Just as I blogged about my favorite political infomercials on TV during this election season in the Philippines, I’d also like to share the ones which turn me off everytime I catch their airing on the boob tube. I have nothing personal against these politicians, but their TV ads suck. Instead of coming up with something more polished or well thought-of, the ad agency ended up with mediocre outputs wanting of originality and/or creativity.
#1: Manong Johnny TVC
video courtesy of YouTube/gameshowsful64
Sen. Juan Ponce-Enrile must have been happy with this infomercial that’s why he greenlighted its airing on TV. I am not happy at all. And I think I’m not alone in this sentiment. It looks like a commercial made by amateur high-school students who are submitting the same to get a passing grade in one subject. Calling it corny or cheesy would be an understatement. It is downright embarrassing to watch. If it’s any consolation to the good senator, his catchline – “Gusto ko happy ka!” is one of the more effective phrases used in campaigning this year.
#2: Jamby Madrigal for President TVC
video courtesy of YouTube/Jamby2010
I ‘m getting Jamby Madrigal’s message here. What I don’t get is why the cast members are shown constantly walking in circles, while one of them is speaking upfront. Nothing terribly wrong with that, except that they were not in proper coordination such that you get the feeling that their only instruction from the director is to just walk round and round and round up until he shouts ‘cut!’ And the chains around the neck is an age-old symbolic representation of oppression that ad agencies could have been more imaginative than that (how about using a glass ceiling approach which depicts the poor workers seeing what the rich are constantly enjoying on top of them).
#3: Joseph ‘Erap’ Estrada for president TVC
video courtesy of YouTube/bitchycat
Former President Joseph Estrada is at his most rehearsed, most conscious and most play-acted self in this TV ad. And that is where my gripe is coming from. He was just too fake in his delivery of lines here. He registers and convinces better when speaking spontaneously and from the heart. ‘Nuff said.
Special Mention: Manny Villar’s “Nakaligo ka na ba sa ilog ng basura?” TVC
video courtesy of YouTube/angelanderson07
Among Sen. Manny Villar’s multitude of political TV ads, this one takes the cake for number of airings. The whole thing is literally coming out of my ears and I automatically switch channels everytime it airs. It’s not badly made, but it just pisses me to even give him the smallest of chances to be considered worthy of a vote. This is a classic example of over-sell because this concept was even evolved to another TVC promoting one of the many party-lists he is supporting. I wonder how much talent fee was given to these kids. Was it even enough to cover three solid meals/day in a month?
Some people might not agree with my least-like choices above, but everybody is entitled to his/her own opinion. These TV ads just happen to be the cellar-dwellers in my list after seeing all the infomercials of different candidates. I’m glad the elections will be happening soon so that we can all go back to regular programming, i.e., without all these political campaigning forcing TV audiences to endure their desperate pitches for power.