UPLB to “Maalaala Mo Kaya”: “Set the record straight”

[Kanphee]

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UPLB reacts to Angel Locsin's Blusa episode in MMK
March 6, 2009

Last February 28, Angel Locsin topbilled the "Blusa" episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya, the drama anthology show of ABS-CBN. She portrayed Nympha, supposedly a summa cum laude graduate of the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Her character had difficulty looking for a job so she resorted to being a night club dancer. Due to various problems, she lost her mind and became a vagrant (taong grasa).

Dimples Romana (who portrayed Nympha's sister) sewed a yellow blouse that became Angel's favorite item of clothing, hence the title of the episode "Blusa." (Click HERE to read more about the said episode.)

Online political humorist Loi Reyes Landicho pointed out in his blog The Professional Heckler that there were inaccuracies in the "Blusa" episode of MMK.

Prof. Ma. Stella Tirol, Office of Public Relations Director of UP Los Baños, sent the official statement of UPLB regarding the said "Blusa" episode. It stated that UPLB does not have an alumna that matches the life story presented by the drama anthology show of ABS-CBN.

Through its statement, UPLB officials are asking ABS-CBN to set the record straight since the said MMK episode "affected the reputation of UPLB as an educational institution."


Here is the complete letter of UPLB (published as is):


"Our attention has been called by constituents and alumni to an episode featured in Maala-ala Mo Kaya entitled "Blusa," which was aired on ABS-CBN on Feb. 28 and on TFC recently. Our constituents and alumni were concerned whether the episode was based on truth.

The story was of a woman who allegedly graduated BS AgriBusiness, summa cum laude, from the University of the Philippines Los Baños or UPLB, who could not find a job, and ended up a stripper. We tried to find out who the subject was by tracking all 27 of our summa cum laude graduates from the time the University was established in 1909. We could not find anyone matching the subject as portrayed in "Blusa."

Whether or not the subject was a UPLB graduate, we deeply sympathize with her and her family. However, in the interest of maintaining its reputation as a truthful storyteller, the MMK should have a mechanism to validate claims by letter senders especially those that require a stretch of imagination as to be believed.

While indeed touching and a perfect example of a human-interest story, "Blusa" regrettably affected the reputation of UPLB as an educational institution and its constituents and alumni. We therefore request ABS-CBN to set the record straight and correct the wrong impression that it created among its viewers. We also make an appeal to producers of similar programs to be more prudent in reporting stories with claims that would affect the reputation not only of a school but also of its alumni in the Philippines and abroad."

At press time, PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) is still waiting for the feedback of ABS-CBN corporate communications department regarding this matter.

[Kanphee]

‘MMK’ ni Angel, binatikos!

BAYOLENTE ang reaksyon ni Loi Reyes Landicho sa recent epi*sode ng Maalaala Mo Kaya na pinangunahan ni Angel Locsin.
Si Loi ang winner ng Best Entertainment Blog (www. professionalheckler.wordpress.com) ng 2008 Phi*lippine Blog Awards:

“This has reference to the episode of ABS-CBN’s Maalaala Mo Kaya last Saturday, February 28. It tackled the story of an “alleged” summa cum laude (agriculture) graduate from the University of the Phi*lippines who couldn’t find a job and ended up as a nightclub dancer.

Firstly, that’s the very reason why I do not watch local soaps or drama anthologies. It’s full of bullshit.

Secondly, is our economy that bad? Believe me, even if Bangladesh registers an economic growth thrice that of the Philippines, no summa cum laude graduate from UP would end up working as a stripper because she couldn’t get a job!

Thirdly, no agriculture major student finished summa cum laude in the last two, three or even four decades. Lastly, I am 101% certain that the episode wr*i*ter didn’t graduate from UP and knew absolutely nothing about UP. The ignorance was annoyingly insulting, and appallingly stupid.”

