Ni REGGEE BONOAN
NA-CURIOUS ang tao sa epic-seryeng Bagani na nag-pilot nitong Lunes dahil nakapagtala ito ng napakataas na 35.5% kumpara sa katapat sa GMA-7 na 15.2% lang base sa data ng Kantar Media survey.
Bago pa man kasi umere ang programa nina Liza Soberano at Enrique Gil ay nakatanggap ng reklamo ang ABS-CBN mula kay CHED Commissioner Ronald Adamat, dating representative ng Indigenous People Sector sa pamamagitan ng liham na in-address sa President at CEO ng network na si Ginoong Carlo Katigbak.
Ang nilalaman ng liham ni Ginoong Adamat, “An Indigenous Peoples terminology and endemic only to IPs (Indigenous Peoples), ended up used in a teleserye that I suspect is devoid of real meaning and substance. The writers and producers of this teleserye may have overlooked and neglected the cultural sensitivities of our Indigenous Peoples hence they owe us an explanation or clarification.
“It is not enough for writers and producers of movies and teleseryes to come up with concepts, titles, and characters that would sell and create blockbusters yet carry with them half-truths and lies that destroy and negate the real essence of an IP terminology, as in the case of ‘Bagani’, and instead bring injustice to the 14 million Filipino IPs.”
Agad namang nagpalabas ng official statement ang pamunuan ng ABS-CBN na nagsasabing walang masamang intensyon ang buong production team ng Bagani sa paggamit ng titulo nito.
“The concept of ABS-CBN’s new fantaserye Bagani is to feature warriors, protectors, and heroes who espouse Filipino values and beliefs.
“The production team did intensive research to determine a distinctly Filipino term that embodies a champion who fights for the common good of his tribe or family — somebody who is brave, honorable, self-sacrificing, and good-hearted.
“In the end, the team recognized that the term and concept of a Bagani best solidifies the traits that the program wants to highlight.
“With all due respect, the use of Bagani is not in any way intended to malign or to disrespect beliefs of the Indigenous Peoples’ communities, but instead hopes to propagate the values, morals, and ethics that are inherent in a ‘Bagani’ — a Filipino warrior, protector, and hero.
“To be clear, the Bagani fantaserye does not purport itself to be a historical account of Philippine history or culture.
“The program has always maintained that it has created an alternative fictional universe with elements of Filipino mythology and folklore that simply serves as an avenue to creatively deliver and highlight Filipino values, beliefs, and heroism.”
