“Philippines, it’s time to pick your debuting president!” reads the tagline released by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) during the launch of Produce 101: #Halalan2022, the Philippines’ chart-topping presidential survival show, last February 8. The Commission, in partnership with South Korean television music channel Music Network (Mnet), aims to allow Filipinos the chance to get to know their presidential candidates and to determine their potential to lead the country through a series of televised evaluations.
After a series of eliminations in the first two months of the show’s runtime, the show now cuts its participants down from more than a hundred to just 10. As such, many Filipinos and members of the international community are excited to witness how the finale of the “newest” and “most revolutionary” form of democratic elections will pan out.
Democracy’s newest idol
The show’s premise involves all presidential candidates participating in “evaluations” such as debates, interviews, and campaign rallies to showcase their capacity for national leadership. After which, all registered voters, called “national producers”, decide the ranks through text voting, similar to Filipino reality shows such as Pilipinas Got Talent and Pinoy Big Brother. Rankings are announced after each round, with the top five candidates being hailed as the most likely to “debut” or be elected into office.
As the primary rounds during campaign period are only meant to introduce the candidates as well as their stances and platforms, independent media sites and voters are allowed to hold their own informal surveys. However, these would not be considered as actual votes or would have any bearing on the competition. The election finale shall be conducted on May 9, by which national producers must cast their votes from their respective precincts. The show’s winner will debut as the 17th President of the Philippines on June 30.
World-renowned mentor and first round interviewer Jessica Soho, who became known after her appearance in Mnet’s survival show Girls Planet 999, commends the program’s format, stating, “Nobody loves reality television more than Filipinos and this new method of democracy encourages the greater population, especially the rather apolitical citizens, to engage in politics.”
“As the Filipino entertainment industry continues to expand, we have to maximize its potential of becoming a multisectoral platform for spreading information aside from just providing amusement,” adds “Nation’s Tito” variety star Boy Abunda, who hosted the next round of interview evaluations after Soho. Furthermore, he remarks that this should be the norm in the following Philippine Elections, “This is real, this is us, we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be.”
Pick me, pick me
Dictator’s son and former Sen. Ferdinand “Hitman Bong” Marcos Jr. steadily maintained his top spot throughout the show. However, Vice President Leni “Laenis” Robredo presents herself as a rising challenger as she slowly trails her way to the center seat. “We can win this,” Robredo insists. “Produce 101 is pink.”
With Marcos Jr.’s constant absence in numerous evaluations—which have come in the form of interviews, debates, forums, and platform presentations—some have swerved lanes to Robredo, who received high praises throughout the initial stages. “I know your sacrifices. My Laenis, we love you,” user Otin from Kwangya (@aeloveulaenis) expresses on Twitter.
Despite this, Marcos Jr. remains confident. “You shoot me down, but I won’t fall. I have the eye of the tiger. I am a fighter, dancing through the fire because I am the champion,” he affirms.
Meanwhile, Francisco “IZ*KO” Moreno Domagoso follows closely behind the two, banking on his existing fanbase as a former actor-idol and on his current position as the mayor of Manila. “My experience in both showbiz and public service will speak for itself. At the end of the day, what [matters] most is that my etneb million supporters are behind my back,” Domagoso assures.
Retired boxer from the blue corner, former bboom bboom champion Sen. Emmanuel “Rocket Puncher” Pacquiao—who made a big leap to politics—comes in fourth. Meanwhile political sunbae and former leader of P-pop group Partido Reporma Sen. Panfilo “Ping Me” Lacson, who was inspired to join upon watching Produce 101’s previous seasons, secures the last spot for potential debut.
While these five have been consistently clinching the top spots after every elimination, the competition still is not over as labor leader Leodegario “Ka Lodi” de Guzman is slowly rising up the ranks as the “dark horse” of the season with a steady following. When asked if he plans to back out, he maintains that he is here to win the debut seat. “I will not back out. We are not a team. This is a competition,” Ka Lodi declares.
Playing with fire
Rightfully so, the public has expressed great support for the partnership, but some experts have expressed their disdain over it. Even about two months after the show’s launch, the partnership between Comelec and Mnet is still being questioned. Jennie Bang, a political analyst with a specialization in the field of celebrities-turned-politicians, states that this program may be another opportunity for Korean culture to further influence the decision making of the electorate, straying them away from being “truly Filipino”.
