AMUSED TO DEATH: The Perils of Peddling Noontime Dreams N HIS [belated] critique of the television industry, American media scholar Neil Postman called attention to the pernicious effects of TV on the public mind. His 1985 book, “Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age ofI Show Business,” describes the dangers of a TV- saturated world, where even politics and governance, religion, education and public information – public affairs in general – are reduced to the idiocy of show business. Specifically, he lamented the loss of rationality and the trampling of reason because the television – that pervasive purveyor of entertainment (or what passes off as entertainment) and fondly called the idiot box, and not for whimsical reasons – has already taken over the governance of day-to-day life. Postman was of course morning, tens of thousands of aiming for hyperbole when he people were already massed up titled his book on TV “Amusing outside the gates of the Ourselves to Death.” He had no Philsports Arena (also called way of knowing that more than ULTRA) in City. two decades after publishing his Louie Montalbo, a professor Stating the obvious: activists remind president Arroyo the real cause of the book, in a poorer part of globe, at the Ateneo Graduate School Ultra stampede (this & next page). Photos by AKBAYAN some 71 Filipinos would of Business, lives right across the people were already beginning midnight of Friday (February 3), actually die – trampled to death ULTRA gate. He saw how the to mass up outside the gates he noted that “the lines that – while trying to get into a TV crowd swelled up over the days. (Other reports say that the were formed during the past show. He did not foresee that He recalls that as early as waiting outside the gates started days began to spill over the people could actually die Wednesday night (February 1), on January 30, Monday). By roads such that those entering because of a TV program the village where I lived could because there was no way that not bring in their vehicles and he could have imagined the were forced to walk.” He misery and desperation of a “assessed that unless something population that would cling to is done[…], people will get television for their hope and hurt.” daily survival. Montalbo also recalls that a What is now remembered as friend of his “who first saw the the ULTRA tragedy, that Feb- crowd thought that they were ruary 4, 2006 morning, would victims of a fire. They looked perhaps go down as the worst that desolate, that desperate.” instance of TV entertainment That “desolate and des- gone wrong. perate” swarm of “old women, children, mothers carrying A tragedy lurking in the corner babies” who slept on sidewalks, As some observers noted, it braved the cold nights, with was a tragedy waiting to little food, and meager toilet happen. For four or five days facilities, as Montalbo describes before that grisly Saturday them, were waiting to be

38 Human Rights FORUM allowed inside the stadium for More remarkable was the the February 4, 2006 livecast of public reaction. Unfettered by ABS-CBN’s noon-time show any corporate or political Wowowee. They had been lured interests, public reaction went there by the promises of big right to the heart of the matter, prizes. It was to be the show’s and perceived with unerring first anniversary, and by way of clarity the true cause of the hoopla, it promised its audience tragedy. In jeepneys and street- a P1-million cash prize and corners, in the “text” messages other give-aways including two that circulated and the blogs that house-and-lots, 15 passenger were posted, critical minds jeepneys, two taxicabs with accurately identified the real franchises, and 20 tricycles. Not tragedy, the bigger tragedy in only that, the show also which the carnage at ULTRA is promised that “early birds” will but one in a chain of daily have raffle tickets to “door tragedies: the extreme poverty, prizes” of as much as P20,000.00. desperation and hopelessness of Altogether, some P4 million in the majority of the Filipinos. prizes were to be generously The sight of so many bodies doled out that day. even possible to lift an arm to Responses lined up in the streets and take a sip of bottled water, As fatalities started piling up sidewalk “like fish in the ‘Walang uuwi ng luhaan’ according to accounts. Most of in morgues and the wounded market” painfully made people No wonder thousands of those in the crowd had been reached the hospitals, local and realize the extent of desperation people – almost all of them from camped out for days in the national authorities, along with of countless Filipinos who the impoverished communities streets, without adequate food, the TV network, each responded would cling even to the entice- within and near – exposed to the elements. in character. ments of a . To flocked to the venue, with Hungry, sleepless and tired, ABS-CBN, the producer of a lot of people, what happened dreams of having a crack at the each one was understandably Wowowee, promised to at ULTRA proved how inutile show’s largesse. And no wonder anxious to pass through the gate. shoulder the funeral expenses of the government’s poverty each one of those who staked What happened at around the victims and the medical alleviation agenda really was. out their respective