GMA7's KARA DAVID DRAWS FLAK FOR CONTROVERSIAL TWEETS

Prized Kapuso broadcast journalist Kara David got bombarded with tweets criticizing her own Twitter posts that many deemed as a swipe against anchors from rival networks.

“News programs should be watched for the content and credibility of its news, not the looks and ‘sex appeal’ of its presenters,” Kara tweeted in the afternoon of Nov. 7. A minute later, she added, “Bato-bato sa langit tamaan huwag magalit.”

Many could not believe that David, who is a recent recipient of the TOWNS (The Outstanding Women in Nation’s Service) award, and the second of only two Filipinas to have received the prestigious Peabody Award, could post such comments, as seen on Twitter and local forum Pinoyexchange. Some branded her tweets “cheap,” her sentiments “bitter” or “threatened.”

“I respect Kara David being a Peobody awardee, until this afternoon in twitter,” said one.

“4 sum1 wrking n d media & being d daughter of randy david, i expected u to have at least phrased ur statemnt or chose better words,” wrote another.

“wag sayangin ang mga parangal sa mga opinyong dulot ng inggit ok? Inyong inyo ang kredibilidad nyo walang umaagaw!” posted another Twitter user.

Numerous netizens also supposed that she was referring to ABS-CBN’s “TV Patrol,” the rival show of GMA-7’s “24 Oras.” Some noticed how David’s tweet appeared to coincide with the changes in the lineup of “Patrol” with the return of Korina Sanchez and Noli De Castro on the program.

One user tweeted David, saying, “that’s why we watch tv patrol.. it is more credible..” To which David responded: “I respect your opinion. Pero mas maraming intl and local awards ang 24oras. I think that speaks a lot.”

“u love 24ORAS AND that's perfectly fine. no question with that. but saying negatives about the other speaks so much about YOU,” posted another user.

While there were those who speculated that David’s tweets were about their industry rivals, others cautioned her to watch her words because it could offend her very own colleagues in GMA.

“I think @karadavid is insulting her colleagues too bad for them!” exclaimed one.

Another wondered: “how will you explain this to mel [tiangco] and mike [enriquez]? (anchors of ’24 Oras’) na wala kasi silang 'sex appeal'?”

Based on some of the posts of Twitter users and forum members, Kara deleted her tweets shortly. But her posts were saved for posterity through screenshots of her Twitter page posted on Pinoyexchange.com. Some, including her GMA News and Public Affairs colleague Tinna Panganiban-Perez, also re-tweeted her post.

A repost from the original article published in Manila Bulletin Online http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/286526/kara-david-draws-flak-controversial-tweets

By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ November 8, 2010, 5:39pm

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.

Compromised public interest over profiteering?!

Analyzing Annabelle Rama in relation to the Kris Aquino-Ruffa Gutierrez issue

I was shocked by the news that seemingly best of friends Queen of Multimedia Kris Aquino and beauty pageant runner-up Ruffa Gutierrez had a conflict while the program they both host was still airing. Truth be told, I was not able to watch that particular episode of The Buzz for some reasons I am not in the liberty to discuss. However, to give you an idea, I was caught in something which, if not given more than enough attention, would definitely jeopardize the future of this country.

Thanks to technology, I was able to watch the said episode of The Buzz. I was also able to watch the episode of Showbiz Central where Ruffa’s mother, Annabelle Rama, who, by the way, claims to have come from a wealthy family in Cebu, but fails to act as such, uttered unnecessary harsh words directed towards Kris and her brother, Liberal Party presidential candidate Noynoy Aquino.

Annabelle, at one instance, said that Kris might be envious of Ruffa. I asked myself, “in what aspects would Kris be envious of Ruffa?” I think there are plenty of things why Kris should be envious of Ruffa. Perhaps Kris is envious of the fact that Ruffa was born to a showbiz family, her father being an actor and her mother, a former bold star slash die-hard fan. If there is any consolation though, Kris was born to a family of nation builders. Perhaps, Kris is also envious of the fact that Ruffa had to marry for convenience while Kris had to marry out of love. Perhaps Kris is envious of the fact that Ruffa had to bring her daughters to the Philippines so that she could collect child support from her estranged husband while Kris had to do away with not minding whether Philip Salvador would give child support to Josh. I guess Annabelle knows best, Kris might be indeed envious of Ruffa.

