PHILIPPINE ENTERTAINMENT

Television
Since the late 1980s, television in the Philippines has assumed and maintained a dominance in
national popular culture, driven largely by entertainment media. Locally produced evening soap
operas, midday comedic gameshows and gossipy chat shows interviewing celebrities feature
strongly in programming line-ups alongside imported content, sports and current affairs. This
televisual success sits on top of more than a century of popular cultural industries, as the
Philippines experienced some of Asia’s earliest growth in networks of commercial entertainment
and showbusiness.
Popular Television has been part of the daily life of people. In a Nielsen Survey in 2016, television is
the most trusted source of political information (58% of the sample).
Television in the Philippines is dominated by three networks: ABSCBN, GMA, and TV5. Most of the
shows aired are variety shows, tv dramas, and game shows. The most prominent being that of TV
dramas or more locally known as teleseryes that air an episodic series daily
Regular programming on weekdays is largely the same across the stations. The day begins with
early morning news programs, followed by a variety of lifestyle or home-making shows or cartoons
for a younger audience. The lunchtime entertainment shows command significant audience
attention and are consistently at the top of survey ratings. Most of the late afternoon slots are
given to soap operas, followed by the evening newscast. After the evening news programs, the
‘primetime’, described as a window of time with a spike in the number of viewers, is usually a
screening of soap operas or reality television shows.
The critique on mainstream television lies mainly on the tendencies stemming from its commercial
nature, an example of which is the massive amount of air time allotted to advertising, or the news
emphasis on ‘what sells’.
The following are the three media giants in the Philippines:
ABS-CBN
Alto Broadcasting System and Chronicle Broadcasting Network has been one of the leading
networks in the Philippines until its successful franchise renewal in 2020. ABS-CBN continues to
broadcast its shows in their YouTube channel in a livestream called Kapamilya Live. To date, its
prominent Teleserye is Ang Probinsyano based on the movie Franchise of Fernando Poe, Jr.
GMA
Global Media Arts is one of the leading Broadcasting companies here in the Philippines. First
covering the Greater Manila Area, it then started broadcasting throughout the archipelago. Its most
prominent show that airs is the Variety show Eat Bulaga!
TV-5
TV-5 is a broadcasting network in the Philippines which is formerly known as the ABC network.
Currently it hosts shows produced by ABS-CBN. Its most famous show is the reality show known as
Face-to-Face

Radio
Circuits of local and regional vaudeville and theatre shows, a mainstay of towns and cities through
the 19th century, were increasingly complemented by the early 20th century with the rise of radio
throughout many parts of the archipelago
Radio continues to be a significant source of information for Filipinos, as it reaches even the
‘remotest’ areas, as noted by the Media Ownership Monitor or MoM (2017). There is indeed a need
for up-to-date empirical studies exploring the role of radio in urban areas where online media news
reach is rapidly increasing, as well as in rural areas where internet infrastructure remains wanting.
More Filipinos listen to the FM stations; the MoM noted that Filipinos listen to FM primarily for music
90 percent of the time. The AM stations, on the other hand, put emphasis on news and public
affairs and public services.
Audience share is heavily concentrated: four stations (DZMM Radyo Patrol, DZBB 594 Super Radyo,
‘Radyo ng Bayan’, and DZRH)
In terms of ownership, seven broadcasting groups dominate the marketc, and most of these, such
as ABS-CBN and GMA, have television networks as well. Some radio programmes have television
‘spin-offs’ or also aired in television programmes simultaneous with the broadcast. A coordination
in content production or appropriation of content in these two platforms can be observed quite
often.
Because the radio is described as the most ‘pervasive’ medium (MoM, 2017), it is not surprising
that hundreds of regional and community radio stations operate in the country. Advertisers see
radio, particularly local outlets, as the most effective means of reaching consumers (Rosales, 2006,
p.149).
Community radio is also seen as a venue for educational programmes especially those under
government agencies, such as those discussing nutrition and other grassroots issues. At the same
time, some ethnic minority groups, as well as belligerent and insurgent forces, use the radio to
supplement their face-to-face organizing. The Cordillera Peoples Alliance, for instance, occasionally
runs radio programmes as a medium for cultural activism.
Radio journalists, more than print journalists, ‘bear the brunt of violence against media workers’ in
the Philippines. Rosales (2006) attributed this to interweaving factors such as a ‘a post-Marcos
legacy of all-powerful and well-entrenched military and politicians’, ‘weak judicial system’, ‘lack of
professionalism among newsmakers’, and a ‘lack of aid and protection for journalists from the
station owners, who comprise a small, powerful oligarchy in the Philippines’

