Netizens suspect the award-winning writer’s series of tweets as responses to the allegations against ABS-CBN show, FPJ’s Batang Quiapo.
Film and television writer, Jerry Gracio, took a swipe yesterday, May 17, at those he called ‘war mongers’, amid the apparently still existing ‘network war’. Gracio’s series of tweets notably came after esteemed Kapuso writer and creative head, Suzette Doctolero, lashed out at the Coco Martin show, for allegedly making efforts to surpass her show, Voltes V Legacy, in ratings.
Both top raters of their respective companies, FPJ’s Batang Quiapo and Voltes V Legacy have been engaged in a tight race for TV domination. This is ever since the latter debuted on May 8. The Kapuso series has won the rating game, but it can be noted how slim the gap between the two shows’ ratings is.
Last Monday, May 15, Voltes V Legacy won its sixth win against its Kapamilya counterpart. However, it did so with a lead that is by far the narrowest, since its pilot episode. Such is the reason many netizens suspect why Doctolero seems dissatisfied with the ratings of the ambitious Kapuso live-action TV adaptation, which according to GMA, is its most pricey production to date.
“Jusko, ba’t ba hanggang ngayon, may mga hanash pa rin sa ratings? Nag-aaway pa ba ang Kamuning at Ignacia? Di ba may collab na? Magkakaibigan naman ang maraming creatives sa Ignacia at Kamuning, bakit may “war mongering”?,” asked Gracio on Twitter.
Jusko, ba’t ba hanggang ngayon, may mga hanash pa rin sa ratings? Nag-aaway pa ba ang Kamuning at Ignacia? Di ba may collab na? Magkakaibigan naman ang maraming creatives sa Ignacia at Kamuning, bakit may “war mongering”?
— Jerry B. Grácio (@JerryGracio) May 16, 2023
He then pleaded for network fans to settle their issues as free TV, which used to be the main reason network war existed, has been declining rapidly. “Palipas na ang free TV, nag-iiba na ang landscape. Tapos na ang “network war”. Make love. Not war. Peace,” his tweet read.
Palipas na ang free TV, nag-iiba na ang landscape. Tapos na ang “network war”. Make love. Not war. Peace.
— Jerry B. Grácio (@JerryGracio) May 16, 2023
He then related the network war to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs”, noting how similar they are in is not real. “’Yung “network war” na ‘yan, para ‘yang “war” ni Digong. Hindi ‘yan totoo.”
'Yung "network war" na 'yan, para 'yang "war" ni Digong. Hindi 'yan totoo.
— Jerry B. Grácio (@JerryGracio) May 16, 2023
Gracio wrote the screenplay for several critically-acclaimed films, including Ligo Na U, Lapit Na Me (2011), Mater Dolorosa (2012), and Balanggiga (2017). He also wrote the TV series, Ningning (2015), The Greatest Love (2016), and A Soldier’s Heart (2020), among others. Doctolero, meanwhile, is the creative force behind various Kapuso top raters, including Encantadia (2005, 2016), The Legal Wives (2021), Maria Clara at Ibarra (2022), and the currently airing, Voltes V Legacy (2023).
