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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mark Timothy J. Libunao is a 32-year old registered Medical Technologist, a father to a 5-year old amiable and smart little boy and a husband to a registered Physical Therapist. He is an accomplished campus journalist, student leader, businessman, salesman and most of all, a loving father and husband, an obedient son, a caring brother, a very loyal and dear friend.


An Editor-in-Chief of his high school and college publications, a student council president for three years in college, a volunteer grade school teacher and a social mobilizer who was able to spearhead various community projects in Quezon City. He led several national organizations including the Quezon City Red Cross Youth Council, College Editors' Guild of the Philippines, Jesuit Volunteers of the Philippines and Philippine Society of Medical Technology Students. His glorious years came when he was elected as a student commissioner of the National Youth Commission under the Office of the President of the Philippines last 2002 and 2003. He worked and was designated as the Chief Medical Technologist of Murphy Diagnostic & Multi-Specialty Center and Hope Medical & Multi-Specialty Center in Quezon City before he entered medical school.

He is the eldest son of Mr. Freddie Mandario Libunao & Mrs. Ma. Sonia Jaleco Jesena of Hughes St., Maasin, Iloilo. He has two siblings: Bryan Paul graduated with a Masters Degree in Integrated Marketing and Communications in the University of Asia and the Pacific and Maria Mikaela who is a second year Medical Technology student of Centro Escolar University.

His wife, Ma. Theresa Acay of Marikina City is a registered Physical Therapist while his son Mikhail Thaddeus is a pre-school pupil of Jesus Christ Saves Global Outreach Christian Academy (JCA) in Quezon City.

He finished his grade school and high school in Ateneo de Iloilo (formerly Santa Maria Catholic School). He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Medical Technology in World Citi Colleges and was awarded as the Most Outstanding Intern of the Year of Philippine Heart Center & World Citi Medical Center. He is presently on his third year Post Graduate course as Doctor of Medicine in Far Eastern University - Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation where he served as the Treasurer of the Medicine Student Council last 2007 and 2009. He was a former faculty of the KATINKO Wellness Institute Foundation Inc. where he taught Anatomy & Physiology, Massage Economics, Microbiology, Parasitology and Public Hygiene to Massage Therapists. Presently, he is one of the board of directors of Healthville Inc., a wellness company he co-founded with his brother.



Monday, August 23, 2010

PHILIPPINE NATIONAL ANTHEM VIDEO: ABS-CBN & GMA VERSIONS. WHO FARED BETTER?





Both are obviously commercial in nature with the mere presence of the two networks’ roster of stars and talents in the video. Both were produced in good taste and quality considering the enormous amount of money and talents poured in to create such video. ABS-CBN produced their own Lupang Hinirang video first and it has been airing for several years already. Since the video was intended for the network's use only, it can be said that ABS-CBN single-handedly financed the production for the sole purpose of making a personal touch in the national anthem video which is being shown on TV before sign on and sign off. GMA Network meanwhile had their version made for showing in SM Cinemas and therefor is co-produced with the latter in an effort to make visualizations to the lyrics of the national anthem and to promote their talents at the same time to regular movie-goers who are not TV fanatics.

ABS-CBN’s version is patriotically solemn and classic while kept simple and elegant as they dressed their talents in white to symbolize purity in patriotism. The presence of the actors and actresses in the video is not to promote them since the video was only intended to be shown in the network airwaves but instead to set these people as an example that no matter how high their status are in society and no matter how far the places they have reached, they are still look back to where they came from, their motherland. The slow transition of the video frames and the subtle voices of the children singing the national anthem including the melodramatic drum rolls make a perfect combination in making the video genuinely heartfelt. In short, it is patriotic in a simple and elegant way.

