Prospero Pichay’s Dreams (as depicted in the ads), I Call Empty Promises

Posted on February 21, 2007
Filed Under Reviews | Viewed 5423 times

Oh, well, now that BA has written about it, let me put my 2 cents worth, on what he calls the political TV ad that I have been “fond of” and “amused me no end” lately.

It presents a lady who says (in the vernacular tongue, of course), “I dream, of nice life… I dream, of a nice house… I dream, of etc etc.”

After saying what she dreams about, a candidate appears and says, “I dream, that your dreams will be fulfilled.”

This never fails to amuse my Mom. Almost always after seeing the commercial, Mom laughs and says, “eh pangarap lang pala eh! Matutupad nga ba??“

The TV ad has recall. For a while, it amuses, but afterwards, amusement turns to doubt, cynicism, consternation. His was just a “dream” to fulfill other people’s dreams, an empty promise. He could have said “I will help you fulfill your dream”. It would have exuded a “promise”, something to look forward to. Blame it to his scriptwriter? his thinktanks? or was it really intended to be that way? So that in the end, in case he has not delivered anything, he can always say, “it was only a dream”.

Go, PP, dream with each Filipino, from a beggar’s dream of a decent meal, to a home for the homeless, to a teener’s dream of a makeover, to a matron’s dream of a New Jersey plastic surgery, a Vicki Belo liposuction, a grand dream of travel to Paris, to the moon, I can go on and on. Dreams…empty promises…

Comments

46 Responses to “Prospero Pichay’s Dreams (as depicted in the ads), I Call Empty Promises”

nao on February 21st, 2007 4:30 am

boy i have no idea kung sinong potician at anong commercial yan.. (no names kaseh eh!)

anyway, that’s the Pinoy way.. from tricks to the trade, from idea to the AD. That’s their strategy, campaign advertising and presentation of evidence on how accurately they can serve the nation. Oh diba.. such bunch of hypocrites!
vic on February 21st, 2007 4:37 am

They are the merchants of dreams, no more no less and it’s a pity…
pining on February 21st, 2007 7:56 am

that last paragraph’s so funny sexy mom , you made my day
mr nice ash on February 21st, 2007 10:45 am

I also noticed that. Like your mom, that’s my reaction. Play safe sya sa campaign commercial na yun.

And take note, he’s not gonna make it on my list after he guaranteed the release of his co-congressman who get caught at the airport possesing illigal weapons.

jk:
the opposite of ‘pro’ is ‘con’.
what is the opposite of ‘progress’?

corny…
verns on February 21st, 2007 11:10 am

and take note..the tagline says:

Pichay sa Senado…ITANIM!

hilarious!

For me, dreams or hopes are not considered plans. Doing something about it is the plan. You are right Sexy Mom…could be the scriptwriter’s fault or could be also the politician’s way of being safe in case people someday will use it against him
dimaks on February 21st, 2007 3:59 pm

Baka naman he’s just being so thoughtful kaya dream muna, hehehe.. nakakasawa.
Election Campaign Jingles: Do They Bother With Copyright? -- Pinoy Tech Blog - The Philippines’ Premier Technology Blog on February 21st, 2007 4:08 pm

[...] election season once again, folks. It’s the time for crappy campaign advertisements on TV and radio, poster-polluted streets, and musically-challenged jingles. We’ve heard them over [...]
KD on February 21st, 2007 6:49 pm

yan ang problema sa mga POLCAN ngayon, gusto nilang i-project sa mga tao na sila ang mga kasagutan sa kanilang mga problema. todo ngiti, lahat kinakamayan, pero matapos manalo, ano na.
siguro dapat eh mayroong 3 months provisionary period ang mga mananalo, pag walang ginawa matapos ng period na yun..dapat palitan at ipatapon sa iwahig
Sexy Mom on February 22nd, 2007 8:34 am

wheeeew....political climate is getting HOT, hotter perhaps than summer which is quietly seeping in.
kimmy on February 25th, 2007 7:33 am

hehehe… natatawa rin ako sa ad na yan tuwing napapanood ko. i’d slap the one who wrote that if i were him.
Shari on February 26th, 2007 4:33 pm

Haha, same sentiments here. His ad really annoys me to no end.
andy on February 27th, 2007 12:02 am

