MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Higher Education (CHED) head Ronald Adamat questions ABS-CBN for the misuse of the term “Bagani” in their newest teleserye.
In a Facebook post by Melchor Umpan Bayawan, the formal letter of Dr. Adamat addressed to Karlo Katigbak, president of ABS-CBN was revealed. Dr. Adamat, former representative of the Indigenous People (IP) Sector during the 10th Congress explains that he is bothered by the misuse of the term “Bagani.”
UPDATE: ABS-CBN releases statement on "Bagani" 'misuse' of term issue
The letter reads, “The undersigned...would like to seek immediate clarification and explanation from ABS-CBN as to how and why the term ‘Bagani’, which is 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.”
ABS-CBN’s “Bagani” shows five persons from different tribes all with “superpowers,” trying to save their men.
Dr. Adamat continues that this portrayal made him “deeply bothered.”
He called for cultural sensitivity and asked for an explanation, “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.”
The statement continued, “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.”
Bagani casts not “Pinoy enough”
ABS-CBN’s Bagani has already been under fire earlier for their casting. Netizens called out the lead stars Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano for not being “Filipino enough” to play the parts. The Filipino-American actress replied on Twitter and defended herself saying, “And who says we're not pinoy? My Father is full filipino. I was raised by two filipinos since the age of 4. I looooove sinigang i think that's as pinoy can get.”
— Sally, The Summit Express
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| The casts of ABS-CBN's newest teleserye. | Captured from "Bagani" official poster. |
In a Facebook post by Melchor Umpan Bayawan, the formal letter of Dr. Adamat addressed to Karlo Katigbak, president of ABS-CBN was revealed. Dr. Adamat, former representative of the Indigenous People (IP) Sector during the 10th Congress explains that he is bothered by the misuse of the term “Bagani.”
UPDATE: ABS-CBN releases statement on "Bagani" 'misuse' of term issue
The letter reads, “The undersigned...would like to seek immediate clarification and explanation from ABS-CBN as to how and why the term ‘Bagani’, which is 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.”
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| Dr. Ronald Adamat seeks a clarification from ABS-CBN for their use of the term “Bagani” | Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Melchor Bayawan |
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| Dr. Ronald Adamat seeks a clarification from ABS-CBN for their use of the term “Bagani” | Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Melchor Bayawan |
ABS-CBN’s “Bagani” shows five persons from different tribes all with “superpowers,” trying to save their men.
Dr. Adamat continues that this portrayal made him “deeply bothered.”
He called for cultural sensitivity and asked for an explanation, “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.”
The statement continued, “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.”
Bagani casts not “Pinoy enough”
ABS-CBN’s Bagani has already been under fire earlier for their casting. Netizens called out the lead stars Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano for not being “Filipino enough” to play the parts. The Filipino-American actress replied on Twitter and defended herself saying, “And who says we're not pinoy? My Father is full filipino. I was raised by two filipinos since the age of 4. I looooove sinigang i think that's as pinoy can get.”
— Sally, The Summit Express
