Media, the most powerful form of communication, the most effective yet the most influential either print, broadcast and social media are enjoyed freely by our society. There is no jurisdiction that limits us on what forms of media should we use or not that is why we have the access to avail all the privileges media can give to us.
When we say media, we often describe the person or the personalities involved. These are the frontman of the business, the personalities that we idolize, the names that we trust, the person who shapes our worldview and the personalities that entertain us.
A controversial joke of Vice Ganda to GMA executive and news anchor Jessica Soho has earned a lot of criticism from social media users. In the said concert, "I-Vice Ganda Mo 'Ko sa Araneta" last May 17, Vice Ganda made fun of Soho’s weight.
"Ang hirap nga lang kung si Jessica Soho magbo-bold. Kailangan gang rape lagi. Sasabihin ng rapist, 'Ipasa ang lechon.' Sasabihin naman ni Jessica, 'Eh nasaan yung apple?'"
When we say media, we often describe the person or the personalities involved. These are the frontman of the business, the personalities that we idolize, the names that we trust, the person who shapes our worldview and the personalities that entertain us.
A controversial joke of Vice Ganda to GMA executive and news anchor Jessica Soho has earned a lot of criticism from social media users. In the said concert, "I-Vice Ganda Mo 'Ko sa Araneta" last May 17, Vice Ganda made fun of Soho’s weight.
"Ang hirap nga lang kung si Jessica Soho magbo-bold. Kailangan gang rape lagi. Sasabihin ng rapist, 'Ipasa ang lechon.' Sasabihin naman ni Jessica, 'Eh nasaan yung apple?'"
She also urged that “this is not about me, but about the issue of rape not being an appropriate subject matter for comedy. Rape transcends age, economic class, gender—and even one’s weight."
"I thank all those who shared my hurt and expressed their support, but this should not be about me but about rape victims who suffer tremendously from this terrible crime. The horrors they go through are unspeakable and should never be taken lightly, especially by way of a cruel joke," Soho said in a statement sent to GMA News Online.
Immediately, the comedian called his big bosses at ABS-CBN and he was later called to a meeting by ABS-CBN channel head Cory Vidanes. During that meeting, Vice was asked for his take on the brewing issue and the comedian responded by simply saying that he did not need to explain or justify his joke to anybody.
In his noontime show, It’s Showtime, the comedian take his action by publicly apologizing to Soho and for using gang rape/rape as a scenario on his concert but he realize that he had still offended Soho and many others and asked for their forgiveness. Vice also pointed out that aside from Soho, many other personalities were also mentioned in his jokes citing Kris Aquino, Boy Abunda, Kim Atienza, Gus Abelgas, Pia Hontiveros, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe and many more.
"I thank all those who shared my hurt and expressed their support, but this should not be about me but about rape victims who suffer tremendously from this terrible crime. The horrors they go through are unspeakable and should never be taken lightly, especially by way of a cruel joke," Soho said in a statement sent to GMA News Online.
Immediately, the comedian called his big bosses at ABS-CBN and he was later called to a meeting by ABS-CBN channel head Cory Vidanes. During that meeting, Vice was asked for his take on the brewing issue and the comedian responded by simply saying that he did not need to explain or justify his joke to anybody.
In his noontime show, It’s Showtime, the comedian take his action by publicly apologizing to Soho and for using gang rape/rape as a scenario on his concert but he realize that he had still offended Soho and many others and asked for their forgiveness. Vice also pointed out that aside from Soho, many other personalities were also mentioned in his jokes citing Kris Aquino, Boy Abunda, Kim Atienza, Gus Abelgas, Pia Hontiveros, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe and many more.
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Here is a part of statement of Vice that lasted for about 10 minutes:
“Gusto kong i-take ang situwasyong ito na may tamang pag-iisip. Ayokong gamitin ang galit para mag-react. Ayokong gamitin ang pagiging immature para makipaglaban. Gusto kong maging matalino. At kahit matalino ako, kahit sinasabi ng ibang tao na marunong ako, matalino ako, mayroong mga tao na mas matalino sa akin at mas nakakaunawa at humingi po ako ng tulong.”
