When entertainment turns sour

I’ve never watched a single episode of “Desperate Housewives” but I have watched “The Daily Show” on occasion. Last week both programs created such an uproar among Filipinos that I seriously checked if some sour- graping lobbyist or PR firm might have anything to do with two successive slurs on US television.

Most people I spoke with were inconclusive while others called it plain bad luck.

It might be plain bad luck for Filipinos particularly those living in the US or for Americans still claiming to be Filipinos. But for some politicians, the racial slur or the political satire of bad taste uttered by Teri Hatcher or Jon Stewart was like Manna from heaven. Somehow, the two successive hits took the focus away from the corruption of politicians and the misfortune of our military personnel who once again sent home 4 comrades in body bags.

While snooping around I did warn my friends that I might sound too much of a conspiracy freak but certain things actually contributed to the possible angle. To begin with “movers and shakers” in Malacañang typified malaria victims prior to and during the week of Erap’s conviction. They were so busy drawing up scenarios and solutions that even the US parked two ships out of Manila Bay. (Not to help Malacañang I assure you but either for R&R or to evacuate their Citizens)

In roughly the same period, the Palace also announced a P30-million Public Relations office that would be tasked with promoting or defending the Republic in the battle for the hearts and minds of foreign investors and tourists. In fact one very enterprising and self motivated PR man even made representations on behalf of an international group. Unfortunately his hopes where dashed early when even the movers and shakers could not get the idea off the ground or get the client to listen.

So it was not a far fetched idea that a pissed off company who reportedly had great connections state side could have instigated the double whammy just to get even or to make a point. I mean, when was the last time that Pinoys got slurred two days in a row in two of the most popular shows in the US? Last I heard, we don’t have a dictator in power or a visiting actress who is freaked out by cockroaches or Men who pee in every street corner like dogs.

At the very least, last week’s offenses have forced many Filipinos to rethink their patronage of such shows (If only for a few days). Filipinos have habitually if not mindlessly watched these programs for pure entertainment, titillation, or admiration of how far the writers and talents would push their luck or abuse their privilege.

Time and again Pinoys have gobbled up programs that promote unconventional views, values or behavior. Take for instance “Sex in the City”, Will & Grace, Jay Leno, or even the really violent combat sport programs or wrestling matches.  Avid viewers of these programs see them as pure entertainment. It’s OK for Leno or Stewart to attack US President George Bush, it’s nothing but comedy.

Who cares if he ridiculed Saddam Hussein, he’s the enemy of the US anyway. But when President Cory Aquino is connected to the word slut, you hear so many Pinoys ready to declare Jihad on Stewart.

A number of people can’t comprehend why some of us want the censors to move in on the cable TV programs. Well hello! Much of the offensive materials and programs are on cable. The only nice thing anyone ever said about the Philippines was Martha Stewart who expressed care and concern for disaster victims a few years back.

So now that a hit show has hit home and turned on us, are you willing to reconsider the suggestion that we really study what we watch? Is it really entertaining or is it at someone’s expense? Are you sure it’s good clean fun or is something not really good being made to look clean and fun? Have you become a fan because they act well or they act out what you want to do but shouldn’t do? Are you watching the brutality for reality or in reality finding a window for brutality?

Remember the song… “I started a joke that started the whole world laughing. But I didn’t see that the joke was on me” (The Bee Gees)

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After writing a short article on how a friend and I had to wait for one hour and ten minutes for our baggage to be off loaded from a PAL flight from San Francisco, I received a number of calls from non-PAL people as well as PAL officials who immediately explained to me that the baggage off loading delays were not PAL’s fault but a service contractor.

I even got an interesting history of the business process involved. From recollection the first company to handle baggage for PAL was a company named Synergy. This however was short lived when a company that belonged to a Congressman allegedly got the contract. After a short period the Congressman had to shut down and was replaced by a company called Excellent that belongs to an in-law of Mr. Lucio Tan.

This is the sad reality of big business in the Philippines. No matter how big you become, you can never escape the politicians or your in-laws. Unfortunately Mr. Lucio Tan will now have to do the unsavory thing of telling off his son-in-law for the UN-Excellent  operations at the Centennial terminal. 

At the same time I have made suggestions to the PAL officials that they should call the attention of the NAIA Customs Boss Celso Templo to train his people that if they must rip up a box or a package, they should at least tape up, secure and advise the owner that they had done so. At least this way the Airlines are not faulted for the destructive and sloppy work of customs personnel.