(This is from Monique Wilson’s Facebook page.)
A CALL TO MY FELLOW ARTISTS IN THE PHILIPPINES
by Monique Wilson on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 12:12am
The debate is no longer whether it was child abuse or not. The facts are plain to see. No one with a sense of respect for another human being can dispute that. The discourse now is how we, as Filipinos, as artists involved in the same industry that created Willy and shows like his, could have allowed this to go on for as long as it has. And what is our individual and collective participation in it?
Let’s talk honestly about our TV networks. The culprit now is TV5 – with its’ blatant lack of decency by even hiring someone like Willy Revillame – a callous, insensitive individual who preys on the needs of poor, uneducated Filipinos. They hired him for ratings and money at the expense of the integrity, dignity and self-respect of the most vulnerable in our society. Now wasn’t channel 2 guilty of the very same thing? Let’s observe very closely many other game shows and reality shows across all the networks – can we not deduce very overt similarities? That networks are propelled by greed – ratings, money? Is there really, in all honesty, a local network, that can claim they put human values above all that? I don’t think so. I turn on the television to watch local shows and I feel uncomfortable. We have news reports that are horrifyingly biased and sensationalist, we have noon- time variety shows that exploit women and insult our intelligence, we have talk shows that are intrusive, subjective and tasteless – the list goes on and on. I am not saying, of course, that all shows fall beneath our standards of human decency – there are some TV shows that go against the grain, break the boundaries and give us quality – but they are so few. Even how the networks create the demarcation lines – A and B for middle and upper class, C and D for lower class? What kind of senseless segregating is that? It’s like saying, depending on what “class” you belong to, you cannot “appreciate” certain kinds of shows. This insults me as it should insult everybody. This is one of the roots of the problem. ALL our TV networks dumb down audiences in one way or the other. They keep the lines segregated. TV, like any other cultural form – and let’s face it, TV has become our common culture in the Philippines – should be used to EDUCATE, EMPOWER, INSPIRE, AWAKEN. But when you see shows like “Willing Willie” – and many other similar shows – they do the opposite. They dumb down audiences. They disempower them by creating a mendicant society with game shows that promise “quick money”. They keep them dependent on hand- outs, instead of creating opportunities for them to build skills. There is nothing inspiring about this.
And now, we can all rant and rave, but unless we do something concrete about our rage – we will just be passive bystanders. Sometimes it does seem insurmountable and overwhelming because the problem is huge. But we can play our part. We can do just ONE thing. That is better than doing nothing at all. Whether that be creating an online petition to deliver to TV5, CRH or DSWD, or whether we boycott the sponsors of the show/s, or write letters to all our newspapers, or make your voices heard with your local congress representatives and let them know this is unacceptable to you. I think we all need to take a good, long, hard look at our local shows – and if we feel they exploit our fellow Filipinos, whether they be children or women – then we MUST boycott the sponsors that enable them. Boycotts are effective. They hit where it has a tangible monetary, economic effect. That is how apartheid South Africa crumbled. That is what is supporting the Palestinians right to self-determination with the BDS campaign now. In the process we need to look at what we ourselves value. If we expect people to treat us with respect, decency, integrity and dignity – we must INSIST and DEMAND that everyone else should be treated in the same way. And as artists, our responsibility is GREATER. We are part of this problem. When we remain silent, we allow this to continue. When we turn a blind eye, our apathy also abuses the vulnerable in our society. When we don’t demand artistic excellence in our fields and settle for mediocre entertainment, we are just as bad as the networks who just do things for profit. As artists, we must REFUSE to play. We must DEMAND more from our industry.
So this is a call to my fellow artists from television, film and theatre. Please let your voices be heard. Don’t sit on the fence because you fear you won’t be given work. It is this fear that networks also rely on to keep their machineries in place – machineries that not only lack some very basic human values, but also aesthetics. We keep saying Filipinos artists are world class – well let’s prove it now. There are international standards we must insist on when it comes to our local entertainment industry – film, theatre, tv, etc – why should we settle for anything less? We are part of the creation of our artistic culture – we must protect it and demand more for it. We must not allow it to be used for the continued exploitation of our fellow Filipinos.
Art and culture have value in our society.
They awaken minds
They nurture thought
They inspire courage
They open up compassion
They give us possibilities
They excavate the texture of humanity
They teach us humility and love
They open paths
They give us freedom to explore
They teach us how to listen
They keep us connected
They allow us to take in
They teach us to be involved
to defy
to demand
to be full
to live
to stay awake
to be present…..in the moment.
But most of all
They demand that we SERVE.
So please don’t waste these possibilities with your silence.
