Jingle ng Pinay: To Hide and Never Seek

By Glenn Gonzales (2005)

Sana’y masabi sa awit kong ito                             

Lahat ng ninanais nitong puso ko                         

Sana saan man patungo sa buhay                         May pag-ibig my pag-asa may saya may saysay 

Sana sa bawat sandali matikman pa

Sarap ng pagsasama at simpleng ligaya

Tara na sakyan lang, malay mo   

Nandyan lang ang hinahanap mo

Introduksyon

Asking few people, they always talk about “commercial” when you query about the word advertising. What is it by the way? Commercial is also with the same meaning as what advertising is, especially when it comes to television and radio. A paid publicity designed to persuade people to buy a product or service or to adopt a viewpoint (Webster International, 1996) is what advertising does. Since then, when money was invented, different kind of medium was used in order to promote something. It all started in print. During the ancient times, Greeks used woodcarvings to announce their store, on what product or service are they into. In Rome, about 2^nd century B.C. stone reliefs were used, particularly in market, to promote grocers. Today, as the world grew older, television, radio, (electronic) billboards, and other media are used to compete with other businesses. Advertisement nowadays, battles through creativity. The use of famous celebrity, novelty songs, poems and the likes are “in” just for the sake of entertainment to persuade people to patronize a particular commodity. In the Philippines, it has always been a commercial with a “jingle” that never fails to disappoint the Filipinos.