GMA Network’s version which is a co-production with SM Cinemas came in very lavish and it was obvious that they poured in a lot of effort and money for the video. They made a rich visualization of the national anthem’s heroic lyrics by re-enacting important parcels of Philippine history. It was a hair-raising moment to watch the video as it reminds me of how Filipinos can be united to fight oppression both in the olden and modern times. One thing though, the directors and producers of the video are seemed to be confused on how they want the outcome to be. They are promoting patriotism in the basic sense but they can’t seem to be firm on how they want it employed: is it by showing parcels of history or by simple playing of the national anthem alone or both. There are a lot of things happening in the video and that the viewer loses his focus on singing the national anthem itself. Moreso, the video frames came in very fast transitions making it hard for the viewer to focus on one featured historical event. One has not yet identified the previous clip when another frame with a different event comes in. The put in a lot of shots and frames in a very short clip resulting in a very messy outcome. In short, GMA Network’s national anthem video is cinematically excellent production-wise but came out poor in terms of capturing patriotism because it only divides the attention of the viewers either from watching the videos or singing the Philippine National Anthem.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

For me,it's GMA's version which fared better.Because as you said it,they poured a lot of effort in this video.It makes a person sing more!because of the scenes in the video,it truly makes me proud of being a Filipino.In ABS' version,"ANO NAKITA MO?MGA MUKHA NG ARTISTA NILA?Not like GMA,mga artista nga nila,ngunit pinakikita ang mga scenes noon na lumaya ang ating bayan!Habang kinakanta mo ang Lupang Hinirang and at the same time,watching the video in GMA's version,mas may gana kang kumanta.Sorry,kasi mukhang Kpam ka,eh

Unknown said...

Patriotismwise, ABS-CBN's national anthem video is far better than that of GMA. The main reason for the production of these videos is to promote and uplift the sense of nationality in every Filipino. GMA obviously did it for promotion of their artists, their network, their brand, and in a very MAJOR way, their film outfit, GMA Films, Inc., because as we know, films produced by the said film outfit is doing very poorly in the gross sales, kailangan pa nga nila ng partners like Viva, Regal, etc. Also, it was learned from a 2007 AGB Nielsen study that GMA fans are dominated by people from the LOWER classes (C, D, E, and even F), therefore, they have lower purchasing power; the reason behind the success of their televised films which were "nilangaw sa takilya". With these, GMA clearly compromised Media quality.

In sum, Nationality has to be the purpose, not for any form of promotion or advertisement of any product which are of Lower Quality.

Anonymous said...

maganda ang GMA version... magandang panoorin! Parang MTV ng National Anthem. Walang solemnity.

Anonymous said...

Nope, it's ABS-CBN's version,, Why??

As you see, GMA's version showed the events that is similar to what happened in our history so the Filipino People will just sink in viewing the video instead of being attached to the song. Because of the several events shown, the message will be unclear.

Unlike to ABS-CBN, you'll be willing to join the peaceful singing of the anthem. Sa nagsabing wala silang nakita kundi puro artista, masyado syang bulag or pinangungunahan ng utak nya ang pagiging kapuso nya kaya di nya makuha ang sincerity at value sa disenteng pag-awit sa Lupang hinirang. Masyado kang kapuso, nakalimutan na nyang Pilipino din sya,,

Taong Bayan said...

You know, I guess you miss the whole point of the two videos: OUR PATRIOTISM. It does not depend on which network did better on graphically portraying Filipino Nationalism but the core is the PAMBANSANG AWIT. Though the two videos come from two rival networks, I did not see it that they are trying to outdo each other at the expense of our NATIONAL ANTHEM.

I personally like the two, though. If the videos distract you from SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, then I guess the two videos miss the whole point - arousing patriotism from every Filipino citizen.

It seems that you "are seemed to be confused" as well in defining your thoughts over GMA's version.

Let me quote you."
First you said of GMA's version, "They made a rich visualization of the national anthem’s heroic lyrics by re-enacting important parcels of Philippine history. It was a hair-raising moment to watch the video as it reminds me of how Filipinos can be united to fight oppression both in the olden and modern times."

