As we welcome more humid and wet weather, June also marks the beginning of the school year; June 3 is the date for 21 million public school students in the Philippines. Such a great number would flock to local kindergartens, elementary and high schools all around the country— but this number only covers those that are enrolled. As in every year, there will likely be pahabol enrolees who will enrol late.
A part of these late enrolees would be transferees from private schools and faced with budget constraint following the announcement of tuition fee hikes in several institutions. According to reports, 903 institutions were allowed to increase tuition fees this year. this could likely result to more students putting their study to a halt or finding an alternative school, probably a public school, with more affordable rates - despite the fact that public schools have less equipment and are mostly congested.
This school year will also be the second year of the K-to-12 education system, which adds two years in secondary education. These additional two years and higher tuition fees will hopefully bring greater good to improve the quality of education in the country. Otherwise, the system only robs the children of their time and the parents their money. But let’s hope not.
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Vice Ganda once again made headlines following a controversy after his “rape jokes” in his “I-Vice Ganda Mo’ko sa Araneta” Comedy concert. In particular, the issue heated as several news personalities from GMA7 aired sentiments over Twitter and on radio over the disrespect Vice’s jokes have caused their News Chief Jessica Soho, who was among the subject of the jokes along with several other celebrities such as Kris Aquino, Gus Abelgas and Kim Atienza.
Soho released a statement, saying she took offense not for herself, but for the use of rape as a material for comedy. She argued that rape is a “serious matter”. To this, Vice Ganda attempted to apologize to the veteran journalist via phone, but Soho declined to engage in a conversation. Vice then resorted to a public apology via his noontime show, an act “acknowledged” by Soho - how is that different from “accepted”?
Following the issue, MTRCB called out the networks to regulate the use of “comedy bar” humour in TV programs.
To this, we learn one thing: that not all jokes are funny for all people. Comedy, like food, comes in a variety of servings. Some have the appetite for it and some don’t. But for someone with an influence and following as huge as Vice Ganda, every joke would be scrutinised under a microscope.
On the plus side, lessons were learned. As they say, “A joke is not always intended to make you laugh, it is also intended to make you think.”
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Netizens are complaining, yet again, that another singer won Pilipinas Got Talent season 4. 13-year-old Youtube sensation Roel Manlangit was named ultimate winner in yesterday’s finals night taking home Php2 million pesos. The reaction is understandable, noting that all winners from the past three seasons were also singers. To this, people have invented a new title for the show, Pilipinas Got Singers.
However, it must be noted that winners in reality shows such as this are selected through a voting process. That means the winner likely has a bigger fan base, or a strong campaign team. Blaming the show is futile as they do not have a hand on which act shall win. Again, the public decides. In fact, the show has attempted to limit the number of singers in the official list of contestants although still a majority.
This could boil to one point: Filipinos love singers. And the empathy effect (Awa) adds up to that. As a result, singers with sob stories win. Again, that is the public’s decision and not the show’s or the judges’.
Important question: Why do we celebrate Filipino singers that get international recognition and yet we complain if our talent shows have them as winners? Or maybe we just always want to complain no matter what.
