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Willie Revillame taps into the Pinoy psyche in a way that politicians can only dream of

parasamgabata:

Willie Revillame and the Pinoy psyche

EMOTIONAL WEATHER REPORT By Jessica Zafra 

(The Philippine Star) Updated April 17, 2011 12:00 AM

At the Philippine STAR-National Bookstore event F. Sionil Jose wondered why Willie Revillame is famous. It can’t just be the cash handouts — there are other TV personalities who give money away. The controversy that he generates — from suspensions for offensive behavior or language to sexual harassment charges to his ongoing legal battle with his former network — has not only failed to alienate his core audience, it seems to have made him more popular. His long, rambling speech before he went on leave from his show, pending yet another MTRCB review, may offer some useful clues.

Willie Revillame assumed the role of victim as he had many times in the past. He asked why he was being persecuted. He took issue with show business personalities who had criticized him on Twitter over the episode of the dancing 6-year-old boy. He was particularly offended by the statements of former child stars Lea Salonga and Aiza Seguerra. “Why are you doing this to me?” cried the “victim,” whose current network contract is said to guarantee him billions.

These are familiar statements because we have heard them from many mouths. They are the stock defense of every sidewalk vendor arrested for not having a permit, every policeman suspended on graft charges, and every politician caught stealing. “Why are you persecuting me?” and “I am the victim here.”

Politicians everywhere cry harassment when they get caught, but seldom do they wallow so deeply in claims of weakness. “You are oppressing me because I am small and helpless while you are big and powerful. Kawawa naman ako (Poor me). Ako ay maliit na tao lamang. (I am puny.)” 

Where does this sense of victimhood come from? Is it a consequence of colonialism — t he mindset that our survival is subject to the whims of a ruling power? Is it our Catholic upbringing that emphasizes our frailty and advises us to throw ourselves upon the mercy of a higher power? Or is it the feudal structure of Philippine society, dating back to pre-colonial times and firmly in place, unchallenged, to this day?

Whatever — our relationship to power seems to be: I don’t have it, you have all of it, and you use it to oppress me.

It is widely assumed that Willie Revillame is popular because the masses want to be him, the guy who was reportedly planning to give away fifty cars on his 50th birthday. But what if we have it backwards? What if Willie Revillame is actually the embodiment of parts of our collective psyche that we refuse to acknowledge because we find them reprehensible? Do they idolize him because they want to be him, or because they ARE him?

He does seem to have an instinct for what will please the masa, an instinct that may have been schooled out of the educated classes. For instance we would die of embarrassment if we had to go on TV, reveal that we are destitute, and accept money from Willie Revillame. The lumpen proletariat do not have such qualms; in our country embarrassment is a middle-class affectation. Our notions of poverty are completely different: we view it as a temporary problem, but it is their constant, non-updating status. They will describe their misery to millions of strangers, weep on camera, take the money and jump for joy.

Consider, my friend the amateur sociologist says, how Willie Revillame hands out money. Certain forms are observed. He reaches into his pocket as if he were giving away his own personal funds, and he adopts a “confidential, just between us” manner, never mind that the cameras are all on him and everyone is watching.

It is also very Filipino Catholic, this notion that everyone is automatically entitled to pity and a handout. All you need is… need. And many of our people are always in need. At the same time, the definition of “helping” is forking over cash. Not jobs, not education, but cash right here and now. Recall the balikbayans lining up on Willie Revillame’s old show to give him dollars to distribute to the poor.

In one episode of his game show all the contestants were scavengers. First Willie Revillame asked them how much money they made from rooting in landfills. Then he asked them how many times they could afford to eat in one day. Finally he turned to the cameras and said, “That is the true state of the nation. You don’t need to watch the news to know that.”

No wonder the primetime news programs were worried. In an industry that regards ratings as the sole measure of success, ignorance is an asset convertible to cash. They have no moral authority over him. Hell, they made him.

It would be a disservice to the Filipino audience to say that they love Willie Revillame because he buys their affection. Clearly, he taps into the Pinoy psyche in a way that politicians can only dream of. He is not the problem, but its gaudiest manifestation. The problem is much bigger than a unfunny comedian with wads of cash, but no one will admit it because they need the ratings, they want to be politically-correct, and they aspire to get elected.

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http://www.jessicarulestheuniverse.com

Twisted by Jessica Zafra

Pumping irony since 1994.