Yesterday was the first anniversary of the Wowowee stampede that ended in the deaths over 70 people, trampled while lining up for the noontime show’s promise of instant wealth. And I didn’t realize it until I saw a small photo on today’s Inquirer: it’s on the bottom half of the flap, with a caption noting the mass being held to remember the departed. All of a sudden this PCIJ blog post is all too prophetic:

The news cycle as far as disasters go is predictable: First the story breaks, followed by heartbreaking scenes from the disaster zone, an estimate of the casualty count and then reports on the government’s and citizens’ response. The next phase of the news cycle will likely be the blame-throwing, the attack and the defense. After about a week or 10 days, the story will likely slide out of top of the newscast and the front pages. The media will move on to the next headline-grabber and the tragedy will be recalled maybe a year after, on its first anniversary, or will merit a one-liner the next time a similar event occurs. Such is life. Such is news.

I don’t know which is the greater insult to this injury: that it’s been relegated footnote status, or that Wowowee’s still on the air. That it’s not such a big deal a year after isn’t really a surprise; PCIJ notes correctly that the news media is about headlines. But that Willie Revillame still has a job is what astounds me to no end. The guy’s a perv and an alleged wife beater, and his asinine response to the event (the show must go on) is as callous as it is condescending. Not to mention that the show, along with most every other show in local TV, is still complete and utter garbage.

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