Well, perhaps it was borrowed from Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech.
akimi on February 28th, 2007 6:18 pm

ok naman c pichay,marami na rin siyang nagawa sa province namin,at may paninindigan siya,sigurado akong mas marami pa siyang magawa para sa bayan kung siyay mahalal sa senado…
Sexy Mom on February 28th, 2007 6:33 pm

thanks, akimi, but i feel his ads should have sense, at least.
surigaonon on March 1st, 2007 8:03 pm

[quote]ok naman c pichay,marami na rin siyang nagawa sa province namin,at may paninindigan siya,sigurado akong mas marami pa siyang magawa para sa bayan kung siyay mahalal sa senado…[/quote]

Anong ginawa na pinagsasabi mo? In 9 years niya as congressman ng surigao del sur, ni isang semento wala syang nagawa. Tingnan mo nga yung daan ng surigao…tayo na lang ang hindi concrete sa buong mindanao. Yan ba ang sinasabi mo ng may nagawa? Tapos ngayon Top Spender pa siya in first 2 weeks ng campaign.
nonon19 on March 2nd, 2007 2:07 pm

baka bulag ka kung hindi mo nakita ang mga nagawa ni pichay,maliit na portion na lang ang hindi na seminto nya sa surigao,lahat ng barangay nagkaroon nang kuryente dahil sa kanya,siguro isa ka sa hindi binoto nung nakaraang elekyon na kontra partido.walang magawa kundi magbulagbulagan.
yellowcard on March 4th, 2007 9:47 am

hahaha! itanim! yeah, you have a point there. after all, it’s just a dream. aside from his irksome poltical ad, his face really vexes me every time his ad is played on the television. i don’t like him. he is a pup of the administration so he better shuts up.
benj on March 4th, 2007 5:26 pm

Wow, nag away pa dito ang mga supporters at detractors ah. hehe

Anyway, the ad was shot badly. He must never be shot with his protruding belly.
Sexy Mom on March 5th, 2007 1:53 am

the political climate is getting hotter and hotter and hotter…
Flor P. Velasco on March 5th, 2007 3:43 pm

I will not comment on his ad…I will advise him (Pichay) to divert his campaign fund (I think he spent around 38 million pesos on TV ads alone) to Gawad Kalinga…The 38M pesos can build 750 houses…He can get more votes if he will do that and I will volunteer to be his campaign supporter and bring the good deeds/news…Pls tell also to Mr. Villar and Mr. Recto to do the same…Bring their money to GK…
mt on March 5th, 2007 10:09 pm

to nonon19 and akimi:

sa tingin nyo, san galing ang 33 million na ginagastos nya sa political ads sa tv??? wow! that’s a huge amount of money. kung gusto nya talaga tumulong, ibigay na lang nya sa mga walang makain ang ginagastos nya sa ads. grabe! ang gagaling nyong magtanggol ng politiko na pulpol. balita ko, meron pa siyang private plane. ang galing nya noh?
batang capt. on March 6th, 2007 3:22 pm

balita nko marajaw man daw c pichay
ed on March 8th, 2007 3:47 pm

Pichay ay isa lang sa mga politiko na tulad din ng iba…na di dapat pag talunan..

ehh kung yung mga Marcos nga tanggap ng tao si Pichay pa…hmm
lucing on March 12th, 2007 8:52 pm

I don’t know which part in Surigao na sinasabing halos lahat ng daan ay concrete na (probably sa norte). Kasi everytime I visit surigao sur sakay ng aircond bus, sumasakit ang buong katawan ko dahil sa lubak-lubak na daan. From what I heard, Surigao is one of the poorest provinces in the country. Naiinis ako because the province has a lot to offer yet napakabagal ng progress (kung meron man) in terms of economy, peace & order, telecom, agriculture, etc. Di ba dito din yong mga nagbebenta ng human organs because of poverty? Magtanim tayo ng pechay sa senado? Baket?? Nakapagtanim ba sya sa surigao? Wish ko lang. Nakakainis grrrrr…. Baka pag humingi tayo ng tulong sa kanya, sasabihin nya “PANGARAP KO ANG PANGARAP NYO”!
Mikey on March 13th, 2007 7:50 pm

I know Cong. Pichay personally, sayang at hindi maganda ang feedback ng commercial nya, actually meron karugtong yan before the election on May, “Ngayon tutuparin ko ang mga pangarap nyo” he might sound playing safe, pero you all do not know kung gaano ka talino at ka tutuo si Butch Pichay.

