I must say, i am most disgusted with ABS-CBN and their overall attitude in handling the crisis. Sure, it's laudable that they have put their charitable arms in full-effect, and are willing to shoulder all expenses of victims, but their corporate ethics and morality, or the lack of it, is already beginning to reek.
First, there's this clown Willie Revillame who tries too hard to cry and exaggerate how devastated he is. he probably wishes he was sacked back when he was reprimanded by the MTRCB so he wouldn't be in the middle of this issue. but that's my personal opinion.
Then there's ABS-CBN's news coverage; simultaneously it's propaganda arm. I just don't get where they, which will most probably be held liable for the incident, draw the balls to exploit the scenes of tragedy for their own gain. ANC cameramen frequently focused on crying victims' families as they identify the bodies of the dead. What i found most disgusting was that ANC even bothered to produce a music video montage of the tragedy!!! They spliced images of the dead and wounded with scenes of how the corporation is helping out. It was set to inspiring music, no more than 12 hours after the incident!!! i could not help but perceive that they were already trying to contain the fallout from their viewers at that early stage.
Another disgusting episode occured inside the Ultra, when revillame et al were delivering their speeches. It was bad enough that the audience had the nerve to clap and cheer, even chant "Wowowee! Wowowee!" repeatedly, in the midst of this kind of crisis. What's worse is that the stagehands were EGGING THEM TO CLAP ON! 'twas as if the show was still on. For goodness' sake, i think if the show's production had an applause light-up sign in the venue, i think they would have used it to no end. Noli de Castro was already trying to hush the crowd but to no avail. In the end, revillame and santos-concio even waved to the crowd like it was some popularity contest! how vile.
Sadly, for this particular crisis, the sympathy i extend to the audience en masse is only out of pity. It was one thing to put your hopes and dreams on a game show. Holier than thou attitude aside, I can never empathize with the majority who escaped the stampede unscathed, couldn't care less about the dead and were still hoping that the show would go on.
It was just blood-curdling to see the bystanders linger around outside and smile and wave madly when the camera panned toward them, even if they were right beside the dead bodies. It was also chilling to hear the show's production manager testify that when she exited the venue, people, who were tip-toeing their way across the sea of dead bodies, had only one question... "Saan ba makakakuha ng ticket?"
I agree that this is a wake-up call to the government, as well as to the rest of us Filipinos, rich and poor. But to say that this is a call to address our country's poverty is rather short-sighted. I believe this is a call to address the moral crisis, as the CBCP put it, in society today; for this not only destroys the body, it corrupts the soul as well.
