May sariling version ng presidential debate presented in a “spoofy” way ang bagong comedy show ng TV5 na nag-premiere nitong Biyernes (9 p.m.), ang Happinas Happy Hour.
Kung pakikinggan ang pamagat, it strikes you as a come-on para dumugin ang isang beerhouse or nightclub dahil sa happy hour nito when beer by the buckets is cheap with matching libreng pulutan pa to any happy barkada’s delight.
Well, the atmosphere does not replicate a honkytonk bar, may pagka-party ang kapaligiran with entertainment to regale the audience. Main hosts ng HHH are the original TV5 talents of yore na sina Ogie Alcasid, Gelli de Belen, and Janno Gibbs.
Providing the entertainment backup is the powerhouse cast of TV5 artists Mark Neumann, Yassi Pressman, Empoy, Margaux, Tuesday Vargas, Kim Idol, Eula Caballero, Ella Cruz, and Alwyn Uytingco.
Speaking of its pilot episode, “pinaglaruan” nito ang presidential debate with Alwyn as Mar Sopas, Gelli as Grace Pows, Janno as Duturtle, Tuesday as Miriam Defensive and Ogie at BP Binat. Nagsilbing host si Kaladkaren Aguila, ang babaeng laging paos. May special participation pa si Alma Moreno as Loveliness.
Kung napikon ang in-impersonate na pulitiko, that segment wasn’t for him or her. Bagama’t real issues in which the presidential aspirants get embroiled ang tinalakay sa spoof, it was presented the funny way with matching sundot.
Kaya kung nakakaumay na ang palabas sa kabilang channel na may katulad na genre, HHH proves to be a refreshing breather.
DAHIL ARAW ng eleksiyon ngayon, this column piece is not meant to push the presidential bid ng alin man sa limang kumakandidato, nor undermine kung sino sa kanila ang huwag sanang iboto ng ating mga mamamayan.
After the 90-day campaign period, after listening to their promises of social reforms all beautifully written in the clouds, after getting informed tungkol sa mga mahahalagang isyu tungkol sa bawat isa sa kanila painted at their ugliest form—whether real or imagined—and defending themselves to death, after serious accusations after serious accusations have been hurled against each other like a pot calling the kettle black, and after getting initially treated to a political circus of entertainment and later getting tired and bored with its monotonous pace and unchanging mood, dumating na ang araw ng pagpapasya.
Call it intelligent decision. Isang desisyon na kailangang pag-isipan nang mabuti if not many times over. Isang desisyon na once na ating pinakawalan, it’s either we will have no one but ourselves to blame kung mali ito, or we will deserve a pat on the shoulder because our political savvy has directed us to the right path.
Mahalagang gamitin natin ang parehong isip at puso sa ating pagpili sa mga susunod na mamumuno sa ating bayan at pamayanan. Kung sino siya o sila remains to be seen even if as far as every candidate is concerned, he or she is the one. The redeemer. The savior. Ang tagapagligtas. After all, even a commodity brags about its pluses, not minuses, its edge over its rival brand only for the gullible consumer to get disappointed later.
Hangad lang namin ngayong araw na ito ng halalan, aside from an informed and empowered electorate ay magkaroon ng kaayusan at kapayapaan sa mga polling places with zero reports of violence likely to be spawned by the power-grabbers and their ilk. Isang eleksiyong malinis at walang bahid ng dayaan in whatever form. Isang eleksiyon na harinawa’y magbunga ng magandang kinabukasan para sa isang bansa may maraming prayoridad na dapat tutukan for the common good.
At kung sinuman ang papalit sa administrasyong babakantehin ni Pangulong Aquino, pumagitna sana ang Diyos sa kanyang bawat hangarin o hakbang. Ang kapangyarihan o pera ay hindi diyos na dapat nilang sambahin.
God save this country.
Pepperoni
by Ronnie Carrasco III