Cinema
HISTORY
 The growth of cinema, introduced to the Philippines as early as 1897 and with the first local
production taking place in 1919, was built over the first half of the 20th century into a major
motion picture industry. Despite a halt to production under Japanese occupation during the
Second World War, film studios such as Sampaguita Pictures and LVN managed stables of
contracted actors, creating a Golden Age of Philippine Cinema in the 1950s and a celebration
of film stars including the glamourous Paraluman, leading man Fernando Poe and the ‘King of
Comedy’ Dolphy, whose success saw him on Filipino screens right through his life until just
before his death in 2012. Filipino entertainment industries, among the most established in the
world, have therefore long been characterized by successful and profitable markets for
nationally produced popular culture, alongside the regular importation of influential US
American entertainment media.
In the Philippines, the movie industry continues to boom as “movie going” has never been old.
Aside from the cheap ticket price, the increase production of foreign film especially American films
each year and the increasing popularity of films among people who love going to a movie, has a big
attribution when it comes to this industry. Romance, action and independent productions are the
hottest picks and favorites here in the Philippines
Various genres have been used in the Philippine film industry. However, these genres are the most
popular among Filipinos:
ROMANCE
Romance Films specifically Rom-Coms have dominated the cinema industry here in the Philippines.
The current local entertainment industry is supported by love teams. Almost all of the established
local stars had, at least in one point in their careers, been part of a love team. There’s just
something with seeing two beautiful people falling for each other on the big screen that clicks with
most Filipinos. Hence, love teams became the most effective way to build a budding star’s fanbase.
The Rom-Com was basically designed for this as it lets the lovestory be the focal point of the movie.
ACTION FILMS
Though it has been in a decline since the turn of the century, we cannot talk about the Philippine
Cinema without mentioning action films and its impact in pop-culture in the Philippines. Action films
produced many well-known stars like Fernando Poe Jr., Joseph Estrada, and Lito Lapid. Many of this
actors gained so much popularity that they were able to hold offices in the Philippine Government.
Philippine action films have currently experiences as resurgence of some sort thanks to
independent productions giving new life to an old genre.
INDIE PRODUCTIONS
Indie films are form the creation of our very own filmmakers with their creative vision and
innovation. Their works are mostly made, direct, written and produced on their own. They control
and shape the story on their own with a low-budget. To say that independent film making has
become the soul of Philippine cinema is no longer an exaggeration. For years, Filipino independent
filmmakes like Kidlat Tahimik (Perfumed Nightmare, 1977), Raymond Red (Anino, 2001), and
Brillante Mendoza (Kinatay, 2009) among many others have received critical acclaim worldwide

Music
The Philippine music is a mix of European, American and native sounds. Influenced by the music of
the Philippines’ 377 year-long heritage of colonial Spain. Western rock and roll, hip-hop and popular
music from the United States, the folk music of population Austronesean and Indo-Malayan music
Gamelan. Modern pop music in the Philippines is heavily influenced by the 70’s Manila Sound genre
that dominated that decade. It soon transitioned into OPM (Original Pilipino Music / Organisasyon
ng mga Pilipinong Mang-aawit) and has been popular with the youth today. Foreign music from the
US and Korea has also dominated Philippine Music Culture.
Music for Mass Entertainment: The Consumerist Lifestyle
This is the music of highly urbanized and industrialized towns and cities. It is produced mainly for
mass entertainment and it is what we know as “pop” music. When we talk of the music industry in
this country, it refers mainly to this type of music.

