An Exchange with the Creative Spearhead of Eat Bulaga’s KalyeSerye #ALDUBThisMustBeLove

Last Sunday, the ALDUBrielas posted this statement regarding Lola Nidora’s “sutsot” comment:

A discussion took place on Twitter regarding sexism in popular culture. Some people believe it is something not to make an issue out of. Some people think it’s shallow and something that should not be wasted time on. Some people believe that the “sutsot” comment made by Lola Nidora was just right–that her apparent views on women, particularly her belief that those who deserve to be respected should wear something “balot na balot,” was part and parcel of traditional Filipino culture. (I won’t be posting their tweets though in order to protect their privacy and identity.)

There are those who were open to discussing the issue–those who actually acknowledge that sexism is something that happens on a daily basis, that it is a sensitive issue, a long-standing societal problem that needs to be addressed. There were those who were generous enough to share their views and experiences in relation to the existence and normalization of sexism in the Philippines, particularly on local television.

One of the most commendable things about Eat Bulaga’s KalyeSerye is that it actually makes people ponder on certain issues and not merely settle on the kilig and entertainment it generously provides. The social media definitely makes it possible for many fans to share their viewpoints and interact with other fans. Their opinions may vary, they may not necessarily agree on some points, but at least a healthy and fruitful discussion started and an important issue was brought to light. (Again, I won’t be posting their tweets here to protect their identity and privacy.)

Then Miss Jenni Ferre, the head writer of Eat Bulaga, finally responded to ALDUBriela’s statement through a series of tweets:

I think it is very refreshing that a creative executive and television innovator like Miss Jenni Ferre actually took the time to read the statement and post replies. It simply goes to show how much Eat Bulaga appreciates its audience.

Today, 28 September 2015, I responded to Miss Jenni Ferre in the form of a letter:

No one is definitely expecting Eat Bulaga or KalyeSerye or the ALDUB phenomenon to change the world. But what do we get from this?

It is not only the kilig and entertainment that we, the fans, gain from it, but also the opportunity to interact with fellow fans and the creators of KalyeSerye. It is good to know that a powerful media entity like Eat Bulaga (or TAPE Inc., for that matter) is willing to interact with the masses by bringing the spectacle from the air-conditioned studios to the streets, and now to the realm of social media. It is also important to note that the fans of ALDUB are actually the thinking kind–I would prefer to call them “activated spectators.” They are not afraid to share their views and exchange thoughts with the other fans. Not only that this fandom has successfully made social media history several times in a span of just two months, it also seems that it is taking initiatives to gradually remove the common misnomer about fans and fangirling/fandom-hood.

To sum it up, it can be safely said that (1) the author ain’t dead and (2) the viewers aren’t passive.

Apart from what has already been mentioned, we can  still come up with other hypotheses and draw more conclusions from the current pop culture phenomenon but I will end this essay at this point because in a few minutes, Eat Bulaga will start airing. I certainly cannot miss that. No avid fan should miss that.

Disclosure: The Filipino Spectator is an avid fan of ALDUB, a member of ALDUBISTAS Worldwide and she’s also one of the founding members of ALDUBriela.

A Message of Thanks and Appreciation to the Executives of GMA7’s Sunday PINASaya #SPSTawaOverload

To the producers and creative executives of GMA7’s Sunday PINASaya:

Warmest greetings!

We, the fans and supporters of Mr. Alden Richards (and Miss Maine Mendoza) would like to express our utmost appreciation on the changes that you made on Sunday PINASaya’s Chef Boy Next Door segment. While watching today’s episode, we noticed a glaring change on the “roleta.” Instead of body parts, what it indicated were actual gifts/prizes that the lucky audience member can take home. We would definitely consider this as one of the greatest things that has ever happened on Philippine television–on contemporary Philippine popular culture, in general. Who would have thought that multimedia giants like APT Entertainment and TAPE Inc. would actually listen to whatever ordinary fans like us say?

