AQUINO, Regina Coeli T.

BC 100 WRU
2012-20247 Prof. Perlita Manalili

Public Affairs Show in the 60 Years of Philippine Television
(Reaction Paper)
Last November 27, the Broadcast Communication Department of the College of Mass
Communication celebrated the 60
th
year of Philippine television. It began with a short program
and the unveiling of an exhibit depicting the history of Philippine TV. Afterwards, popular and
educational Pinoy TV shows were played the whole day in the CMC auditorium.
The first TV show they played was the finale of the investigative news magazine show
The Probe Team. In the said episode, Probes creators Che-che Lazaro, Maria Ressa, and Luchi
Cruz-Valdez shared the beginnings and development of their show. They shared how Probe, a
largely ignored show when it piloted, won many awards and transformed public affairs show in
the country.
The whole Probe series was evidently a relevant show during its time. The minimum-
maximum rule they employed, where they showed more pictures and videos and did less talk,
was an effective way to prove the points they are trying to get across. Their adaptation of the
Western close-up shots and eyes-focused shots was also effective in appealing to the viewers
emotions, especially when the show is tackling poverty. The teams conscious effort to focus on
the integrity of the program rather than the ratings also ensured that the show genuinely serves
the publics interest. That allowed Probe to assert their press freedom especially during the time
when the country is recovering from an authoritarian regime and democracy was supposedly
restored. Probe bravely exposed corruption inside the government and outside of it, even if it had
to face libel cases filed by those who want to subvert the truth.
Probe failed in two things, though. First is that it broadcasted in English for a longer
period of time during its airing. They shifted to Filipino only after airing for ten years in 1997.
That could have been a crucial reason why it did not have a good following on its beginning
years. Second, it was placed in a bad time slot. Probe was always a late night public affairs show
since it was on ABS-CBN even until it transferred to GMA. This fact may have been another
reason why it was not very popular when it piloted.
Both the Probe team and whatever network airs it should contribute to the improvement
of the show. The Probe team must continue to broadcast in Filipino, so that it could convey its
message across the majority of Filipinos. That would result to a wider, more inclusive, and more
democratic political actions spearheaded by the public itself. The network that airs Probe must
also give it to an earlier timeslot so that more people could watch it. It could be given an
afternoon slot on a weekend, just like the currently airing Failon Ngayon which airs on Saturdays
at 4:45 p.m. It could also be right after the weekend evening news.
The second show they played was Newsmakers, a documentary by GMA News and
Public Affairs that aired in 2008. Presented by Mike Enriquez, Jessica Soho, Arnold Clavio,
Vicky Morales, and Mel Tiangco, it detailed how the administrations of four former Philippine
presidents Ferdinand Marcos, Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos, and Joseph Estrada and then
incumbent president Gloria Arroyo were seen by the public through the media.
For me, Newsmakers is another evidence of GMA News and Public Affairs genius. The
presentation of the documentary was objective, in the sense that they allowed the presidents to
express their sides for every allegation or public opinion about them. Therefore, the journalists
did not impose their personal opinions to the viewing public; instead, they allowed them to have
their own opinion and perception of the Philippine presidents. The shows honesty about the
medias relationships with these former leaders was also admirable. They openly stated that
Aquino, Ramos, and Estrada were darlings of the press, since they were approachable and
open for interviews. However, its relationships with Marcos and Arroyo were not that good,
since the former suppressed the media and the latter was not very approachable.
One negative point though is sometimes, the journalists tend to be apologists. When
asking about sensitive topics, they tend to start with, Im sorry if I have to ask this which
turns me off.
As a journalism student, I was taught not to be apologist when conducting interview.
Should I need to ask a sensitive question, I must warn them not be sorry that Ill be doing so.
If it is something that the public has a right to know, then there is clearly no reason to be
apologist. I think this is where GMA can improve. But generally, the network must continue
airing meaningful documentaries on Philippine politics and society.
Public affairs show has always been a powerful mainstay on Philippine television. It has
built and broken administrations. It has mobilized the people to act for social change. Given
televisions broad reach, it is important that shows like Probe and Newsmakers side with those
who matter most in a democratic country the public.