“As Malacanang these days is fond of pointing out the “illegal and immoral” behavior of media, shouldn’t media owners be constantly checking on their own sensitivities to illegalities and immoralities?”
by Ducky Paredes
The best explanation of what happened was Johnny Manahan’s retelling of the incident. According the director of Wowowee, Willie Revillame’s most recent bout with his recurring “diarrhea of the mouth” was actually directed at his home TV station and not at the funeral of the late President, Cory Aquino.
Apparently, ABS-CBN mishandled its programming on the day that Cory’s remains were transferred to the Manila Cathedral. After telling Willie that his program would not be broadcast that day to give way to the transfer, since the studio was already packed with an audience, Willie decided to tape it for showing the next day. But, when the time slot for Wowowee came, ABS-CBN took what had been taped and still broadcast it. When the studio put the funeral as an inset on the screen, the sound deteriorated. Then, with the insistence of Willie that it was inappropriate to broadcast a funeral in a wacky entertainment program, the inset was removed.
After the taped portion ran out and the program went live, the coverage of the funeral was again placed within the screen as an inset, that was when Revillame blew up. He meant no disrespect to the dead and was angry at his home studio.
As a matter of fact, Willie was correct. The TV station should have stuck to its original decision not to air the regular program and, instead, cover the news of the moment. Certainly, trying to broadcast both program on the same time slot was inappropriate and was disrespectful to the late President.
After all, Willie usually acts like a complete degenerate on “Wowowee”, embarrasses his staff, harasses his female co-workers with repeated sexual innuendos and mocks the show’s contestants. Why he is the country’s highest paid television host tells us exactly what is wrong with Philippine TV. Wowowee’s first anniversary celebration caused the death of 73 Filipinos, but came back stronger than ever, after Willie squinted out a couple of tears.
In another infamous occurrence, Revillame was caught red-handed while rigging the results of Wowowee’s “Willyonaryo” segment. (Even the Department of Trade and Industry agreed that the game “provided the host and organizers significant latitude in controlling the outcome of the contest.”). Despite this anomaly, willing contestants still continue to join by the thousands, once again swayed by a repeat performance of their idol’s syrupy contrition.
At present, though, it might be a good idea for Willie to practice a new facial expression and monologue, because the old shtick doesn’t seem to be working. The public continues to be outraged at how he dishonored the memory of the country’s most beloved president. There’s a mile-wide line that separates carelessness from downright insolence, and Willie did the “boom-tarat-tarat” dance all over that line. Even his staunchest defenders have to admit that at the very least, his actions reeked of arrogance and conceit.
In the wake of the controversy, it was first reported that Willie went on an “indefinite leave” from the show, somewhat implying that the act was voluntary. More recently, however, Star Magic executive Johnny Manahan all but confirmed that this was more of a sanction that ABS-CBN imposed on its errant talent. According to network insiders, ABS-CBN’s top honchos hit the roof when the Movie and Television Review Board (MTRCB) issued a very strong statement condemning Willie, with the Kapisanan ng Mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) not far behind.
But, of course, ABS-CBN will not kick Willie out. Although in other countries, this would have been the natural result of Willie’s insensitivity, one sees his home studio unable to do what it right. I expect Willie to be back on the air doing his insensitive and callous thing until the TV audience eventually tires of him.
To have better programs, we need more enlightened television studio owners and managers who will not serve the audience with the slop that they now do. What we need be in charge are those for whom the Filipino viewer ought to be served with better fare.
* * *
Over at the rival station GMA7, straight-talking, tough-as-nails talent manager Annabelle Rama the original “monster mom” chose to expose anomalies allegedly committed by GMA7’s Senior Vice President for Entertainment, Wilma Galvante.
According to some, a number of GMA7’s business partners secretly cheered Rama on when she went public and filed cases against Galvante for abuse of power, conflict of interest, inappropriate receipt of money and gifts, undue influence, and “conduct unbecoming of a network executive.” (From what I know of show business, I can’t quite figure out what would be “conduct unbecoming” in this field.)
Apparently, though, when unscrupulous persons man executive posts that have the power of show biz life or death over the careers of new and even established talents, they can very easily kill off budding and even long existing careers
One had expected that when Galvante herself filed a counter-suit against Rama, she would have gone on temporary leave. After all, this was a clear case of delicadeza: the network executive was obviously in a dominant business position, and could easily use that against her adversary. Surely, GMA7’s owners — Gilberto Duavit and Felipe Gozon — could surmise that.
Incredibly, there was no leave of absence whether imposed or voluntary. Instead, since the controversy between the two ladies erupted, two of Rama’s most prominent GMA7 talents – Heart Evangelista and JC de Vera – have not been given or even offered any programs or projects. Again, aren’t GMA 7’s bosses the least bit curious why two of the brightest stars in their stable have been curiously out of the limelight? Then, as if to prove her total control over the network, in episodes of GMA7’s Startalk and Showbiz Central, Galvante allowed (or, maybe even ordered) a significantly one-sided amount of airtime to be given to her side of the legal dispute.
Sadly for Annabelle, it appears that Galvante’s sphere of influence extends well beyond GMA7. Last Thursday, August 13, the Office of the Quezon City Prosecutor junked the Grave Oral Defamation/ grave slander case filed by Rama against Galvante.
How’s this for speedy justice: the last hearing of this particular case took place at the end of June. The resolution to the case was determined last July 24 – less than a month later. Any lawyer or person who has ever had experience with cases like these will attest that this is a ridiculously short time to deliberate a case and reach a decision.
But just like a plot from one of Galvante’s telenovelas, there’s a bit of a twist left for the viewer’s imagination: Galvante’s lawyer is Atty. Freddie Villamor, who is the husband of Fiscal Vicky Villamor — of Quezon City.
As Malacanang these days is fond of pointing out the “illegal and immoral” behavior of media, shouldn’t media owners be constantly checking on their own sensitivities to illegalities and immoralities?
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hvp 08.16.09)
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