enrique gil
AMIDST controversy, ABS-CBN’s newest primetime fantaserye, “Bagani” beat GMA’s “Kambal Karibal” in the ratings for its pilot episode last Monday, March 5.
In an Instagram post made by ABS-CBN PR yesterday, “Bagani” headlined by Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil got 35.5 percent for nationwide ratings based on the national Kantar TV Ratings.
“Maraming salamat, Kapamilya! #UnangSabakNgBagani,” the post reads.
The same Instagram post also showed that “Kambal Karibal” topbilled by Bianca Umali and Miguel Tanfelix received 15.2 percent for nationwide ratings.
“Bagani” replaced Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla’s television series, “La Luna Sanggre” which ended last week.
Soberano plays Ganda from the region of farmers while Gil who plays as Lakas who pretended to help the farmers for a battle was asked by Dakil (Christian Vasquez) to conquer them.
“Bagani” is directed by Richard Arellano and Lester Pimentel. Other stars in this series are Makisig Morales, Sofia Andres, and Matteo Guidecelli.
The series became under fire days before its pilot episode after the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) asked for an immediate clarification on the use of the term “bagani.”
The same day the pilot was aired, the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) released a statement through its Facebook page signed by its chairperson Leonor T. Oralde-Quintayo.
Albert Martinez
For NCIP, “Bagani” is real and not fictional nor mythological group of warriors as being like to portray by ABS-CBN.
“Bagani is an exclusively indigenous term that refers to the peace-keeping force of the Manobo Indigenous Cultural Communities / Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) and other ICCs/IPs in Mindanao. The Bagani defends and protects lives, properties, and territory. Its prime duty is to guard the ancestral domain against any intrusion from outside forces that pose threat to the lives of the ICCs/IPs. It is a sensitive position and class not lightly ascribed to just any person and never to those outside the ICCs/IPs,” the statement reads.
With “Bagani” as being portrayed as fictional or mythological without reference to its historical and cultural significance, the series “misleads and confuses rather than educate the Filipino TV viewers on the indigenous concept and term Bagani.”
NCIP is not also surprised that members of the Manobo and other ICCs/IPs are offended with used of “Bagani” in a television series.
“Hence, we call on ABS-CBN to IMMEDIATELY RECTIFY the injustice committed in using the word “Bagani” and to prevent misleading or confusing the general public by giving false information about the concept. Otherwise, the NCIP together with the concerned ICCs/IPs will be constrained to take all necessary remedies to protect and fulfill the rights of the indigenous peoples to their cultural integrity as guaranteed by the Constitution and by law,” the statement ended.
ABS-CBN, on the other hand, released an official statement via Instagram and explained that the fantaserye’s concept is to feature warriors, protectors, and heroes who espouse Filipino values and beliefs.
“The production team did intensive research to determine distinctly Filipino term that embodies a champion who fights for the common good of his tribe or family-somebody who is brave, honorable, self-sacrificing, and good hearted. In the end, the team recognized the term and concept of a “Bagani” best solidifies the traits that the program wants to highlight,” ABS-CBN said.
The network also explained that they do not intend to malign or disrespect the beliefs of indigenous people but “hopes to propagate the values, morals, and ethics that arec inherent in a “Bagani”—a Filipino warrior, protector and a hero.”
The statement further explained that the new series “does not also claim to be a historical account of Philippine history or culture.”