Why Filipino Movies and Films Sucks
I can sit in front of my computer for 8 straight hours watching a South Korean Drama while I can only sit for 30 minutes in front of my TV watching ABS-CBN or GMA News. I think I will be wasting a week of my time if I spend 10 minutes of it watching any Pinoy drama or Pinoy movie.
This article is not to criticize our very own entertainment industry but to help us realize the time we are wasting in creating these films without helping our country’s economy – even in simple ways.
One of the biggest reasons why Korea’s economy is consistently going forward is because of the Korean Wave. Korean Wave brought tourists, exports, diplomatic relations, and economic partnership to its neighboring and other foreign countries. How about the Philippines? I haven’t heard something like this yet.
In the eyes and mind of a simple person who watched a lot of Philippine drama during earlier times, and a big fan of Korean drama at this moment, let me enumerate the reasons why Korea is going forward while Philippines is stuck when talking about entertainment business.
Food and Drinks
Rice rolls, rice cakes, soju, and other delicious delicacies are often portrayed in most Korean dramas. I watched more than a hundred dramas and there is no single one of them that Soju is not mentioned. Koreans have good appetite and every time there is a scene where they are about to eat, I always have my food ready in front of me. I even learned how to make rice rolls. A person with no appetite could probably be convinced to eat while watching a Korean drama with characters having good appetite.
How about the Philippine drama? Can we name a single movie or drama where “tinolang manok” or “adobong baboy” were given enough airing time on a particular scene? Is there any Philippine drama that had changed our appetite or our attitude towards foods? I even went to Duty Free to buy a bottle of soju just to try what it tastes because I watched it many times and I was curious. That’s how influencing a Korean drama is. I couldn’t say the same about the Philippines where the focus of the topic is always on morality and not so much about economy.
Tourists Destinations
Jae Jang Geum, or locally known as “The Jewel in the Palace” attracted thousands of tourists for Korea after the Korea Tourist Organization opened Jan Geum Theme Park for local and International tourist- the location where the drama was filmed. The drama had also a big impact in promoting South Korean cuisine.
How many Korean dramas and films that Jeju Island is mentioned? I can’t remember how many times I heard it but it prompted me to search the place online. If I can only go there I would really do. The reason why they do always mention Jeju is not because there is no other place there for the tourists. The main reason is to plant curiosity to the viewer’s mind. Jeju Island became one of the favorite tourists’ destinations in South Korea because of its free promotion through Korean Dramas.
In Philippines, no one mentions Mayon Volcano, Chocolate Hills, Palawan, Davao, and other tourist destinations. Boracay only mentioned when someone who is rich is vacationing there, or someone who is rich has a property there. That’s a big difference.
Professionalism, Skills, and Work Attitude
Some Korean dramas are focused on a particular niche. Jae Jang Geun, Pasta, panda and Hedhog, Chef, etc for instance focuses on food; Doctor Jin, Horse Doctor, Medical Top Team, etc are focused on medical, dramas like may Queen focuses on engineering and invention, and many other dramas focusing on other specific niches. It is always emphasized in these dramas that the characters are doing their best with their skills and specialties and how they deal with their jobs. They can portray the best engineer, the best doctor, the best cook, the best musician, and the best in any other things.
The Philippines on the other hand does not portray such important aspects that can influence our daily life. What is being portrayed in most local dramas is “study hard and work abroad”. Korean drama is a big help why South Korea became the number one destination for people who needs plastic surgery. Many people who obsessed with Korean actors wanted to have cosmetic surgery there.
Government Support
Major Government support is the main reason of why the South Korean Entertainment clicks. We can’t say the same about our own government.
Conclusion
Other people may argue that entertainment business is created just to entertain people and not to be used to promote whatever our country may have without realizing that entertainment portrays of what kind of people we are. A country’s culture and tradition can only be realized by watching films and dramas if one has no chance to visit the real world.
As an American traveler once said “If you only Visited Manila without going to any other parts of the Philippines, you did not visit the Philippines”.
In today’s modern entertainment world where most of the films are created for young adults, young writers often focuses their stories inside school campuses or around Metro manila without realizing that there is a bigger place outside – the rest of the Philippines. This is the main reason why economy is left behind when talking about our own entertainment business.
When you watch a Korean drama, you are also being offered several products like cell phones, cars, vacation, foods, professional services like surgery, engineering, technology, and everything. Philippine movies on the other had sells nothing.
By Marie Alcazar, Makati City
See Also: Marlisa Punzalan’s “I’m Proud to be Australian” Comment Provokes Many Filipino Activists
Selected Reference:
Government Support:http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-books-20140427-story.html
Pop Culture: http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/12/12/2013121201721.html
Korea Plastic Surgery: http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/south-koreas-growing-obsession-cosmetic-surgery/story?id=24123409
Korean Wave: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Wave
Jae Jang Geum: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dae_Jang_Geum
