Last Monday, the Wowowee TV show host Willie Revillame made one of the most astounding remarks of "respect" towards the late former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino - He angrily told his crew not to insert a video of the cortege in his show's segment "Willie of Fortune".
“’Di po maganda. Nagsasaya kami dito habang nagluluksa ang sambayanang Pilipino. ’Di ko magagampanan ang pagpapatawa habang ipinapakita ang libing ng dating presidente,” Revillame said as his show was in broadcast along with the special coverage of the funeral procession following the transfer of Aquino’s remains from La Salle Green Hills to the Manila Cathedral. The day after, he came up with an apology and claimed that what he did was a sign of deep respect for Cory. Deep respect, he says. Well, that's a really awkward and inconsiderate form of respect for someone that's considered to be the Saint of the People Power revolution.
Like Cory, Willie is indeed a very popular persona for the Filipino masses. Through his show, the public has gained "respect" for him. Because of his amazing story from rags to riches, many of the Filipino poor see him as their role model. With the recent event however, I'm afraid it only shows that he does not deserve the great amount of attention and reverence that the public has granted him.
Values such as respect and nationalism should be preserved in the Philippines. Clearly, it seems that Willie Revillame has lost his. Filipinos are taught to respect their parents, elders, teachers, and the country's leaders - especially those who have stood for democracy. However, with prominent media icons displaying a different form of "respect", there is great danger of losing these values which have long been cherished and taught by our ancestors.
“’Di po maganda. Nagsasaya kami dito habang nagluluksa ang sambayanang Pilipino. ’Di ko magagampanan ang pagpapatawa habang ipinapakita ang libing ng dating presidente,” Revillame said as his show was in broadcast along with the special coverage of the funeral procession following the transfer of Aquino’s remains from La Salle Green Hills to the Manila Cathedral. The day after, he came up with an apology and claimed that what he did was a sign of deep respect for Cory. Deep respect, he says. Well, that's a really awkward and inconsiderate form of respect for someone that's considered to be the Saint of the People Power revolution.
Like Cory, Willie is indeed a very popular persona for the Filipino masses. Through his show, the public has gained "respect" for him. Because of his amazing story from rags to riches, many of the Filipino poor see him as their role model. With the recent event however, I'm afraid it only shows that he does not deserve the great amount of attention and reverence that the public has granted him.
Values such as respect and nationalism should be preserved in the Philippines. Clearly, it seems that Willie Revillame has lost his. Filipinos are taught to respect their parents, elders, teachers, and the country's leaders - especially those who have stood for democracy. However, with prominent media icons displaying a different form of "respect", there is great danger of losing these values which have long been cherished and taught by our ancestors.
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