Annabelle also said that Ruffa had been constantly bullied by Kris on a weekly basis (read: The Buzz being a weekly show). Perhaps this is true. Who would know of bullying better that the bully herself. If Kris is a bully, I wonder what Annabelle is. People know for a fact that whenever any of Annabelle’s talents are dragged into controversy, Annabelle never fails to amuse the crowd with her own brand of eloquence. No one, but Annabelle, can display such a tactless eloquence fit for someone of her character.

It also bothers me how Annabelle maintains her claim that all of these were instantaneous. In an interview, Annabelle said that she was able to properly inform ABS-CBN bosses (she named at least three) that she will be pulling out Ruffa while just few minutes after the Kris-Ruffa incident, Anabelle was already on air at the rival show, ranting about the incident.

Annabell claims to be the victim by downplaying Kris’ credibility. However, we all know that Annabelle is what she claims herself to be. People know of how Annabelle stalked her then future husband. We also know how Annabelle connived with members of an award-winning body in order for her daughter Ruffa to win an acting awards. And believe me, this is no hearsay. You can check the facts with records of a trial court. Likewise, we know how Annabelle condoned his son Richard Gutierrez when the latter caused the slaughter of his personal assistant in a car crash.

Truth be told, I am sick and tired of Annabelle and Ruffa’s holier than thou attitude. Why can’t this mother and daughter tandem accept the fact that they are doing all of these to cause stir on Ruffa’s network transfer where they raked in a lot of money? Oh, I know. Because, as the song goes, truth hurts!

Reposted: http://pinoygossipboy.ph/pgb-exclusive-analyzing-annabelle-rama-in-relation-to-the-kris-aquino-ruffa-gutierrez-issue/

CHRISTMAS STATION ID 2009: WHO FARED BETTER?

It's that time of the year again when the big networks ABS-CBN and GMA-7 partake of holiday cheer and reinforce the values of family and togetherness by unveiling their Christmas station plugs. The scale and production values of the holiday IDs have risen in direct proportion to the escalation of the network wars, becoming mini-movies in their own right.

The handles of the plugs themselves say nothing new on the surface-ABS-CBN's tagline is "Bro, Ikaw ang Star ng Pasko" while GMA's is "Sama-Sama Tayong Mag-PasaLove Ngayong Pasko." But this year presents a bigger challenge than years past: Coming from a particularly devastating typhoon season and a gloomy global economic outlook, the Christmas spirit has never seemed so far away for the Filipino audience...and never more needed.

This is perhaps the reason why both network holiday plugs have deliberately shy away from portraying lavish Christmas feasts or profligate gift giving, and instead focus more on acts of charity. In the GMA-7 plug, for instance, a family residing in a gated village come home--supposedly from a late party--and stop momentarily at the guard house so that the little boy in the backseat can drop off a present for the late-shift security guard. What's equally notable about the vignette is that nowhere in the production design do you see the car laden with presents.

The GMA-7 plug makes the admirable choice of not deploying their celebrities, instead highlighting the plight of ordinary Filipinos as they struggle to keep the Christmas spirit alive. There is nothing wrong with this creative choice per se...but it would have worked better if the plug itself had said something new, insightful, or impactful. There are vignettes showing a farmer worrying about his crop and getting a morale boost from a fellow tiller of the soil; an elderly woman getting a visit from loved ones; a pair of girlfriends walking home from a shopping trip who encounter a homeless mother and child curled up in a kariton. We've seen these vignettes--and their implied message of philanthropy and love--before. Are platitudes all GMA can offer us in these trying times?

The kariton vignette, in particular, feels tonally wrong. Yes, every little act of kindness goes a long way. Yes, it is wise to never portray the giving of money to beggars or panhandlers. But there is something vaguely Paris Hilton-esque about going on a shopping expedition with your BFF, then giving away a cardigan to the shivering child sleeping in the garbage cart. Like the rest of the plug and its generically clever message-Sama-Sama Tayong Mag-PasaLove Ngayong Pasko"--the act of charity seems to fall short; somehow it is not enough.

The ABS-CBN plug fares much better. While cynical viewers may hate themselves for getting taken in by the presence of a gazillion celebrities in choir formation a la "We Are the World," the formula undoubtedly works. But there are other formidable tricks up this mini-movie, as well. While the GMA-7 plug preferred to stay in well-trod territory by offering up a generic message of love and compassion, the ABS-CBN station ID zeroes in on something specific: the struggle to overcome the recent ravages of Ondoy and Pepeng. Interspersed with the images of Piolo Pascual and KC Concepcion singing and the subtle selling of the John Lloyd Cruz-Angel Locsin tandem as they get set for their new teleserye, we see workers tying up relief goods, a little boy picking up a parol and saluting army men as they go off on a relief mission, a community cleaning up a mud-strewn chapel. Powerful images, indeed.