Pagkahilig sa Musika.
The people of the Philippines are well known as in born singers rather music lovers. They tend to hum invented melodies to entertain themselves. Where in the world can you find a market wherein a fish vendor sings to count his product? Do you know how many karaoke machines are there in the islands? How about the best chorale groups in the world? A lot of Filipinos never fails to amuse and mesmerize the international crowd through contests, concerts, and even in the theater through their beautiful voices. That’s the reason why advertising agencies never get used to using songs and jingles to attract the people. The creation of a jingle leads to a remarkable and a big recall to a commercial, most of it where all considered as classics already, especially if you use famous singers. But have we ever thought of analyzing these songs? There is something in the jingle, not just the rhythmic melody but what it really wants to say. Just like in the literature, we have to scrutinize a poem line by line to know the cry of the writer. In the case of an advertisement, the real goal of the advertisers, to SELL.  
Just recently, the song Shine by Regine Velasquez, THE Asia’s Songbird, was heard everyday at all the radio stations of Metro Manila 5 to 7 times, making it a hit, also resulting to the creation of an album containing 4 different versions of the song. Mind you, she also sung the jingle of Wendy’s Hamburgers, the famous “it’s the best time for Wendy’s” with super high notes. Ms. Velasquez is a 34 year-old lady who is for such a very long time is single. If you are going to read the lyrics of Shine, by the way it is a commercial of Skin White whitening lotion (in the Philippines, once your white your beautiful), you will never notice the pronoun “he” just “you.” It is not pertaining to a specific male, “you” points to the lotion. The use of symbolic words is pretty obvious that it merely talks about the “shine” that the whitening lotion gives.
“you make me shine, shine like the stars in the heaven…shine, shine with the light that you’re given…like the ray of light cutting through the night bright as the sun in the sky..”
“Stars”, “ray of light,” “bright as the sun” are all color white. These are the words used to substitute the  whitening lotion. It will sound awkward if they have use “whitening lotion” instead of “you.”
Ideally the goal of the jingle is to create an image of a love song. Using Regine, who is free from love life, many will sympathize to her as finding the prince that will give her shining moment. Although a different girl appeared in the commercial, Ms. Regine is still the person the people will notice. She is absolutely a white lady but she is not  credible for the song, for she herself used bleaching process to achieve her complexion not a whitening lotion. The commercial was so successful, having a big recall of the product, even making the song number one for weeks in different radio stations and music video shows. Both the artist and the capitalist gain lots of money. 
Jingles also paved way to the short-living stardom of the models appeared in the commercial. A lot of celebrity was discovered through advertisements, but on how short the commercial is, the same with  their stay in show business.  The Rexona (a deodorant) Boys, instantly became famous. With big muscles and pretty faces, a lot of viewer was fooled by the commercial. The scene was a group of 5 young men gathered in the locker room, after having a shower, rolled the deodorant in their armpits, and starting using the roll-on as a microphone. Using Backstreet Boys’ (a famous boy band in the late 90’s) hit song “Everybody” they sung and dance as if they were real artists. The boys were seen in different television shows, even became as hosts of a noontime show. They also had an album and change their group name as Powerboys. But eventually they had their own solo careers and later were totally forgotten by the people. The commercial was successful in saying that men must use Rexona to be cool. With the usage of a popular song and ideal young men, it created a statement of vanity due to inferiority. But not all the time, commercial models have short time career. In the case of Hapee toothpaste, using  famous youngsters, one is a product of a famous star search (Rainier Castillo) and an uprising star (Angel Locsin). Both known for their beautiful smiles, “smile mo, kita ko” became famous, but the product stayed in its standing. The two artists benefited so much in this advertisement, but the sales still goes to Colgate. “I love you sabado” by Jollibee also created a statement. Weekends are the only time for your children. Eating in Jollibee is equivalent to all the busy time the parents stayed in work. Children tend to eat “chicken joy” than vegetable and other nutritious food. Same goes to their other jingle “isa pa, isa pa, isa pang chicken joy” Again the commercial model, Serena Dalrymple, garnered stardom that inhibited her to focus on education which is more important than acting. It again created a statement that it’s okay to eat fried chicken all the time and later be discovered, become an actress and forget school. Another food chain created a notable jingle, Mc Donalds. “Kita-kits sa Mcdo” and “love ko ‘to” both was sung by popular singers. The first one was interpreted by the Megastar, merely saying that Mcdo is where the home is. The place to be. “Kita-kits” is a slang word used by the young ones, so if you ever use it again you’re CooL, but if you eat in Mcdo you’re cooler!!! “Love ko ‘to!” was actually a tag line of Mc Donalds, translated in the different languages of the world. What sad about this was the singer, Jasmine Trias. She was an American made singer, who survived American Idol pressure. Mc Donalds is an American business, eating there is part of colonial mentality. Jasmine is an American citizen, with “Filipino blood” and everybody idolized her. Using her was another form of colonialism.
Not all jingle has hidden “evil” messages. On the other hand, still, there are jingles with good message and importance. “Tara na, Byahe Tayo!” a campaign of the Department of Tourism to tour around the Philippines. This goal for investments to help the dying economy of the Philippines. They used different notable singers to sing for the campaign. The lyrics was purely describing the different beautiful islands of the Philippines. With a good melody and the likes of Sharon Cuneta, Freddie Aguilar, Lea Salonga, Ogie Alcasid and others, such campaign really appeared to be perfe(k)t. another version of this was created, sung by (again) Ms, Regine Velasquez, but this time it was with the cooperation of Smart Telecommunications. The jingle had the same title and was slightly rearranged to fit the high-pitched voice of Ms. Regine. The meaning of the jingle was still there, still to be considered as perfe(k)t.
Ang Trendsetter 
The leading soda, Coca-Cola. The company never failed to create a jingle either a commercial, which made a big recall to the people. Their sales tell the effectivity of their promotions. They also created celebrities like Judah Paolo, which also, again had a short career. He appeared on the summer commercial of Coke. The jingle was “Hottah! Hottah! Since it’s hot  you have to drink Coke to quench your thirst and just like their commercial, if you’re chanting “Hottah!hottaah!” with matching dance step, you’re in the party. You have the right of partying for the summer. Another jingle by Coke is the “Ito ang Beat!” A game with choreography using the hands. A girl with a Coke was challenged by her friend and later was defeated, allowing the other lady to get her newly buy Coke. The lesson was not to share but to play the game and whoever wins get the Coke regardless of who bought it. They really created a lot money out of it. Everybody was playing and chanting the game. It was even made as a segment on a noontime show, giving prizes to the contestant who will gracefully execute the jingle. The Filipino forgot their very own games. A line in the jingle was also saying something, “aaaaahhhhh, (with matching standing up) Coca-Cola,” Coke is so good. Coke is like a god, the step was pointing to Coke after signing like a cross to your body. It merely shows that you belong to Coke and you’re doing anything to have it whether you bought it or not. 
One of the models in the commercial created an issue being raped, again if she didn’t appear on the commercial will she still have created a news? I doubt it. The models were beautiful, and if you chant the song with matching choreo, you’re cool and beautiful and of course, you have the chance to drink the lord of the sodas, Coke.
Earlier I posted a lyrics. That was the new jingle of Coke. Sung in acapela by a young beautiful girl. The melody was so good and even the commercial was a “landmark.” But analyzing the lyrics we will realized how Coca-Cola is manipulating our lives.
 “Sana’y masabi sa awit kong ito, lahat ng ninanais nitong puso ko” these lines talks about the advertisement/product itself. Actually it can also be the message of the capitalist. You know what it is. BUY!  “Sana saan man patungo sa buhay,

