Kamote, Kalabaw

Photo courtesy of GMA Network. "Jewel in the Palace" and "Jumong" are two Korean productions that I enjoyed watching. Through those productions, Korean TV was able to showcase its rich culture and traditions. Viewers outside Korea were able to appreciate the cultural history of Korea. I asked myself what culture can Filipinos boast of. Why is the Philippines not known for its cultural history and heritage? Filipino soap is all about mistresses, revenge, tragedy, bitchy women, and sadist men. If a soap does not contain these ingredients, it won't rate. Rarely that Filipino soap presents redeeming values that audience can learn from. A soap doesn't have to be corny to impart good values. That is the challenge to Filipino writers. These values can be subliminally presented if being corny is what writers are trying to avoid. When GMA Network aired Encantadia in 2005, Filipino audience enjoyed a different recipe of a good soap. Even men who were not f