‘Psychic’ productions hit the bull’s-eye–and jackpot

People involved in the film, “Ma’ Rosa,” and the TV action-drama series, “Ang Probinsyano,” should be credited for their “psychic” gifts, because they have uncannily anticipated the Duterte administration’s current “all or nothing” antidrugs and -criminality campaign. Talk about topical and relevant storytelling, this hits the bull’s-eye—and the jackpot!

True, “Ma’ Rosa,” megged by Brillante Mendoza, didn’t predict the campaign, it merely exposed the problem for the deep-seated and festering horror it has become, permeating many aspects of life in urban and even rural Philippines.

Grittily real

Still, the exposé was so grittily real and “deadly” that it made viewers eager to support the cleanup currently being made, despite its attendant violence and controversy.

As for “Ang Probinsyano,” from the very start of its storytelling many months ago, the drug problem was already a principal focus, with its resident family of crime lords involved in drug dealing. Its young scion is even a cop who has managed to “embed” himself in the very police group expressly forced to foil his crafty criminal clan’s vile and nefarious schemes!

The cops’ continuing cluelessness about this has compromised their alleged astuteness and expertise, but that’s another, sorrier story.

What’s relevant to this discussion is the show’s ability to predict the current antidrug campaign, making it the most “psychically” plugged-in TV drama series on the tube this season.

Group bow, everyone!