One year old and what have we achieved?

Today we celebrate our first year anniversary; and every year gained in the real world, the celebrant, amidst the fatty foods and diabetes-inducing cake eaten on the day of celebration, almost always looks back at the year that was in nostalgia: What the heck did I do this year that I let it pass?

So what have we done aside from the insulting and name-calling? Is there really such an effect as to bring about a gigantic development in the current state of the entertainment industry? After a year, has anything changed?

In the year that went, I was able to review/insult a few duds: the horrible soap opera remake of Kampanerang Kuba, the witless reality shows Qpids and Pinoy Big Brother, the ultra-paradox-confusing Etheria, the kiddie-karate show Sugo, and the ho-hum movies Ako Legal Wife and Mourning Girls. Where are the positive reviews?

I slugged it out with a reader this year regarding my offensive critiques. Some of them claimed that I was too negative and was only looking at the bad factors of the production. Others, on the other hand, agreed with my views. I mirror the ideals of one Simon Cowell (of American Idol fame) when he was asked if he felt guilty about what he says to the contestants, he said, "What I am doing is kind by telling people who are useless 'Do something that you're good at'. So I would only feel guilt if I misled somebody who was terrible."

Then this 'Wowowee Tragedy' occured. This incident, I believe is the penultimate judgment to those who play poker with the lives of those who are in need. Now because of their greed and stupidity, the dead will forever haunt the memories of those who are responsible.

People tend to quit while they are on top; when they realize that they have reached their pinnacle, they subconsiously weaken their effort thinking that their lives could not get any better than what they have. I believe that this industry needs a really painful wake-up call from its fantastic sleep, and the only way to do this is to push it to the limits and make their mistakes known to them by shoving it in their faces. As long as they make these very same mistakes over and over again, then there will be no steps forward; the industry will be eating the same problems again and again.

They cry of piracy. They cry of bankruptcy. However, if they look honestly within their minds they will realize that their stupidity has gone full-circle. Ang basurang itinapon mo (pito-pito movies and cliche plotlines) ay babalik din sa iyo. This is a lesson waiting to be learned by all concerned.

One question left: will we still be around for another year? HELL YEAH. It is a beautiful thing to play devil to an industry such as this.