“Do not judge the book by its cover”, yan ang problema ng mga Pilipino, kung sino ang kilala at guwapo duon tayo!... kaya hanggang ngayon walang nangyayari sa Pilipinas.

Even si yung mga taong gusto mag patalsik kay Arroyo, ano si Noli De Castro ang ipapalit or sino? Grabe na talaga malala na ang mga tao sa Pilipinas…
Vrynz on March 14th, 2007 2:01 am

Butch Pichay help made PGMA the top 4 most powerful woman in the world.
concerned citizen on March 14th, 2007 2:22 am

Check nyo muna yung profile ng candidates, and see their contributions. I think Pichay is okay, its an advertisement what would you expect?
concerned citizen on March 14th, 2007 2:26 am

walang pulitiko ang makakatupad sa mga pangarap nyo! Common sense its just a commercial, obviously they’ll throw good catchy lines to draw people its basically the purpose.

Pero walang Pulitiko ang makakatupad ng mga pangarap nyo, NOT EVEN GOD… but yourself!

Be concerned, payo lang… scan the internet at tignan ng maige yung mga contributions ng candidates, their backgrounds…

INTELLIGENCE is our key to success!
GIL THE WORLD on March 14th, 2007 2:29 am

I would have voted for Eddie Gil had he not been disqualified.

I’ll vote for Pichay now that he’s not a candidate for disqualification!
vince on March 14th, 2007 6:21 am

those political ads are addressed to the masa, whom i say actually decides on the votes. they want no-brainer ads, straight to the point, catchy and simple. winning the elections these days means making the best (not actually best, but best for the mass) political ads, jingle and commercials. i’m never voting in the future, it’s one big BS for me.
marts on March 14th, 2007 8:34 pm

Pichay is one of the few politicians today who has sense. You may not always agree with what he says, you may not even agree with what he stands for, but I believe you will agree that when he speaks there is always something there. He speaks his mind, even if it is not popular, but if you open you mind an truly listen there’s sense in what he says. That’s a rarity in Philippine politics.
mike on March 16th, 2007 12:23 pm

I don’t get all the fuss about the ads of Prospero Pichay, admittedly they’re not that great, maybe he could have gotten more political mileage with a better executed ad. However, other ads are a LOT worse. At least nagpakilala si Pichay – how about the ad of Koko Pimentel? I think that ad is fraudulent and is truly trying to fool the people. I didn’t even notice the image of the candidate in that ad, as the dominant person portrayed in the ad is his father. It was definitely meant to mislead voters to think that they are voting for the elder PIMENTEL who is not for elections, and worse yet, will still be in the Senate after the elections resulting to two PIMENTELS, father and son. Pichay’s was just a bad ad, at least it does not try to mislead.
Jhazper on March 16th, 2007 4:18 pm

Actually, I dont know who Pichay is? Maybe he is only trying to enter in a world of Politics not knowing the tremendous things that awaits on him. But, I’m not convinced on whwt Pichay’s says on his advertisement ” panagrap kong tuparin ang mga pangarap niy”. i never believe on that sayin co’z if he only want is to serve the people in the Philippines,then go… Better starts now.
innocent voices on March 17th, 2007 9:08 am

Grabe nga ang ad ni pichay…. i went to surigao del sur… sus! grabe ka sira ang kalsada…matagal ng pinangrap ng mga tao na magkaroon ng magandang daan…bakit di natupap after 9 years? siguro….dahil pangarap lang…

http://uprootpitchaynow.blogspot.com/
mt on March 18th, 2007 11:27 pm

dapat ang ad ni pichay eh…pangarap kong tuparin ang mga pangarap ko. hahaha.

posporo pechay…ibaon sa hukay.