We hope that through the changes that you brought to the aforementioned segment, we’re able to move one step closer to raising the standards of entertainment and fangirling/fandom-hood in the Philippines. We look forward to seeing Mr. Alden Richards’ (and Miss Maine Mendoza’s) career further flourish. Rest assured that we, fans and supporters from all over the world, will always be there to support Mr. Richards (and Miss Mendoza).

Thank you very much and more power!

Very sincerely yours,

Citizens of the ALDUB Nation

aka The same people who wrote the open letter

Savor the Moment, Own the Victory

ALDUB Nation: Pagkatapos nating makalikom ng 12.1 milyong tweets, ano na?

Hindi biro ang makalikom ng 12.1 milyong tweets na may katagang #ALDUBMostAwaitedDate. Malaking tagumpay natin itong maituturing. Ito ay resulta ng pinagsama-samang lakas nating mga taga-ALDUB Nation. Malinaw na indikasyon ito masidhing pagmamahal at pagsuporta natin sa ALDUB, sa KalyeSerye, at sa Eat Bulaga. Sagisag din ito ng pagmamahal at pagsuporta natin sa isa’t isa. Bagamat hindi tayo magkakakilala at magkakaiba ang ating pinagmulan, nagbuklod tayo para sa isang pangunahing layunin–ang matiyak na permanenteng maisesemento sa kasaysayan ang tambalang ALDUB at ang insipirasyong naibibigay nila sa mga karaniwang taong gaya natin.

Bawat tweet ay parang butil ng semento at bato, na kapag hinaluan ng pagmamahal at pagsisikap, ang resulta’y monumento. At sa metaporikal na monumentong iyan, matagumpay nating nailuklok sina Alden Richards at Maine Mendoza. Bukod dito, inaani nila ngayon ang iba’t ibang pagkilala sa pamamagitan ng sari-saring proyektong pang-TV, pampelikula, at pangkomersyo, na natatanggap nila. Sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaisa natin, natulungan natin sina Alden at Maine na matiyak na hindi lang natin sila sa KalyeSerye mapapanood, kundi sa mga patalastas-pantelebisyon at sa pinilakang-tabing (at sa susunod na taon, sa sarili nilang teleserye).

Kung gayon, dapat na ba tayong maging kampante?

Bagamat walang kumpirmasyon mula sa alinmang kampo, usap-usapang tinangka raw ng kabila na makuha sina Alden Richards at Maine Mendoza mula sa estasyong nagbigay sa kanila ng unang pagkakataon. Pero tinanggihan nila ito. Totoo man ito o hindi, hindi na ito nakakagulat pagkat karaniwang bahagi ito ng lumang kalakaran sa showbiz. Totoo man ito o hindi, hindi ba’t nakakatuwang malaman na hindi nagpalansi ang mga iniidolo nating artista sa sinasabing alok ng kabila? Ibig sabihin, minamahalaga nila ang anumang pagkakataong mayroon sila ngayon–pagkakataong tayo, ang masa, ang nagbigay.

Gaya ng nasabi na, hindi na nakakagulat kung mayroon ngang ganoong aksyon mula sa ating kapitbahay. Naging masugid din ang kanilang mga tagasunod sa pambabato ng putik sa bagong tambalang pinili nating pag-alayan ng oras at pagmamahal. Kung tutuusin, nakakalungkot mang isipin, ang demolition job laban kina Alden at Maine, ay normal na bahagi ng showbiz (“It comes with the territory,” ika nga). Kalimitang nangyayari ito lalo na kung malaking puhunan ang nakataya at malaking kita ang mawawala. Gayonman, hanggat mas matibay pa sa kongkreto ang ating samahan, hindi tayo dapat mabahala. Magtiwala tayong hindi kakagat sa anumang tangkang paninira sina Alden at Maine. Katulad nila, magtiwala rin tayong hindi kakagat sa pain ng mga grupong may-ugnay sa kabila, ang sinuman sa atin.