May pag-ibig my pag-asa may saya may saysay!”  This statement is saying that in whatever  situation you are, Coke is there to bring you joy. The third line talks about the ubiquity of Coke. Wherever you go there is Coke that you will never escape from it. The 4^th line, talks about how Coke will lighten things up. If you’re in love, you need Coke so that you and your partner will enjoy each moment when you’re together. Same if you are loving someone and you can’t tell your feelings, Coke will help you do so. If you were busted or experienced break-up, again there is Coke to help you move on and get over. “May pag-asa” tells us that in whatever bad situation we are, Coke is there to help us boost our fighting spirit. “May saya” when you are with your friends, family, or to a gathering it is happier if you are drinking Coke. Bantering will be more exciting and fun. “May say-say” deals with meetings or any other gathering that concerns common good. With Coke, you can easily think of what is good for the welfare of somebody. Actually, in accordance with the commercial, the bottle of soda was given to a couple that was fighting. They patched up after having a Coke. Another girl was given, and her friends accepted her happily. A worker was also given while carrying something, so it says that you have to stop working and drink Coke, whether you have taken your meal or not.  A child selling flowers was also given, imagine that, children are not advised to drink sodas for it contains a lot of sugar and strong acid. Research found out that Coke can be a toilet cleaner and if you put Coke in a meat and leave it for a while, worms will come out, YUCK!  The fifth line, “sana sa bawat sandali matikman pa,” tackles the addictive content of Coke. It merely states that Coke is like a drug, you can be an addict wanting it on “bawat sandali ” Everything in excess is bad. Ulceritis, acidity are just some effects of too much soda. My favorite, the 7^th and 8^th line, “tara na sakyan lang,” this line talks about the gimmicks of Coke. As masses, you have no choice but to patronize Coke because of its promos, less in price etc. “Malay mo andyan lang ang hinahanap mo…” this is false hopes. This pertains to the contests that Coke is promulgating to garner lot of sales. Particularly, those gimmicks “ prizes under the cap” that the probability of winning is –1. Imagine how many Coke will you drink just to get a prize. They are really hardcore capitalists.

Ang mundo ng Advertising   

It is really “pasaway.” Advertising really doesn’t care whether they are degrading people or promulgating a fad resulting to bad effects. Absolutely, we are living in a world of materialism. Money makes the world go round. I can’t blame people who don’t care about ethics. That’s the advertising world, a comet is the only way to renew it.
It is really sad to realized that only few people are blessed to study and learn about culture industry (Adorno and Horkheimer). Hopefully, there would come a time wherein there is less unethical issues to be encountered…”malay mo…”  
                      

       

            ngayong araw na ito, akoy muling gumising ng maaga at pumasok para sa aking summer classes. hindi ako nagkamali na mag aral ngaung tag-init. dapat ay mag ojt ako ngunit pinili kong magaral na lang muna. napakahirap ng dinanas ng mga kaklase ko at kakurso. akalain ba namang ipagtabuyan sa ABSCBN ang mga estudyante. kasalanan ito ng mga nakakatanda naming kamagaral. kami tuloy ang nahihirapan. masaya talaga ngayong tag-init,  napakarami kong mga natutunan, lalo na ang pagkakaroon ng ethics sa media. si propesor elvin valerio ay isa talagang mentor, halos lahat ng sinasabi nya ay pinaniniwalaan ko. marami akong ideals na sa kanya nakabase.kami ay nagkaroon ng magandang diskusyon kanina sa ethics. sa biology, nag test lang kami,madali naman ito at sigurado ang aking pagpasa. pagkatapos ay dumeretso ako sa aming departamento upang makibalita. nagtext sa akin si aireen dahil kami ay may lakad. matagal ko narin di nakakasama ang aking mga kaibigan. kasama ko rin si ate mai. kami ay lumakad at nagtungo sa southmall, kumain sa HANDAAN at nanood ng Hide and Seek. nagrecording din kami sa Karaoke king kumanta si aireen ng all the love in the world, c ate mai weak at ako naman ay YOU WERE THERE. umawit din kami ng thank god i found you. yun na sana ang panghuli kong kanta ngunit humirit pa ko ng isa sa aking pinakapaborito, FIXIN A BROKEN HEART. na MISS ko ang pagkanta halos isang taon akong namahinga dahil sa pagpopokus sa pagaaral. sa susunod na taon ay magbabalik na ako sa chorale. sana kumpleto  kami nagyon, ang buong tropa,na-MISS ko talaga sila,sobra.

