Media Handlers in Play

The Pacquiao-Hatton fight was indeed a big hit! The fight not only drew millions of Filipino viewers but also politicians and their media handlers.

Anticipating the high density of viewers, the delayed broadcast in local television was frequented by advertisements of various products and kinds. Though quite distracting, the practice of flooding the airwaves is understandable given the commercial orientation of the media outfits broadcasting the highly anticipated event.

More distracting and annoying however is the “infomercials” of numerous government officials and government offices and agencies in an attempt to look good and acceptable to the Filipino electorate. Some even took the opportunity to launch their respective candidacies for national office. The timing is indeed a confirmation that election is drawing near and that media handlers are now again back in business and in play.

Equally disturbing is the question of funding for these infomercials both at its initial or preparatory stage and on its airing stage. I just hope that the funds did not come again from taxpayers’ money.

Congratulations to Manny Pacquiao in his victory. Congratulations too to the media outfits and handlers who both made enormous profits in the airing and conceptualization of these advertisements. Shame on the politicians who scrambled for media mileage to promote and/or launch their candidacies at the expense of taxpayers’ money.