Pinoy Teleserye and Reality

Lacuin PINOY TELESERYE AND REALITY

“Pinoy Teleserye and Reality”

A Research Paper Presented to the Department of Communication Arts College of Arts and Sciences, University of the East- Manila

In Partial Fulfilment of The Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts major in Broadcasting

By Clarize Gelian B. Lacuin

Prof. Clifford Nabo Research Faculty

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Lacuin PINOY TELESERYE AND REALITY

PINOY TELESERYE AND REALITY Clarize Gelian B. Lacuin University of the East- Manila, Philippines [email protected]

Abstract Pinoy Teleseryes become an inevitable trend to our society. Filipinos tend to be glued to their televisions to watch their Favorite Teleserye. Pinoy teleseryes have accumulated the traits and characteristics of other foreign soap operas and combined Philippine culture to its storylines. It also caters the lives and common personalities of Filipinos through its characters. As what blogger Alveene concluded, Filipino teleserye, therefore, is a fusion of accumulated foreign soap opera aspects plus native traits and culture presented artistically in a form of drama. This research paper revolves on how Pinoy Teleserye reflects reality in the society. In the same manner this research tackles Teleserye effects to its viewers. INTRODUCTION Media is a powerful medium in creating representations of various groups in society. These representations influence the way people perceive certain groups or sectors in society. (Afable, 2013) Media is part of everyone’s life. And media has the power to shape people’s mind. All throughout the archipelago, Filipinos of different ages, and social status become one and the same as fanatics of teleseryes. A telenovela, or teleserye as most locals prefer to call it, is a drama series which is produced and aired in the Philippines. The term teleserye, which was introduced quite recently, is a product of two words: tele which means television, and serye which is Filipino for series. (Alveene, 2008) Pinoy Teleseryes have different genre (e.g. romance, comedy, tragic, suspense) that are suitable for its target audience. Some teleserye contains multiple genres that are patronized by the mass. It

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Lacuin PINOY TELESERYE AND REALITY became an inseparable part of Filipino culture as many of us preferred to watch and subscribe to them. Every twists and turns of their favoured teleserye must be known to them. They became an avid fan in their own ways. In the Philippines 96% of Filipinos owned a television and 70% watch TV shows every day. According to Patrice Gabito Teleserye have effects to the mass Pilipino viewers, which are the following:    

Lots of Teleserye were showed Lots can watch it Lots patronize it Needs increases

Teleserye can describe issues, traditions, and beliefs that can be seen in Filipinos’ way of living and society that’s why it becomes popular to the audiences. Media presents what’s happening in reality so people can relate to it and could be that people think that somehow it’s a fulfilment of people’s wishes and dreams. A sort of conditioning where people get to somehow relieve their opinions, wishes, and dreams. There are some scenes in teleseryes that get a lot of opinions from its viewers and become a trending topic. The Media is the mirror of what’s happening really and people relate to what’s seen in media but sometimes media tends to exaggerate to make it exciting. (Interview with Prof. Sidayen) REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES Filipino telenovelas evolved from radio drama, and made a break-through in television in the 1960’s with “Hiwaga sa Bahay na Bato” as the first known Philippine teleserye. Telenovelas such as Gulong ng Palad, Flor de Luna, Mara Clara, Annaliza along with Hiwaga sa Bahay na Bato were aired during daytime but were moved to primetime with the introduction of the first mexicanovela in 1995: Marimar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_drama). The reasons why telenovelas are so significant in Philippine culture, takes us way back into history to the time of the galleon trade. The galleon trade did not only give way to the exchange of goods and services, it also paved the way and made culture exchange possible. The successful culture exchange between Mexico and the Philippines, and China and the Philippines, made it easy for their soap operas to enter Philippine primetime. (Alveene, 2008)

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Lacuin PINOY TELESERYE AND REALITY The first imported soap opera which was available in the Philippines came from Mexico and was locally known as mexicanovela. Marimar was the first mexicanovela viewed in Philippine primetime, and got

the

attention

of

a

great

percentage

of

the

viewer

population.

