The Philippine Online Chronicles

Recently, it was revealed that President Aquino may be having his own television show on the government network NBN 4.

The reason for this is so that he can better reach his constituents. According to Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Head Herminio Coloma Jr., the President is “willing to make himself available for programs that will give him more time to talk with the people—maybe it could be a town hall-type (of program)”. Blog Watch submitted early this year to PCOO, a proposal to conduct a social media type of town hall meeting with the President every quarter. There has been no feedback from them as of this writing.

This town hall type of format would be similar to the weekly program his own mother, Former President Corazon Aquino, had during her term.

This comes at the heels of the need to overhaul the government station. There are plans to add game shows and other informative programs to make the network appealing to the masses once again. According to Coloma, “People are always interested in showbiz. So our idea is we will be showing showbiz personalities that have advocacies like some of them are helping children or they contribute to educational foundations."

The idea is to reinforce NBN 4 as a public service network and to allow the audience an open dialogue with the President. The government-owned network would be used as a platform to disseminate news and information about the President’s activities and projects.

While this is certainly innovative thinking, perhaps this idea should go back to the drawing board.

Already, the President has said that he has a packed schedule. It takes a tremendous amount of time to tape a one-hour show, so perhaps going to tapings isn’t the best way for the President to be dealing with the problems of the country.

When will PNoy fit in these tapings? Between his breaks to go shooting with his buddies?

Going on TV isn’t going to overhaul or improve the image of our President as someone hardworking and decisive. In fact, he may even be criticized for it because rather than touting to the public all the work he has done, he should just keep on doing his job to dig us out of this economic mess.

Being the President is a thankless job and it’s not going to do anyone any good to announce to one and all the things that have been accomplished. That’s the media’s job to do.

You don’t see US President Obama getting on NBC or ABC and declaring all the good work that he has done, especially at the heels of a threat of a double dip in the US economy. Instead, he lets his Presidential spokesperson do the talking. At the same time, Obama readily faces the press during his meetings with the press.

Perhaps the President will be better served talking directly to the press rather than letting his stalwarts speak in his behalf all the time. This would certainly make him more approachable and accessible than a TV show where he will sit in front of a desk talking to the camera for an hour or so. It would also be truly interactive.

If the network’s intention is to have a town hall type of program, then the people there should be knowledgeable about what to ask, especially about matters of national concern and not narrowly think about how to put food on their own table.

Also, intelligent and relevant questions would be asked by the press corp, rather than having someone ask for a doleout or having a person off the street ask the President for a job. That’s just too showbizy. It would just be the same tokenism as former President Ramos giving Mang Pandoy a job during his State of the Nation Address, or having Former President Arroyo tout the three scholars (who almost lost their scholarship when the presidency changed) during her past SONA.

Perhaps the public would better appreciate it if the President instead spent his time meeting with his Cabinet, drawing up plans with his economic team and dealing with the immediate concerns of the country. After all, we want results! He and his team should be devising ways to come up with the promised one million jobs a year, curtailing rising gas prices and inflation, addressing sovereignty issues, dealing with the Mindanao issue and perhaps evaluating the Constitution to come up with changes that will be good for the economy.

President Aquino enjoys one of the highest approval ratings for any sitting President, despite his lack of qualifications. After a year in office, his image still remains untarnished by any scandal and he still comes off as very believable and sincere. There’s no need for him to try and reach out to the public through a television program because he is already so beloved by the people, thanks to the goodwill generated by his hero father Ninoy and his beloved mother Cory.

There’s no need for a television program because the public or media want to know about the President – they only need to talk to one of three press secretaries. The President also has a website wherein the activities, upcoming projects and accomplishments are posted.

Today, people watch TV to escape the dreariness of their lives. This is why game shows that give away massive amounts of money rate very well, as well as the telenovelas.

Unless the President’s show will give away massive amounts of money and giveaway prizes, the masa won’t always be watching the shows. If it’s just news we’re waiting for, the tragic state of the economy as well as the graft and corruption that his government is uncovering has the makings of a telenovela in itself.

This will set a bad precedent. Everyone knows the huge draw of television and the power it has to make people think that they know you intimately. Next thing you know, the Vice President and anyone else who is planning to run another term will also have their own show, to further help them with their reelection. That will only add to the sorry state of the quality of shows the networks put out. We don’t need more drama or inanity.

There are enough government officials on TV already, from Tito Sotto, Bong Revilla and Rep. Manny Pacquio (who is incidentally giving away money in his game show). Leave the showbiz and TV work to your sister Kris. We don’t need our President to join the bandwagon. We need PNoy to just keep working efficiently and effectively.

Photo by Jane Uymatiao. Some rights reserved.