If 73 dead people did not bring Willie Revillame down, neither will a macho-dancing 6 year old. Almost anyone who has any concern for the country detests the game shows of Willie Revillame for their degrading effects on society. But he remains the king of the noontime slot because the masses love him. Why do they love him? Is it because he’s funny? Is he iresistable with the ladies (and the lolas)? Is it because he has a heart of gold? Not really. The masses adore him because they think that he’s an everyday Santa Claus. Just show Willie you’ve been good (and that you are dirt poor) and you’re sure to leave the workshop with a treat.
But Willie is no Santa Clause. The goodies he is giving are not his own. It’s coming from advertisers- the commercials that fund his show. A friend who works in media told me that a TV spot on TV5’s Willing Willie costs P150,000 on a weekday and P180,000 on a weekend. That’s right folks, every time a commercial spot airs: kaching, kaching, kaching! How many commercials do you see throughout the entire show? When you compare that to the measly thousand Peso handouts being given to the contestants, you will be appalled.
It’s all good that there are letters being written to TV5. But I think it would hurt a lot more to appeal to the advertisers who fund this machine. Write to your brands and let them know what you think about shows like Willing Willie. Let them know that you are a powerful consumer and a concerned citizen. Ask your brands if they really want to be associated with a show that promotes lasciviousness at a young age.
I cringe at the sight of six year-old Jan Jan dancing this way. Remember how Rizal said that the youth is the hope of the nation? If the youth of the nation is being taught to macho dance for money, even if it is for laughs, then you know exactly where our country is headed.
If only people would stop supporting the entertainment mentality and noontime shows, this country could turn around. Almost everyone is gunning for showbiz, entertainment and the like. I like what Dr. Ting Tinco said on his speech acceptance on TOBAW.
ReplyDelete"Then this could be very well our battle cry: ‘idja-idja, aho-aho!’. With this, from ‘outside da Pilipins’ we may be able to rebuild the Philippines, flattened by financial crises, sucked dry by unscrupulous politicians, debased in its own eyes by cultural pollution and disoriented by a demented media that foists the ‘Wowowee’ mentality on Filipinos in massive daily noontime doses."
I partially agree with this rant, thought it's become clear that the modern middle-class liberals in this country will never understand the mentality of the common pinoy and why the love this shlock.
ReplyDeleteWhy fault the business people for wanting to ride on the Willie bandwagon? Business is business, and as long as people want to watch this idiot prance around on TV, then that's that. This is not a charity. If Willie did something wrong, that's the advertisers problem. Kate Moss anyone?
And what is up with these posts among liberal filipinos complaining and judging how Willie spends his billions? We're a capitalist society, not some commie socialist world.
Hi Earl, I agree with your sentiments. Though a lot of people may just see it as harmless fun or ENTERTAINMENT, it is damaging the nation's psyche. Thanks for dropping by. Making our opinion known is the first step in bringing down the old ways of thinking. It's time for a paradigm shift, Philippines!
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteI don't have a problem with Willie earning millions and spending it. What I'm trying to make apparent is that Willie is profiting heavily from his show. For every P10,000 he gives away, the show earns millions.
He is not a Saint. It is time people started seeing that.
As for businesses, corporate social responsibility is not a fad. It's a fact that companies should care about their consumers. Without them, they'd be no money to spend. If corporations continue to encourage a "give a man a fish" mentality, than our country will never reach its full potential.
Wouldn't it be better if more people were self-sufficient? There'd be more spending money to go around :)
Yeah, I see your point. But that's not how this sick, screwed-up country works.
ReplyDeleteIf our public servants can't even get their act together and you know... serve the public, why should this egomaniac be any different? It's all about the peso, baby.
Change can start from anywhere. Stay positive!
ReplyDeletePeople always have something to save about anybody. if thats the case, like all of you have been saying, why other shows can't do it? giving out a lot of cash??
ReplyDeleteWhy not ask urself what you have done to other people, to the needy, to the less fortune. The show gives hope to these people. leave them alone, dun sila masaya, ikaw hindi.if you dont like any of it, dont waste time, dont watch the show. I dont think its your level. very simple. inggit lang yan.
Hi Vanillah,
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting. I welcome all opinions on my blog and I'm glad to hear yours.
My guess why other shows can't give away as much money is because they don't ask for as much. That's just an assumption.
For the needy, I won't pretend that I am a Saint. But I will say that I try to do my share.
Lastly, I don't know where the "inggit lang yan" comment came from. Never did I aspire to be like Willie. I don't need that much money. I've also heard that he leads a pretty lonely life.
Because I have not gotten a chance to write my own entry yet, here's one I'd like for you to check out: http://www.marocharim.com/2011/04/11/willie-and-the-poor/