ABS-CBN, particularly this noontime show and others like it, has pandered to the desperation of the Filipino masses for a long time. It actually created this peculiar mania among its audiences, probably to stir and encourage word of mouth. Probably they measured the show's success by how crazy the poor can get, and the lengths they'd go to just to make it past the ABS-CBN gate. It must have been fun watching all those people making a frenzied beeline for that door with not a shred of human dignity just to have a shot at a few thousand bucks. Or a bleeding million.
Now, the company and its people are saying sorry. Now, ABS-CBN even has the nerve to declare, with the requisite show of regret, that it is shouldering the funeral expenses of those who died—saying it as if expecting you should thank them to high heavens for such "generosity."
But no, those are cheap words, and the dead don't need them. No, it was not, as Noli de Castro said, "the responsibility of the MMDA." The whole thing was an ABS-CBN event, it was the anniversary of one of its shows, and at least they should have had the sense of responsibility to ensure that it remains orderly and safe.
Now, the company is saying sorry? I can imagine somebody like Chris Tucker saying, "Why don't y'all…shove it up your ass."
But more than 70 people have already died so uselessly. And among those who are dead, I see my own mother in them. Among those who are dead, I see friends, neighbors—-folks whose lives were so close to my own.
In any possible context, this is a very dark fucking joke, the kind that makes you laugh and cry at the same time.
The company's anchors, and particularly this actor Willie Revillame, are saying nobody wanted it this way. Oh, sure. But you know what, you and your kind should stop tugging the heartstrings of the desperate poor. You know what, their families should sue you until you've bled out all the profits you've raked at their expense.
But maybe that's just me thinking aloud.
B
Gloria at ABS-CBN should be held liable sa stampede. GMA for making peoples' lives undeniably super miserable and ABS-cbn for exploiting this extreme poverty and sufferings of the poor in the form of noontime game show in the name of ratings game and beat its rival network.
Nitong nakaraang buwan panay ang media hype ng ABS-CBN at Wowowee ng kanilang first year anniversary peddling the prizes and giveaways this noontime variety show would give sa lahat ng pupunta sa ultra.
30 tricycle, 3 taxi units, house and lot and 2 million pesos... paulit-ulit yan, pang-come on sa anniversary telling people to come to the ultra and join the mammoth crowd for them to win these prizes as if everybody is compelled to attend Revillame's non-rating show.
Pinagsamantalahan ng Wowowee ang kahirapan ng tao, pinagbentahan ng mga sangkaterbang pangarap at mga ilusyon in the name of the ratings game at network war.
G
Ano pa bang klase ng kamatayan ang gustong makita ng gobyernong ito bago nya aminin na matindi, malalim at laganap ang kahirapan sa bayan ko?
Nadapa, naapakan, nadaganan at nadurog ang 88 na Pilipino sa desperasyong makapanood ng isang noon-time show na nangangako ng biglaang yaman. Namatay sila sa paghahagilap ng pangarap ng kaalwanan; mga maliliit na pangarap na walang gaanong kahulugan o bigat para sa mga nagsasamantalang malalaki at makapangyarihan sa lipunan na panandalian kong iniwan.
"Gusto kong makatapos si Junior..."
"Pinaghahandaan namin ang graduation ni Nene..."
"Kailangan ng operasyon ng asawa ko sa baga..."
"Squatter lang po kami at gusto po sana namin magkaroon ng sariling bahay kahit maliit lang..."
"Baon na ho kami sa utang dahil pinanlibing namin sa tatay ko ang naipon naming pera na pag-eskwela naming magkakapatid..."
Mga linya sa pelikula na mga salita ring binibitiwan sa riyalidad -- sa araw-araw na luhaang karanasan ng mga kababayan ko.Mahaba at walang katapusang kwento ng kawalan ng pag-asa at kagipitan; mga larawang masakit tignan ngunit hindi matatakasan kahit nandito ako, malayo, sa isang dayuhang lipunan kung saan bukambibig ang paggastos, pagwaldas, at pagkamal ng pera at tubo.
Ipikit ko man mga mata ko nakikita ko pa rin ang kagutuman at kawalan. Malayo man ako sa Pilipinas, hindi nababawasan ang sakit na pilit pinagagaling at pilit binabawasan para muli na akong makabalik.
Anong klaseng lipunan ba ang pinagmulan ko kung saan natutulak ang mamamayan na magnakaw at pumatay, makipagsapalaran kahit maaring mamamatay para lang may makain?!
Anong klaseng gobyerno at sistema ba ang meron sa Pilipinas at ipinapaubaya ang responsibilidad ng pagbibigay ng trabaho at kabuhayan sa mamamayan sa mga palabas tulad ng "Wowwowwee?!!"
"Malas o swerte...
"Pana-panahon lang yan...
"Sa tulong ng panginoon mapipili akong contestant at mananalo..."
I
Vendors try to salvage whatever goods they could from the clearing operations of MMDA/QC. No matter how mightily they try, the vendors are no match to the operatives who are backed by armed police.
We were told later that the vendors had looked forward to earning today tomorrow's baon and meals of their kids, also payment for the 5/6 interest on the loan. In just 10 minutes, their hopes were gone.
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