Bilang kapalit ng saya at inspirasyon na naibibigay sa atin ng ALDUB at ng KalyeSerye ng Eat Bulaga, naging masigasig tayo sa pagpapanatili ng ating presensya sa social media, lalo na sa uniberso ng Twitter. Araw-araw nating iniluluklok sa pangunahing pwesto ang itinakdang hashtag bilang pagsuporta. Tila minamani lang natin ang isang milyong tweets kada araw. Naging posible ito dahil sa pagtutulungan ng mga narito sa Pilipinas at ng mga kababayan natin sa ibang bansa, ang mga OFW. Giniba natin ang dating rekord na tayo rin ang lumikha. Kasabay nito, pumanday tayo ng kasaysayan. Hanggang sa tila wala na tayong kalaban kundi ang sarili natin.

Kung gayon, dapat na ba tayong magpakakampante?

Sa aking palagay, mahalagang magkaroon tayo ng malinaw na layunin (goal), lalo na sa Sabado (ika-26 ng Setyembre 2015), nang sa gayon ay magkaroon ng siguradong direksyon ang ating pagpapakahalimaw sa Twitterverse. Dagdag pa, makakatulong ang pagtatakda ng layunin para ating matiyak ang longevity ng mga karera (career longevity) nina Alden Richards at Maine Mendoza. Kung mamimintina natin, halimbawa na nasa tuktok ng trend list ang itatakdang hashtag sa Sabado, at matutumbasan (kundiman, malalampasan pa) ang huling pinakamahusay na record natin, magkakaroon ng dagdag na lakas ng loob para magpatuloy pa sina Alden at Maine, at ang Eat Bulaga. Alalahanin nating sa loob ng matagal na panahon ay nahirapan ang Eat Bulaga na makipagsabayan sa kakumpitensya pagdating sa pagpapanatili ng presensya nito sa social media. Sa katunayan, ayon sa eksperto at kolumnistang si Tonyo Cruz:

“Prior to #AlDub, the popular belief is that the CDE television market – the same audience claimed by Eat Bulaga – isn’t as immersed in social media as other market segments. In fact, Eat Bulaga’s social media presence pales in comparison to those of Anne Curtis and Vice Ganda, the stars in its rival Showtime.

#AlDub set the record straight about the Internet and television viewing habits of the CDE. They are, in fact, online, and would watch and share #AlDub videos on Facebook and discuss the kalyeserye realtime on Twitter. The agencies and analysts are surely watching closely and crunching the growing numbers: Fans and viewers have easily catapulted #AlDub daily as top Twitter trend in the Philippines and worldwide.”

Subalit dahil sa masigasig na pagtataguyod natin sa ALDUB at sa ALDUB Nation, hindi lamang natin basta nailampaso ang katunggaling panoorin, napatunayan din nating kayang-kaya natin baguhin at baliktarin ang status quo.

Uulitin ko, mahalagang mahalagang matiyak at mapatunayan nating kaya nating panatilihing malakas at matatag ang ating presensya sa social media.

Sa tulong nito, masubaybayan pa natin nang mas matagal ang pagyabong at pag-usad ng karera ng mga artistang nagbigay-inspirasyon sa atin–sina Alden at Maine (hindi tulad ng ibang artista, nakakalungkot mang sabihin, na tila nilamon na ng limot).

Para sa ating mga tagasuporta, ito ay kongkretisasyon ng ating marubdob na pagmamahal at paghanga sa ALDUB at sa ALDUB Nation. Kongkretisasyon din ito ng pagkanasyon natin. Isipin nating para tayong bumubuo o nagtatatag ng bagong lipunan, bago at mas mataas na pamantayan sa panood–matalino at pro-active na panonood at pakikilahok. Lipas na ang panahong itinuturing na pasibo ang mga mamamayang kagaya natin. Ngayon ang panahon natin–ang panahong kinikilala mismo ng mga mahahalagang tao sa industriya ang ating lakas at kapangyarihan.

Bilang mga aktibo at kritikal na tagasubaybay, di tayo ignorante sa katotohanang para sa mga malalaking koporasyong-pantelebisyon, ito ay negosyo. Kung pagmamahal, pagkakaisa, at milyun-milyong tweets ang puhunan natin, milyun-milyong salapi naman ang sa kanila. Sa loob ng maikling panahon, niyanig natin ang karibal ng Eat Bulaga. Kaya hindi na tayo dapat magulat o magtaka kung magiging mas agresibo sila sa kanilang mga hakbang. Para sa kanila, negosyo ito at kung gayo’y walang personalan. Paniwalain man natin ang mga sarili nating walang kumpitensya, para sa mga matitinik na negosyanteng ito, mas matindi ang kumpitensya ngayon.