We encourage responsible Filipino Artists to find a good TV Network. Seek good companies to sponsor programs that are: wholesome; educational and can inspire the young. Programs like:
(1) World History…Factual Philippine History…not the Yellow Horde Nazi Propaganda History…
(2) Knowledge information programs; like advances in technical and scientific fields, medical fields, etc…
(3) Biographies of world leaders; who are really great leaders. Not false and fake leaders, like the Aquinos, some politicians, etc…
(4) Documentary Programs…like episodes that inspire, and become good role models…
We , at present have the Wowoowee type programs. so, we produced Wowoowee Mentality in people…Giling-Giling, Igiling Mo…Baby…Buntis na naman ang kabit…
The ultimate whore, Kris Aquino, now became the role model of young women.
We have results: OFW prostitutes, go-go dancers, drug mules…filth shared to the world…
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Steve R Reply:
April 18th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Excerpts from an article by Atty. Macalintal. MANILA, Philippines – The issue of child abuse was raised against Willie Revillame by his detractors and some kibitzers over the case of six-year-old Janjan Suan who performed a macho-dance in Revillame’s top-rated TV show. Section 3(b) of R.A. 7610 (known as The Child Abuse Law) states, among others, that “Child Abuse refers to the maltreatment, whether habitual or not, of the child” which, in this case, may include an act intended to degrade “the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human being.” Therefore, in any criminal case that may be brought in connection with this case, it must be proved beyond reasonable doubt that Revillame, or any other person involved, intended to maltreat Janjan to perform the dance number that elicited rebuke or condemnation from some sectors. It appears that proof beyond reasonable doubt of such intention to maltreat the child or degrade his dignity as a human being cannot be established under the circumstances. What is more, it defies logic that a media personality such as Revillame would intentionally commit such offense knowing that he was in front of a live audience and millions of viewers in a recorded show. The fact that Janjan and his parents have defended Revillame against allegations that he had abused the child, then any accusation that Revillame intentionally maltreated the child should immediately be junked. Who can claim a better right to know if a child has been abused when the child and his parents themselves deny any maltreatment committed upon the child?While people may condemn what had happened as tasteless or even despicable, any debate on child abuse relating to this incident should not be swayed by sentiments as to whether showing the child on TV performing a supposedly lewd dance was proper or not. While such discussions are welcome in family, community, media and social circles, they have no place in a criminal investigation because of the clear lack of intent to commit the offense.Hence, to remove Revillame from his top-rated show because of such incident is too harsh a penalty. The two-week leave from his program which he imposed upon himself and the millions of pesos he lost in terms of talent fees and advertisements is more than enough punishment for whatever shortcomings or faults he might have committed in the eyes of his detractors.May this Season of Lent inspire all of us to be more compassionate in passing judgment on another for “justice without compassion, is no justice at all.” Well Ms. Wilson, I fully support Atty. Macalintal on what he wrote about the Suan family. In my opinion, your views on the child abuse allegation on Jan-han are overreaching – making something out of nothing, a streach of your imagination & who know – maybe a paid advertising. What is your credential on child abuse or family & children’s services. Do you have a formal education like Atty. Macalintal? Until you can tell us your professional credentials on child abuse, I suggest you keep it shut.
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At oresent…we are captive to the Yellow Horde Nazi propaganda machine…to get out of it, is our first job…
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It was not a child abuse show. Look at the Goin Bulilit show that all the young kids are playing husbands and wifes, drunk and other stuffs. although i don’t watch Goin Bulilit as regular show, but when i turn on the TV, for what is next show, the Goin Bulilit is on, and I would see all these young children playing adults and it was not appropriate for them. Noone ever complaints about the roles they play. Willie did not know that the boy was going to dance a sexy dance as everybody else claimed to be. Stop it! It was not Willie faults. Don’t find any thing to ruin Willie’s show. Leave him alone. The boy was already crying before he started. everyone were surprised that he was going to perform the dance as an adult dancer. he always give money whoeve he thinks can perform good. I was surprised to see the boy danced liked that, but well, that was his talent. Monique, you were young also when you started performing and bunch of kisses. maybe not as young the boy did. he was taught to perform that way, so he used his dancing as his talent.
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bp Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 12:06 pm
they had an audition and as well know willie is very hands on with his program. he knew that was going to be the performance. palusot na lang yan na hindi niya alam. and consider this, kung yun ang palusot eh bakit after the first dance pinaulit pa niya. di na niya pwede claim na hindi niya alam. so ano yun? please explain.
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modus Reply:
April 3rd, 2011 at 1:59 pm
Ang problema kasi dun, yun mga side comments ni Willie. Bilang host, may responsibilidad siyang i-control ang mga nangyayari kasi hindi lang naman matatanda nanonood ng Willing Willie — pati rin mga bata.