places for 6:30 at the stadium gate need not treatment of those injured, even Out of the horrified reaction several days and nights outside be described anymore. as network management denied came a cackle of calls for poverty the ULTRA wanted to be among The early morning stam- that lack of security personnel reduction programs, specifi- the first to enter the stadium. pede would leave 71 fatalities at the venue caused the cally the creation of more jobs. The program host, Willie (according to the National stampede. It likewise made the public Revillame, had reportedly Bureau of Investigation report), But it was only by noontime realize the extent to which drummed up interest in the either crushed against a closed that the cancellation of the anni- television programs have anniversary show by promising steel gate at the bottom of a slope versary extravaganza would be degenerated, in which the prizes galore, with the leading towards the stadium, or announced. viewing audience has simply guarantee that “Dito walang trampled underfoot. Of those President Arroyo for her become commodities in the matatalo, laging may pera” who died, 68 were women (one part ordered a speedy investi- ratings war and the mad (literally, ‘here [in Wowowee] of them pregnant). The youngest gation of the tragedy. She scramble for commercial no one goes bust, there is always fatality was four years old; the required the investigation task sponsorship. Hopes were even money’) “ and that “Walang uuwi oldest, 81. The majority of those force, headed by Marius Cor- voiced that the network gods ng luhaan” (literally, ‘no one will who were crushed and clomped puz, Interior and Local Govern- would reassess and initiate go home in tears’). Like a super- to death were over the age of ment undersecretary for public changes in their programming, benevolent philanthropist 50. safety, to submit its report in the light of the tragic outcome speaking to a bunch of orphans, Over 600 others would suffer within 72 hours. The president of the anniversary hoopla. he further described the injuries. assured the victims’ relatives Such realizations are of upcoming ULTRA show as According to official reports, that “the ends of criminal and course dangerous. The Arroyo “parang Pasko” (‘just like the stampede was triggered by social justice will be served and administration hastily dismis- Christmas’) whether one is an announcement by the those responsible will be taken sed the attempts to hold the inside or outside the venue. organizers that only the first few account for their negligence or government accountable for any By Saturday morning, there hundreds to enter the venue misdeeds.” Later on, in an poverty-induced tragedy. A was an estimated mass of more would get tickets, which in turn interview over dzRH radio, she chorus of similar avowals also than 30,000 people waiting would entitle the holder to would point out that the stam- came from administration- outside the two gates (other participate in the contests that pede showed the organizer’s allied politicians, who asked estimates put the mammoth would pick out the winners of “inadequacy and negligence”. Arroyo critics not to the use the crowd at 50,000). But the the promised prizes. Politicians were also quick government as a scapegoat for stadium could only accom- On that day, and the to contribute to the din of the stampede, or to use the modate about half of that succeeding days after, the entire reactions. Senator Miriam tragedy as a staging-point from number. Outside the gates, nation watched in horror at the Santiago, for example, called for which to pounce on the Arroyo people were wedged hard pictures and footage of the a Senate inquiry “in aid of administration. against each other that it was not tragedy. legislation.” The giant TV network,

Human Rights FORUM 39 caught in a PR nightmare, could official, told the media that only reiterate its avowed noble “Because most of the victims are objective. Host Revillame assu- marginalized, they would be red the public that they “just more than willing to talk things wanted to help and entertain” out with ABS-CBN to get the poor, and that they did not financial assistance instead of expect anything like it to spending more money to attend happen. Media reports descri- hearings at the DOJ.” bed Revillame as “tearful” when he said these. After the weeping More than five months have After the mad rush already passed after that By Tuesday, February 7, the stampede. It is perhaps time Ultra task force submitted its enough to ask: what has report to the Department of happened since then? What did Justice. The task force essentially we gain from all those howls of held the TV network responsible outrage? What happened to the for the tragedy, pointing out the righteous indignation and the lack of contingency plans for an cries for justice, for serious event where tens of thousands action to end mass poverty and are expected. According to the Photo by AKBAYAN for an end to exploitative, fact-finding team, the absence of security plan before issuing a settlement with the victims. demeaning and dehumanizing such a plan “borders on irres- permit. The NBI however The authorities had reason to TV shows? ponsible and incompetent absolved the Metro Manila be jittery. Even as the tele-vision By