Basically, GMA Kapuso Foundation commissioned Gary Granada to compose a jingle for a new campaign based on the lyrics provided by the said foundation. Mr. Granada revised the lyrics provided by the client (GMA Kapuso Foundation) by replacing a few words. Revision/s made on the original lyrics is/are subject for approval of the clien. Mr. Granada submitted his study; but it was then rejected. In the end, GMA 7 allegedly used Mr. Granada’s revised lyrics and allegedly based the final tune of the jingle on the musical structure on Granada’s study with no credit at all. On the other hand, GMA said through writing that the jingle was a collective work.

If indeed the jingle was a collective work, why was Mr. Granada not credited for the things he contributed?

In a typical school group project, even how small a member’s contribution was in the project the member would still get a credit in the end, right?

It’s hard to make conclusions here. Because yes, the audio recording (Mr. Granada’s side) is just one side of this whole hullabaloo. I don’t know if GMA 7 has stopped airing the said campaign. How GMA Kapuso Foundation would handle this is what we should watch for. As I’ve said, the audio recording is just one side of the issue although Mr. Granada has narrated that Atty. Dick Perez GMA has sent him a letter stating that he has no claim on the said jingle for it was a collective work.

In the same audio recording, Mr. Granada clearly stated that he is not claiming the jingle GMA Kapuso Foundation used for the campaign. What he is claiming is that GMA Kapuso Foundation wouldn’t come up with such a jingle if not for his study, which they allegedly abused.

“What is now [sic] stopping anyone from commissioning artists in general to make studies only to rejected them, make easily done modifications out of their hard work and pass them off as entirely new creations altogether,” stated Mr. Granada on the same audio recording.

Stealing, infringing or neither of the two it is clear that someone made a mistake somewhere. It’s just a matter of finding who made the mistake and holding that someone liable for his/her mistake.

Related Links

Composer cries foul vs TV Foundation (Inquirer Entertainment)
Gary Granada airs complaint vs. GMA Kapuso, the New Media way (Ang Kape Ni LaTtEX)
RP bloggers pick up on Gary Granada’s complaint (Inquirer.net Blog Addicts)
Gary Granada Versus GMA Kapuso (Filipino Voices)

Last year, ABC, an American television network apologized to the Filipino community for an episode of Desperate Housewives that questioned the competence not only of Filipino doctors but also the quality of education being delivered by the medical schools in the Philippines. The said episode of Desperate Housewives raised many talks about racism. I think we are experiencing some sort of déjà vu.

During the sketch in the Harry & Paul show, Enfield’s character urges his neighbor to have sex with another neighbor’s Filipina maid, saying he is trying to see if “we could mate their Filipina maid with our Northerner, but he’s not having any of it”. He then says, “Come on Clyde, mount her” and addressing the maid, says: “You, you, present your rear.” (quoted from AFP)

This specific scene from the said show ignited the Filipino community here and abroad (especially the Filipino community in the UK) to send a complaint to the involved television network.

“Beyond any doubt, the show is malicious, unethical and insulting. It is a clear case of discrimination of Filipino women. They insult one of us, they insult all of us,” Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros said in an interview with Manila Standard Today. On the other hand, the Philippine government thru Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo lodged a diplomatic protest with the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the Philippines over the said TV show.

Should the said spoof on Filipina maids bother us? Or should we just shut up and deal with more significant issues?

Let me quote a song from the famous musical, Avenue Q, “everyone’s a little bit racist.” Isn’t true?

Before we look at how other countries makes fun out of our race, let’s look on how we make fun of ourselves and other races. How many jokes have been delivered on local TV and everywhere about Indians and other races? Take a look how a typical Filipino would call a person from India. If you would take a closer look at the jokes being passed around the streets, text messages, TV and even on print most jokes talk about race and even social standing, if not all. Look at how we mock the accent and even the enunciation of people from the Visayas region. How many jokes have been passed around about Filipina maids?

We Filipinos are racist too and the worst, we are racist against our fellow Filipino. Although the said scene was insulting in some way, it is just funny how we (or most Filipinos) suddenly became patriotic in times like these.

As written in an article published by the AFP, it is said that the production company behind a BBC comedy sketch that provoked outrage in the Philippines for being racist said Tuesday that the show was “absurd” and should not be taken seriously. Can’t we accept the fact that it was just a joke? In the first place, the show “tackles many situations in a comedic way”. Jokes are to be taken lightly.

Although things like these shouldn’t be ignored, let us not act as if we have not done the same thing to other races and other Filipinos of different social standing. We may not understand the kind of humor that these British people have, but please let us not over react.

Note: US GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY PREDICTS A 6.8 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE WILL HIT PHILIPPINE PLATES TONIGHT.PLS BE CALM & ALERT. This txt msg is from Hawaii state emergency preparedness office. Pls pass (no harm in being prepared) lets pray dis will not happen.

This was the text message, which was being forwarded to me and even my family members since this morning. In fact, even the people were following in Twitter are tweeting about it. My mom called our house just to check on us!