masaya ako ngayon dahil may nangyari at yoon ay inaasahan ko. di ko ito maaring masabi dito,dahil malamang gagawa ito ng isyu. basta, buti na lang nag internet ako. meron kasi akong malaking hinahangaan...yiiiiiheeeee

godbless

hay naku... pagkatapos ng summer classes wala na akong ginawa sa bahay...matulog,gumising,magluto,kumain,nood t.v. araw araw un na lang...may mga pagkakataong umaalis ako ng bahay, subalit mga 1 2 oras lang..

sayang talaga at hindi ako nakasama sa pagtitipong ginanap sa mcdo. dumating kasi ang aking kaibigan na si ariane mula sa bicol,na miss ko sya. naging kaklase ko sya sa abscbn. dumating daw si madz patty at sumunod si kristel. nanood sila ng amityville. naghihinayang talaga ako.

nagkaroon din pala kami ng pagtitipon sa cpc. simula na ng trabaho sa pamantasan. maligaya ako at malapit na magpasukan. gagawin ko itong isang mapagbungang taon.

sana masaya, sana maligaya, sana enjoy

godbless

Glenn Arden Gonzales
Mr. Elvin Valerio
Media Ethics
13 May 2005
Laughing All The Way

Situational comedy, sitcom for short, what is it really? According to Wikipedia it is a genre of comedy performance originally devised for radio consisting of recurring characters in a format in which there are one or more humorous storylines center around a common environment. This type of entertainment seemed to originate at the United States during the 1920’s and the term sitcom was coined in 1951 (Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary). With its success the whole nation followed this format including my beloved country, the Philippines. Veron Dionisio proved Filipino as laughing people due to the popularity of sitcoms. According to his research on the year 2000, the two leading networks GMA and ABS-CBN allots longer airtime to comedy shows than serious drama. ABS-CBN gives seven hours out of its 18 hours program schedule to sitcoms such as “Oki Doki Dok,” “Richard Loves Lucy,” “Kaya ni Mister Kya ni Misis,” “Pwedeng-Pwede,” and “Home Along da Riles.” GMA on the other hand allots seven hours out of its 13.5 hours program schedule to “Ooopps,” “Kool ka Lang,” “Beh Bote Nga,” “1 for 3,” and “Bubble Gang,” all are sitcoms. Shows such as “John en Marsha” created by Ading Fernando lasted for 16 years, “Chicks to Chicks” ran for almost a decade. “Eh Kase Babae” stayed on for seven years while “Goin’ Bananas” lasted eight years. Comedy shows, also advertiser-friendly due to audience appeal, has also lower production cost spending much of its location in studios, having a controlled environment than serious drama that demand for real locations. But allow me to say that Philippine sitcom also made mark in the modern comedy. Being the greatest imitators, together with its “professional” actors, the abused “outtakes,” “bad” script, “sloppy” director, comic “politicians” and sexual content, a Philippine sitcom is truly an evolution in the world of comedy. As what Behn Cervantes of Inquirer News Service wrote:

“a smart American television director/writer uses outtakes, showing the erring side of stars on television … Philippine entertainers are never to be left behind aping the American television… outtakes is the “in” thing today, however having a difference by making it as part of the show, unprofessional self-indulgent actors making jokes and ad-libs that make sense to themselves, drop out of character, and brazenly enjoy themselves at the audience’s expense.”

