From Oprah to the new Wowowee is not really a quantum leap. All it takes is a flick of the remote controller. Last Monday, a holiday, my wife and I chanced upon a unique segment of Oprah’s show where she had as guest Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates. It was a truly engaging and educational episode.
In-between, we flicked into ABS-CBN’s Wowowee, hosted by Luis Manzano and Mariel Rodriguez.
Prof. Gates hogged the spotlight in early 2009 when President Obama publicly criticized a Cambridge, Massachusetts police officer for arresting and handcuffing Prof. Gates. He then invited both Prof. Gates and the police officer to a round of beer at the White House garden with him and Vice President Joe Biden.
But that’s not why he was invited by Oprah.
Last March, PBS launched a four part series on Faces of America, an interesting feature by Prof. Gates on 12 American celebrities and their family histories: professor and poet Elizabeth Alexander, chef Mario Batali, comedian Stephen Colbert, novelist Louise Erdrich, journalist Malcolm Gladwell, actress Eva Longoria, musician Yo-Yo Ma, director Mike Nichols, Her Majesty Queen Noor, television host/heart surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, actress Meryl Streep, and figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi.
Using the latest tools of genealogy (family trees) and genetics (DNA analysis), Prof. Gates unearthed interesting facets of family life that pleasantly surpised --- even astounded --- the celebrities. Here’s an excerpt from Olympic skating champion Kristi Yamaguchi:
“Yamaguchi’s heritage can be traced back to the Wakayama and Saga prefectures in Japan. Kristi’s paternal grandfather, Tatsuichi Yamaguchi, immigrated to Hawaii in 1899, making his way to the United States a few years later. Over a span of five decades, he persevered time and time again, living through the changing restrictions on immigrants from Japan. He finally was able to naturalize just four years before his death. During World War II, most Japanese-Americans served in the segregated, all Japanese-American, 442nd Regimental Combat Team. But Kristi’s maternal grandfather, George Akira Doi, served in the 100th Infantry Division, an otherwise all-white unit. He saw combat in Europe and was decorated as “unquestionably the company’s best soldier,” even as his wife and family spent the war years incarcerated in concentration camps.”
Ms. Yamaguchi was teary-eyed as she looked at the faded newspaper clipping that recorded her grandfather’s heroism.
Yo-yo Ma, the celebrated cellist, shared his family’s realization that all traces of their family heritage may have been lost during the tumultuous cultural revolution. Fortunately, one of his cousins had hidden valuable records in the walls of his home and these were speared from destruction. How did he get his unusual first name “Yo”? It’s a marker name for his generation that he shares with his siblings and cousins. Then, he said in levity, his parents may have resorted to “sick humor” and decided to append another “Yo”, thereby associating his name with the famous American yo-yo. But then, “Yo” also means friendly, so Yo-Yo means double friendly.
Flicking over to Wowowee, it was a refreshing change to watch and hear Luis Manzano and Mariel Rodriguez taking over main hosting chores from the controversial Willie Revillame. Instead of bullying or insulting the program participants (as it was the norm with Willie), they asked sensible questions and demonstrated genuine empathy.
One noteworthy participant was Macky, a struggling musician. Macky lives with his grandmother and uncle. His mother works in Dubai, separated for many years from his father. His loneliness and sense of alienation were apparent. He tried to put on a brave face when asked to deliver messages to each of his parents.
Then, as dictated by the show’s format, Macky was asked to introduce his parent or guardian. His companion that day was neither parent or guardian. It was Jordan (not his real name), his fellow band member who wore sunglasses to mask the redness of his eyes due to lack of sleep. When asked for a message, Jordan surprised the hosts and the audience. Instead of giving words of encouragement to Macky, he issued a call to his father whom, he said, he has not seen for 28 years. His father left their home when he was an infant, and like Macky, he is also living with relatives.
It’s unlikely there will be a Filipino version of Prof. Gates doing a remarkable educational film series. But isn’t it great to know one’s roots and discover you’re part of a bigger family of humanity?
It’s also unlikely there will be an early reunion for Jordan and his long-lost father. But what Wowowee is holding up to us is a big mirror of stark reality. Over the past decades, many Filipino families have been broken. Many childhood dreams have turned into nightmares.
There are many Filipino youth struggling to find out who they really are while trying to keep body and soul together. What Wowowee is able to offer them is temporary, short-term pain relief. Young Filipinos are looking up to their leaders to help and enable them to look forward to a better future.
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