Animal Planet
The life of the poor is, unfortunately, pretty fair game to the caprices of fate, or worse, for certain Philippine tv show producers who'd instantly sell their soul to the devil to make Number One in the ratings game.
Such is the situation prevailing in the Philippine TV industry, with cutthroat competition between two giant networks ( ABS-CBN and GMA7 ) that easily make chopped liver of anyone found dispensable. Talents, executives, writers, even producers, have found heads rolling at the bat of an eyelash, and often find themselves fiercely posturing to fall into synch, or maybe even the other side of the fence, with a cruel game of musical chairs being ruthlessly played out between the two channels. A high incidence of insomnia and chronic ulcers among these people will not be surprising. Fits them.
Loyalties, integrity and morals very quickly fly out the window in this industry which caters to their perceived needs ( inane antics, nubile dancers in skimpy costumes, green-minded hosts, some luck for the chance to play and win one million pesos ), and probably to the detriment, of the hoi polloi around which these shows are designed for maximum exploitation. Draw in the audience, bring in the numbers and rake in the sponsors, never mind that quality is hardly consideration here.
The unfortunate stadium stampede that killed 73 people last Saturday was the first anniversary presentation of a noontime game show, designed to unseat the rival program from the opposite network, which had been lording it over that time slot for the last two decades. With the promise of a million pesos plus a house and lot for the taking of the lucky winner on that day, the urban poor who inhabit the nooks and crannies of Metro Manila, and who had nothing much more to lose, were drawn to the promise like moths to a fire, and patiently lined up, despite the elements and the lack of food, as far back as a few days before the event. And the TV show producers, whose idea was to fill up the place way beyond the stadium capacity (I believe in my jaded mind, to look telegenic), were mighty proud of their handiwork, as seen from their telecast of the people lining up even a day before the show.
My poor country. These poor people. And remarkable, indeed, the images on that day, from a show that I'm not likely to forget.
Filed Under: Pain
Such is the situation prevailing in the Philippine TV industry, with cutthroat competition between two giant networks ( ABS-CBN and GMA7 ) that easily make chopped liver of anyone found dispensable. Talents, executives, writers, even producers, have found heads rolling at the bat of an eyelash, and often find themselves fiercely posturing to fall into synch, or maybe even the other side of the fence, with a cruel game of musical chairs being ruthlessly played out between the two channels. A high incidence of insomnia and chronic ulcers among these people will not be surprising. Fits them.
Loyalties, integrity and morals very quickly fly out the window in this industry which caters to their perceived needs ( inane antics, nubile dancers in skimpy costumes, green-minded hosts, some luck for the chance to play and win one million pesos ), and probably to the detriment, of the hoi polloi around which these shows are designed for maximum exploitation. Draw in the audience, bring in the numbers and rake in the sponsors, never mind that quality is hardly consideration here.
The unfortunate stadium stampede that killed 73 people last Saturday was the first anniversary presentation of a noontime game show, designed to unseat the rival program from the opposite network, which had been lording it over that time slot for the last two decades. With the promise of a million pesos plus a house and lot for the taking of the lucky winner on that day, the urban poor who inhabit the nooks and crannies of Metro Manila, and who had nothing much more to lose, were drawn to the promise like moths to a fire, and patiently lined up, despite the elements and the lack of food, as far back as a few days before the event. And the TV show producers, whose idea was to fill up the place way beyond the stadium capacity (I believe in my jaded mind, to look telegenic), were mighty proud of their handiwork, as seen from their telecast of the people lining up even a day before the show.
My poor country. These poor people. And remarkable, indeed, the images on that day, from a show that I'm not likely to forget.
Filed Under: Pain
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