Saturday, January 02, 2010

Globe, ABS-CBN and "May Bukas Pa": Remember Luke 19:46?

"It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"
Luke 19:46, The Holy Bible (NIV)

I just have a simple point, which might actually be simplistic and inaccurate. Let me also clarify that I like "May Bukas Pa" a lot, besides the point that I am a certified Kapamilya.

I just cannot cannot help but find parallelism in the behavior of people as described in this verse and that of Globe (of course, you should also see Bear Brand and Sorbetes (I cannot remember the brand name) being promoted) in the Kapamilya primetime series.

Of course, God does not promote these brands... but in the same way that the vendors near the temple maybe misinterpreted as being allowed by its administrators (the temple Pharisees and Sadduccees in Christ's stay here on Earth), does not the Roman Catholic Church (being the primary religious organization being showcased in this teleserye) allow this commoditization of God's Presence and Being?

This is my simple concern.

I like the values the show shows through its protagonist, Santino. Nonetheless, is this contemporary, post-modern marketing approach acceptable to God? Did not Jesus set an example when He was here on earth?

While the marketing scheme being used by ABS-CBN and the brands is not blasphemy, aren't they using God's name (not the name, but the identity) for such worldly desires (profit)?

(I cannot speak on the presence of Bear Brand and Sorbetes, but still, the idea of being promoted in a series which claims uniqueness in its plot by telling the story of a child's life living on faith in contemporary times makes me remember that hardliner act by Jesus. The Globe scene that hit my nerve is that of Santino uttering marketing messages while and immediately praying.)

This is an unorganized post. I hope people will be reminded, though, that marketing techniques have to be applied properly. For me, this is not just cultural insensitivity--this is a moral fall for a nation that claims to be Christian, and its organization that claims all faith through involving itself in political affairs while being ignorant of its first duty (Remember Matthew 23:23-24?).