According

to

Ma. Cristina Flores (2006), Filipinos embraced mexicanovelas mainly because we share similar cultures, due to the colonization of Spain, which is very present in mexicanovelas. Mexicanovelas also provided a famous plot framework which is still used in telenovelas at present. The basic poor girl-rich guy plot has become such a cliché for both mexicanovelas andtelenovelas. Soon after the mexicanovela craze, came the soap operas fromChina and Taiwan which were obviously called, Chinovelas. Chinovelas were of great interest to the Filipino viewers, because it exhibited a more stylish lifestyle involving modern gadgets and urban settings. These factors, made it easy for chinovelas to capture the hearts of its third world viewers. It made them curious and eager to experience a lifestyle available to them only via chinovelas. Plus, its simple plots, and fast-paced storylines, awakened the audience who are tired of the mexicanovela trends. (Flores, 2006) The newest form of foreign soap opera in Philippine primetime is called koreanovelas. Obviously from Korea, these koreanovelas are of great interest to the Filipino audience because it offers truly unique plots. These koreanovelas may feature stories of history or stories which are more apt to modern times, may it be a comedy or a tearjerker. (Flores, 2006) It was in the early 1990's that the telenovela or teleserye cultures have started to pick up. The first telenovela that was launched in Philippines was by ABS-CBN in 1963 which is Hiwaga sa Bahay na Bato. After its successful launched advent of Mexican or Latin American dubbed shows appeared and rapidly invade the television industry. And through this foreign adopted shows Filipino drama turned into somehow similar. The Cinderella type stories begin and became a cliché nowadays. In year 2009, Pangako Sayo by ABS-CBN was coined as the first Teleserye in the Philippines. According to Professor Jemma Bell Sidayen, University of the East Psychology and Social Science Department, there are reasons why Filipino like to watch Pinoy Teleseryes: 

A reflection of a reality they create in their minds

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Lacuin PINOY TELESERYE AND REALITY     

In a way they get relate to the stories They maybe very interested in teleserye It could be a fulfilment of their wishes in certain scenes They feel that scenes in teleseryes are also happening to their lives It’s some sort of a cycle, the teleserye is creating some sort of perception in the minds of Filipinos trying to create it should be like this in reality and vice versa the actual events in their daily life is reflectedin what they see in teleserye or media.

An interview was conducted by the researcher with Prof. Sidayen she gets the following answers as to how teleserye reflects realities in the society and its effects: A sort of conditioning to release the tensions viewers get from watching teleseryes. Example given was the teleserye Two Wives, people would bash one character in social networking sites and others will comment their own opinion. This is the process wherein they can relate as if they’ve been to such or they know some who have been in that scenario. It also gives satisfaction to their viewers like their hopes especially when it comes to the ending part, since almost everyone loves a happy ending for example in forevermore there’s forever. It’s somehow a fulfilment at the end as they watch they can vent out their own opinion and sides. It’s a processing part for them. They may feel cognitively they learn or pick-up lessons that maybe I should do this or that. They also get realisations from these teleseryes and inputs to their cognitive processes. It could be something they like or they could benefit from. An escaped from tasking demands from school, works, etc. One’s view in reality is affected by teleserye. Things we see in teleserye are things we expect in realitiy but media is presenting what they only see and observe that’s happening in the society or vice versa like a mirroring effect. You are looking at a mirror, what others expect from you somehow you built it with your behaviour or personality with accordance to how people would expect from the position or status you are portraying in the society. The ideas become sugar coated and its end results. There are moments that the protagonist always wins, which is a risky part because people will expect high from others. The exaggeration of these teleseryes bounces back to how people expect from their surroundings. METHODOLOGY The main objective of this research was to determine if Pinoy Teleserye reflects realities in our society.

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Lacuin PINOY TELESERYE AND REALITY Method of Research This research made use of the descriptive type of research for it interpreted the nature of the situation, as it had existed at the time of the study. The variables studied was carefully examined and analysed. Research Instrument The researcher made use of survey as the research instrument to the target respondents to collect essential data. Respondents of the Research This research used a random sampling for her respondents. Data-Gathering Procedure This endeavour made use of the following steps or procedures in data gathering: Administration of the Test The researcher personally asks the questions written in the survey form and it was like a one on one interview. The survey was conducted as a group activity. In latter part all the survey forms from different groups were tallied and combined as one to be the reference material of all researchers.

Advantages of the Selected Methods, Style, Strategy or Instrument The descriptive method, which made use of survey, helped the researcher most effectively especially gathering data from the available respondents. Treatment of Data This study, being a descriptive research, made use of frequency tables and percentages for its statistical treatment. The formula is as follows:

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Lacuin PINOY TELESERYE AND REALITY % = ∑f N Where: % = the percentage of distribution ∑ = frequency (number of respondents) N = total number of student respondents RESULTS AND DISCUSSION In the conducted survey 164 was the total number of respondents.