Let me tell you about Joey Marquez, a basketball star turned actor turned politician in the sitcom of “feeling-macho tambays” Cool ka Lang. The 40 year old men, acts as a youngster, caressing sexy girls on the show, trying to look “cute” by making silly faces and delivering ad-lib in a colorless, foghorn voice. Cervantes looks at him as a “tasteless for making fun of punning with Kris [an ex-presidential daughter] together with Philip Salvador.” “Kaya ni Mister Kaya ni Misis” is another malicious sitcom. It is a story of the Magtanggol couple, a policeman partnered with a “brave-soft” wife. On Dionisio’s observation, what is alarming here is that it always ends up in the couple’s bedroom that will eventually lead to the apology of the wife to her husband as if women always commits mistake in a marriage. Add to this the stereotypical depiction of women as housewives who clean the house, take care of the kids, cater to their husband needs and etc. Most of the times the couple will end up making love under the blanket, arousing the viewer’s senses.  I strongly agree to what Jason Jackson said:

“…the popular T.V. sitcoms represent a lifestyle of self-indulgence--- an “ideal” bed-swapping environment in which the motto is, “Oh my God, let’s have a baby!”

The Theory of Comedy

It is true to me, as a Filipino, to be a happy person. I usually make people laugh and vice-versa. But watching sitcom, am I please to laugh and burn calories at it? Guided by Richard F. Taflinger’s, PhD six elements required for a humorous comedy, I will examine whether Filipino sitcom is worth laughing at. According to Taflinger to make one person laugh a sitcom must consist of the following: 1. it must appeal to the intellect rather than emotions; 2. must be mechanical; 3. it must be inherently human; 4. there must be a set of established societal norms; 5. the situation and its component parts (the action performed and the dialogue spoken) must be inconsistent or unsuitable to the surroundings; and 6. perceived as harmless or painless to the participants. A sitcom lacking one of the criterions will not be staying longer in the air. Let me discuss and site example to these criterions. Particularly, losing emotive content and exercising intellectuality is present when groups or sects are discussed. In “Idol Ko si Kap,” they have this skinny guy who speaks of derogatory words against, let say a gay, the gay community will be angry for it, but as long as the actor proceeds, as he mentions different people this merely losses its connotative emotional meaning and just become noises thus allowing the audiences to react intellectually, not emotionally. To be mechanical is to act in a manner that is inappropriate to a stimulus or situation. We are talking of slapstick routine here. Have you ever watched “Ogag” by Al Tantay? Patterned through Mr. Bean, “Ogag’s” stimuli is always through action and in fairness it is effective. Something is funny if it reminds the audience of humanity. Imagine “Going Bulilit” which has child comedians. It has always been a saying that children never lie. Watching the kid’s act, crack “social” jokes, and deliver sensitive matters, it reminds the adult to be mature. Touch of humanity is very present. “Abangan ang Susunod na Kabanata…” is the best example for number four. This sitcom merely reflects the norms of the society during its time and until now, nothing changed in the society. The characters in the show represents the people of the Philippine society, be it a politician, social climber, the poor and others. Exaggeration is also an effective way to make people laugh. Visuals do a lot of this. In one of the episodes of  “Beh Bote Nga,” Janno Gibbs was so angry that his face turned into a monster or Anjo Yllana ate a very spicy foods and smoke started getting out of his ears. Such exaggeration is also present to “Kool ka Lang” whenever someone was hit, a spurt of blood comes out. The sixth and final criterion is abused in our sitcoms. We tend to laugh if Vic Sotto will slap someone with a rolled newspaper. Dolphy hits a “Sunog Baga” with a “foam” wood. It is funny, even in real life when someone got slip we will laugh but not until he cries out of pain. Getting hurt is okay but this must not be done often. “Eat Bulaga” the longest noontime show, though not a sitcom but a comedy variety central, violates too much on this. Have you ever watched “Bulagaan?” Slapping the tall and giant Jimmy Santos is not funny. It is very offensive to Mr. Santos and to the audiences. Taflinger stated that:

