Rated PG

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

WHEN I was young (well, a lot younger than I am right now), my parents were subtle, yet strict disciplinarians. And it showed whenever my brothers and I watch a movie or a television show with a lot of kissing, or intimate bed scenes. They looked like hawks on guard, ready to snap at the slightest hint of indecency.

When the people onscreen start making out, my mom would go “Psssst” and my dad would let out a grunt. This signals that we had to cover our eyes with our hands. Peeking through the tiny spaces between our fingers was intolerable and earned an “ahem” or a glare if you could see them.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

I was able to carry that habit until I reached college and I realized how effective my parents were in implementing the rule. My classmates and I were watching “The Proposal” starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. Just when the movie started to get interesting, there came a scene wherein both Bullock and Reynolds were nude (not totally, though) and they accidentally bumped into one another – literally. Well, that was how it sounded like. I wasn’t able to see them exactly bump into one another since my hands automatically shielded my eyes. Next thing I knew, my classmates were already laughing – at me.

The fact that parents meticulously choose the type of programs they want their children to be exposed in is proof of how influential mass media is in values formation.

The fact that most programs, though depicting violence and the cruel reality, give lessons on values and morals in the end, show how they treat with high regard the values and principles that the audience holds. Thus, mass media plays a very important part in shaping people’s morals.
In the Filipino society, we hold our values with utmost respect. For a strong and dignified Filipino, they say you can strip him of everything he has except for his values and principles. And it all starts within the family.

One of my favorite commercials is by Lucky Me wherein a mother, a father and their teenage son are eating dinner while engaged in a conversation about PMS. The teenage son’s line stuck: “Ang tunay na lalake marunong maghintay.”

The commercial was a very simple one but it got a very important point across. Ever since that commercial aired, I hear that line almost anywhere – evidence of its effectiveness in society.

We are all facing a bitter reality and some are starting to lose their grip on their values because of unfortunate circumstances. Since mass media boasts of being able to reach a vast number of audience, perhaps its greatest challenge is not just to deliver news to the people but also to influence them to stay rooted in the good values they were raised with.

(The writer is a second year Development Communication student of Xavier University)