Wowowee: An Eye Opener

12:00 pm. Lunch time,a break from the usual adversities of a Filipino. It is the time most likely spent by the driver-sweet-lover to eat heartily in the turo-turo or the much needed stress time out by the office "Ser Armando" types. Truly, Juan dela Cruz does not forget the usual tanghalian. But of course, it wouldn't be complete without the noontime shows which indeed plays a vital part not only in our everyday lunchtime but also in our culture.

Now.Who could site a better example other than Wowowee?

One thing I admire the most about it is its ability to get the taste of every filipino and keep it to the highest possible notch. It becomes so entertaining that you consciously or unconsciously memorize the lyrics of the songs/jinggles by Willie Revilliame,of which my musically sensitive ears aren't very pleased. But since everyone appears to enjoy it, (Yes. even your nearby kanto boy and my 6 year old brother knows it by heart) I think I'd let it pass. I myself admit into giving in to tunes of Boom Tarat Tarat and Igiling-giling. But I tell you, the fun of doing it in your private homes is incomparable to going to the studio to strut your stuff! Although the thought of millions of people around the world are watching which made me feel VERY anxious, it is still a memory worth keeping.

Another thing which I find very commendable is the show's effortless display of our trademark virtue which is abounding hospitality. Although I find it exaggerated at times, it surely does pay off in our tourism sector, NO WONDER Ace Durano (Secretary for the Department Of Tourism) got Willie in his latest commercial. It's more of like a gradeschool open house where the teacher makes the usual bonggang bonggang salubong to the parent and if possible and appropriate,I have no doubt that they won't consider hanging garlands of sampaguita then shouting: Mabuhay! Tuloy po kayo..While the visiting/prospective parent taken aback. OK. I was exaggerating. Its so sad when you have to out it.

Now to the negative side. Feel my bitterness?haha

Of all the positive mentioned above,of course there would be my usual negative comments on some things which some of us wouldn't even waste their irreplaceable neurons on. First is the shows hint of division amongst the rich and the err... not-so-rich people. I personally witnessed this when we lined up before the shooting. The long line was divided into two: one of the normal people and the other for people who they call "TFC Subscribers". Somehow I sensed that my occipitofrontalis muscle (muscle used for raising the eyebrows) contracted. What do I call it? its OPPRESSION. The TFC subscribers were given top priority in the line where they eventually got seated way ahead of us thus getting better seats. This is SOCIAL INJUSTICE people!

Another thing is the show's concept. In my point of view, the show is focused all about the povery and misfortunes of the people with some segue on their love and family life. Look at what those people can do just for a hefty sum of 5000 Php! Although I am not blind to the fact that hefty sum may mean life and death to them but what I see here is SELF DEGREDATION which we filipinos are known for abroad. I can testify it by the usual things people say to Willie anticipating that they are the next contestant to be interviewed. It goes something like this:

"Magandang Hapon Kuya Willliiieeeee!!!! Nagtraysikel lang po ako dito tapos binenta ko lang po yung kalabaw namen para may pambayad ng pamasahe Paaappppiiiieeee!! May sakit po nanay ko at ang tatay ko'y kakaopera lang at yung kapatid ko kasalukuyang nakakulong ngayon... tapos hinahanap ko po yung nawawala kong kapatid sa labas na anak ng nanay ko sa isang Amerikano.. (then Willie asks for a message to his half-brother) Hey,ip yor watching da Tea-eff-sea channel ryt now..im here.. Thank you to the Tea-eff-sea channels!"

...

The result? It served as a media for sharing problems which are supposedly shared only to the intimates. The thing here is that, it somehow provides a "False Hope" for some who's mentality is "the more dramatic your story,the higher money Willie will give you". Which sometimes becomes irritating because most of the time, their sometimes-fabricated,sometimes-exaggerated stories doesn't convince me for obvious reasons. Yet,there are still some whose sincerity eminates that acts as a lachrimator to me.

But alas! those mentioned above is incomparable to the last uncommendable thing I see which is the EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN. It can be seen, from the not-so-brainy portrayal of the lady dancers to the "Ang guapo mo talaga Papppiiiieeee!!!*Hugs and Kisses"

And now, after Willie's suspension in the said noontime show, everyone kept on saying, "Mahal namin sa Willie" or something like that. Is this a sign of his political ambition?

Open Juan dela Cruz' eyes.

Be the judge.