March, Wowowee was management…at best, to crimi- Development Authority and the network was drowned to the gills back on air. For ABS-CBN and nal negligence and endanger- police, saying the network did in an injuriously-negative PR Revillame must obey that old ment leading to the loss of life not coordinate with the MMDA (and with a damaging lawsuit showbiz dictum: the show must at worst.” and that what happened was not hanging over it), it was also go on. Even if it be on the graves In a statement that would be a breakdown in peace and order industriously cultivating the of someone’s grandmother. As quoted again and again by the but “a failure in crowd control stampede victims themselves. network executives explained, media, Undersecretary Corpus, management.” Within a few days of the tragedy, there was “audience demand” the task force head, said that The NBI report, naturally, it put up “71 Dreams Founda- for the re-airing of the show. “The decision of offering so few did not please a number of the tion.” The foundation will A cursory search through tickets to so many people can victims and their families, who “provide long-term aid not just the news archives is very telling. be likened to throwing a piece wanted ABS-CBN chair and CEO to the families of those who died The Wowowee tragedy of meat to a hungry pack of Eugenio Lopez III and Pasig in the stampede but also to other certainly occupied the news in wolves.” police chief Raul Medina named less fortunate people,” according February and March. But by The crowd, according to among the culprits. to Fr. Carmelo Caluag, member April, not much was being said Corpuz, “were exploited, mani- It was on the basis of the of the ABS-CBN board of about it in the national media. pulated and treated like ani- NBI’s report that the DOJ opened directors. Aside from material By June, the stampede had mals” by the event organizers. in late March 2006 its aid and monitoring, the founda- largely faded from the news In its own investigation, preliminary investigation to tion will also continually give pages. Sheila Coronel of the concluded about a month after determine probable cause of support in the form of livelihood Philippine Center for Investi- the stampede, the NBI recom- criminal negligence. and education. Fr. Caluag gative Journalism (PCIJ) knew mended to the Department of The Lopez-owned network empha-sized that it will not be a that this was going to happen. Justice (DOJ) the filing of promptly challenged the DOJ, dole-out. He described the In her blog of February 4, she criminal charges against 17 claiming “institutional bias” on founda-tion’s vision using the describes the predictability of persons. Twelve of them are the part of the latter. In its trite “teaching them to fish” the news cycle on disasters: officers and employees of ABS- petition before the Court of catchphrase. CBN, including host Revillame. Appeals, ABS-CBN claimed that Together with this over- First the story breaks, The other five included ULTRA the DOJ had already “prejudged whelming concern for the followed by heartbreaking officials. the case.” Barely starting on its victims and their families, ABS- scenes from the disaster The NBI report concluded investigation, the DOJ imme- CBN was also busy crafting an zone, an estimate of the that several network executives diately received a restraining out-of-court settlement. It casualty count and then led by Executive Vice President order from the CA. (The order initiated talks with the relatives reports on the Charo Santos-Concio were would stay for more than two of the 71 who perished and 900 government’s and citizens’ liable for “reckless imprudence months. The CA finally decided other victims to settle civil response. The next phase of resulting to (sic) multiple homi- in late May that the DOJ may liabilities. the news cycle will likely cide and multiple injuries.” It continue with its investigation.) If successful, this amicable be the blame-throwing, the also recommended that NBI officials, however, knew settlement could lead to the attack and the defense. administrative charges be filed that the restraining order was dropping of the criminal case After about a week or 10 against Pasig City Mayor just part of the network’s against those identified by the days, the story will likely Vicente Eusebio for his failure strategy “to bide time” while it NBI as liable for the stampede. slide out of top of the to require ABS-CBN to submit a negotiated an amicable Ferdinand Lavin, an NBI newscast and the front

40 Human Rights FORUM HR DiGEST