“Ang joke ay depende sa tao, kung paano mo tatanggapin ang joke. Hindi lahat ng joke ay matatanggap lahat ng tao at walang isang joke na pinagtawanan ng lahat. Lahat ng joke, may taong tatawa at lahat ng joke, may taong hindi pabor sa joke na ito.”
Ngayon sinasabi ko na po na sinasadya man o hindi sinasadya, may na-offend akong tao. Alam ko sa sarili ko ‘yun at tinatanggap ko. Sa pagkakataong ito, sigurado ako, na-offend si Miss Jessica Soho at sinabi niyang na-offend siya,”
Gusto ko pong mag-apologize kay Miss Jessica Soho. Puwede akong mag-apologize sa Twitter, pwede akong mag-apologize sa Facebook, pwede akong magpa-interview kung saan saan, pwede kong gamitin ang programang ito, ang ‘Showtime’ para mag-apologize. Pero sabi ko, sa akin naman ito nagsimula at may binitawan akong biro na naka-offend dun sa tao. Kung hihingi ako ng paumanhin, mas sinsero at mas mararamdaman niya ang sinseridad ko kung sasabihin ko sa kanya ng personal.”
“Tinawagan ko po kara-karaka kanina si Miss Jessica Soho. Nag-ring ang phone, may tumanggap sa tawag ko. Sa boses pa lang, alam ko na po na si Miss Jessica Soho. Sabi ko, ‘Good morning po, magandang umaga po, pwede ko po bang makausap ko si Miss Jessica Soho?’ At sumagot, sabi niya, ‘Ah sino ito? Para saan ito?’ Sabi ko, ‘Ay, ako po si Vice Ganda’.”
“Sabi nya, ‘Ah, si Jessica Soho ito. Pasensiya ka na kasi hindi maganda ang timpla ko ngayong araw na ito’. Kaya sabi ko naman, ‘Ah okay po. So is it okay if I just call you later or tomorrow or some other day?’ Ang sabi niya, ‘I don’t think so’.”
“Sa pakiwari ko, maaring nasasaktan pa siya, nagagalit pa siya. Hindi pa siya tapos dun. Hindi pa niya ako kayang patawarin kaya hindi ko nasabi kung ano ang gusto kong sabihin. At kung sinabi n’yo po, Miss Jessica Soho, na you don’t think na gusto niyo akong makausap maybe tomorrow or some other day or maybe later, kaya ngayon ko na lang po gagawing pampubliko ito para makarating po sa inyo.
“Ako po talaga ay humihingi ng paumanhin. Opo, yun po ay isang biro na maaaring sa inyo ay hindi magandang biro. At kung hindi po magandang biro at nasaktan ko po kayo, humihingi po ako ng paumanhin, patawad po. At ipinapangako ko po sa inyo, hindi na kayo magiging kasama kailanman sa anumang tema ng pagtatanghal ko.”
“Hindi ko na ulit i-dya-justify kung ano ang ginawa kong tama, kung ano ang ginawa kong mali, gusto ko lang pong klaruhin sa lahat na hindi ko po kalianman gugustuhing kutyain ang sino mang rape victim.
“Wala akong intensyong masama na pagtawanan ang mga rape victim. Alam ko pong seryoso ang isyu tungkol sa rape. Kaya hindi ko ginawang seryoso na pagtawanan ang rape victims. Wala po akong intensyong masama. Gayunpaman, kung meron mang nasaktan, humuhingi po ako ng paumanhin.”
“At sa lahat po ng nakisali na sa isang maliit na isyu na pinalaki ng pinalaki na nagmukhang national issue na nagsimula sa isang simpleng biro, kung hindi niyo po nagugustuhan ang pagpapatawa ko, paumanhin po sa inyo. Sa mga nakaunawa nang mahusay sa mga biro ko, maraming maraming salamat… At doon naman po sa mga hindi nakakaunawa, ako na lang po ang uunawa sa inyo.”