“The six criteria must all be present for an attempt at humor to succeed: if only one is missing then the joke will fail. As long as the audience knows the norms and can thus see the incongruity, the participants act in an inflexible manner but are inherently human, no one appears to get hurt, and the audience doesn’t take it personally, then an attempt at being funny will succeed.”
I am proud to say that most Philippine sitcom contains the six criterions but the issue of ethics and moral lacks. Maybe Taflinger should add the seventh criterion; 7. it must have a positive effect on the audience considering the ethics in television. Credits must be mine.
The World’s Laughing Perverts
 The Philippines’ Master of Disguise Michael V. once said:
“ Whatever is real, whatever is true in real life makes people laugh. Filipinos are hard to please, though. We’re unpredictable.”
Edgar Mortiz, director of Tropang Trumpo, stresse:
          “Nakakatawa yung hindi nagpapatawa!”
Al Tantay the creator of “Ogag” wrote”
          “Filipinos find visual comedy funny. That’s probably why ‘Mr. Bean’ is so popular here. There is no language barrier, no gaps at all.”
The Comedy King Dolphy stated”
“Ang Pilipino ganoon. Gusto nilang ‘yung naaapi ang nagwawagi. Kita mo ‘yan kay Nora. Gusto nila ang Humor ng everyday life, medyo aping-gago, ganoon, tulad ng ‘Jan en Marsha’ maski mahirap ka, kahit pinakamahirap pa, ‘yung pagmamahal at sense of humor nandoon. Iyon lang naman ang pinapakita naming. Parang ginagawang joke lang ang paghihirap, which is true in real life.”
Lito Camo the novelty composer said that:
          “Iyong pinoy kasi mababaw lang ang kaligayahan!”
We are really the laughing people. We always laugh at something. Even during the worst of time. Imagine a family stranded in their roofs due to typhoon, when a camera passes by, they will wave and smile forgetting their condition. Footages of the evacuation in Burnham Park in Baguio city when a 1990 earthquake shook the city turned to be a big picnic party after an unnerving experience. Are we really happy people or suffering of an “in-denial” syndrome? William Esposo wrote:
“Filipinos go about life with the notion that the things are not as bad as their really are. Psychologists refer to this as a state of being “in-denial”--- that human tendency to turn a blind eye to adverse situations as a coping behavior to escape unpleasant realities.”
Imagine the nearly 14 years dictatorship of Marcos. Why did it take so long? Imagine if Ninoy was not killed, will the people march in EDSA? Right now we are still in denial, because we haven’t someone to stand as a hero like Ninoy or Cory. We continue to be blind and laugh. Media dictates what to be seen. Sitcoms are the answer in our problem. To be an escapist doesn’t requires money; television is already there no need to go to the cinema.
All of us are pervert according to Freud. It is reflected in our sitcoms. The maniac group of Joey Marquez, the sexy starlets, name it. We are suppressed, sexually suppressed. The “conservative” Spaniards colonized us over 400 years. We were thought of “morals.” Freud also emphasized the avoidance of sexuality, especially among the middle and upper classes, and most especially among women. Who controls the society? The rich. They are morally upright, they avoid sex, but actually they can have it anytime they want. Money matters.
Surfing the net I found lots of articles scrutinizing the sitcom industry. There is this one thesis by Jefur Ticella that states that:
“…the T.V. program FRIENDS conveys the idea that individuals should hang out with, and only with, members of the same race… I struggle with the idea that people would gather this meaning from these program and think of it as subliminally encouraging people to develop racially homogenous groups of friends…negative behavior being promoted in a positive light in the media, such as drinking and smoking. Every alcohol commercial depicts some lavish party in a richly adorned setting featuring ‘beautiful people’ enjoying themselves to all hours of evening.”
Reading this part of his thesis you will be awakened of the still on going discrimination abroad. In the Philippines there is still discriminations. See how women are treated in sitcoms, sexual objects. The homosexual, they are still mocked by the artist in a sitcom. It is true what Freud tolds us that media tells us who we really are, it validates our existence.
Another writer, Ken Sanes, wrote about psychology in sitcom:
“But what makes sitcoms something other than an absurdist drama is the fact that the characters are more than what is described above. What we respond to isn’t merely the foolishness of their personal limitations. It is also, and most essentially, the fact that we can identify with the way they are trapped by their limitations and have struggle against those limitations to find a measure of wholeness and happiness in their lives.”
Just like the characters in the sitcom they are very human. They experienced what we experience in real life. But that is not just what sitcoms give us.
“Sitcoms also satisfy           another desire, for consolation. They give us happy endings, loving relationships, and commiseration between characters, that tells us things aren’t really so bad and life does have its compensation.”
On the other hand, it has good effects, a positive outlook in life. Americans really need that. They are all paranoid. But I believe that doesn’t apply to Filipinos. We are happy people, laughing all the way. Our sitcoms today merely focuses on sex. Nothing but sex.
“… the sitcom is a way of being awake to the world. It says no to the lies and yes to the power of calling things by their right name. In showing us things as they are, sitcoms liberate us to see critical truths about ourselves and others, and about institutions and society.”
Maybe one day, with the help of sitcom we will realize that sex is a gift, and we have nothing to be ashamed of when we talk about it. That day will come, if our batch will be the grandparents. That’s a long time.
All in all REAL sitcoms are great for it mainly liberates us in the power of sadistic mockery. It helps us to be an optimist. But the question is, when will quality sitcoms be present? Let me leave you the message of Sanes:
“Between the permission to be imperfect and to know what we know; the interesting characters and situations; the depictions of friendship and intimacy; the commiseration, and happy endings, and, of course, the laugh and the jokes, the message we get is that life is good. That message may be a defense against despair but it is also a liberating truth we need to hear.”
Awakened
I was so blessed to have the opportunity to study and learned how the world moves. Pity those who are out of school. May God bless them. Education is the main reason why the country is suffering, why those up there manipulate a lot of youth. How money makes us slaves. Media as the great manipulators. As a “soon to be” media practitioner, there is a calling to create change. I am not expecting for a utopian society but at least a changed system. I pray that we are all like this, idealists. There is nothing wrong with that, I know that I’m starting it to myself. Aiming for a better society will not be realized if people will always look unto others. We are innately good, we have morals, and of course ethics. 
REFERENCES

