Synergy rules on ‘Pinoy Henyo’

Many games and features on local TV shows are inspired by or downright copied from foreign programs. But “Eat Bulaga’s” “Pinoy Henyo” quiz is as orig as balut or pinaupong manok—which may explain why it’s become so unexpectedly popular.

Last month, we were impressed to see that the little quiz segment had become a big-deal competition. We caught the semifinals of Pinoy Henyo, and were amazed by the lightning-quick thinking and synergy of the “family tandems” that competed.

Instructively, the first team had a really tough time with the word they were given to describe and guess—yelo. The word was unusually problematic because it was in Filipino (many people just ask for “ice”), and it described water in its solid form.

That’s why the otherwise really smart players had a tough time, getting into perplexing detours and making mental somersaults that didn’t work. After their time ran out, they had to suffer the ignominy of being doused with a yucky, slimy goo— ugh!

Thankfully, the second team was given a much easier and “uncomplicated” word—longganisa, which it proceeded to guess in just seconds!

Incredibly, another team did even better, working so well together that it got the right answer practically in the blink of an eye.

It was an amazing feat that was the result of the perfect synergy between the two relatives, most probably further enhanced by hours and hours of rehearsals at home.

Sadly, the synergy didn’t work in the team’s favor after it was declared the winner and competed in the jackpot round. Still, the team won many thousands of pesos, plus a slot in the finals. Not bad for a day’s play!

“Pinoy Henyo” is both entertaining and instructive because it shows how well we can do when we focus our energy and think and work together.

Instead of bickering or wasting their time at home on unproductive pursuits, the semi-finalist families concentrated on being logical, analytical, quick-witted and thinking as one.

We all need to do more of that, so kudos to the winners and to the program for showing us the way to discovering at least a small part of the Pinoy’s native genius!

Other highlights

Another feature on local TV that deserves to be highlighted is how some shows’ focus, not on the usual black sheep of the TV trade and their attention-calling, bipolar antics, but on the “ordinary” people who quietly and honestly do their job well, either at the office or at home.

We also like the occasional “streetwise” surveys that observe and poll people’s readiness to help strangers in need or in dire straits. Some Good Samaritans’ instinctive urge to do what’s right inspires us not to believe that the general canard that the Filipino is hopeless.

Features like these go a long way in balancing local TV’s penchant for glamorizing self-absorbed celebrities and their conspicuous consumption. There is a better way!