culture of helplessness

philippine primetime tv shows have always been too melodramatic. leading ladies are always at the mercy of supporting actresses. stories from the bygone days of radio soap operas. and some even revive in toto stories of these soap operas.  where once soap operas have ruled the airwaves in the daytime, primetime tv is now dominated by these melodramas.  and ratings are so high! meaning, many still value being underdogs, of being a victim. and always dreamin of a day when some knight in shining armor comes to the rescue.  though many opportunities present for an early resolution, but being a martyr (and bucketful of tears are shed for the helpless ---also stupid--- heroine) and ratings go up!  tv shows drag on for months for as long as ratings are good, though the storyline becomes too thin!

these has dominated the filipino psyche for about a century now.  a culture of helplessness, a culture that values martyrdom and patience, a culture that awaits for outside help, a culture that waits for some divine intervention for a resolution.  we can translate this also to our attitude that only agents other than ourselves can really uplift us, whether it be government, lotto, the politicians, the NGOs, anyone but us!  and for as long as we patronize these shows, more patrons would want a long-running soap opera, even offering prizes for viewers, the more the cycle of helplessness and reliance on outside help becomes even strengthened.