Funnyman
Arnel Ignacio feels frustrated about the state of
Philippine entertainment. After having been around
for 15 years, the TV-host/comedian thinks the ongoing
ratings war is concocting a formula for a “disastrous
future” in show business.
“Ang level of comedy natin ngayon magkamali
ka lang nang magkamali tapos pagtatawanan ka,”
Arnell told One Philippines in an interview at his
pizza parlor, Arnelli’s Pizza.
His former game show, Go Bingo, was one of the most-watched
TV shows during its time. Aside from having quirky
Arnell as host, it got the masses interested in general
information and gave quiz shows a humorous makeover.
He is currently hosting QTV’s game show, Now
Na! which is somewhat similar to Go Bingo.
Since he started as a writer for ABS-CBN’s Tatak
Pilipino, a show that features anything and everything
that’s very Filipino, he is one of the few people
in the entertainment biz who understands the value
of bringing good ideas to stimulate the audience.
Unfortunately, TV networks have shelved the likes
of Tatak Pilipino, as well as satirical comedies such
as Sic O’ Clock News and Abangan ang Susunod
na Kabanata, in favor of slapstick programs that contain
less and less substance. Even today’s showbiz
TV talk shows and radio programs have been ruled by
rival showbiz cliques that take everything personally.
As one of the entertainment industry’s most
creative thinkers, Arnell shares some of his thoughts
about Philippine entertainment and how he has managed
to swim and survive in shark-infested showbizlandia.
How will you describe the state of Philippine
showbiz these days?
It’s much more dynamic now dahil sa labanan.
Pero I do not know if it’s good for the quality
of shows dahil parang ang sukatan lang lagi ay ratings.
So it’s like a formula for a disastrous future
dahil parang wala na tayong napapanood na talagang
may quality, na for creative expansion ng mga writers
(at) mga directors. Kasi parang ang top reason na
lang natin kung ano ang papansinin ng viewers.
Kung mapapansin natin ngayon, we have to simplify
everything visually. It’s like catering to five-
or six-year-old kids. Hindi na puwedeng pinag-iisip
masyado ang viewers which is sad. It’s like
setting a trend to a bleak future ng quality. Siguro
(ngayon) mas hi-tech o mas matapang ang mga palabas.
Pero I don’t see the future of musicals or much
more intelligent shows.
What can you say about the rift between talk show
hosts these days? (Note: Cristy Fermin versus Mo Twister
and stars who have guested in Mo’s radio program.)
Sa akin it shows how immature we are as listeners,
as viewers. Kasi ang mga ganung bagay, naikuwento
ni ganito, sumagot siya ng pangit, o napintasan ka,
we still react. We should have graduated from that
already. Hanggang ngayon ang emotions natin hindi
pa ready. Wala pa tayong wisdom na i-weigh kung anong
papansinin natin, kung anong may ibig sabihin na totoo,
kung ano lang ‘yung pagtatawanan natin.
Halimbawa sa U.S., puwede mong pagpipintasan ang mga
politicians doon ‘di ba? They make fun of George
Bush. Siyempre presidente ‘yun, hindi na niya
iintindihin ‘yun (ganung bagay). Dapat alam
natin kung ano ang iintindihin natin at hindi.
Would you guest in Mo Twister’s radio
program?
Gusto ko nga sana kaya lang ayoko ng kaaway eh. Kasi
kapag mayroon kang sinabi roon, everything is taken
personally. So hindi nagu-grow. Halimbawa kapag meron
kang sinabi na ang movie here is pangit and the director
is your friend, you cannot tell that to his face kasi
magagalit siya. Kaya stunted ‘yung development,
stunted ‘yung growth natin.
How do you think can the level of comedy in
the Philippines improve?
I don’t know. Honestly I don’t know. Siguro
ganun na talaga. It’s a choice that we’ve
made eh. So how can we change something that the people
have decided upon themselves na ganun na talaga?
Do you plan to create a mature comedy show
anytime soon?
Gusto ko nun kaya lang parang wala namang manonood
eh.
Bakit? Dahil hindi pa tanggap ng Filipino
audience?
Hindi sa hindi tanggap. Kasi nga fineed natin nang
fineed ang audience ng kung ano lang ang gusto nila.
Parang baby hindi ba? Ang mga babies laging may gusto,
may ayaw, pero it doesn’t mean they’re
right. That’s why there are parents, kasi kailangang
ipakain mo sa kanya o ipagawa mo sa kanya ‘yung
mas makakabuti sa kanya. Nagkabaligtad na eh. ‘Yung
networks, ‘yung creative pool natin, creative
minds natin don’t want to think anymore, they
just want to ask. They just do a survey and then ask
what they want and they give it to them. I think that’s
dangerous because there will come a time when we won’t
even make innovations. We’ll just go wilder
and wilder and wilder. And lahat ng napondohan natin
na maganda mabubura na lang.
Like kung artista ka, mas maganda na magaling kang
umarte. Papalitan natin lahat ito ng reality na paiiyakin
natin ito under realistic terms. So parang ‘yun
ang kukunan mo. Pakainin natin ng ipis, ‘yun
ang kukunan mo.
So what’s there for the future of entertainment
kung bawat tao na hindi taga-showbusiness paiiyakin
natin, pakukuwentuhin natin ng buhay niya tapos iiyak
din tayo? And then siya na ‘yung sisikat. Ilalagay
mo siya sa loob ng isang bahay, panonoorin mo siyang
maglaba o magluto ng itlog. So how do you expect something
good to come out kung ganun na ang trend?
As a public figure, how do you manage your
private life?
Wala, you just do it. Dire-diretso ka lang. Magsasabay
lang talaga sila nang magsasabay eh, kung ano ang
darating talagang tatanggapin mo lang eh.
And how were you able to maintain a clean
image despite some intrigues?
Mataray lang tingin nila sa akin. But ‘yung
press people, they’re friends of mine. Mga barkada
tingin ko sa kanila eh.
Pero kunwari mayroon diyang sinisiraan ako, natatawa
lang ako sa ganyan because it’s part of the
job. And people have very short memories. Kapag sinabi
mo ‘yun, a day after today, they’ll forget
about it. Gumawa ka ng mas malaking eksena ‘yun
ang maaalala.
Biggest hurdle na nalampasan?
‘Yung paglipat ko ng channel; tingin nila sa
akin wala akong utang na loob. And everybody threw
in their opinion. Para bagang alam na alam nila ang
loob at labas ng nangyayari. Tapos nung nawala naman
‘yung work sa ABS-CBN, dahil ang ABS nakakaloka
ring network, paano mo mahahandle ‘yun? Tuluy-tuloy
ka lang. Just keep on going.
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