Thursday, May 3, 2012

Maala ala mo kaya "Blusa" (Blouse)

 






A controversial episode starring Angel Locsin and Dimples Romana that focuses on a story of a UP Los Baños summa cum laude graduate who found herself applying as a Guest Relations Officer (GRO), shown February 28, 2009. UPLB released a statement pointing out the credibility of the facts presented in the episode. On March 10, 2009, ABS-CBN issued an apology for not verifying with UPLB the veracity of the facts.

ABS-CBN issues statement regarding controversial "Blusa" episode of MMK
Jocelyn Dimaculangan
Monday, March 09, 2009 @ 07:32PM | 73199 views
"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," reads part of the official statement that the Corporate Communications of ABS-CBN sent to PEP regarding the adverse reaction of some UPLB almuni on the "Blusa" episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya starring Angel Locsin (left) and Dimples Romana.
Photo By: Courtesy of ABS-CBN













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 Angel's character worked hard to finish her degree from the University of the Philippines, Los Baños. 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, 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 the drama anthology show of ABS-CBN. In fact, officials of UP Los Baños issued a statement saying that they do not have an alumna that matches the life story presented by MMK. (the full statement of UPLB.)

UPLB reacts to Angel Locsin's Blusa episode in MMK
Jocelyn Dimaculangan
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 07:18PM | 58241 views
Angel Locsin topbilled the controversial "Blusa" episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya, which was aired last February 28. It is now being questioned by officials of the University of the Philippines Los Baños because of its inaccuracies.
Photo By: Courtesy of ABS-CBN













Last February 28, Angel Locsin topbilled the "Blusa" episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya, the drama anthology show of ABS-CBN. She portrayed a girl who is 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 Angel's sister in the story) sewed a yellow blouse that became Angel's favorite item of clothing, hence the title of the episode "Blusa."

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.


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."

http://www.pep.ph/news/21087/ABS-CBN-issues-statement-regarding-controversial-Blusa-episode-of-%3Cem%3EMMK%C3%82%C2%A0%C3%82%C2%A0-%3C-em%3E





May 20, '09 5:53 AM
by ABS-CBN for everyone
All her life, Nympha (Angel Locsin) has always been there for her much-loved sister Nemie. She has done every possible job to support Nemie’s education in UPLB and her efforts paid off when she graduated as Suma Cum Laude. She even turned down the marriage proposal of her 6-year boyfriend just to leave the province with Nemie and try their luck in Manila with only P500 in her pocket. Misfortunes came: they missed a good boarding house, lived with strangers and worst; Nemie did not succeed in her job applications. Until one day, Nemie found out that her sister was being enslaved by the owner of the house they were living in. So she asked Nympha to go back to the province and live the better life she thought she deserved. Nemie, alone in the city, did everything to make a job but still failed and ended up working as a dancer and GRO in myriad night clubs where she learned the worst vices. After 6 months, she decided to go home but on her way home, her bag full of important documents and savings was robbed. She arrived home with nothing and witnessed how bedridden their father was. This situation prompted her to go back even if her father insisted that she stay. After three months, she went home again and found out that her father was already buried dead. Everyday she would go to the cemetery, missed meals, until she lost her sanity. She is now seen in the streets carrying 5 cats that’s why she is often called ‘catwoman’ or Mayda (short term for maydalang pusa). People ridicule her and just like before, Nympha would always make ways to fight for her sister.
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Directed by
Dado C. Lumibao

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Writing credits
Shugo Praico
(written by)
Dado C. Lumibao
(head writer)
Episode Cast (in credits order)
<><> <><> <><> <><> <><> <><> <><> <><> <><> <><> <><>

Angel Locsin ... Nemie

Dimples Romana ... Nympha

Tanya Gomez ... Nanay

Soliman Cruz ... Tatay

AJ Dee ... Nick

Ella Cruz ... Batang Nemie

Kathryn Bernardo ... Batang Nympha

Charo Santos-Concio ... Tagapagsalaysay (as Charo Santos)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Lester Llansang ... Dante (uncredited)

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