The One with the Wowowee Tragedy
Earlier today, more than 70 people died (numbers still shooting up as of this writing) when a stampede broke out in ULTRA, venue of Wowowee's first year anniversary. Very sad, considering that most of these people went to the venue perhaps out of poverty, to try their luck in being handpicked and be among the contestants for the show.
My initial opinion of the show was that it was cheap gimmick, nothing more than a vehicle for host Willie Revillame to return to national television. Having been suspended by ABS-CBS management numerous times already, one would think that his career's more or less over and done with. I was really dumbfounded when they give him yet another show to display his crassness and vulgarity in front of millions of viewers. I thought to myself, Willie must really be buddy-buddies with the network's top brass or he's being groomed as the next Noli de Castro to get this many chances at hosting a show of his own. Either way, I thought the whole Wowowee show was a bad idea altogether.
Several weeks ago, I chanced upon an episode of Wowowee. In that particular episode, all the contestants were labanderas, people who wash clothes for a living. I've seen bits and pieces of the show before, and was instantly turned off by the questions that they throw at their contestants. Most of the questions are mind-numbingly stupid; at least in rival show Eat Bulaga, some questions will really make you think. What caught my eye in this particular episode was a labandera contestant from the US. She was gorgeous, unlike any other labandera I've ever seen in my 20 plus years of existence. If only she was the one washing my clothes... ugh, nevermind. :p
Anyway, the gorgeous labandera was pretty stupid, getting eliminated after the opposing labandera beat her to answering a question. The next elderly contestant was undoubtedly a labandera. She looked every bit of the part: messy hair, shabby clothes, toothless gums, worn-out tsinelas. Before Wllie got off with his question, Misis Labandera (as I will refer to her from hereon) got off into a narrative about how excited she was to join the show. She said that she was poor, that she just took a break from her labada to come to the studio and bring lunch to her husband who was lining up for Pera O Bayong (another game show, I think). She greeted her husband who was in the audience, and pleaded with the opposing labandera to give her balato, so she and her husband will have enough money to commute back home. It definitely was an amusing scene; only in the Philippines will you see someone in a quiz show asking for money from her opponent. So much for self-confidence. :p
The opposing labandera asked Misis Labandera how much she will need to commute; the latter asked for 50 bucks. Willie took out 500 from his pocket, and handed it to Misis Labandera along with a peck in the cheek. Misis Labandera burst into tears right there and then. What transpired next was the most heart-warming thing I've seen on local television in years. People from the audience started going up to Misis Labandera to hand her wads of money, hugs and kisses. Even those who looked like her (some looking even more tattered) gave her whatever spare change they had in their pockets. This went on for a good 10 minutes. People in the audience were teary-eyed, as was Willie himself and the other co-hosts and crew members. After the last embrace, Misis Labandera had pockets-full of money, wailing as she called to her husband, "Makakakain na tayo, tatay, makakakain tayo ng maayos na hapunan ng mga anak mo!" She then thanked the Lord, Willie and the show, the audience members, and the opposing labandera. She conceded the contest to the opposing labandera, saying that she already got more than what she bargained for. Indeed, bayanihan is still alive even during these times of poverty and destitution.
It was then that my opinion of these quiz shows changed. How could I have so much contempt and disdain for something that gives hope to those who need them most? If it could make a difference and change the life of just one soul... then it is a good and worthy cause. Reading some posts over at PinoyExchange, some fickle-minded folks are using the events of today in their silly network wars. Tsk, tsk. I hope the tragic events that transpired this morning at ULTRA will not deter Wowowee from continuing to be of service to the Filipino. We need more television shows like these; cancelling the show will be the bigger tragedy.
My initial opinion of the show was that it was cheap gimmick, nothing more than a vehicle for host Willie Revillame to return to national television. Having been suspended by ABS-CBS management numerous times already, one would think that his career's more or less over and done with. I was really dumbfounded when they give him yet another show to display his crassness and vulgarity in front of millions of viewers. I thought to myself, Willie must really be buddy-buddies with the network's top brass or he's being groomed as the next Noli de Castro to get this many chances at hosting a show of his own. Either way, I thought the whole Wowowee show was a bad idea altogether.
Several weeks ago, I chanced upon an episode of Wowowee. In that particular episode, all the contestants were labanderas, people who wash clothes for a living. I've seen bits and pieces of the show before, and was instantly turned off by the questions that they throw at their contestants. Most of the questions are mind-numbingly stupid; at least in rival show Eat Bulaga, some questions will really make you think. What caught my eye in this particular episode was a labandera contestant from the US. She was gorgeous, unlike any other labandera I've ever seen in my 20 plus years of existence. If only she was the one washing my clothes... ugh, nevermind. :p
Anyway, the gorgeous labandera was pretty stupid, getting eliminated after the opposing labandera beat her to answering a question. The next elderly contestant was undoubtedly a labandera. She looked every bit of the part: messy hair, shabby clothes, toothless gums, worn-out tsinelas. Before Wllie got off with his question, Misis Labandera (as I will refer to her from hereon) got off into a narrative about how excited she was to join the show. She said that she was poor, that she just took a break from her labada to come to the studio and bring lunch to her husband who was lining up for Pera O Bayong (another game show, I think). She greeted her husband who was in the audience, and pleaded with the opposing labandera to give her balato, so she and her husband will have enough money to commute back home. It definitely was an amusing scene; only in the Philippines will you see someone in a quiz show asking for money from her opponent. So much for self-confidence. :p
The opposing labandera asked Misis Labandera how much she will need to commute; the latter asked for 50 bucks. Willie took out 500 from his pocket, and handed it to Misis Labandera along with a peck in the cheek. Misis Labandera burst into tears right there and then. What transpired next was the most heart-warming thing I've seen on local television in years. People from the audience started going up to Misis Labandera to hand her wads of money, hugs and kisses. Even those who looked like her (some looking even more tattered) gave her whatever spare change they had in their pockets. This went on for a good 10 minutes. People in the audience were teary-eyed, as was Willie himself and the other co-hosts and crew members. After the last embrace, Misis Labandera had pockets-full of money, wailing as she called to her husband, "Makakakain na tayo, tatay, makakakain tayo ng maayos na hapunan ng mga anak mo!" She then thanked the Lord, Willie and the show, the audience members, and the opposing labandera. She conceded the contest to the opposing labandera, saying that she already got more than what she bargained for. Indeed, bayanihan is still alive even during these times of poverty and destitution.
It was then that my opinion of these quiz shows changed. How could I have so much contempt and disdain for something that gives hope to those who need them most? If it could make a difference and change the life of just one soul... then it is a good and worthy cause. Reading some posts over at PinoyExchange, some fickle-minded folks are using the events of today in their silly network wars. Tsk, tsk. I hope the tragic events that transpired this morning at ULTRA will not deter Wowowee from continuing to be of service to the Filipino. We need more television shows like these; cancelling the show will be the bigger tragedy.
posted by Paul at 11:50 AM
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