Erik Matti provokes public anger; Ogie releases praise music

FILIPINOS are angry nowadays. Well, some of them are at China for allegedly trying to conceal the coronavirus outbreak at the start. A number are angry at insensitive so-called influencers who either spread fake news, or fool people by saying a certain Twitter account is theirs and then eventually disowning it, or throwing all sorts of invectives at marginalized people.

But much of the anger in recent days had been directed toward Erik Matti, who in a Twitter post declared that Filipino movies and television series are “doomed in the future” because of the popularity of Korean drama series. He even called local films and TV series as “faux-cinderella stories with Belo-fied actors whiter than white.”

Many were up in arms. And why not? They defended their K-drama choice, saying these shows are really even better than what we produce. Some say that there is nothing wrong in patronizing these dramas as they are entertained by it.

I really understand where Erik Matti is coming from. After all, he has written, produced and directed some exceptional works, but the reception of those works has been dismal compared to how we welcome Korean shows. Some of his films hardly achieved return on investment.

But it’s not only his films. There are a lot of Filipino films and shows that haven’t been received well, even when they were exceptionally done. One or two would might emerge as an exception but that’s about it. So that maybe where his frustration lies.

But while Matti wants to drive a point, there is no need to insult other people’s choice of entertainment. He generalized these shows in a negative light. Which of course begs the question: Would it be OK if a Korean replies to him that all Filipino films and TV shows are just about sampalan, over-the-top sabunutans and querida stories?

My wish is actually that, thanks to Netflix and other streaming services, more Filipinos will be exposed to other works and eventually develop their taste to make it more mature and sophisticated. They would demand for producers to create works that keep up to their evolving tastes and, hopefully, this would elevate the state of Philippine TV and movies. And then patronize brilliant Pinoy films and shows with the same enthusiasm they do with K-drama.

A netizen with the Twitter handle @fueledbyajitama retorted to Matti’s tweet by the way, saying, “May narinig ka ba sa amin when you brought us Gagamboy?” While many people didn’t get that movie (placing a poor seventh on the Metro Manila Film Festival list of the 10 top grossing films in the year it was released), some critics recognized it as an effective parody on the superhero genre.

So, just like his intention with Gagamboy, Erik Matti’s message just got muddled.

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OGIE ALCASID finds reassurance in God’s abundant love amid today’s pandemic with his newly released single “Live for Jesus,” his first collaboration with Regine Velasquez and couple Jaya and Gary Gotidoc.

“It is my hope and prayer that this song inspires us to keep believing that despite the crisis, we will survive this,” Ogie said. “Jesus is our answer. It is also during these times when we are weak that our savior is strongest. How His grace is sufficient for us.”

The praise song, launched on April 17 under record label Star Music, features backup vocals by Regine and Jaya, as well as a short rap verse from Jaya’s partner, Gary. With words and music by Ogie, “Live for Jesus” was arranged by Mark Lopez, and mixed and mastered by Tim Recla.

The singer-songwriter said he took inspiration from the Bible verse of 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) in writing the song, which says, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Ogie, along with Regine and Jaya, also recently joined other ABS-CBN artists in bringing hope through Christ’s love, helping ABS-CBN’S “Pantawid ng Pag-ibig” program by singing the prayer song “Ililigtas Ka Niya.” Regine also released her new rendition of “Heal Our Land” with the Villancico Vocal Ensemble earlier this month.

Praise Jesus in the face of hardships by listening to “Live for Jesus,” out now on Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube. Check it out on Musicshare’s Music Heals playlist on Spotify. ■