ENQUIRY
DEMAREE J. B. RAVAL
DEMAREE J. B. RAVAL
.
‘Desperate Housewipes’
Sunday, 06 14, 2009
"Desperate Housewipes” is the latest Filipino reality show — a comedy-drama series of high treason and intrigue — initially created by Luis Villafuerte, who backed out at the closing episode of the first season, much to the displeasure of its producers, but nevertheless to the relief of the national audience. The show, however, has been revived by Prospero Nograles, who also serves as show-runner, with the cameo appearance of a wiseass bit player from Ilocos Norte. The executive producers of the show, although they refuse to publicly acknowledge it, belong to Riverside Palace Officials Inc. (RiPOff), a dynasty of politicians with kith and kin from Bicol, Pampanga, Negros, and everywhere else.
The setting of the show is Batasan Hills in Quezon City. It follows the lives of a group of desperate Wipes in the House of Representatives — wipe: n. a disposable absorbent and abhorrent government official, esp. one treated with a cleansing agent, for wiping something (like asses) clean; i.e., trapo — seen through the ever-present eyes of the television cameras and reported/commented on widely by the media, as they work through legislation ostensibly designed to wipe out the ills of the country, while desperately trying to commit the abhorrent crime of wiping clean certain portions of the basic law of the land to ensure that the owner of RiPOff stays in control for many seasons and episodes to come.
The show features an ensemble cast, headed by show-runner Nograles and a group of Wipes known as the Shameless Bunch: Raul del Mar, Juan Miguel Arroyo, Elpidio Barzaga, Ignacio Arroyo, Niel Tupaz, Diosdado Arroyo, et al. They are reportedly paid a fee of P20 million per episode.
Other Wipes, not directly or no longer involved in the show but wishing they still had a hand in the script, spice up the episodes by their unoriginal albeit grandstanding sound bites as the show progresses. Listen to this one from deposed show-runner Jose de Venecia, a onetime implementor of scripts from RiPOff: “I ask you, Madam President, cut now and cut clean, (wow!) right now. And revoke your orders to the members of the House. Respond to public opinion.” Also, it is significant to note that some original members of the cast — Monica Prieto Teodoro, among them — have abandoned (or plan to abandon) their roles, presumably because of the bad ratings the show has received and the fear of being known to the viewers as Disgraced Housewipes.
Since its simultaneous premiere on all TV stations in February last year, the show has received various — and opposing — reactions from the critics as well as the national audience. As of last week, it was reported to be the most popularly reviled show nationwide, with an audience of approximately 60 million viewers who witnessed on TV a mammoth rally in Makati, which was sparked by the latest ugly turn of events in “Desperate Housewipes.” One who opposes the show for its revolting use of stolen wealth to keep the Shameless Bunch in tow was former housewife-turned President Corazon Aquino. Reprising a call she made six months ago on that same spot, Aquino said: “Narito muli tayo, sa gitna ng walang-hiyang pang-aabuso ng mga makapangyarihang nagnanais na sirain ang… ating mga batas.”
Other voices, though less trumpeted by the media, were no less critical of “Desperate Housewipes.” The Most Rev. Deogracias Iñiguez and Bishop Solito Toquero, co-chairmen of the Ecumenical Bishops Forum, have denounced Nograles, et al. and compared them to the biblical Esau, who sold his birthright for a pot of porridge. In a statement the bishops said: “The Ecumenical Bishops Forum strongly opposes the proposed Charter change and denounces the con-ass for its deliberate attempt to deprive the future generations of Filipinos of what is rightfully theirs. We say No to the selling of our birthright for a pot of porridge! We say No to the obvious attempt to ensure that Arroyo and her allies remain in power even after their terms expire.” Of course, the bishops did not extrapolate that a pot of porridge is actually a pot of gold that the Shameless Bunch stand to receive!
Synopsis. The following takes place between now and July 27: Nograles and the Housewipes know the impossibility of a con-ass to be validly convened until after the Supreme Court rules. They must force the issue, and create a justiceable controversy that necessitates the court’s intervention. As things stand now, the petition filed by lawyer Oliver Lozano is premature, HR 1109 being merely a call to a con-ass. Which is why they are hard-pressed to exploit every opportunity to force the issue to reach the court at the earliest time possible. There must be a semblance of participation by the Senate: There must be a situation where the congressmen and senators are convened in joint session for a con-ass; there must be at least one Judas-senator to join the congressmen in a con-ass. That situation is what Nograles and the Housewipes are trying hard to act out of a script concocted by RiPOff. (Thankfully, not one senator has agreed to join the cast).
Leina de Legazpi, my occasional tipster, has alerted me that the next episodes of “Desperate Housewipes,” as the season resumes on July 27, will have the following titles: The Rich Bitch Pays; The Rich Bitch Prevails; The Juiciest Bites from the Rich Bitch; Secrets and Lies of the Rich Bitch.
The national audience waits with bated breath — or with baited breath, as my other friend Reggie would say. When the congressmen and senators convene in joint session on July 27, expect that episode of “Desperate Housewipes” to set the tone for a justiceable controversy. Most likely, Nograles, et al. will continue with the show even after its interruption by the State of the Nation Address.
Abangan yan.
