‘It’s Showtime’ hosts lament educational crisis in PH

(From left) “It’s Showtime” hosts Ogie Alcasid, Vice Ganda and Kim Chiu. Image: Facebook/Kim Chiu

The “It’s Showtime” hosts expressed concern over the “systemic and educational problem” in the Philippines, which was apparently highlighted after a show contestant admitted being unknowledgeable about the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

It can be recalled that during the Feb. 28 episode of the noontime show, Heart Aquino, one of the contestants of the “Sexy Babe” segment, was asked to give a message to the Comelec.

Aquino answered that she was unfamiliar with the government agency — a response that the show hosts found “bothersome.”

During the “It’s Showtime” episode on Monday, March 3, the TV hosts — led by Vice Ganda — then spoke about their realizations after the finale of their “Sexy Babe” segment.

“Dalawang bagay ang na-realize ko —napakarami talagang magagandang nilalang sa Pilipinas. ‘Yung pangalawa, may systemic and educational problem sa Pilipinas. May educational crisis sa Pilipinas na dapat natin i-address,” Vice Ganda said.

Jugs Jugueta nodded in agreement, “I think we have to find the right balance, parang maganda at matalino.”

Vice Ganda stressed that the public should be alarmed and ask the necessary questions: “Saan kaya nagsisimula ‘yung educational crisis sa Pilipinas? Sino ang naaapektuhan nito? Ano ang dapat nating gawin, at paano kaya dapat natin ito harapin? Ito ba ay dapat pagtawanan lang natin? Ito ba ay dapat pagchikahan lang natin sa Twitter nang one day then tapos na?”

Temperature check

Karylle shared the same sentiment as she pointed out how the instance with the segment contestant gave a temperature check on the youth.

“‘Yung malaman mo ‘yung totoong temperatura ng mga kabataan ngayon, na hindi pala alam ng karamihan yung Comelec, ang sakit. Hindi ko alam kung anong gulat ‘yung naramdaman ko,” she stated.

Vice Ganda further underscored that the youths make up a huge percentage of voters, and lamented how a part of the group might be uninformed. Ogie Alcasid stressed that aside from the youth, parents should also be informed as voters.

“May mga bagay kagaya no’n na napakahalaga na dapat may pakialam tayo,” Amy Perez added.

Vice Ganda chimed in, “Even Comelec, dapat ma-alarm din ang Comelec na baka kailangan meron din silang gawin na pagdi-disseminate ng impormasyon — the government in general.”

“Kaya siya tinawag na systemic kasi hindi lang isa, kundi marami ang may kinalaman,” he continued. “Lahat tayo bahagi ng krisis na ito.”

After unanimously agreeing that they should have more educational content, the hosts then went to have a quiz bee about Philippine history among the studio audience.

Meanwhile, the Comelec said it extended an invitation to Aquino to their event to brief her about the duties of the poll body.

“We fully understand her,” Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said. “It is our solemn duty to explain who we are and what we are doing.”

“It is our failure,” he added. “We have to immediately rectify.”