Gender of Respondents Gender

Total Number

Percentage

Male

31

18.90%

Female

133

81.10%

Total

164

100%

This shows that a there is greater number of female respondents that watch Pinoy Teleseryes than male respondents.

Age of Respondents Age Range

Total Number

Percentage

13-30

121

73.8%

31-75

43

26.2%

Total

164

100%

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Lacuin PINOY TELESERYE AND REALITY Based on the age range the respondents who are 13-30 years old had a greater record than the older generation with age range 31-75 years old.

As for the Profession of the respondents it varies from Students, Blue Collar Job, White Collar Job, and Unemployed. However most of the respondents are students which signifies that they are the ones who mostly watch Pinoy Teleseryes.

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Lacuin PINOY TELESERYE AND REALITY

This shows the list of Pinoy Teleseryes they usually watch and the top 3 are Two Wives (1st), Forevermore (2nd), and Dream Dad (3rd). These teleseryes are aired in Channel 2, ABS-CBN. They also present the trending issues in society which are: Mistress and Family Issues, Forever and love Issues, lastly Status Issue. This shows the reasons why respondents watch and patronize these Pinoy Teleseryes. Most of them answered due to the entertainment it gives, followed by for past time and good story plots. They mostly enjoyed teleseryes that are entertaining and story plots that will not bore them.

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Lacuin PINOY TELESERYE AND REALITY For the question does Soap Operas/ Teleseryes reflect realities in our society? Most of the respondents answered yes. As observed from their answers from the survey form they are truly enticed to these dramas.

Most of the respondents think that Teleseryes’ stories exist in realities which is supported by the other reasons such as timely stories, knows someone who have the same experiences, stories based on today’s society issues and reflects our society and culture. Some do not agree because stories are exaggerated, some twisted stories that are most likely impossible to happen, stories are scripted and

some stories are just a waste of time. CONCLUSION Based on the surveys conducted the respondents watch Pinoy Teleseryes because of the entertainment it gives and scenes exist in reality. They can relate to the drama presented. At the same time it refelects our society and culture. Different people thus different views. These Pinoy Teleseryes gives its viewers reasons to watch and to be enticed. Notable reasons: to be aware of the reality, they can

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Lacuin PINOY TELESERYE AND REALITY relate, gives lessons, no choice, time availability, interesting stories, for relaxation, past time, effectiveness of characters, good story plots, timely, realistic, and to evaluate Philippine television. Another thing is that even though opinions vary most of the respondents still believe that these teleseryes reflect realities in our society. Their justifications are: know someone who have the same experience in reality, timely or trending stories, reflects our society and culture, based on society’s issues, talks about human experience, relatable, and it gives lesson or values. Our telenovelas have accumulated the traits and characteristics of other foreign soap operas and combined Philippine culture to its storylines. It also depicts the lives and common personalities of Filipinos through its characters. Filipino telenovelas are, therefore, a fusion of accumulated foreign soap opera aspects plus native traits and culture presented artistically in a form of drama. (Alveene, 2008) Pinoy Teleseryes thus reflect realities in our society. It was like a mirror of a certain story that may not happened to you but to others. Though Pinoy Teleserye genres seem to be repeated and cliché it still has its unique qualities that make it stand out. Though it can be observable that it always has happy endings a lot of people still patronize it. These teleserye captured the attention of its viewers mainly because they see something in it that they can relate or the feeling of belongingness.

WORKS CITED Afable., D.A.G. (2013, April 1). Princess and the Maldita Viewers: A Reception Study on the Representations of Women in the Teleserye, 'Princess and I' - iskWiki! Retrieved December 14, 2014, from http://iskwiki.upd.edu.ph/index.php/Princess_and_the_Maldita_Viewers:_A_Reception_Study_on_the_Re presentations_of_Women_in_the_Teleserye,_‘Princess_and_I’#.VI4euyvF8bg

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Lacuin PINOY TELESERYE AND REALITY Gabito, P. (2014, October 29). PILIPINO TELESERYES. Retrieved December 14, 2014, from https://prezi.com/bqr0kwpyaemj/pilipino-teleseryes/ Embrace life. (2008, March 11). Retrieved December 14, 2014, from http://mabbenasa.blogspot.com/2008/03/filipino-telenovelas-are-windows-to_8147.html

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