July 16, 2012
The Editor
Philippine Daily Inquirer
P.O. Box 2353, Makati Central Post Office
1263 Makati City
Dear Editor:
Subject: TELESERYE “WALANG HANGGAN” – IS THERE GOODNESS IN MAN?
This refers to the teleserye titled “Walang Hanggan” which is now being a talk of the town for its characterization and story line. It is being shown on ABS-CBN daily from 8:30pm to 9:30 pm. In its episode last Friday, July 13, 2012, I almost jumped from my seat because of a suicide attempt of Nathan. I find psychological stories very interesting and I couldn’t wait to view it again Monday, July 16, to see what happened next. But as an avid fan of psychological stories, I was a bit disappointed with the flow of the story. I think the teleserye is unrealistic because of the following:
1. No presence of mental health professionals. Nathan comes from a prominent family living in Manila. Surely they can afford the best psychiatric care. The best psychiatrists in Manila are on teamwork with other health professionals to educate families about the condition of their loved ones and educate patients on their illness. Lately, there have been many improvements in psychiatric care and it seems that ‘Walang Hanggan’ is outdated with its script setting. The danger with this unrealistic setting is that it worsens the discrimination and stigma associated with mental illness because of sloppy script portrayed in media. Since ‘Walang Hanggan is set in a contemporary time, it doesn’t give credit to the mental health professionals who work hard to fight the stigma and discrimination towards their profession, to patients, and to families who have loved ones with mental illness.
2. Suicide. No person in his right mind can fake a suicide attempt no matter how manipulative he is. Anybody who points a gun upon himself, attempted or accomplished, is definitely very sick. The ‘Walang Hanggan’ script is sending a very dangerous message that one can fake suicide, thus, preventing others to help those who attempt it. Attempting suicide is already an acute psychiatric case. It is a ground for a person to be confined in a psychiatric ward because the nature of man is self-preservation. It’s not normal for a human being to kill oneself, more so for a person to fake it.
3. Marriage. Although mental illness is a ground for annulment, true love surpasses the health condition of a loved one. Nathan and his wife were married. They promised to be together for better or worse, in sickness and in health. The wife of Nathan is not setting a good model of a wife. Her infidelity and lack of sincerity to her promises as a wife is not setting a good model to the viewers. It further triggers stigma and discrimination to the mentally ill who are known to lack self-esteem due to of their chemical imbalance. Those who are seriously depressed would think that no one will have them in marriage when, in fact, there are a lot of marriages that work in spite of mental illness.
4. Relationship between brothers. The family is sacred because relationships among family members are very deep and mysterious. Life in the family is not always dark no matter how dysfunctional it is. Normal brothers and sisters also share good times together. No brother would think that his brother is by nature ‘bad’. Family members have a natural tendency to help each other in difficult times. The ‘Walang Hanggan’ script is not realistic because the father and mother are good people but their children are bad. They also have good grandmother. Good parents naturally pass their goodness to their children.
I understand that ‘Walang Hanggan’ is a work of fiction. But works of fiction contain power. On the negative side, we hear young adults commit suicide because they think they are Superman by idolizing Superman movies.
Wouldn’t it be nice if a fiction would bring us to the positive side of life? Wouldn’t it be more helpful if a popular teleserye would mirror the good in man so as to help build a more caring and loving society? Wouldn’t it be ideal if the teleserye is a vehicle for the viewers to live unity and good will and bring peace to our hearts and minds?
I strongly suggest that the writer and/or director of ‘Walang Hanggan’ update themselves about mental illness and mental health by going to hospitals and institutions that have Family Support Groups where mental health professionals work together to help families and patients. It’s suggested for them to attend psycho-education program about mental illness and mental health. They need to know the current situation of mental health, in order to make the setting of ‘Walang Hanggan’ realistic and make it a true work of art, while at the same time wholesome, entertaining and enlightening the many TV viewers.
Thank you.
Very truly yours,
Maria Charina Rodriguez
