|
Monday, February 06, 2006
Oledan: Nightmarish
By Radzini Oledan
Slice of life
IT'S a television program that could be conveniently packaged with the end view of helping the poor.
But the hopes of the thousands coming from Manila's depressed urban communities to get a chance at getting rich quick and solve their miseries turned into a nightmare when close to 80 people were killed and more than 200 maimed in last Friday's human stampede.
The dreams of those who were raring to be part of the anniversary show of Wowowee and partake of at least the goodies offered were shattered beyond repair as their loved ones either lost their lives or were injured in that senseless, freak accident.
All for the money and the promise of a better life.
In interviews, families and relatives have only one thing to say: they were hoping to win cash prizes to improve their lives.
Survivors would later reveal that the huge number of the crowd forcing their way to the entrance of the Ultra stadium could be the reason that the steel gate opened and the stampede began.
Now this is where the responsibility and ethics of the top television network should be questioned.
With its usual trademark, ABS-CBN undoubtedly capitalized on the impoverished situation of the people to ensure high marks in the ratings game.
It is the same ratings game that could have pushed its organizers to oversee the safety of the throngs of people who wanted to gain entrance to the stadium.
The sheer carelessness and obsession with being ahead of the other stations proved to be costly to the lives of those who wished they could improve their lot in life by lining up every day of the week in as early as dawn just to have the chance to be among the few who can make it to the audience.
Wowowee regularly hands out cash to winners in the daily noontime show. The top prize for Saturday was to have been a million pesos, including a house and lot package.
It's a big amount for those who could barely survive. It's a promise of a seeming miracle and the messianic promise of the television program which enticed the televiewers to try their luck.
We could be a fatalistic people, relying on the forces of event to work for our good rather than individuals working hard to improve their lives. It does not help that television networks reinforce such value. It does not help to have politicians going on air promising that justice will be delivered to the families of the victims.
Like any other tragedy, this would again prove that poor people would just be part of the statistics. Think of the many commissions, investigation teams and task forces that were formed to look into cases.
The country is redefining democracy. It is one where those who do not have equal opportunities in life can still strive to improve their condition by having the courage and stamina to queue under the heat of the sun and be prepared to be mock and embarrassed by the show's host.
As it is again, its all for the money. Decency and ethics are the least concerns of those who capitalize on the poverty of the many. A few days from now, it will be back to business once again. There's poverty and our inept national officials forcing capitalists and the ordinary people to do things in many unimaginable ways.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (February 6, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
