GMA 7: Call center ‘slur’ is opinion of show’s character, not writer

PAULEEN Luna. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Call center agents have no one to blame in “The Borrowed Wife” brouhaha but the soap opera’s character.

Yes, you heard me right, it was Rico’s fault.

In its primetime news cast, Hazel Abonita, program manager of “The Borrowed Wife”, said that the staff of the afternoon television series did the needed research, adding it was not the show’s intention to demean employees of the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in the Philippines.

“We are saddened by the news that that some people reacted negatively in ‘The Borrowed Wife’ episode,” Abonita said. “It was not Rafael’s opinion, nor the writer’s opinion, nor the producers’ and nor is the network’s statement.”

The show caused a stir after the character Rico, played by actor Rafael Rosel, in the pilot episode on Jan. 20 of the “teleserye” tells Charee Pineda’s character, Maricar, that he is being accepted as a call center agent.

In the scene, Rico said: “Hindi ako nag-aral para sumagot lang ng telepono! (I did not go to school just to answer phone calls!)” and “pang walang pinag-aralan lang ‘yan (that job’s only for uneducated people).”

Rosel echoed Abonita’s defense: “It was the character’s opinion, and it has nothing to do with the network and the actors.”

On Jan. 24, JM Cruz, a call center agent and Podcast show creator, said in a letter sent to entertainment website Fashion Pulis that the network has the “gall to belittle an industry with billions in revenue.”

“Yes we are enraged, we feel violated,” Cruz said.

The furious BPO employees vowed to boycott the GMA 7 show.

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