An "ecstatic" Lifestyle of Media

Amiel Aguilar Cabanlig

For more than a decade, print media has done great disservice by bombarding the youth with iniquitous mantras that may have contributed to the new drug culture. Let me tell you straight up, words written in print are potent. And words like, “partying guiltless... Smart Addict (endorsed by Tim Yap, Borgy Manotoc etc) ... party animal... party till you drop... prince of partydom.... and pop those pills” will sooner or later take their toll on today's young people. Just last month the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s lifestyle section displayed high-profile paparazzi shots of the “Alabang Boys” partying in Club Warehouse. Examples like these via PRINT MEDIA has greatly shaped the “drug culture” of the youth.

A 2004 Dangerous Drugs Board survey found 6.7 million drug users in the country.

A few months ago anti-narcotics agents and their K-9 units checked every corner of the Embassy bar. Drug-sniffing dogs were also placed at the club entrance. A special agent, who I knew, also showed me new types of ecstasy available in the market. The “PDEA” according to him, is “dead serious” about the rising drug problem in BARS. The Embassy gained “notoriety” after a series of squabbles and scandals involving socialites and well-known personalities took place within the bar's premises. Print and television have also been monitoring the bars activities. Ever since the "Gucci Gang" fiasco exploded, "people have become more aware" according to one of the club's regulars.

Richard Brodett, Jorge Joseph and Joseph Tecson are the highest profile drug suspects to be arrested by the PDEA after a season in which a number of drug lords, got away thanks to some influential politicians. The drug entrapment took place inside snooty Ayala Alabang Village. A PDEA agent was attempting to buy drugs from Joseph who was allegedly assisted by Brodett- but sensing the setup tried to speed away. PDEA agents gave chase, firing about seven shots but miraculously Brodett ducked the bullets.

Tony Lopez of the Manila Times says “The boys are said to be scions of influential, if not hugely wealthy parents, relatives and backers. A parent of one of the Alabang suspects is supposed to be behind a lucrative government contract having to do with running (not of humans).” Drug Czar Gen. Dionisio Santiago says, “These boys have been described as salot [curse] by families of their victims.” Santiago also hints at possible links of the boys to international drug syndicates. The father of one of the boys, Johnny Joseph, Johnny Midnight, has gone on a media offensive. His son, he admits, “is a social user but not an addict. It’s no big deal.” To which General Santiago counters: “If I kill someone, can I say that I am just a social murderer?”

Dionisio Santiago has a 37-year military career and is a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and director of the National Penitentiary. Santiago is known to be stubborn, which is often how he gets things done. When Gloria Arroyo named him PDEA chief in April 2006, her instructions to Santiago were: “Get back to work.”

Let us support PDEA!

A FESTiVAL OF IMPRESSIVE MOVIE (TITLES)

(We ask Andro Ramirez to review the Metro Manila Film Festival 2008. Aside from one or two surprises, he found everything predictable (translate: ho hum), but he found the titles politically appropriate.)


by Andro Ramirez
Head writer: Media Advocacy

(A warning: This is not a detailed film review of the entries. I am a self-confessed movie junkie like my friend JC Bishop who is now based in the U.S. But unlike him, whose taste is mostly Philippine and American made movies, I include European, Bollywood, and other Asian fares as part of my interests. It was our tradition when he was still here to literally spend the rest of the MMFF week to watch all entries and debate on them after. This year however, I am by my lonesome.)

The 2008 MMFF started off and ended without any of the controversies it faced in previous years, when problems and setbacks started from the selection process to the end of the awarding ceremonies, a “tradition” in itself in the festival’s 34 year history. Most notorious of these is the 1994 MMFF “take it, take it”, envelope switching during the awards night involving Viveka Babajee and Rocky Gutierrez, as masterminded by Lolit Solis.


This year’s MMFF scores a first with DAYO, the first full-length digital in its official list of entries. It’s not that polished but enjoyable nonetheless. Not to mention Lea Salonga’s poignant rendition of the movie’s theme song Lipad. Sadly, it failed to take flight -- earning only P 4.1M gross as of January 2, 2009 against its touted $1.3M budget. At least it did not come in last; Magkaibigan earned only P 1.6 M despite having big stars.




Here is the official list of MMFF 2008 Box Office Gross as of January 2, 2009

1. Ang Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat - 102.5M
2. Iskul Bukol… 20 Years After - 72.6M
3. Shake Rattle and Roll X - 45.7M
4. Desperadas 2 - 27.3M
5. Baler - 24.5M
6. One Night Only - 5.7M
7. Dayo - 4.1M
8. Magkaibigan - 1.6M

(Source: National Cinema Association of the Philippines)

No surprise Ang Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat earned the highest gross since the original version was highly enjoyable: playing on the misadventures of Ina Montecillo (Ai-Ai de las Alas), her children, and Rowena (Eugene Domingo) and incorporating famous lines from other movies in a comical fashion, which surprisingly works although it is an overly used formula. Was it coincidental or intentional that the writers of the film chose to play with the political angle this time around? Funny, but to borrow Professional Heckler’s tagline: The problem with political jokes is they get elected. How very true. If this is real life, I can’t blame Mar Roxas for his cuss in that Ayala rally which sounded like this movie title. Now that the movie is a box office hit, will there be a part 2 of that episode?

It is not also surprising that the biggest earners this year, as in the previous, are comedy films. People are already fed up with the harsh realities affecting each and everyone on a daily basis. They need a release of tension in spite of the P120 to P150 price of admission.

If I can have my way, I would gladly Shake, Rattle and Roll all erring member of the three branches of our government ten times so that they will wake up to the reality that they are not the only Filipinos in the Philippines. Most of us are out here suffering while they are there protecting their own interests and a barangay of thieves and liars.

More than 20 Years After the first people power revolution, Wanbol University is run better than our government. This early, allies of the palace by the polluted river are contemplating which would be suitable for them --- a con-con or a con-ass. Ang Tanging Ina N’yong Lahat indeed. Let it rest will you. Some of these politicians sure are Iskulled but what do they dish out on us? Nothing but Bukol. Which leaves us all being Desperados and Desperadas, and as Susan Roces puts it: Not once but twice.

The Philippine political scene is really in a mess and only those who are Magkaibigan benefit from the country’s coffers. Frightening that these same people will want to get their way on the threat of reciting their line of “Kilala mo ba ako?” The only amiable personality I know who recited that line is the late Lourdes Carvajal aka Inday Badiday. Not even the Diyosa of Baler with her first acting trophy will save you from being mauled in a plush golf course by a father and son tandem. It doesn’t matter if they are Dayo’s in Luzon from their native Mindanao. The thing is they are considered as Demigods in their province of origin. I say, go back home and stay there. All I ask from God at this point is for the Philippines to have a moral awakening starting this 2009. One Night Only is all I ask for all to realize that we are all part of one machine. It is about the right time to discard all those malfunctioning parts for it to continue working.

Who knows, if we are successful in our overhaul, next year’s MMFF might feature more realistic and truly artsy films that will not only sell commercially, but also add to a level of consciousness that may make us think and re-think a better future for us all.