pages. The media will move on to the next headline-grabber and the Let’s NOT talk about sex tragedy will be recalled maybe a year after, on its teaching the youth about such first anniversary, or will topics because, they said, sex merit a one-liner the next education is the parents’ time a similar event occurs. responsibility. Such is life. Such is news. What is more objectionable to the catholic hierarchy is that the Meanwhile, the derailed sex education program discusses DOJ preliminary investigation artificial contraceptives and condom use, which violates the resumed on June 1. The DOJ catholic church’s “teachings on seems determined to bring it to human sexuality.” a speedy close. The bigger legal In defending the program, battle will follow, when the case acting Secretary Hidalgo stressed reaches the court. ABS-CBN, that the education department “is whose legal team is headed by not tolerating pre-marital sex.” no less than a former DOJ “What we are doing is telling them undersecretary, is only expected the consequences of such acts to throw all its resources, not Photo by PEPITO D. FRIAS and what should be done,” she only its legal arsenal, into its n By CAROLIZA TULOD-PETEROS integrate sex education into said. It’s purpose is to educate defense. existing school subjects would young adults on “their physical, For the stampede victims, it ARELY A week after classes have required teachers to discuss mental and social well-being.” will be a long, long wait for opened, the Education issues like overpopulation, the Cora Echano, Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Secondary justice. BDepartment found itself in dangers of pre-marital sex and Education said that the CBCP in If justice is at all forth- hot waters – not because of the unwanted pregnancy. particular called their attention to coming. perennial problems concerning According to TRIDEV, the classroom shortage and pages 50-57 of the module. This In the meantime, it’s show- lesson guides were developed textbooks, but over a lesson guide through the Youth Educators and is a lesson plan in Science II business as usual. – jmvillero on adolescent reproductive health Advocates for Reproductive Health (Biology). The general objectives perceived by the catholic church (YEAH) project, a participatory include understanding the SOURCES: to be promoting premarital sex. campus and community-based process of human reproduction A population education and the ill-effects of Sexually Coronel, S. Wowowee: A Filipino adolescent endeavor that aims to concept, the lesson guides were make appropriate and friendly Transmitted Infection (STI). It tragedy. http://www.pcij.org/blog/ contains a discussion on the ?p=584 (posted Feb. 4, 2006). produced by the Bureau of sexual and reproductive health Secondary Education and Tridev information and services human reproductive system, a Coronel, S. Wowowee and the women Specialists Foundation, Inc. in accessible. reading on common forms of of 200 P. de la Cruz St. http:// cooperation with the United The project was initially sexually transmitted diseases and pcij.org/i-report/6/wowowee.html. Nations Fund on Population implemented in Parañaque City ways of preventing STIs, stated as Activities and the David & Lucille and Pateros. “ways of promoting safer sex”. http://arabnews.com Packard Foundation. Ms. Echano for her part, being In her foreword to the lesson What’s the fuss, children? one of those involved in the project, http://news.inq7.net/nation/ guides, Acting Education The Catholic Bishops felt that the reaction over the index.php?index=1&story_id=65253 Secretary Fe Hidalgo noted that Conference of the lesson guides was “very unfair”, “the reproductive health needs of and in fact violated the human http://wowowee.blogspot.com (CBCP), through its Episcopal adolescents as a group have been Commission on Family and Life right of the students to proper largely ignored to date by information. She further said that http://www.abs-cbnnews.com represented by Dr. Angelita reproductive health service Aquirre, Head of Human Life the lesson guides were pilot-tested and the feedback they got from the http://www.inq7.net/ providers.” She argued that International, was disturbed by the specialfeatures/ultrastampede/ “information and services should inclusion of sex education in the students were very positive. The archive.php be made available…to help them high schools. parent-teacher associations of the understand their sexuality and According to Aguirre, “the concerned schools were also http://www.malaya.com.ph protect them from unwanted subject is devoid of full disclosure oriented on the module and they pregnancies, sexually transmitted and truth-telling because it fails found no harm in the material. http://www.manilatimes.net infections and subsequent risk of to inform the students that infertility.” condom does not guarantee 100 So young and so…active http://www.thenewstoday It was on this basis that the percent protection from sexually Yet, with or without proper prototype lesson plans were transmitted diseases.” information and education, the Montalbo, L. (Feb. 8, 2006). The made, integrating population The catholic bishops objected Filipino youth are quite sexually ULTRA stampede – A shameful education concepts in subject to the introduction of sex educa- active. indictment. http://www.ipd.ph/ areas as Health, Araling features/2006/stampede.html tion because, they maintained, this In its latest study on Panlipunan, Technology and would encourage teenagers to adolescent sexuality, the Postman, N. (1985). Amusing Livelihood Education, Science, engage in premarital sex rather University of the Philippines ourselves to death: Public discourse English and Filipino. Called a than remain abstinent. The Population Institute reported that in the age of show business. New “positive step” by the UN Fund for bishops emphasized that the Filipino youth are experiencing York: Penguin Books. Population Activities, the plan to government had no business their first sexual acts as early as

Human Rights FORUM 41