Ayon sa isang artikulo sa Malaya Business Insight:

“Somewhere from P50 million to P200 million of the P3 billion total are used to pay endorsers, depending on the number of retweets. Unless part of the package, that means additional income for the endorser which could also run into millions of pesos.”

Ibig sabihin, bawat tweet, bawat retweet, bawat quote-tweet, may katumbas na halagang pinansyal. Bawat tweet, bawat retweet, bawat quote-tweet, ay puhunan (kapital). Bawat tweet, bawat retweet, bawat quote-tweet para at tungkol sa ALDUB ay higanteng bolang pangwasak sa katunggali sa negosyo, sa perspektiba ng kabilang kampo. Sa perspektiba ng mga nangangasiwa at nakikinabang sa katanyagan ng ALDUB, ang bawat tweet, bawat retweet, at bawat quote-tweet ay higanteng pison naman na magpapatag sa tiyak na daang tatahakin nila tungo sa mas matibay at pangmatagalang karera sa showbiz, at mas malaking rebenyu.

Inuulit ko, hindi totoong “walang kumpitensya.” Sa larangan ng negosyo, laging may kumpitensya. Kontradiksyon itong nagtutulak sa magkakaibang-panig na maging mas mahusay kaysa sa isa’t isa. (Yun nga lang, mayroong mga korporasyong marumi maglaro, nangungunyapit sa bulok na sistema.)

Bilang mga aktibo at matatalinong tagasuporta, sa palagay ko, hindi natin kailangang sumawsaw pa sa maruming laro ng industriyang pinasok nating lahat–tayong mga fans, at sina Alden at Maine na hinahangaan natin. Pero mahalagang maging malinaw sa atin na malaki ang naging papel natin sa transaksyong ito na kung bansagan ng marami ay isang “pop culture phenomenon.”

Tama ang sinasabi ng marami na magpokus tayo sa pagsuporta sa mga idolo natin, sa mga artistang role model kung ating ituring. Gagawin natin ito hindi para makipagkumpitensya sa iba pang mga palabas sa telebisyon, love team, o estasyon. Gagawin natin ito dahil wala tayong ibang kakumpitensya kundi ang sarili natin. Patunayan nating hindi tayo one-hit wonder, na ang ALDUB ay hindi one-hit wonder na sa kalaunan ay lilipas din. Nagawa nating baliktarin ang estado ng mga noontime show sa Pilipinas, iahon ang ALDUB mula sa wala tungo sa nagsisimula ngunit mabungang tagumpay, napagbuklod natin ang buong mundo magkakaiba man ang oras at lokasyon, magagawa rin nating ituluy-tuloy ang labang tayo ang nagsimula. Iyan ang hamon sa atin ngayon: Hanggang kailan at hanggan saan natin kayang ituloy ang labang ito?

Kaya, tanungin natin ang mga sarili natin: Ito ba ang panahon para maging kampante?

An Open Letter to the Producers of Sunday PINASaya

To the producers of GMA7’s Sunday PINASaya:

Warmest greetings!

We, fans and supporters of Mr. Alden Richards (and Miss Maine Mendoza), would like to make an urgent appeal to the producers of Sunday PINASaya, one of GMA7’s most bankable shows, to allow Mr. Alden Richards to further showcase his talents (e.g. acting, singing, and dancing) by and while upholding a neat, healthy, and decent image. In this light, we specifically request you to cease, or at least, re-design one of Sunday PINASaya’s segments: “Chef Boy Next Door” and make it an avenue for Mr. Richards to exhibit his skills and not his objectified body/image.

We, fans and supporters of Mr. Alden Richards, are avid viewers of Sunday PINASaya. We are generally very happy with this experimental variety show that you came up with. We are very pleased to see something new and refreshing on TV. We definitely appreciate the time, effort, and money that you’ve invested just to make the viewers feel entertained and satisfied especially every Sunday.

