Wednesday, August 31, 2005
'Encantadia' wows members of academe
ENCANTADIA, GMA Network's top-rating "telefantasya," not only wows the ordinary TV viewer with its amazing effects, sets, costumes, and plot twists; it has now also caught the attention of members of the academe with its potential literary value and cultural relevance.
A group of 30 guests from the University of the Philippines Diliman, led by UP Institute of Creative Writing Director Victor Nadera, recently visited the set of Encantadia.
Professor Nadera, who also teaches in the UP College of Arts and Letters, brought his Panitikan ng Pilipinas 110 students to the Encantadia studio in Pasig as part of their lessons on Philippine Literature.
The group toured the studio and met the members of the cast and had their photos taken with them. Afterwards, the students were able to interview Encantadia Director Mark Reyes, Head Writer Suzette Doctolero, Episode Writer* Joseph Balboa, Program Manager Redgynn Alba, and Assistant Vice President for Entertainment Ms. Lilybeth Rasonable.
Reporter Sheryl Yao even covered the visit for 24 Oras.
The students' questions revolved around motivations for creating the program, the story's similarities with existing mythology, folklore, and popular fantasy stories, its similarities with the country's current political situation, the program's contribution to promoting the Filipino language, and its impact on feminism.
The class that went to Encantadia comprised of students from a variety of fields. Most were undergrad students taking up Malikhaing Pagsulat sa Pilipino (Creative Writing in Filipino), some were taking the class as a pre-requisite for their Masteral Degree, while others were students from the UP College of Mass Communications.
There was also one student taking up Sociology, Marty Joseph Macariola. He shared that he plans to do his baby thesis on Encantadia because he is certain there must be "something" about the show that makes it such a hit, particularly in the campus dorms.
He imparted that whenever the show is on, all dorm residents head for the common room to watch it. "Tumitigil ang mundo "pag Encantadia na (The world stops when Encantadia is on)", asserts Macariola. He also even shared some points on the program's impact on pop culture.
The visit from the UP students is an indication of how the academe is now recognizing the quality, literary value, and cultural relevance of Encantadia, giving the show an edge as it showcases holistic excellence when it comes to Filipino TV programming.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (August 31, 2005 issue)
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