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Steve R Reply:
April 18th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
Hope that something will come out good about Jan-jan’s macho dance on TV beside the money he received from Willie. That something is the fact that the level of awareness on child abuse in the PH had become a current national issue. Kudos to PNL for allowing posters to debate the issue. Question: Will anyone in the Congress of the PH respond responsibly? Let’s hope that one or two members of Congress will find it in their hearts to introduce a child abuse bill. Hope the bill will also talk about the sufferings of all children in the PH, particularly the children living under bridges in Metro Manila. They have human rights, self worth and dignity of their own. Sense of duty to all, not just to Jan-jan. 4/17
What gets me is when I see birth-day pets receiving lavish gifts from their owner to the tune of about 10- P20 K. Pets w/ health & burial insurance. A birthday girl was also shown with lavish gifts & birthday expense of about P20 K. Agree, the pet owner & the parents of birthday-girl have the right to spend their money as they wish but it gets me in the guts when I think of the bridge children living with hunger. Children going to Bed Hungry, Waking up at night Asking for Food but their Mothers are Helpless. Sense of duty, anyone in the PH Congress? Whoever introduces a bill on child abuse that talks about the bridge children will have my kudos & I think most posters will think the same way. In today’s (4/17) ASAP on TFC, there were 5 boys (about the same height w/Jan-jan) who performed similar to what Jan-jan had done on TV5. They were dancing in front of older male dancers. At some point during their performance, it seems like I saw buttocks & legs shaking & their hands briefly brush their crotch. Would it be a stretch if allegations of child abuse are reported? Pls response, especially Monique Wilson & those who are in the affirmative with the Suan case
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bp Reply:
April 19th, 2011 at 12:13 am
steve,
my interest in this issue is limited to the angle of media responsibility. as i’ve written in my own articles and comments here and elsewhere, i think the allegation of child abuse is best left for the court to decide on.
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although willie asked the boy to dance again, everyone were surprised because he knew more styles than what he performed the first time. someone told him to show his talent and he did by dancing. i thought it was cute at young age, he could performed that way. he must seen it on television and his families including neighborhood had seen him performed by dancing that way. it was not child abuse. it was an entertainment, and because he performed kindly different from the others, he was given little bit more money just like the rest of the contestants. you perform, audience enjoys it, you get good reward. all television networks should never allow young children to join any type of game shows. Goin Bulilit is not a good show, if you really watch it. young children, performing adult lifestyles, how adult can be this and that? what the boy did, is not a child abuse. someone is out there to get Willie again. maybe the boy could not sing, he could dance, and it happened to be that kind of dance.
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bp Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 12:55 pm
now this is just funny. sobrang palusot na yan. new styles after each succeeding dance? palusot.
thanks for informing us that goin bulilit is not a good show. isasama din natin sa petisyon. what other programs do you think should be called out for low standards?
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ok. i’ll bite…
how can you make a Noon-time variety show that fulfills her/this criteria? AND compete with a show like wowowie and eat bullaga (i assume eat bulaga is also a problem).
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gabby,
thanks for biting.
there are a couple of program concepts i think can easily compete with the current noontime shows. i’ll enumerate them in another article.
for now i’ll just say that it’s not really that difficult to come up with a decent and truly helpful program that the masa crowd can still appreciate. it’s all a matter of identifying what motivates the masa, targeting those motivations etc.
i’ll try to finish that article ASAP.
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Ms. Wilson, my comments are based from an article and I do not claim with 100 % certainty that they are in fact from you. From that premise I’ll continue. What is this “Right Thing” that you want done? You want a thing so I am not sure if you know what you want or even know what you’re talking about. Nothing personal but I’m just expressing my opinion based on what you wrote. The article further states “The facts are plain to see. No one with a sense of respect for another human being can dispute that” it further states; “The culprit is now TV5 – with its’ blatant lack of decency by even hiring someone like Willy Revillame” Wow, on whose authority that no one can dispute that & TV5 is now the culprit. It seems like you’re playing the role of an audience, the reporting party, prosecutor & the JUDGE. Good luck Ms. Monique Wilson, you need it – lots & lots of luck. All the pertinent players are ’in the field’ (mom, dad, Willie, DSWD, CHR, MTCRB & DOLE) & maybe the social worker assigned to the case if DSWD will assign one. Our role, well, it’s our call. I don’t know Willie personally or have any type of direct contact with TV5, just a Juan Dela Cruz trying to slow you down because you could be putting out the wrong info based from the print media where I found your name. Ms. Wilson, may I suggest that you take some photo up with the bridge children in Metro Manila and advocate for their self worth, dignity & day to day survival. You seem to be a good writer, try writing an advocacy article about the bridge children. If you do that, I’ll try to follow up with a kudos comment for you.
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bp Reply:
April 19th, 2011 at 12:10 am
steve,
i hope you realize monique’s piece was just reposted here. it would be best for you to send your comment to here directly through her facebook page perhaps.
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