According to an interview conducted by DZMM with Director Renato Solidum of PHIVOLCS (Philippine Institute of Volcanology & Seismology), there is no truth to this text message. He also added that there is no such thing as US Geological Society and Hawaii State Emergency Preparedness Office. In fact, the US counterpart of PHIVOLCS is the US Geological Survey not Society. You could view the YouTube video I have uploaded. Dir. Renato Solidum also noted that it there is neither instrument nor technology that can predict when and where an earthquake can occur. Solidum states that there is really a possibility that an earthquake this massive (6.8 magnitude as noted on the text message) can occur in the Philippines. But the thing is, no one can determine when would this occur (of course except the psychics.). Solidum adviced the public not to forward the text messages.

According to the USGS website, neither the USGS nor Caltech nor any other scientists have ever predicted a major earthquake. And, probabilities of an earthquake shouldn’t be confused with the prediction of a particular event.

Anyway, better be safe everyone!

UPDATE:

14 May 2008
2:00 PM
PHIVOLCS CLARIFICATION
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology would like to inform the general public that the text message currently circulating in the Philippines about a prediction by a certain “US Geological Society” of a “magnitude 6.8 earthquake to hit Philippine Plates tonight”, purportedly issued by the “Hawaii State Emergency Preparedness Office” IS A HOAX. This hoax started the day after the Magnitude 7.9 China earthquake of May 12, 2008.

There is no organization currently capable of predicting an earthquake which is very specific in terms of magnitude and the date. There is no “US Geological Society”, only US Geological SURVEY but this agency does not issue immediate predictions especially for areas outside the United States of America. Past experiences show that rumors of a predicted strong earthquake are common after disastrous earthquakes in nearby countries.

The Philippines can be affected by a major earthquake but as to when exactly this would happen cannot be predicted and what is important is we continue to practice earthquake preparedness and risk reduction measures. via [PHIVOLCS Website]

Here’s TV Patrol’s feature on the rumors spreading thru text message about a 6.8 magnitude earthquake striking the Philippines tonight.

And I want to become one of them. I have zero knowledge about politics. I just want to blog about current events and my opinions about them. But I don’t have the guts to do it.

Maybe I’m just scared to be criticized.

I may not have that perfect grammar, but I want to become a person of substance.

I hate to be stereotyped as a blogger who just rant and rave. Yes, I do rant sometimes but my blog isn’t full of rant and raves. I do blog about Pinoy Idol, American Idol and other things but not just rants.

I’m turning 17 this year and as early I now, I want to become more socially conscious. I think it will be very beneficial on my part to become more socially conscious this early as I would be a voter by 2009 – hopefully I’ll vote by 2010.

I once submitted a report to ABS-CBN’s BOTO MO, IPATROL MO. And luckily, they featured it on TVPatrol a few days after. And I must say this citizen journalism is cool and I’m loving it.

A fellow-alumnus informed me about this so I hurriedly checked Google to verify the info. Thank you for the information, Kerwin. We are not yet sure when was the year she graduated high school.

Way to go Damers! Let’s continue to give honor to Notre Dame, our Mother! It only shows that Notre Dame of Greater Manila is living up to its mission of forming upright and globally competitive Christian Filipinos.

Congratulations, Mercedita Ona!

EDIT: Mercedita Ona is from Batch 1997. I confirmed this with our Principal. And, I think there was another female Damer who emerged as one of the Top 10 of this year’s bar examination. Sorry, I wasn’t able to take note of her name.

Since I’m the only blogger in the world who haven’t blogged about the new MacBook Air, here is my entry about the ultra-slim laptop by Apple.

During the MacWorld 2008, Steve Jobs presented the new, ultra-thin MacBook Air, which boasts a built-in camera and many more. The MacBook Air weighs 3.0 pounds or 1.36kg with a height of 0.16-0.71 inches. It comes with an Intel Core 2 Duo Processor and 2GB of Ram. The buyers of the new MacBook Air are given the chance to choose between a 80GB Standard Parallel SATA Hard disk and a 64GB Solid State drive. The MacBook Air has 1 Audio Out, 1 USB 2.0 port, built-in mono speaker, and built-in omni directional microphone.

The MacBook Air will ship some time in February with a price tag of $1,799.00 exclusive of sales tax.

Jeric Pena of brinknotes.org:

My biggest blogging achievement this year is that I was able to earn money through my blogs and buy stuffs on my own. Talk about semi-financial independence (not really). It is also through blogging that I met people from different walks of life sharing the same passion – blogging.

After a few weeks, I was surprised that my comment appeared on Manila Bulletin’s Online Version of the Blog-O-Rama section. I didn’t expect that my comment would actually appear on the section. I don’t know when would this be published on the hard copy of Manila Bulletin. I need to know when for I would be getting a copy and have it framed. KIDDING! But, I would be better to see the article printed, right? Yehey for me! To Annalyn Jusay, thank you for including my comment on your article! Thank you, thank you, and thank you! This would be the second time that I would be seeing my name on a newspaper (first was on Philippine Daily Inquirer).

