Hanggang saan handang magpakamatay at magpaka-ogag ang ilan sa ating mga kababayan para lang sa “30 seconds of fame”?
That was the question posed to us all by two separate incidents in our mass transport system that underlined our desperate hunger to be "seen" in this fast-paced world of social media.
Incident number one: a netizen went viral for accidentally leaving his cell phone behind an LRT station after the train he was boarding (as part of a prank) closed its doors and departed before he could get out.
Incident number two: the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) castigated two “content creators” for making a video of them setting up a romantic dinner date inside a moving train without seeking proper authorization from the railway management. (In one of the videos, the two were interrupted by a security guard who called them out. Serves them right!)
“We urge content creators to act responsibly by respecting their fellow passengers and adhering LRTA safety security regulations. Safety and consideration for others should always be a priority when using train services,” the LRTA warned.
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Pansinin ninyo, sa Pilipinas lang ata kumakaway ang mga nasa background ng mga reporter kapag nag-uulat sila sa labas ng kalye.
Kahit na kapag ang balita ay tungkol sa sakuna o krimen, kapag natapatan na ng spotlight ng camera, biglang maghihiyawan na at kakaway-kaway sa background habang live on air at seryosong-seryoso ang mga reporter. (Minsan, kailangan pang sumigaw ng reporter para lang marinig ng audience niya dahil sa sobrang lakas ng mga naghihiyawan sa background.)
I think our desperate hunger for “media exposure” – whether it be on print, broadcast, or social media – has led us to deliberately flaunt the law or do things that normal persons would consider extreme or foolish.
Balewala na kung mamatay ka, mabalda, makulong o pagtulungang gulpihin sa social media, basta ang mahalaga, sikat ka – kahit man lang sa loob ng 30 segundos!
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That “selfie” allegedly taken by security officers escorting former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo (and the ogags were shamelessly smiling with a known fugitive from justice!) has served to raise the alarm not just on our broken justice system but also on a disturbing trend among us Filipinos.
Come of think of it, we are a nation whose moral standards are purportedly set so high, as evidenced by the MTRCB’s recent controversial “X” rating of a film allegedly glorifying Satan, but we are willing to take selfies with one of the worst criminals in our history?!
Sure, we have to abide by that “innocent-until-proven-guilty” principle, but come on!
Ganyan na ba kabaligtad ang pag-iisip nating mga Pinoy?
Ginagawang celebrity ang mga kriminal, pero napakataas naman ng “standard” ng moralidad pagdating sa mga personal na usapin na sa totoo lang ay hindi naman dapat pinag-uusapan kundi lang sa mga “Marites” na gustong patunayang mas banal pa sila sa kapitbahay nila?
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