spending 100 to 200 million for the campaign alone is extraordinary. tama si cesar montano – sana ibigay na lang daw sa mahihirap ang mga gagastusin sa kampanya. i am not campaigning for cesar, by the way. kasi isa pa ring mapangarap itong si cesar. hahaha kung gusto talaga nila tumulong bakit kelangan pa kumandidato. tumulong na lang sila. sabi ni pechay at lahat ng kandidato, bigay daw ng mga kaibigan nya ang gagastusin nya sa eleksyon. grabe naman mga kaibigan yun? dami rin ako kaibigan at marami din naman kami natulungan pero wala ata magbibigay sakin ng ganung kalaki halaga. conclusion: ang mga kaibigan lang ng mga yan eh yung mayayaman na meron kelangang protektahan pag nanalo ang itinutulak nila sa government.

oh yeah! pechay made PGMA a powerful woman. kaya pala para tayong nasa martial rule ngayon. dami political killings. lahat ng magcomment sa kanya, nakakulong. kumusta naman si joc joc bolante? si hello garci? hehe.

by the way, hindi lang ad ni pechay ang pangit. lahat pangit.

ang tatanga natin noh???
marts on March 19th, 2007 3:25 pm

True, Pichay defended the president, but that alone should not take the fact away that he has one of the best records in Congress. From what I read in the papers Pichay was the second most productive member of Congress last year.

With regard to spending for ad campaigns – well the Filipino people should accept the same because THAT IS HOW MUCH IT COST TO RUN FOR THE SENATE that we love too much!! Some may spend more, others a little less, but these figures have been discussed countless times in various talk shows and there is no turning back the same. The only way to get around that is to be a movie star or just grab headlines and be controversial for the sake of getting popular, and voters reward both manners just too well come election time and I believe that both are worse than spending money for ad campaigns.
mt on March 20th, 2007 12:54 pm

Wow! The second most productive in congress ?!? What about the complaints regarding his hometown province? What about the link provided by INNOCENT VOICES above? The first sentence says, “Surigao del Sur ranks 6th among the country’s poorest provinces, having 48.6% of its population to be under the poverty threshold.” http://uprootpitchaynow.blogspot.com/

Kung ganun ang province nya, pano na yung third most productive? Fourth?

Anong dyaryo mo ba nabasa yun? O baka kay Secretary Bunye mo narinig yun???

Hahahaha.
Ymir on March 20th, 2007 3:01 pm

i perfectly understand what he meant by saying…

“pangarap kong tuparin ang mga pangarap mo…”

but the thing that dismays me is the notion that he wants to address a wide range of issues… masaganang pagkain, makapaggamot ng libre, up to the kotong cops… he wants to address it all. in the end it all gives an impression of wishful thinking… and now i picture him as a genie who grants the wishes of anyone who rubs his lamp.
marts on March 21st, 2007 11:25 am

That’s the problem with us Filipinos eh, we think that the world could be created in 7 days. Surigao has always been at the bottom of the heap, that’s a fact. And I am sure it will take a lot more time to raise Surigao Sur from the pits it’s at right now. Do we blame all the problems of Surigao Sur on one man? Of course not – it not only needs the whole province, but the whole nation to help Surigao Sur out of the bottom.

China opened it’s doors to capitalism in the early 80’s it took them more than 20 years to start becoming an economic power, and yet – much of China is still poor. Do we say that they have failed?

And by the way, I believe I read that in the Inquirer of the Philippine Star. Maybe you should read your newspapers thoroughly as well.

Secondly, I am trying to address the issue about campaigning. I am saying that we all rant about candidates and how much they spend but we do not rant about the defects of the system. Our senatorial system only allows someone to enter it if he has MONEY, a MOVIE STAR or a HEADLINE GRABBER. That’s the cost of our SENATE.
marts on March 21st, 2007 1:13 pm

And before I forget, to get to be member of the Senate, don’t forget political dynasties that has proliferated in that esteemed institution. Political dynasties of the worst kind even as people of the same family sit together representing the same constituents! Have you seen the ads lately of PIMENTEL? You would think your voting for the elder Pimentel. Sure, he’s not spending as much as the other candidates, but at what cost? Trade the cost of campaigning for political dynasties? How about outrightly misleading the voters?
marts on March 21st, 2007 5:38 pm

Please look at Philippine Star, February 15, 2007 report stating Zubiri being most prolific Congressman followed by Aquino and Pichay as second most prolific.

