Baliwag mayor calls out ‘Abot Kamay na Pangarap’ for ‘making fun of’ city name

Scene from “Abot Kamay na Pangarap”; Baliwag Mayor Ferdie Estrella. Image: screengrab from YouTube/GMA Network, Facebook/Ferdie Estrella

Baliwag City Mayor Ferdie Estrella expressed strong disapproval over an episode of GMA TV series “Abot Kamay na Pangarap,” in which the name of the city was “made fun of” and was apparently used to relate to a mentally deranged person.

In the Feb. 14 episode of the TV series, Pinky Amador’s character, who is detained, speaks to herself as she hears voices inside her head.

Amador’s fellow inmates who heard her talking to herself then laugh at her, with one of the characters saying she has a “screw loose.” Jackie Lou Blanco’s character agrees and says, “Nagdedeliryo na… Papunta na ito sa Baliwag, Bulacan.”

“Sa episode ng ‘Abot Kamay na Pangarap’ ng GMA 7 na ipinalabas noong Pebrero 14, 2024 ay nabanggit ang pangalan ng Lungsod ng Baliwag kung saan ito ay ginamit bilang bahagi ng dayalogo ng isa sa mga karakter,” Estrella said in an official statement released on Thursday, Feb. 15.

“Sa naging dayalogo ay ginawang katatawanan ang Baliwag, Bulacan. Ito ay nakakalungkot dahil nagpapamalas ito ng kakapusan sa kaalaman at kawalan ng sensibilidad sa mga mahahalagang issues,” he continued.

Estrella underscored that the city is rich in history and culture, and that it was home to Filipino heroes and artists. Further explaining the city name’s origin, he said that “Baliwag” means profound and that it arguably represents the profound wisdom of its people.

“Marami ang itinuturing na pinagmulan ng pangalan ng Baliwag ngunit hindi isa rito ang salitang baliw,” he stressed. “Bago gamitin ang ngalan ng isang lugar, nararapat lamang na isaalang-alang ang kasaysayan nito para akmang mailapat sa konteksto ng isang palabas.”

Estrella also pointed out that the scene “insults” and “makes fun of” the people who are suffering from a mental illness.

“Isa pang punto sa usaping ito ay ang pang-insulto at gawing katatawanan ang kalagayan ng isang baliw,” he stated.

“Ang Lungsod ng Baliwag ay isa sa mga nagtataguyod ng adbokasiya sa mental health, kaya naman hindi rin kami sumasang-ayon sa pagpapalabas ng nakakasirang tema lalo pa at ikinakabit ang Baliwag bilang punchline o bagong katawagan para makapangpahiya ng sinuman,” he added.

He noted as well that production teams are responsible for the content they produce, ensuring that it provides correct information and does not disrespect people and cultures.

“Kaya naman kinokondena namin ang iresponsableng pagsusulat ng iskrip at pagpapalabas nito,” he stressed. “Nawa ay hindi na ito maulit, magsilbing aral, at makalikha ng kamalayan para sa mga susunod pa na palabas at iba pang pagtatanghal.”

The production team of the TV series has yet to comment on the matter as of this writing.