by distorted values, free TV is now a tool of >>"idiotization, moronization, and faggotization." >> >>Philippine free TV is composed of ABS-CBN and GMA 7 >>and smaller networks, which are either private or >>government-owned and sequestered. ABS-CBN and GMA 7 >>dominate the industry, as shown by their bigger >>audience and revenue share. >> >> >> >>ABS-CBN and GMA 7 provide shows and programs that have >>big entertainment value but little social relevance. >>Despite their competition, their programming is >>basically the same, as they try to outdo each other >>with inferior shows of purely entertainment content. >>The pervasive show biz culture is nauseating to the >>point that one throws up watching those programs. >> >>Their public affairs programs and talks shows are >>perceptibly highly partisan and loaded with hidden >>agenda, which are essentially to support their owners' >>business interest. These shows are now heavily laced >>with the show biz culture as shown by the inclusion of >>the latest show biz gossips. >> >>The government-owned and sequestered TV stations (NBN >>4, RPN 9, and IBC 13) have fewer entertainment >>programs, but they are now propaganda machines of the >>powers-that-be. ABC 5 is in the process of >>resuscitating itself. Other TV networks specialize in >>religious shows, giving them specific niche audience. >> >>Menu >> >>ABS-CBN and GMA 7's programming centers on a daily >>menu of situation comedy (sitcoms) and variety shows >>that suffer from extreme vulgarity, profanity, >>inanity, and lack of moral values. Screaming faggots >>(or transvestites), and ill-educated entertainers >>dominate these shows, as if to showcase that the >>country has gone to the dogs. Gossips that concern >>private lives of the famous and not so famous is the >>norm. >> >>Even serious drama shows are not spared from this >>malaise. It is common to see them portraying the lives >>of show biz figures as if they have run out of topics. >>Homosexuals, who take pride in admitting they have >>live-in partners, host talk shows. Local telenovelas >>show violent scenes and scheming characters; imported >>ones are mostly unfit for the Filipinos. Showing >>ignorance, the scheming villainess in a teleserye is >>named Dugong, a gentle and lovable sea mammal. The two >>networks have no decent sports shows, but they have >>plenty of suffocating show biz talk shows mostly >>during primetime. >> >>Serious public affairs shows have been invaded by the >>show biz culture. A late evening talk show started >>with gyrating Sexbomb dancers. These shows are mostly >>aired until midnight, when people are either asleep or >>half-asleep. Punctuality is not the duopoly's virtue >>either. There is a perceptible trend that ABS-CBN and >>GMA-7 would first idiotize their audience with their >>inane, profane and vulgar shows before giving them the >>mind-stimulating TV programs. >> >>The deterioration of free TV could be due to the >>conspiracy of network owners, advertisers and TV >>talents to deprive the Filipino audience of quality >>shows-all for a single purpose: power and money. This >>conspiracy theory is not so appealing as this has yet >>to be proven by cartel-like pacts. But it has gained >>credence since the networks have remained unmindful of >>their social and moral obligations. Ratings and >>revenues have been their preoccupation. This tragedy >>is being exacerbated by their hypocrisy to call their >>audience as kapamilya or kapuso. >> >>Middle class >> >>ABS-CBN and GMA 7 have to reshape their programming >>because of a waning audience for the free TV. The >>higher-income groups (or the middle class) have >>migrated to cable TV. Professionals do not complain >>against those palabas na baboy (indecent shows) but >>would say: "What the heck. We don't watch them >>anyway." The duopoly is left with the lower-income >>groups as audience. >> >>But neither the middle nor the lower class is the >>victim; it is those hapless children, who have access >>to free TV. Since those palabas na baboy are shown >>during primetime, children cannot defend themselves >>from their moronizing effects. They are most >>vulnerable to the machinations of the two networks, >>which can now be aptly considered "enemies of the >>Filipino people." >> >>What is to be done? >> >>Don't expect ABS-CBN and GMA 7 to initiate reforms >>because they won't. So much is at stake and >>substantial reforms would mean huge losses for the two >>networks. They have to keep on earning huge revenues >>to pay their stable of expensive show biz talents. >>They are stuck with these people. Politicians cannot >>help us, either. They are afraid to collide with these >>networks for fear of reprisal. These networks have all >>the clout to sound the death knell for their careers. >> >>Quarantine >> >>It is now up to ordinary citizens to express their >>moral outrage against these palabas na baboy and help >>themselves. >> >>Grownups can insulate themselves from the duopoly's >>"idiotizing, moronizing, and faggotizing" effects. But >>children should be protected from these vulgar shows. >>Parents and relatives should take the first step by >>exercising intellectual quarantine in which children >>are physically, morally, and mentally barred from >>watching these shows. The move of several schools to >>stop their students from going to TV studios to watch >>noontime variety shows is a form of intellectual >>quarantine. >> >>The phrase "for parental guidance" should be given a >>new meaning. It should mean outright prohibition. No, >>kid, you can't watch those shows. Parents should >>exercise their right to guide their children to the >>right path. Surrogate parents like teachers should >>explain to their students the bad effects of these >>disgusting shows and tell them to stop watching these. >> >>Parents should encourage the other institutions-the >>Church, the NGO community, and other concerned >>sectors-to oppose this form of dehumanization. They >>should deliver the most explicit message by boycotting >>the two stations. They can make their statements loud >>and clear within the comforts of their home by turning >>to other channels or turning off the TV set. They >>should also mark the advertisers of these repulsive >>shows and start boycotting their products. Hit these >>advertisers where it hurts. >> >>We can still liberate ourselves from these TV >>networks. Let's work together for a better >Philippines. >> >>(Brenda A. Gelacio is a housewife, mother and >>grandmother. She has an AB Psychology degree from the >>Philippine Christian University. She has taken >>masteral studies on the ill effects of TV on >>children.) >>--Brenda A. Gelacio

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