Manila Sound
A musical genre in the Philippines that began in the mid-70’s in Manila. The genre peaked in th
mid- to late- 70s. it is often considered the “ bright side” of te Philippine martial law era and has
influenced most of the modern genres in the country by being the forerunner to OPM. Acts like
APO-Hiking Society, Asin, Rey Valera, and Sharon Cuneta became pioneers of the genre.
OPM
Originally referred only to a genre of Philippine pop songs, mostly ballads that became popular
after the collapse of its predecessor, the Manila sound of the late 1970s. Currently, the term “OPM”
has been a catch-all description for all popular music composed and performed by Filipinos. It has
continued to reach other genres like rock, rap, and hip-hop. The most famous opm acts would be
the Eraserheads, Parokya ni Edgar, Francis Magalona, Rivermaya, and Gary Valenciano.
Modern Filipino Music
Rise of Indie Music and Experimental Sounds - Although Filipino indie is heavily influenced by
styles from Europe and the United States, these songs are always mixed with local sounds and tell
stories more relatable to the people from the country. Some talk about what it’s like to live by the
sea, or more serious topics like the drug war. Others simply tap into universal emotions like
heartbreak, which has become somewhat of a subgenre called “hugot” or “to draw out feelings.”

Video Games
Though banned during the Marcos Sr. administration, video games’ popularity in the Philippines
has become a huge part in modern day youth culture which changed the idea of art and
competitive sports. Video games has become an industry that arose in the late 20th century and
continues to grow. The Philippines maintains a sub-culture of die-hard Filipino gamers having game
developers, streamers, esports, and online café’s dedicated in spreading the culture of video
games through computers, mobile phones, and consoles.
Streaming and Online Personalities
With the rise of social media and streaming sites, Filipino’s are able to stream and play video
games showing themselves playing different genres of games. Streaming in itself has become a
source of income for some Filipino’s earning money through donation or monetization and product
promotion.
Game Development
The Philippines is a minor player regarding the game development industry. In 2011, it was
reported that the local industry only has a 0.02%market share of the $90 billion global industry.
The majority of the game development industry is focused on outsourcing to foreign companies
rather than the creation of local content. But that is not to say that there are no games published
here in the Philippines. Several titles have come out in the island nation, most are mobile games
and others are accessible in an online digital market called STEAM.
Esports and Competitive Gaming
The Esports scene in the Philippines was made up almost completely of amateurs. Though
competitive video games like DOTA 2 Counter Strike: Global Offensive, and League of Legends are
mainstays across the country’s many computer shops and internet café, most saw them as a
hobby. The turning point came in 2016, when a Philippine team beat out a major team at the
International DOTA 2 Championships defeated European powerhouse team. Currently, tournaments
around the islands are held with different teams competing. The most notable current esport is that
of COD and MLBB

Newspaper
This history was accompanied by an equally early and vociferous growth in print journalism, with the first formal
newspaper commencing in 1811, and a flourishing of newspapers contributing significantly to anticolonial movements of
the late 19th century. By the mid-20th century, journalism too had a so-called Golden era in the 1950s and 1960s, at which
time the Philippines was said to have the ‘freest press in the East, and also the most licentious’

Print media took the hardest hit in this digital age. Before the advent of social media and easy access to information online,
newspapers enjoyed high circulation and readership. The major publications — both tabloid and broadsheets — usually had
two print runs, the first edition for early distribution to provinces covering most of the country.
In 2019, only two or three out of 100 people in urban areas were reading newspapers while five or six for every hundred
people read them in rural areas.

The pandemic in 2020 exacerbated this downtrend. Mobility was restricted, while online sources and social media became
the go-to for news and information. TV and radio stations also broadcast on a limited basis, and most networks migrated to
online platforms.