[Kanphee]

March 09, 2009

May follow-up si Loi Reyes Landicho tungkol sa krusada niya laban sa episode ng Maalala Mo Kaya na pinagbidahan ni Angel Locsin at ipinalabas, dalawang Sabado na ang nakararaan sa ABS-CBN.
Nagrereklamo si Loi dahil wala raw katotohanan ang MMK episode tungkol sa isang UPLB agriculture alumna na Summa Claude pero na*ging night club dan*cer dahil nahirapan na maghanap ng trabaho.
Ito ang email na natanggap namin mula sa recipient ng best entertainment blog award ng 2008 Philippine Blog Awards para sa kanyang internet blog, ang www. professionalheckler.wordpress.com.:
“I have just received a confirmation from the University of the Philippines that ABS-CBN’s Maalaala Mo Kaya indeed sensationalized its February 28 episode about a UP alumna who, according to the drama anthology fi*nished summa cum laude but failed to get a job and became a night club dancer.
“The summa cum laude claim of ‘Maalaala Mo Kaya’ was a sham, a deception, isang malinaw na pagkakamali kundi man tuwirang panloloko sa mga tagapanood ng naturang programa. I am just waiting for the official statement from Prof. Stella Tirol, Office of Public Relations Director of UP Los Baños. I might post the statement in my blog.”

[SmaRkieS]

Another account, hmmmm familiar kau. And unsay naa anang "*"? Nag dali ka?

[uwagan]

exaggerated ra lagi ng mga story sa mmk... daghang gi pang puno nga chuva ek2x. heheheh

[uwagan]

Another account, hmmmm familiar kau. And unsay naa anang "*"? Nag dali ka?

paranoia ra na. daghang na buang sa paranoia! lol

[elvishtattoo]

if proven nga gi sensationalize and not based on facts ang maong episode, dakong tulobagon ni sa ABS ug ni Charo Santos.
ni tan-aw bya ko ato nga episode kay idol baya nako si Angel Locsin

[xeoxander01]

Firstly, that’s the very reason why I do not watch local soaps or drama anthologies. It’s full of bullshit

need i say more?..

[uwagan]

ABS-CBN issues statement regarding controversial "Blusa" episode of MMK

In the March 1 episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya, Angel Locsin and Dimples Romana were cast as sisters living in the province. Dimples's character was forced to work as a maid, but Angels character worked hard to finish her degree from the University of the Philippines Los Banos. Neema (Angel) finished as a summa cum laude graduate but she had great difficulty looking for a job. When someone suggested that she become a nightclub dancer, the desperate Neema found herself applying as a GRO in the city. As the story progressed, it was shown that Neema became mentally unstable after encountering several problems with her family, leading her to become a vagrant (taong grasa.)

Ever since the episode was aired, alumni of UP have reacted adversely to the said life story shown on drama anthology show of ABS-CBN. In fact, officials of UP Los Banos issued a statement saying that they do not have an alumna that matches the life story presented by MMK.

In response to the call of UPLB officials for ABS-CBN to "set the record straight," its Corporate Communications department has issued the following statement (published as is):

"Storytelling in Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK) is always based on narratives sent to the program by people who want to share their stories. MMK decides to go into production of the chosen stories, ONLY after the letter sender has signed a waiver attesting to the authenticity of the story sent.

MMK recognizes that a number of UPLB alumni are questioning the truthfulness of one letter sender who claims that her sister, the main character in Blusa essayed by Ms. Angel Locsin, was indeed a UPLB BS AgriBusiness, summa cum laude graduate, who could not find a job and ended up as a stripper.

"When MMK found out about the adverse reactions, the MMK production group went back to the letter sender to inform her of the issue raised and to re-verify her account. She reiterated that she stands by her story.

"Be that as it may, and after careful deliberation, MMK realizes that its writing and research pool may have been remiss in one thing verifying with UPLB the veracity of the indicated facts of the letter sender. Having said that, MMK sincerely apologizes for the oversight.

MMK always aims for truth and excellence. This incident may have deviated from its tight norm, but rest assured that MMK will continue to serve its publics with utmost care and respect."

PEP.ph: The Number One Site for Philippine Showbiz | News | ABS-CBN issues statement regarding controversial "Blusa" episode of <em>MMK** </em>

ka mga irresponsible ba pud sa mga researchers sa MMK ui. imagine uplb graduate summa cumlaude naging gro? maka trabaho man gani ug decent job ang hiskul grad summa cumlaude pa kaha. da question is tinuod ba kaha pud nga naay letter sender or basin imaginary letter sender ra sad na for the sake nga naay mapagawas nga mga ka dramahan sa show? hmmmm 18 years naman kaha ning MMK nya ang pag verify sa facts nalimtan pa? lol

[xxkatgorgeousxx]

dili mu-exist sa ila records ang name sa character kai syempre they must've used as different name to protect the main character's identity.