Jackson, Jason.”Parent,Your Father.” Christian Courier.23 June 2003. <http://www.christiancourier.com/penpoint/parentsObeyYourFather.htm>

Dionisio, Veron.”Popularity of TV Sitcoms proves Filipinos love to laugh.” inq7.29 April 2000<http://www.inq7.net/saturday/apr2000wk4/spc_5.htm>
Palo, Mark Alayne.”Mass Appeal.” The Guidon. 12 May 2005. <http://www.theguidon.com/?get=2004100302>
Gonzalez, Mona. ‘The Strange Saga of Family Sitcoms.” Inq7. 14 August 1999. <http://www.inq7.net/saturday/aug99wk2/spc_6.htm>
Tauro, Janet. “Telenovela, Anime Transform Landscape of Philippine TV.” Brinkster. 12 May 2005. <http://www33.brinkster.com/sanghaya/2002/Articles/TelenovelaAnimeTransformLandscapeofPhilippineTV>
Pesayco, Sheila. “See no Evil, Hear no Evil.” Inq7. 05 August 2003. <http://money.www.inq7.net/columns/view_columns.php?yyy=2003&mon=08&dd=05&file=1>
Boeree, George. “Sigmund Freud 1856-1939.” Ship. 12 May 2005. <http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/freud.html>
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<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitcom>

BURAOTKASTING

By Glenn Gonzales

 

Television made a lot of change in our society. The shows we watch created chaos. Maybe someday I will create a movie about the idiot box I have a title, Couch Potato.

It is very surprising to found out that Americans are paranoids. Watching the work of Michael Moore gave me another reason to be proud as a Filipino. Good thing I am not a pro-white person. If only people who supports the American so much can watch those documentaries, maybe we can now work own our own. I cannot understand why Filipinos worship the Americans, maybe because of their missiles, the white skin, and their height. None of these characteristics is seen in a typical Filipino. Being the friendliest imperialists, people envied them for what they have. Media was patterned in the West resulting to the insecurities of the Filipinos. Imagine the white complexion, it became the standard of beauty in our society. If you read the Revelations in the Bible, America was not mention there. They will not be present in the end times, meaning their power will just be for a while.

Broadcasting made a lot of changes in our society. They are the experts of fear. They do not care whether they are giving threats to the people. In the world of broadcasting, ratings matter. They need to have the best news in town. Substance is not an issue anymore. Ethics is absurd. Reading the news perfectly is a must. Broadcasters need to create this image of good speakers. Television networks benefits a lot from this. They do not care on what results it is bringing to the society.

The greatest achievement of broadcasting is giving us quality entertainment and revolutionizing laziness. Idiotic thinking ranks third. Content is nowhere to find.

Soft news became hard news. Television is entertainment. Whatever show will it give, nowadays, it is purely entertainment. We consider everything as telenovelas. The more blood and action we see the more exciting it brings. Someday television will feature everybody. Each one of us can have our own show. We will all be “broadcasters.” At least laziness will be lessen.

Someday when given the chance to be there, I will try my best not be swallowed by the broadcasting monsters. To create change is what we need. Someone should start this. I think we need a real superhero. That can help us.