There you have it folks.

Matter of fact.
mt on March 22nd, 2007 2:45 pm

I do not blame the situation of Surigao on one man. I just cannot accept that this man is spending millions of money on something and he promises to do almost everything. All the people’s dreams would be fulfilled. haha. And yet, his hometown province looks like it never dreamed at all. He wants to help the whole Philippines but he could not even help his small province. Ang galing!

Bakit kelangan tulungan ng whole country ang Surigao? Hindi lang naman Surigao ang province dito. Kaya ka elected dyan sa province mo para tulungan mo at gawan mo ng paraan ang problema.

I agree with China’s situation 20 years ago and now. But what about our country? Instead of improving, the Philippines is going down. The political system has always been very poor. The military system is getting worse everyday.

For me, we should not be comparing our country to another. In almost all aspects, China is different and the Chinese are different. USA is different and the Americans are different from the Pinoys. My point is…why don’t we do it on our own?

Ang problema satin, kahit alam natin na tama at nasa batas ang idea ng isang kasama natin pero pag hindi tayo kikita ng malaki, hindi tayo conforme. Mas pabor pa sila sa hindi tama at labag sa batas pero kikita sila ng pera. Ginagaya tuloy ng iba kaya ayun, puro corrupt ang nasa govt.

Matatalino ang mga Pinoy, alam ko. Pero saan natin ginagamit ang katalinuhan natin? Sa corruption ba? Pangongotong? pagkuha ng hindi satin?

Discipline is the key for our success. Self-discipline, specifically.
mt on March 22nd, 2007 2:53 pm

naniwala ka naman sa dyaryo mo? baka si de venecia ang nagsulat? o di kaya si defensor? baka naman si congressman manhik-manaog. hahaha

manood nga pala kayo ng pelikulang MONAY. andun ako. showing na ngayon.
BA on March 22nd, 2007 5:14 pm

Putek. Bakit dito nag-aaway ang mga tao? Blog entry lang naman ito regarding an opinon about an AD and it’s weird script (pangarap, anyone?). And this entry is already a month old! Jeez.

Bring your hotheads elsewhere. Pati tuloy ako umiinit ang ulo.
andyv on March 30th, 2007 8:00 am

I don’t think dreaming is bad at all. Look at Manny V Pangilinan’s speech (here’s an portion of it)
——Yet, if I were to identify which qualities in a person best substantiate success, I would say that it is the spirit of enterprise and the passionate determination to succeed. Regrettably, the problem we as a people face today is precisely the converse of enterprise and passion and these are apathy and the “sure thing” segurista at bahala na. A survey recently completed by a former classmate of mine, now a professor at the Ateneo de Manila, showed that we have a low regard for imagination a quality that is vital in sensing entrepreneurial possibilities. The fact that our people don’t dream as much as they ought to, has a direct correlation to their appetite for risk-taking. And taking risks is imperative for enterprise capitalism to succeed in any country.——-
Kung kayo’y mangarap at magising….. Problema dito, karamihan ay ayaw kay PP dahil nasa TU….madami paring nagmamagaling, bobo namam! hindi nagiisip kundi emotional.
marts on March 31st, 2007 1:56 pm

Yes, naniniwala ako sa dyaryo – bakit hindi? Ano ba ang pinaniniwalaan mo? Bka wala ka nang pinaniniwalaan, masmasama naman ata yan.

Basahin mo na lang kung sino ang nagsulat, pero di naman ata si JDV.

With regard to Surigao, what I am saying is that it is at the bottom of the pack, panahon ni Quezon sa bottom na siguro yan. And it would take more than one man to get it out of the bottom. There are no miracles in this world. And yes, the whole country is needed for places like Surigao, di naman yan Cebu or other provinces with long standing and vibrant economies that they can just suddenly lift themselves out of their rut.

Just want to reiterate that too many of us complain, especially about the costs of a political campaign, that is the reality of it, that’s is a defect of the Senate. Kaya nga maraming dynasty sa Senate (ride on the name), maraming artista because of the cost of campaigning for the Senate. If people don’t know you you don’t have a chance unless you spend some money on political ads. Nothing wrong with that because that is how the Senate was established – nationwide ang campaigns.