Equally powerful is the jingle, co-written by advertising industry stalwart Robert Labayen. After one viewing, I immediately latched on to its chorus: "Salamat sa liwanag mo/Muling magkakakulay ang Pasko/Ang nagsindi nitong ilaw/Walang iba kundi ikaw/Dahil ikaw, bro/Ang star ng Pasko."Granted, there's something theologically unsound about the message (after all, isn't Jesus Christ the reason for the season?), and yes, station plugs are unabashed exercises in audience manipulation. But for the space of four minutes, it's touching to see celebrities pay tribute to the tireless relief worker, or the priest who is the moral center of his ravaged community. With this instantly catchy plug, ABS-CBN seems to be telling its audience that love isn't just needed this holiday season--it's something positively heroic.

http://www.pep.ph/ by Andrew Paredes

My hunch was right! Takipsilim is a hoax!

My hunch was right! Twilight Filipino version does not exist. Tssk tssk! I just cannot understand how some people can waste so much of their time and effort to create an imaginative work just to discredit one party, in this case ABS-CBN. I also cannot bear the idea why some Twilight fans would overreact to an unverified information. I hope next time these fanatics will learn. Haay, Twilight is such a lousy novel and movie for all this trouble! I bet Miss Meyer is very jubilant about all these publicity.

The succeeding lines were lifted from Inquirer.net in an article by Gerry Plaza posted last December 30, 2008 and included ABS-CBN's denial that they will produce a Twilight Filipino version entitled Takipsilim.

MANILA, Philippines—ABS-CBN has no plans of producing a Philippine adaptation of Stephanie Meyer’s best-selling book “Twilight,” which has recently became an international hit movie, a network statement said.

The network denied a recent report published on the Hollywood gossip blogsite PerezHilton.com that the Kapamilya network was already preparing production for the local version.

“There is no truth to the web reports, particularly in the Perez Hilton blogsite that ABS-CBN is doing a local adaptation of ‘Twilight,” Bong Osorio, ABS-CBN Corporate Communications chief said in a text message to the Inquirer. “ABS-CBN will be the first one to announce if it is, in fact, doing so.”

PerezHilton.com splashed an alleged poster of the alleged Filipino adaptation, titled “Takipsilim,” which it said will star Rayver Cruz and Shaina Magdayao and directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina. The blogsite said filming for “Takipsilim” will start in February 2009.

Visitors to the site had expressed outrage over the supposed plans.

TAKIPSILIM: Twilight Filipino Version

I have been surfing the internet this past few days since it was Christmas vacation and it has already become my way of reconnecting to the real world since I barely had the time to watch TV or surf the internet when I am having classes in med school. December 26, in one of my millions of site surfing activities, I bumped into PerezHilton.com and was surprised to see a post in that blog stating that ABS-CBN, a Filipino broadcasting network, will be doing a Filipino version of Twilight by Stephanie Meyer.

PerezHilton.com blogsite that published the supposed to be plan of ABS-CBN to do a
remake of Twilight by Stephanie Meyer.

Surprised and at the same time amazed about what I saw in PerezHilton.com, I searched for more articles or websites using the tag "Takipsilim", the rumored title of the Filipino remake. I found out that other entertainment sites like Yehey, Mukamo, Zimbio and Blogpipiatbingi among others also had the same posting about the Filipino version of Twilight. The articles in the said websites indicated that ABS-CBN has acquired the rights for US$1 Million to do a remake of Twilight and has even included a list of Kapamilya stars as the cast. The said websites also stated that Ignite Media will be the co-producer and even contained details like the names of the lead stars; Rayver Cruz as Edward Cullen and Shaina Magdayao as Bella Swan. They also included the name of the would-be director (Cathy Garcia-Molina), start of shoot dates and even the would-be locations. I was stunned in disbelief with my newfound information. I started doing some sleuthing to confirm my doubt regarding the ramake, that this story is not true. I went back to PerezHilton.com website to scrutinize the Takipsilim poster, saved it and looked for the original Twilight poster, saved it then compared the two.

the original commercial poster of twilight with MTV logo at the bottom as the producer of the poster