However, there is one segment in your show that unfortunately makes us feel uncomfortable and worried–and that is the segment called “Chef Boy Next Door” wherein Mr. Alden Richards is the lead and Mr. Jerald Napoles is the co-host. In this segment, the hosts would pick one member of the audience to get a chance to taste the featured dish. As a reward, the audience member also gets to kiss one part of Mr. Richard’s body (it could be the cheeks, chest, abdomen, legs, etc.).

We appreciate Mr. Richard’s very accommodating demeanor and we totally understand if the fan/audience member cannot contain his/her “kilig.” We also understand that as one of your most diligent talents, Mr. Richards was just being faithful to the script and obedient to the director. Regardless, we strongly feel that Mr. Alden Richards, famous not only for his singing ability and acting prowess but also for his wholesome appeal and decent image, does not have to “sell skin” to gain greater popularity and a sturdier foothold in the entertainment industry.

We are well-aware that in the entertainment industry, talents, whether male or female, are often expected by their management to assume a “mature” role/image through skin exposure (or basically, by allowing themselves to be sexually objectified) to ensure career longevity. But we certainly hope that Mr. Alden Richards (and Miss Maine Mendoza, of course) will not take this path. And instead, Mr. Richards (and Miss Mendoza) will continue to serve as role models to their countless number of supporters, to the youth, especially.

We are not only avid fans and viewers, we are not only consumers willing to spend money on buying Mr. Alden Richard’s endorsed products, we also are humans, and many among us are women, teenagers, mothers, parents–and we sincerely care about how Mr. Alden Richard is presented by the mainstream media.

What we truly love about Mr. Richards is, again, with greater emphasis, his very wholesome and decent image. He seems very accommodating and responsible. He seems like he really cares about his family, co-workers, and his fans. He seems like a fine young man. He is known for being a responsible son and breadwinner to the family. Furthermore, he is delighted by many people because of his faith in God. In an industry typically known for its decadent culture, Mr. Alden Richards (and Maine Mendoza) is (are) a breath of fresh air. These are just some of the things that we admire about him.

We assure you that we will continue to watch and support Mr. Alden Richards and Sunday PINASaya. However, we definitely hope that you, the producers of Sunday PINASaya (APT Entertainment, TAPE Inc.) will closely listen to what we–fans, viewers, supporters, stakeholders–say and feel regarding this issue. We hope that this may be a joint effort between you, the producers, and us, the active consumers-spectators.

Very sincerely yours,
Concerned ALDUB Fans

ALDUBriela’s Statement on #BugawSerye

Alarmed by the proliferation of sexist remarks and memes against Pastillas Girl on the internet, particularly on Twitter, the largest alliance of women in ALDUB Nation, ALDUBriela, released this statement on 18 September 2015:

About a week after,Gabriela Philippines released this letter addressed to the executives of ABS-CBN’s It’s Showtime:

Ang Kahungkagan ng Pag-ibig na Nalalaman ng Nagmamakatang si Rogene Gonzales

Ang screengrab na ito ay ipinadala ng isa sa mga tagasubaybay ng The Filipino Spectator.

Alinsunod sa payo ng aking mga kasama at kaibigan sa ALDUB Nation, hindi ko na dapat pansinin itong ipinadala sa akin ng isa sa mga tagasubaybay ng The Filipino Spectator. Pero nang malaman kong dating lider pala ng College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines itong si Ginoong Rogene Gonzales, at naging estudyante pa ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, napag-isip-isp kong hindi dapat palampasin ang pagkakataong sagutin at/o tunggaliin ang sinabi niya sa kanyang tula (mababasa sa itaas). Bilang lider-aktibista, siya dapat ang unang makauunawa sa pulso at panlasa ng masa. Hindi niya dapat basta-basta hinusgahan ang masa. Pero tila taliwas ang kanyang pagkaaktibista sa sinasabi niya sa kanyang tula.