In a statement given by Soho by Vice phone call and public apology, she urged:
"I acknowledge the public apology given by Vice Ganda, by way of his TV program. I sincerely hope and pray that this was done with the purest intentions and determination to put this issue behind us.
"Just to clarify certain points about my phone conversation with him--his call came without warning as his number was not programmed in my phone directory. I told him I wasn't feeling well and I wasn't sure I was ready to talk to him. But I clearly remember thanking him for his call.
As I've said, this is not about me, but about the issue of rape not being an appropriate subject matter for comedy. Rape transcends age, economic class, gender—and even one’s weight."
“Gusto kong i-take ang situwasyong ito na may tamang pag-iisip. Ayokong gamitin ang galit para mag-react. Ayokong gamitin ang pagiging immature para makipaglaban. Gusto kong maging matalino. At kahit matalino ako, kahit sinasabi ng ibang tao na marunong ako, matalino ako, mayroong mga tao na mas matalino sa akin at mas nakakaunawa at humingi po ako ng tulong.”
“Ang joke ay depende sa tao, kung paano mo tatanggapin ang joke. Hindi lahat ng joke ay matatanggap lahat ng tao at walang isang joke na pinagtawanan ng lahat. Lahat ng joke, may taong tatawa at lahat ng joke, may taong hindi pabor sa joke na ito.”
Ngayon sinasabi ko na po na sinasadya man o hindi sinasadya, may na-offend akong tao. Alam ko sa sarili ko ‘yun at tinatanggap ko. Sa pagkakataong ito, sigurado ako, na-offend si Miss Jessica Soho at sinabi niyang na-offend siya,”
Gusto ko pong mag-apologize kay Miss Jessica Soho. Puwede akong mag-apologize sa Twitter, pwede akong mag-apologize sa Facebook, pwede akong magpa-interview kung saan saan, pwede kong gamitin ang programang ito, ang ‘Showtime’ para mag-apologize. Pero sabi ko, sa akin naman ito nagsimula at may binitawan akong biro na naka-offend dun sa tao. Kung hihingi ako ng paumanhin, mas sinsero at mas mararamdaman niya ang sinseridad ko kung sasabihin ko sa kanya ng personal.”
“Tinawagan ko po kara-karaka kanina si Miss Jessica Soho. Nag-ring ang phone, may tumanggap sa tawag ko. Sa boses pa lang, alam ko na po na si Miss Jessica Soho. Sabi ko, ‘Good morning po, magandang umaga po, pwede ko po bang makausap ko si Miss Jessica Soho?’ At sumagot, sabi niya, ‘Ah sino ito? Para saan ito?’ Sabi ko, ‘Ay, ako po si Vice Ganda’.”
“Sabi nya, ‘Ah, si Jessica Soho ito. Pasensiya ka na kasi hindi maganda ang timpla ko ngayong araw na ito’. Kaya sabi ko naman, ‘Ah okay po. So is it okay if I just call you later or tomorrow or some other day?’ Ang sabi niya, ‘I don’t think so’.”
“Sa pakiwari ko, maaring nasasaktan pa siya, nagagalit pa siya. Hindi pa siya tapos dun. Hindi pa niya ako kayang patawarin kaya hindi ko nasabi kung ano ang gusto kong sabihin. At kung sinabi n’yo po, Miss Jessica Soho, na you don’t think na gusto niyo akong makausap maybe tomorrow or some other day or maybe later, kaya ngayon ko na lang po gagawing pampubliko ito para makarating po sa inyo.
“Ako po talaga ay humihingi ng paumanhin. Opo, yun po ay isang biro na maaaring sa inyo ay hindi magandang biro. At kung hindi po magandang biro at nasaktan ko po kayo, humihingi po ako ng paumanhin, patawad po. At ipinapangako ko po sa inyo, hindi na kayo magiging kasama kailanman sa anumang tema ng pagtatanghal ko.”