Hoping to see this article on print soon!

Pinoy Idol logo, as shown in GMA Network’s promotion. Credit: Wikipedia

Philippine Idol, the local franchise of the UK Show, Pop Idol is now heading its way to GMA 7 after being show for one season on ABC 5. As the show heads its way to GMA 7, it will be now called Pinoy Idol instead of Philippine Idol. Nationwide audition for the first season of Pinoy Idol would be held from January to March 2008. The show is expected to premiere sometime in 2008 (probably mid to last quarter of 2008). The said show would not recognize the first Idol show mounted by ABC 5, Philippine Idol and its winner, Mau Marcelo although her runners-up Jan Nieto and Gian Magdangal are now part of GMA 7’s line up of artists.

THE JUDGES & THE HOST
As reported, Louie Ignacio who coincidently directed other GMA 7 singing contest would direct Pinoy Idol. The judges and host for the said show is yet to be known. Surely, Ryan Cayabyab would not be part of show as he already signed with ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 as the new Headmaster. On the other hand, Ryan Agoncillo, host of Philippine Idol would not be part of Pinoy Idol because of his exclusive contract with ABS-CBN. Ryan Agoncillo was also reported to become the host of ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Dream Academy for it’s second season.

AUDITIONS
The audition dates for the first season of Pinoy Idol are as follows: Cagayan de Oro on January 17, 2008, Batangas City on January 24, 2008, Iloilo City on January 31, 2008, Cebu City on February 7, 2008, Davao City on February 14, 2008, Pasay (advertised as Mega Manila) on February 21, 2008, Dagupan City on February 28, 2008, and finally, Angeles City on March 6, 2008. The requirements for the said audition are yet to be determined as GMA 7 release the full information about the auditions.

THE FANS
Fans of Philippine Idol (ABC 5’s Idol show) are hoping that the new Idol show would be better than that of ABC 5’s version – free from flaw and technical glitches. People on the Pinoy Exchange thread of Philippine Idol (Season 2) disliked the fact that Ignacio would be directing the show. The logo of Pinoy Idol used on its trailer made the people on the Pinoy Exchange thread of Philippine Idol call it too amateurish and too fake for such a world-class franchise. Some people said that the logo used was not yet final and still unofficial. Fans are still questioning the reason behind why GMA decided to use the term, Pinoy on the official title of the local version of the Idol show instead of Filipino.

AMERICAN IDOL ON Q 11
Moreover, it was reported that the seventh season of American Idol slated to premiere on January 15, 2008 would be broadcasted in the Philippines by GMA 7’s sister TV station, Q 11 instead of ABC 5 which broadcasted previous season of American Idol in the Philippines.

THE IDOL FRANCHISE
The franchise was first awarded to ABC 5 (Associated Broadcasting Company) in 2006 calling it Philippine Idol and having Mau Marcelo as its first winner. Pinoy Idol replaces Philippine Idol after FreemantleMedia did not award the franchise to ABC 5 for its second season.

The girl was very much thrilled when she found out that Santa left an MP3 player under their Christmas tree. The parents who acted Santa bought the said MP3 player from Wal-mart store in Sparta, Tennessee.

It was later on discovered that the said MP3 Player was returned to the store from another customer who loaded the portable media player with pornographic videos and explicit songs.

The manager at the Sparta Wal-mart refused to give a comment on the matter. The family would be keeping the MP3 player until they talk to a lawyer. The family previously declined the offer of Wal-mart to replace the said MP3 player.

via [WRCB TV]

Legally Blonde the Musical. Yey! 4 – St. Luke’s Legally Blonde the Musical was awarded as the 2nd Best Literary Musical on the recently concluded 25th English Festival in our school. The tension backstage is totally FUN and it feels so good when you make people laugh. Leslie Santos (Elle Woods) won the Best Actress Award. We would be performing Legally Blonde the Musical for the 3rd time on December 9, 2007 though I won’t be around because I’ll be taking my DLS-CSB Entrance Test. My role doesn’t have any understudy!

Ugly Betty. I was anxiously waiting for the release of Ugly Betty S2 Episode 10 this week. However, they showed the replay of the season 2’s premiere episode. I guess they will show the 10th episode this coming week. Let us hope that the WGA strike would end soon so that people could start working on new episodes for on-going television series like Ugly Betty.

We won! Last November 19, 2007, my partner (Isabel) and I represented our school in an Inter-High School Web Design Competition held in St. Paul’s University Quezon City. We are asked to work on a minimum of 5 pages website for 2 hours without the use of any WYSIWYG (What You See is What You Get) editors like Dreamweaver, Frontpage and others. We hand-coded the 5 page website with the use of Notepad. Luckily, we won 2nd!

Macbook on the way? My mom promised to buy me a MacBook if I won the Inter-High School Web Design Competiton held last November 19, 2007. So, I won! Yehey! Will I get the MacBook? I don’t know yet. Maybe, soon? Hey, I’m excited! I want a MacBook fasssssst.