OPINIONS,
ENTERTAINMENT | March 12, 2018
ABS-CBN has recently aired the highly-anticipated action fantasy
primetime drama series Bagani starring Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano, and its premiere
episode's 35.5% national TV rating based on data from Kantar Media is a strong testament
that the series is in the right direction beyond criticism and distortion.
But prior to its small-screen debut, Bagani has been hyped as the most
controversial series so far in the local television scene since it was first
introduced late last year during the network's trade event. How come? Well, the
series was initially criticized as being a ripoff of a popular fantasy series
in the Philippines. A few months later, many Filipino netizens have slammed the
series for its overdiversive casting despite being impressive while watching
its official teaser.
Perhaps the biggest criticism regarding the series so far is the meaning
and understanding of its name. The series has caught the attention of a CHED
commissioner and indigenous tribes considering that they are accusing ABS-CBN
for distorting and misleading Filipino viewers. Watching the disclaimer before
the start of the new episode, it makes perfect sense that the name of the series
is not intended to be of historical and cultural value. With all due respect, I
think that indigenous tribes should heed the disclaimer shown on television and
not stand on their distortion claims since their explanation is not beyond what
they have believed in.