Mainstream print media in the Philippines, as in other parts of the world, is challenged by declining readership and finds
itself hybridising by investing into online and mobile platforms

People turning to online sources for news and information with just a mobile device and Internet data - was the biggest
blow to print media. Even the major publishers that could afford to continue printing physical newspapers accepted that to
stay relevant and regain their market share, they needed to cross platforms and go where the audience was.

Only the long-time publishers (Manila Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, and The Philippine Star, and their affiliate
publications) that offered subscriptions, maintained a strong distribution network, and had other enterprises to sustain
their media outlets emerged on top of audience share surveys.

Philippines newspapers come in broadsheet and tabloid formats, with the latter significantly outnumbering the former in
terms of number and copies sold. There are roughly 40 national dailies (both broadsheets and tabloids), around 60 regional
and community newspapers, and 14 newspapers in the foreign language other than English (mostly Chinese). According to
a survey conducted by The Nielsen Co. in 2017, the list of top 10 most read newspapers is dominated by the tabloids, which
could be because tabloids are smaller, hence more convenient, and cheaper. Only three broadsheets made it in the list. It
should be noted that some broadsheets also have tabloid counterparts, such as the broadsheet The Philippine Star and the
Filipino tabloid daily Pilipino Star Ngayon.

The content of Philippine tabloids, most of which in the native language, is marked by an emphasis on crime, sex, and
entertainment stories (Tandoc and Skoric, 2010), and the broadsheet content by its focus on politics and governance. The
dominance of tabloids in newspaper circulation and readership provides a glimpse on the demographics of Filipino
newspaper readers, most of which, based on general tabloid content, seem to prefer sensationalized content, mostly the
bizarre and appalling (such as heinous crime and ‘show business’ or ‘showbiz’ stories).

Social Media
Social media in the Philippines started growing quickly in the early 2000s. Platforms like Friendster and Multiply were very
popular. So, these early platforms set the stage for the social media boom. By the late 2000s, Facebook became the top
platform. Many Filipinos used Facebook to connect with friends and family. In other words, the platforms grew rapidly.

Several milestones show the growth of social media in the Philippines. In 2023, Facebook will still the most used social
media platform. According to social media statistics in the Philippines, over 90% of internet users are active on Facebook.
Instagram and TikTok also have many users. Therefore, social media is a big part of daily life in the country.

The number of active social media users in the Philippines has grown rapidly. More people join social media platforms every
year. This growth highlights the importance of social networking in Filipino culture. Social media apps like Facebook,
Instagram, and TikTok play a significant role in connecting people.

Students and Social Media Usage

A large percentage of students in the Philippines use social media. In 2023, 95% of students are active on social media
platforms. This high usage shows how important social media is to young Filipinos. Students use these platforms for
communication, entertainment, and education. So, social media is a big part of their daily lives.

Social media is not just for fun. Students also use it for learning and shopping. Social commerce is growing in the
Philippines. Many students buy products through social media. They also use Facebook Messenger for communication and
group projects. Therefore, social media supports both education and commerce.

Impact on Filipino Culture

Social media shapes Filipino culture. It influences trends, communication, and even shopping habits. For instance, social
media helps spread new ideas and connect people. So, it is an essential part of the media landscape in the Philippines.
Social media apps are widely used for various purposes, reflecting their integral role in society.

The media landscape in the Philippines has changed due to social media. Traditional media like TV and newspapers are still
important. However, social media has become a primary source of news and information. This shift shows the growing
influence of social media platforms on daily life and culture.

The Influence of Social Media on Culture

Social media in the Philippines has greatly influenced culture. Trends and viral content spread quickly across platforms.
People use social media to express themselves and share opinions. For instance, TikTok trends often shape popular culture.
Also, social media has become a platform for activism and social change. In other words, it plays a vital role in modern
Filipino society

Social Media Issues in the Philippines

Social media in the Philippines also has issues. Fake news, cyberbullying, and privacy problems are common. Many users
face these issues. They call for better regulations. In other words, while social media offers benefits, addressing these issues
is crucial