“Hindi ko na ulit i-dya-justify kung ano ang ginawa kong tama, kung ano ang ginawa kong mali, gusto ko lang pong klaruhin sa lahat na hindi ko po kalianman gugustuhing kutyain ang sino mang rape victim.
“Wala akong intensyong masama na pagtawanan ang mga rape victim. Alam ko pong seryoso ang isyu tungkol sa rape. Kaya hindi ko ginawang seryoso na pagtawanan ang rape victims. Wala po akong intensyong masama. Gayunpaman, kung meron mang nasaktan, humuhingi po ako ng paumanhin.”
“At sa lahat po ng nakisali na sa isang maliit na isyu na pinalaki ng pinalaki na nagmukhang national issue na nagsimula sa isang simpleng biro, kung hindi niyo po nagugustuhan ang pagpapatawa ko, paumanhin po sa inyo. Sa mga nakaunawa nang mahusay sa mga biro ko, maraming maraming salamat… At doon naman po sa mga hindi nakakaunawa, ako na lang po ang uunawa sa inyo.”
In a statement given by Soho by Vice phone call and public apology, she urged:
"I acknowledge the public apology given by Vice Ganda, by way of his TV program. I sincerely hope and pray that this was done with the purest intentions and determination to put this issue behind us.
"Just to clarify certain points about my phone conversation with him--his call came without warning as his number was not programmed in my phone directory. I told him I wasn't feeling well and I wasn't sure I was ready to talk to him. But I clearly remember thanking him for his call.
As I've said, this is not about me, but about the issue of rape not being an appropriate subject matter for comedy. Rape transcends age, economic class, gender—and even one’s weight."
The issue has been cut-off by the two, Vice apologize and Soho accepted it, but the debate online claiming that it is just a joke is still arising while some are saying that rape was just an excuse because Soho is offended by Vice.
Some are saying and even Vice himself says he is not perfect, it serve as an excuse for vice insensitivity, we Filipinos always excuse it everytime we made mistake and offended somebody, we are so fun of reasoning “nobody is perfect”, it serves as our cover up to grant for forgiveness.
Our words, the words that came out to our mouth reflects our soul, what we have said is not revocable, therefore we must be responsible, sensitive and curious to what we have said, our grandparents always tells us that we must think ten times in making decisions.
We cater both personalities, we trust Jessica Soho for her reports and sensitivity in the news, while on the other hand we are so fun of Vice Ganda’s frank joke on TV, let us admit it, they are not their names and position now if we do not cater their character on tv, therefore they are just reflection of what we want, those who cater Vice Ganda have similarities as what his character on TV is, believe it or not, those who cater and watched Vice shows were the people who are much related to him same with Jessica Soho.
These people on TV were the reflection of what we want, as no industry can run without its user. That is why it is a reflection of our society.
Some are saying and even Vice himself says he is not perfect, it serve as an excuse for vice insensitivity, we Filipinos always excuse it everytime we made mistake and offended somebody, we are so fun of reasoning “nobody is perfect”, it serves as our cover up to grant for forgiveness.
Our words, the words that came out to our mouth reflects our soul, what we have said is not revocable, therefore we must be responsible, sensitive and curious to what we have said, our grandparents always tells us that we must think ten times in making decisions.
We cater both personalities, we trust Jessica Soho for her reports and sensitivity in the news, while on the other hand we are so fun of Vice Ganda’s frank joke on TV, let us admit it, they are not their names and position now if we do not cater their character on tv, therefore they are just reflection of what we want, those who cater Vice Ganda have similarities as what his character on TV is, believe it or not, those who cater and watched Vice shows were the people who are much related to him same with Jessica Soho.
These people on TV were the reflection of what we want, as no industry can run without its user. That is why it is a reflection of our society.