Bago natin usisain ang ubod ng tula ni G. Gonzales, basahin muna natin ang literal niyang sinasabi. Sa tulang “Hindi na lamang ako iibig,” tila kausap ng persona ang madla, at ang kanyang deklarasyon, “Hindi na lamang ako iibig/ kung ang ipa-iibig lamang ninyo sa akin/ ay tungkol sa pagsasalubong ng mga tauhang likhang-isip/ o tungkol sa kabaliwan ng kanilang pagdadaupang-labi sa TV./” Bagamat di direktang sinabi, madaling mauunawaan ng sinuman na ang tambalang ALDUB (Alden Richards-Yaya Dub) ang pinatutungkulan rito. Hindi na lamang daw iibig ang persona na para bang pilit na pinatatanggap sa kanya ang ALDUB. Hindi na lamang daw siya iibig na para bang mayroong pumipilit sa kanya na magustuhan at/o mahalin ang tambalang napiling mahalin ng maraming mga Pilipino dito at sa ibang bansa.

Dagdag pa ng makata, “Hindi lang iyan ang kaibig-ibig -/ marami pa ang higit na kaibig-ibig/ lalo na sa mga sandaling ito/ na yumayabong ang pangarap ng mga katutubo/ ngunit kinakatay silang tila baboy ramo.” Sang-ayon naman ako sa persona sa pagkakataong ito–na marami pang iba riyan ang maaaring higit na kaiibig-ibig–maaaring ito ay ang mga magulang mo, ang babae/lalaking napili mong ibigin habampanahon, ang sarili mo, o kahit sino/kahit ano. Gaya ng sinabi ko kanina, walang pumipilit sa sinuman na magustuhan ang tambalang ALDUB. Nauunawaan naming mga tagahanga ng ALDUB kung bakit hindi sila nagugustuhan ng ibang tao.

Ang bahagi ng tula na hindi katanggap-tanggap para sa akin ay ito: “At ayaw kong lamanin ng aking dibdib/ ay kilig sa oras ng dalamhati’t galit/ kaya’t hindi na lamang ako iibig/ kung ang ipa-iibig lamang ninyo sa akin/ ay tungkol sa pagsasalubong ng mga tauhang likhang-isip/ o tungkol sa kabaliwan ng kanilang pagdadaupang-labi sa TV.//” Para sa akin, hindi dapat pagbanggain ang pag-ibig/pagmamalasakit sa ALDUB at pag-ibig/pagmamalasakit sa kapwa. Kukunin ko ngayon itong pagkakataon para maglinaw: hindi porke masugid kaming nagpapahayag ng suporta sa mga paborito naming artistang sina Alden Richards at Maine Mendoza, ay awtomatiko nang nangangahulugan na wala kaming pakialam sa mga mahahalagang nangyayari sa ating lipunan (tulad ng malubhang militarisasyon sa kanayunan, dislokasyon ng mga katutubo, at pagmasaker ng militar at ng estado sa mga nagtataguyod ng karapatang pantao). Kaming mga tagahanga at tagasuporta ng ALDUB ay mayroong nakukuha o natatanggap mula sa ALDUB na hindi namin nakukuha o natatanggap mula sa mga elitistang intelektuwal na kagaya mo, G. Gonzales.  Sa pananaw naming mga tagahanga (na mula sa iba’t ibang seksyon ng lipunan–maralitang tagalungsod, manggagawa, mala-manggagawa, mga estudyante, at mga propesyonal dito sa iba pang mga bansa sa buong mundo) na araw-araw sumasabak sa kahirapang ginawang normalisado sa lipunang malakolonyal, may kakayahan ang ALDUB (at ang KalyeSerye) na una, gawing sariwa uli ang palasak at nabubulok na konsepto ng pag-ibig, at ikalawa, gawing makapangyarihan ang kilig–emosyong madalas ay binabalewala ng mga makata at nagmamakatang katulad ni G. Gonzales kung mag-isip. Kaunting pag-asa–iyan! Iyan ang nahihita namin sa pagsubaybay sa ALDUB.