Takipsilim top-bills Rayver Cruz as Edward Cullen and Shaina Magdayao as Bella Swan;

Circulating copies of Twilight posters include the theatrical version with all the cinema credits at the bottom and a commercial version solely for the purpose of advertising, which I posted here, has no theatrical credits and instead indicated the participation of MTV in the production of the poster. This simpler version of the poster was, for me, the source of the "photo shopped" Takipsilim" poster. Comparing the two posters, you would easily find that Rob and Bella's coat, Bella's hair and position of hands and fingers are exactly the same in Twilight and Takipsilim posters. The only difference I saw are the title change, addition of a few lines and an ABS-CBN logo. The Takipsilim poster was obviously made to look faded and older in effects to hide the changes: that Takipsilim's poster is no different than Twilight and it is a product of photo shop technology.

I admit that upon seeing the Perez Hilton post regarding Takipsilim, I believed it at first especially after a news article of the remake from the ABS-CBN News website. But it was not long when I started to doubt basing on the obvious facts and inconsistensies especially when the same news article about Takipsilim cannot found in ABS-CBN's website anymore. With the following developments at stake, I started to entertain the idea that the ABS-CBN News website was either hacked by an intruder with an intention to taint ABS-CBN's name or an employee of ABS-CBN itself was responsible for such a demeaning and erroneous press release.

My hunch is that Takipsilim is a hoax and that the idea and the conceptualization of it came from the wild imagination of a desperate Filipino "genius". It became more eminent after I saw that the post about Takipsilim was made last December 23 and they were actually posted a few hours earlier in ABS-CBN News website and other Filipino blogs like Yehey than it appeared in PerezHilton.com which is mostly Hollywood based and American in nature.

Taking into consideration all viable information, I believe that Takipsilim is a hoax and a product of a lucid imagination of a person who would only like to discredit ABS-CBN. The following substantiates my claim:

1) Acquiring the exclusive rights to do a remake of a movie does not give the acquiring party the right to use original or existing materials and merchandise that were already used in the original version.

2) The selling of rights for a movie remake does not happen especially if the movie has sequels more so if they are not yet shown or produced.

3) An author (e.g. Lord of the Rings' JRR Tolkien and Harry Potter's JK Rowling) does not sell exclusive rights to different media outfits, what more for a remake. Exclusivity ensures quality and consistency in movie production results.

4) A media outfit, more so a local network, will not spend US$ 1 Million for an exclusive right to do only one movie remake. That is very expensive.

5) Takipsilim's poster is a photo-shopped version of Twilight. Examine both pictures and see the similarities.

6) ABS-CBN News website has already removed the article regarding Takipsilim's existence. That act clearly states that the company disowns the article. An erratum is usually made when there was an error in previous news articles made and the original is usually not removed from the archives ans instead retained for reference purposes.

7) In my view, the culprit hacked and penetrated ABS-CBN's website and posted the news article there to make his concept believable and convincing taking into account that ABS-CBN itself announced Takipsilim's existence.

8) The mere fact that the "news" about Takipsilim came out in Filipino websites first (hours earlier) before it appeared in foreign websites like PerezHilton.com, implies that the author of the scam is a Filipino with clear intentions to discredit ABS-CBN.

9) One line in the Takipsilim poster blew my mind off: Madilim 'pag Takipsilim; Ang galing ng Pinoy --> what on earth is this? Some corny joke?

With all these bruhaha, I firmly stand by my claim that ABS-CBN's stake to film a Twilight remake in the form of Takipsilim is a hoax, a fake news that is mainly geared towards discrediting ABS-CBN. Therefore, Twilight fans should stop making a big fuzz out of this controversy. Twilight, in the first place, is a simple novel that failed to incorporate exchanging conflicts in the content and obviously has no climactic plot. The story is simple, dragging and boring. The movie was as lousy as the book itself.

A snapshot of a search result showing Takipsilim news articles appearing in ABS-CBN News official website

A snapshot showing that the Takipsilim article is no longer accessiblein ABS-CBN News website after clicking the search result

Yehey website posted the article 9:31 AM of December 23, several hours earlier than a post in Perez Hilton at 10:45 AM

*Unfortunately, I cannot post a snap-shot of the date and time the article was posted in ABS-CBN News website as an evidence since the article was already removed by ABS-CBN from its archives. Nevertheless, for the sake of revealing the information, I can clearly remember that it was posted December 23, 2008, 8:25 AM.