“Alam naman natin ang mga Pilipino ay mabilis maimpluwensyahan ng ‘Korean culture’ kaya hindi natin masisigurado na ang magiging resulta ng programang ito ay makakatulong sa karamihan,” argues Bang.
(We all know that Filipinos are easily influenced by “Korean culture” thus we cannot ensure that the results of the program may be beneficial to the masses.)
“I will not eat, I will not sleep, I will not even blink until I’ve exhausted all the votes I can possibly provide for my pick,” insists avid Pacquiao stan Marites Delos Santos.
Along with this, experts are also concerned over the rising accusations of “vote rigging” by Mnet. The series’ former producing director Ahn Joonyoung was previously sentenced to two years in prison following the discovery of vote manipulation throughout multiple seasons.
“Based on Mnet’s history of vote manipulation, partnered with Comelec’s recent questionable inclination toward Marcos Jr., the likelihood of Produce 101: #Halalan2022 being rigged is incredibly high,” asserts entertainment lawyer Beatriz Alcantara. “This is a risk we cannot take as a nation.”
Marcos Jr. supporters, on the other hand, refuted such claims via Facebook and TikTok posts, insisting that the presidential candidate is not being favored, but instead is receiving “evil edits” from Mnet. “Sa tuwing nababasa ko [ang mga komento tungkol kay Marcos] at napapanood [siya sa Produce 101], ‘di ko maiwasang masaktan. Umiiyak ako at nagtatanong, paano [niya] kinaya ang lahat ng panghuhusga ng mga tao? Paano [niya] kinaya ang lahat ng masasakit na salita?” exclaims avid watcher Vea dela Cruz.
(I feel hurt every time I see negative comments on Marcos and evil edits against him on Produce 101. I always cry and wonder how he can handle the public’s words.)
This is war
Media analyst Tonette Martinez asserted that the show is deceptive as it fails to give fair edits and screen time, a problem that Mnet has been constantly called out for on all its survival shows. “Msnake, gumawa na naman kayo ng evil edit para siraan si Hitman Bong. Sige pa. Gawan nyo pa ng issue si Hitman Bong. Baka paggising ng pinklawans, 75 percent na si Hitman Bong sa survey,” Martinez exclaims, expressing disappointment in the show’s recent episodes.
(Mnet, you’re proliferating fake news again to ruin Hitman Bong. Go ahead and see how his survey rating will rise.)
In response, Comelec Commissioner Winnie Dizon rebuts, “Paanong i-evil edit [si Marcos] eh ‘true self’ lang naman ‘yung pinapakita sa show? No one’s evil editing him. He’s not even showing up in simple challenges.”
(How would you evil edit someone who is only showing his “true self” in the show?)
As the show progresses, fan wars continue to brew among supporters. The fans take to Facebook, Twitter, and Kumu to debate the candidates’ performance. Non-Marcos supporters continue to question Marcos Jr.’s prevailing position in the top five despite underperforming—or his not performing at all. Meanwhile, Marcos Jr. stans are showering their bet with compliments while trending the hashtag #ApologizeToBBM.
Avid Produce 101 series fan Jhemerlyn Batumbakal (II, CAM) lambasts Marcos Jr., “I’ve seen [Marcos Jr.]’s tactics in similar contestants from previous seasons. He chases clout without having any actual talent. Maybe clout chasing is his calling.”
“This is a popularity show. Sometimes trying to prove that you’re the best is an insult. We don’t need to go down to other people’s level to make them understand that we are the strongest. Think hard and save your energy for what you deserve. Cheetah[s] use its speed to hunt, not to prove to dogs that it is faster and stronger. Hitman Bong won’t waste his time to prove his value. We already know it,” Twitter user Bibi7 (@bongtansonyeondan), who was anonymously interviewed, disagrees.
In lieu of these controversies, Comelec maintains that they are advocating for a clean and safe election. “We want to use Produce 101 as an opportunity for voters to discern more wisely about who will get their votes. The last thing we would want to do is cheat on the public,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez assures.