Welcome ‘reminders’ make vivid impression on viewers

It’s heartening to see that some people who appear on TV have been using today’s most popular medium to provide, not just diversion, but also positive values and attitudes, for viewers to take their cue from and put to practice in their own lives.

Most recently, those positive inputs from some TV shows have been a result of the celebration of National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary. Numerous programs have reminded viewers of Rizal’s many great attributes, and it is hoped that the youth, especially, have been inspired to be similarly productive, progressive, selfless and even heroic in their own spheres of activity and influence.

On a less official or officious level, other shows have also given viewers some good thoughts to ponder and hopefully act on. Some weeks ago, for instance, we heard this slogan on the tube: “Mas maganda ang may alam.” Its point was that too much emphasis is being placed, especially by commercials for “beautifying” products and services, on sheer physical beauty—and not enough on intelligence, inner substance, and ethical worth.

Quiet impact

The reminder was even more welcome, because it was so simple, aptly put, and not at all hard-sell. We trust that, brief though it was, it had an impact on viewers, and served to balance all the storm and thunder over the essential desirability of physical beauty, per se.

Another timely reminder came to us even more “accidentally”: A finalist in a talent competition was asked to plead for viewers’ votes for her to win in the finals, but she had the great “presence of heart” to say instead (rough translation), “Don’t vote for me because you pity me due to my sad life story and financial difficulties—instead, vote for me because you think I’ve shown with my performance that I deserve to win!”

Isn’t that great? —Particularly in the context of TV talent tilts these days, where contestants are made to weep over their needy, impoverished lives, broken homes and other woes, just to provide enough “emotional blackmail” to get viewers to vote for them out of pity?

That’s the kalakaran (cynical rule of thumb) on TV these days, so this particular finalist earned 1,000 plus points in our estimation, because she held on to her innate dignity and would have none of it. Whether she actually won in the competition or not, she was a big winner in our view!

From the heart

She may not have even been aware that she would have such a profound effect—after all, she was simply speaking from the heart—but, she did.

That’s the point we want to make, especially to people who appear or work on TV for a living: All too often, some of you may take your “job” for granted, and you may end up doing it lazily, without appreciating what a great impact it has, for good or bad, on so many viewers.

Let this be a reminder that you have the most important, and potentially the most inspirational, profession and vocation in the world. —So, make each and every word you utter, on-cam and on-mike, count!