Ang kahirapang nararanasan ng mga katutubo sa kanayunan ay hindi malayo sa kahirapang araw-araw naming (natin) nararanasan. Hindi kaila sa amin ang nararanasan ng mga Lumad pagkat ito ay araw-araw din naming almusal. Ang mga balang bumaon sa katawan ng lider-aktibistang Lumad ay siya ring balang unti-unting pumapatay sa amin–iyon nga lang, ito ay dumarating sa amin, hindi sa porma ng bala, kundi sa iba’t ibang anyo ng kahirapan–VAT, E-VAT, talamak na korapsyon sa gobyerno, mataas na presyo ng langis at mga batayang bilihin, underemployment, unemployment, kontraktwalisasyon, kakapusan sa pangmatrikula, mga balikbayan box na pinakialaman ng Customs, at iba pa—mahaba ang listahan.

Kaya tatanungin kita, G. Gonzales, tutal ay nahusgahan mo na rin lang kami, ikaw, nagmamakata, nagpapakaaktibista–ano ang kaya mong ibigay sa amin? Paano mo mahahamig–kaming milyun-milyong tagahanga ng ALDUB, kaming masa kung iyo ay tawagin–paano mo kami mahahamig kung ngayon palang ay inilalaglag mo na kami?

On Reaching 6.35 Million Tweets, Breaking One’s Own Record, and Securing a Worldwide One

Twitter’s official count: 6.35 million tweets within 24 hours (source: twitter.com/ineffable888)

As a result of the fans and supporters’ organized and sustained efforts, the hashtag #ALDUBTheAbduction went viral Saturday, 12 September 2015. A total of 6.35 million tweets using the hashtag were gathered within 24 hours. Not only that the ALDUB/MAIDEN Nation broke their best record (which was 5.8 million tweets for the hashtag #ALDUBBATTLEForACause), they also succeeded in breaking the record for the greatest number of tweets posted within 24 hours using a single hashtag (that record used to belong to #LoveWins). Now, #ALDUBTheAbduction holds a worldwide record–a global accomplishment.

The hashtag #ALDUBTheAbduction was made to trend as the fans’ show of massive support for local love team Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza (also known as ALDUB/MAIDEN). Having collected a tsunami of tweets, it initially proves how much last Saturday’s KalyeSerye on GMA 7 was watched. (AGB Nielsen is yet to release official TV ratings).

Final Statistics Report for the HT #ALDUBTheAbduction (source: twitter.com/ineffable888)

Rain Basa’s data reveals that a total of 3, 207, 358 million Twitter users posted tweets using the official hashtag. More than 60% of them were female and the rest, male. This is more or less indicative of how many fans and individuals affiliate themselves with the ALDUB Nation. (Surely this number–ALDUB Nation’s population rate–would bloat if the non-tweeting fans were included.)

The same data released by Basa also shows that the tweets were actually coming from fans and ALDUB Chapters established in many parts of the world, with the Filipinos in the USA and the Philippines having contributed the most number of tweets. The map below indicates a visual narrative of how widespread the ALDUB fever has become.

As I have previously noted, the combined strengths of ALDUB official and non-official chapters here and overseas (including the contributions made by individuals who have not yet made themselves affiliated with any of ALDUB Nation’s regional and international chapters) have certainly made ALDUB (the love team) and the ALDUB Nation (the fans and supporters) the most powerful forces in local show business and in social media.

“The ALDUB Fever on a Global Scale” as said by Rain Basa (source: twitter.com/ineffable888 and twitter.com/pagkalaagan)

The ALDUB Nation’s resident statistician, Rain Basa, in close collaboration with web programmer Jerick Carlo Almeda, basically helped make reaching the goal seem very feasible through the scientific calculations and statistics reports that they regularly produce. I believe this is one of the key features of the ALDUB Nation’s success. The ALDUB Nation does things very systematically. They are very goal-oriented and they consistently manage to reach their daily and weekly targets, social media-wise, because they see things in an objective manner. And because the goals are realistic and feasible, reaching at least one million tweets per day has been effortless. (I say it’s highly impressive most especially because there has always been this pejorative notion that fans are “dumb” and “fangirling” is nonsense).

