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Date Posted: 12:25:02 06/27/04 Sun
Author: Brenda A. Gelacio
Subject: Philippine TV is very sick

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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