Then you further said, "One has not yet identified the previous clip when another frame with a different event comes in. The put in a lot of shots and frames in a very short clip resulting in a very messy outcome."

Question : How could it be a "hair-raising moment to watch the video" if "one has not yet identified the previous clip when another frame with a different event comes in?"

I think you are rather expressing your inclination towards the ABS-CBN version because you have no "but" on their side.

Anyhow, as your heading says, "MY OPINIONS..." I guess it boils down to your personal opinion. But don't get me wrong. I'm entitled to my own opinion as well.

Anonymous said...

ABS-CBN.

Seriously. ABS-CBN had a more somber and patriotic theme rather than GMA's Historical theme. The intro was too long. In the eyes of majority of movie goers, it's just a nuissance trying to watch a movie and waiting for it to actually start. Oh, and people don't even know who the people in the GMA version are. Come on, when GMA went here in Cagayan de Oro and had the "Kapuso Fan Night", people ignored them, the only guy they knew was Dingdong!

Lupang Hinirang said...

You did not post my comment on your post.

It seems that your opinions matter all the time to you, whereas you do not want others' opinions to matter to you as well.

Obviously, you won't be posting this as well. I won't be surprised by that.

I quote your sub-heading, "i often get disagreed upon, disliked and even hated because most people never took the chance to listen to me... or even know me...... and though I am oftenly misjudged and taken advantaged of.... most of the times IT WAS MY OPINION THAT MATTERED".

You never even took the chance to post my comment, how could you even expect others to hear from you?

tim libunao said...

To Lupang Hinirang:
all comments posted in my blog were published. none of them were deleted, you should have checked your browser first before logging out if indeed your comment was saved.

Lupang Hinirang said...

No you did not. I even bookmarked your page as to see whether what you have to say as a reply to my comment.

I commented that your personal review did not equally mentioned the pro's and con's for both versions, because obviously you have a personal bias.

But anyway, thank you for posting my post. You proved me wrong...on that aspect.

Lupang Hinirang said...

BTW, this message appears after I clicked the "PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT" tab.

"Your comment has been saved and will be visible after blog owner approval."

Hades said...

I would say it's GMA. It shows historic scene on the videos and make the people sing with heart.

Yufah leah said:

"....GMA obviously did it for promotion of their artists, their network, their brand, and in a very MAJOR way, their film outfit, GMA Films, Inc...."

What about the ABS-CBN? Didn't they promote their artist also?
When we talk about national anthem it means "NATIONAL", at least GMA did the scene like that...remembering our history. As you said "..In sum, Nationality has to be the purpose.."

tim libunao said...

To: taong bayan
there were no inconsistencies in my statements. it was hairraising to see parcels of history being reenacted while the Lupang Hinirang is played -- of course, who would not know in a single glance that the clip is part of Filipino history? It is our familiarity with our own history that enabled us to easily identify the scenes as "parcels of history" but as I have said, the fast transition of clips in GMA's video made the actual identification of the specific historical milestone hard because the frame would shift to a new one just when you're almost ready to identify the previous one.

Anonymous said...

i'm glad somebody have noticed it the way i did. the first time i saw gma7 i was really disappointed because the video takes away all of the attention of the viewer, instead of minding the song itself. they're not promoting the national anthem but they are promoting their production, their artists, their video, etc.hypocrite.

Anonymous said...

In my opinion none of them did well. Because the very reason why the National anthem was created is not only to develop patriotism among filipinos but also to unite US under one Hymn. However, as i can see may it be GMA's or ABS's, they are just both for commercial purposes.

just the fact that we argue in a simple music video is enough to prove that they are both not uniting us. they are creating barriers among us setting the standards among us.

it's somehow sad to know that people are trying to tell one is better than the other when what's important is the song.


and if Patriotism is in our hearts no matter what videos come with the Hymn, no matter who sang it, No matter how production-wise it is, as long as the meaning of the song is in our heart, we will still hear the melody of its song, clear and clean.