MTV Philippines Sucks!!!

March 9th, 2008 by istib | Posted in Bookmarks In Time |

After being at the Incubus Pacific Rim tour, I have or should I say, many of those who attended concluded that MTV Philippines sucks. Big time.

Yeah I was aware that taking still photos and videos were prohibited within the premises of the coliseum so I have no intentions of taking any photos during the concert proper. But as Ajill and I have waited inside for the bands to setup, Up Dharma Down and Incubus, almost all, if not most, were taking pictures. Flickers of flash were coming from everywhere! Some even took shots together with the event security.

Here is where I come from. When Up Dharma Down was the one performing, I took several shots using my D40 and 55-200mm VR lens with SB400 speed light. It was still ok. Then, when Incubus entered the stage, loud cheers and whistles were heard and everybody was up on their feet both on the ground and on their chairs. So Ajill and I were forced to do likewise in able for us to have a decent view of the band and their performance.

Upon doing so, we took several pictures of the band also under a not so comfortable situation. Those in front of us were taking videos, photos, raising their hands, lighters, much taller than us, etc. So under these circumstances it was difficult, if not impossible, to get what the MTV Phils production team and event security team “Professional Shots” since they consider my camera a “Professional Camera”. Dude! If you were only able to see what was inside that flash memory you took, you would laugh at the shots I’ve taken. Lights, hands, and movements everywhere. And I almost got into reasoning out that it’s not the camera that defines the shot, it’s the shot itself. But, a high IQ person that I am sarcastically, I figured that these event security guy named “Diego”, had bigger muscles than brains. He better go back to gym and work out his brain coz that’s one body part he needs developing.

When the event ended many of those who had their flash memory confiscated, some together with their parents, proceeded to the event security huddle and started to look for Diego. The team told us that he would be back in a minute and asked what’s our business with him. We told them that Diego confiscated our flash memory because we were taking still photos of the band. Most of the event security there were dumbfounded telling us that it should not be the case since everyone were taking shots of the band as well. See the lack of coordination and communication here plus power play?

And so we’ve waited for an hour or more after the concert promising us that our confiscated items would be released after two (2) days. They took our information on a sheet of paper and assured us that we would be texted after the said number of days telling us if we could claim our items already. I hardly doubt it.

Look, we all came there to have a great time. Why spoil it with some unreasonable rule? Taking still photos? Assuming that those who took shots of the band would sell it over quiapo or recto? Duh?! As fluent your English speaking and accent might be, I think you MTV Phils needs a lesson or two on logic.

Absurd as it may sound, you MTV Philippines are part of the Media community. Social Media. And there you are fighting for freedom of the press or of speech or what have you, yet you are the number one (1) violator of your own principles. What do you call yourselves now? Hypocrites?

I’m confident that Incubus doesn’t give a FUCK if we took their pictures or not. They would’ve been at a joy if we did so, since it shows that we highly and truly appreciate their musicality and artistry. If you MTV Phils would even think about it, those of us who got their items confiscated and took their shots even did you and the band a favor by doing some free publicity. We even paid four (4) thousand pesos to you guys so that we could take some shots. Some shots under difficult circumstances. How professional could it go?

Remember MTV Phils, without US, the fans, nothing would be made possible however great a band Incubus is.

Don’t get me wrong, Incubus is still one of my favorite bands. But it sucks that a media production company like MTV Phils doesn’t know how to have fun, enjoy, and have a great time.

*** The confiscated item was a Kingston 2GB flash memory which contains pictures of my deceased grandfather. No longer hoping that my confiscated flash memory would be returned to me. Screw MTV Philippines! Would still be able to post some pics of the band, mostly by Brandon, through the help of Ajill.