I have also noticed that the ALDUB Nation follows a set of guidelines that allow them to produce countable and valid tweets (hence, no tweets go to waste). These guidelines include the following:

1. Use the official hashtag when tweeting (the tweet doesn’t have to be directly about ALDUB or the KalyeSerye)
2. Use one hashtag per tweet (as including 2 or more hashtags would make the tweet invalid)
3. Use words instead of numbers, emoticons, and emojis (as such would make the tweet invalid)
4. Make sure that each tweet has value (meaning, it should contain words or thoughts and not just the hashtag)
5. Retweeting is encouraged but publishing fresh tweets is better

Most ALDUB fans are very much aware of these guidelines. And since they are simple and very easy to remember, tweeting doesn’t seem like a chore. It is also important to note that no one has ever been “required” to tweet. Tweeting wasn’t something deemed as obligatory by many ALDUB fans. Based on what I have observed (after two months of immersing myself into the social media realm of the ALDUB Nation), tweeting was actually an activity that many ALDUB fans enjoy doing. Social media administrators and fan club leaders never required anybody to tweet. But they have been very encouraging–like cheerleaders showing support and giving confidence to tired athletes. Moreover, tweeting serves as the KalyeSerye’s extension–it is a digital platform that fans and viewers use to air their thoughts and share their insights with fellows. Actual conversations–multiple and networked transactions of ideas–basically take place in Twitter through the fans’ interaction with each other. This positive attitude towards tweeting is definitely one of the key features of ALDUB Nation’s success (in addition to the aforementioned). Since the fans are not really obliged to publish a certain number of tweets, reaching the million-tweets goal has become relatively easy.

The question now is: What does bagging a new world-record signify? To the fans and supporters of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza all over the world, reaching more than 6 million tweets is a show of love. So far, with the limited resources that they have, this is their (I should say “our” since I’m a fan as well) way of reciprocating the love that both stars have managed to fluently exude on national TV. This is a manifestation of their unity and collective power. This, so far, has become an avenue for them to confirm from each other that we all could subconsciously relate to a single semi-manufactured, semi-spontaneous pop culture experience. Or perhaps, this is their way–whether intentionally or unintentionally–of blurring the geopolitical boundaries that keep them physically away from their home country, their families, and their Filipino-ness.

Lola Nidora is a Morally Ambiguous Character

Lola Nidora, played by seasoned actor Wally Bayola (source: https://twitter.com/lolanidora_)

Even if Lola Nidora unreasonably prevents Alden and Yaya Dub’s romance from blossoming, we still can’t help but adore her. That’s because she’s a morally ambiguous character. We, viewers, have a love-hate relationship with Lola Nidora. We hate her because the aforementioned reason. But we also love her because she certainly doesn’t hesitate to share her views on love. Most viewers refer to them as the “moral lesson” of the story.

Dear Mr. Jobert Sucaldito #ALDUBBATTLEForACause

Dear Mr. Jobert Sucaldito:

My friends and peers here at AlDubNation have already addressed you several times. It was done in a very neat and tactful manner. I’m not sure though if you have read their statements. But I assure you that we, AlDub Fans, definitely know how to deal with people your kind.

You have been belittling AlDub Fans by calling them “bobo.” No one has the right to call anyone “bobo,” Mr. Jobert Sucaldito. Your being a seasoned showbiz reporter and talent manager does not give you license to denigrate anyone. What you said is hurtful and damaging. For that, we definitely deserve an apology from you.

Also, please do not brag about being an Eat Bulaga fan for many years. Your age doesn’t mean you deserve respect, but you know what? That’s what you will receive from us nonetheless–that’s because AlDub Fans are kind and reasonable. And we, as fans, strive to emulate the best characteristics that our idols are known for.

If you have any criticism against us, the AlDubNation, please do it the proper way. I’m sure you are familiar with such a thing as constructive criticism.

You treat us with prejudice, we’ll deal with you with kindness.

Lastly, if you have anything else to say, then please do not hesitate to publish a rejoinder. But again, as aforementioned, do it in a humane manner.
Yours,
The Filipino Spectator