For comments about this website:Webmaster@tribune.net.ph
Sunday, 06 14, 2009
"Desperate Housewipes” is the latest Filipino reality show — a comedy-drama series of high treason and intrigue — initially created by Luis Villafuerte, who backed out at the closing episode of the first season, much to the displeasure of its producers, but nevertheless to the relief of the national audience. The show, however, has been revived by Prospero Nograles, who also serves as show-runner, with the cameo appearance of a wiseass bit player from Ilocos Norte. The executive producers of the show, although they refuse to publicly acknowledge it, belong to Riverside Palace Officials Inc. (RiPOff), a dynasty of politicians with kith and kin from Bicol, Pampanga, Negros, and everywhere else.
The setting of the show is Batasan Hills in Quezon City. It follows the lives of a group of desperate Wipes in the House of Representatives — wipe: n. a disposable absorbent and abhorrent government official, esp. one treated with a cleansing agent, for wiping something (like asses) clean; i.e., trapo — seen through the ever-present eyes of the television cameras and reported/commented on widely by the media, as they work through legislation ostensibly designed to wipe out the ills of the country, while desperately trying to commit the abhorrent crime of wiping clean certain portions of the basic law of the land to ensure that the owner of RiPOff stays in control for many seasons and episodes to come.
The show features an ensemble cast, headed by show-runner Nograles and a group of Wipes known as the Shameless Bunch: Raul del Mar, Juan Miguel Arroyo, Elpidio Barzaga, Ignacio Arroyo, Niel Tupaz, Diosdado Arroyo, et al. They are reportedly paid a fee of P20 million per episode.
Other Wipes, not directly or no longer involved in the show but wishing they still had a hand in the script, spice up the episodes by their unoriginal albeit grandstanding sound bites as the show progresses. Listen to this one from deposed show-runner Jose de Venecia, a onetime implementor of scripts from RiPOff: “I ask you, Madam President, cut now and cut clean, (wow!) right now. And revoke your orders to the members of the House. Respond to public opinion.” Also, it is significant to note that some original members of the cast — Monica Prieto Teodoro, among them — have abandoned (or plan to abandon) their roles, presumably because of the bad ratings the show has received and the fear of being known to the viewers as Disgraced Housewipes.
Since its simultaneous premiere on all TV stations in February last year, the show has received various — and opposing — reactions from the critics as well as the national audience. As of last week, it was reported to be the most popularly reviled show nationwide, with an audience of approximately 60 million viewers who witnessed on TV a mammoth rally in Makati, which was sparked by the latest ugly turn of events in “Desperate Housewipes.” One who opposes the show for its revolting use of stolen wealth to keep the Shameless Bunch in tow was former housewife-turned President Corazon Aquino. Reprising a call she made six months ago on that same spot, Aquino said: “Narito muli tayo, sa gitna ng walang-hiyang pang-aabuso ng mga makapangyarihang nagnanais na sirain ang… ating mga batas.”
Other voices, though less trumpeted by the media, were no less critical of “Desperate Housewipes.” The Most Rev. Deogracias Iñiguez and Bishop Solito Toquero, co-chairmen of the Ecumenical Bishops Forum, have denounced Nograles, et al. and compared them to the biblical Esau, who sold his birthright for a pot of porridge. In a statement the bishops said: “The Ecumenical Bishops Forum strongly opposes the proposed Charter change and denounces the con-ass for its deliberate attempt to deprive the future generations of Filipinos of what is rightfully theirs. We say No to the selling of our birthright for a pot of porridge! We say No to the obvious attempt to ensure that Arroyo and her allies remain in power even after their terms expire.” Of course, the bishops did not extrapolate that a pot of porridge is actually a pot of gold that the Shameless Bunch stand to receive!
Synopsis. The following takes place between now and July 27: Nograles and the Housewipes know the impossibility of a con-ass to be validly convened until after the Supreme Court rules. They must force the issue, and create a justiceable controversy that necessitates the court’s intervention. As things stand now, the petition filed by lawyer Oliver Lozano is premature, HR 1109 being merely a call to a con-ass. Which is why they are hard-pressed to exploit every opportunity to force the issue to reach the court at the earliest time possible. There must be a semblance of participation by the Senate: There must be a situation where the congressmen and senators are convened in joint session for a con-ass; there must be at least one Judas-senator to join the congressmen in a con-ass. That situation is what Nograles and the Housewipes are trying hard to act out of a script concocted by RiPOff. (Thankfully, not one senator has agreed to join the cast).
Leina de Legazpi, my occasional tipster, has alerted me that the next episodes of “Desperate Housewipes,” as the season resumes on July 27, will have the following titles: The Rich Bitch Pays; The Rich Bitch Prevails; The Juiciest Bites from the Rich Bitch; Secrets and Lies of the Rich Bitch.
The national audience waits with bated breath — or with baited breath, as my other friend Reggie would say. When the congressmen and senators convene in joint session on July 27, expect that episode of “Desperate Housewipes” to set the tone for a justiceable controversy. Most likely, Nograles, et al. will continue with the show even after its interruption by the State of the Nation Address.
Abangan yan.
For comments about this website:Webmaster@tribune.net.ph
The Daily Tribune © 2009
No comments:
Post a Comment