This real-life drama involving the Barreto siblings is pure trash. Why this pile of dirt is being accorded primetime attention by giant news organizations from broadcast to online is just unbelievable. At least in the normal sphere of society.
But there must be a reason.
The Barretos are not under the description of normal individuals in terms of their status in the community. They are celebrities. In fact, they are perhaps the Philippines’ version of the Kardashians of Hollywood.
First, the story of the Barreto sisters is not at all inspiring, nor is it filled with values children can learn from. Neither do the characters make for good role models. Theirs is a story reeking with episodes that are unacceptable to the normal standards of morality. And yet, either sides are eliciting reactions from compassion and sympathy to negative, horrible comments–all that because they ate up hours and gigabytes of media space.
Why? Because most Filipinos get excited to see celebrity families fighting.
The Barreto family feud has all the ingredients to get people excited and interested. They ogle at every single post on social media by those involved and follow every word uttered. This by far has eclipsed all telenovelas combined in terms of interest. It’s a simple formula. If everything is all too peaceful within a celebrity’s life, it is considered boring. No publicities. No following. No business.
The other side of the Barreto feud that understandably got people relate is that celebrities, who are looked up to by ordinary folks , are humans afterall. Despite their status, they are capable of mishaps, shame and scandal. It would be hypocritical to vilify their disrespect for family and their dead, and gloat at their not so moral lives. The Barretos are also mortals. They also live normal lives.
This is not a rivalry where one needs to take sides and cheer from the sidelines. Those taking advantage of the feud for business interests–obviously for airtime dominance and social media footprints which all equate to money, must stop feasting on.
Instead of helping a beleaguered, dysfunctional family–especially at a time of grief–self interest and gossip mentality is getting the better of what should be a compassionate society.
