MANILA, Philippines – Coming off a heated debate organized by the Commission on Elections, CNN Philippines, and BusinessMirror, which saw the 6 vice presidential candidates in fighting form, expectations were arguably high for the vice presidential debate mounted by ABS-CBN on Sunday, April 17.
But only 4 out of the 6 VP bets turned up for "Harapan ng Bise," and while there were a few shots fired, the pace of the debate never really picked up, according to social media users.
The hashtag #HarapanBise did trend worldwide, but there were quite a number of posts that criticized the format of the debate – was it really one? – and its overall feel.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is the most boring debate session in the history of this 2016 election campaign. TV5 even did better than ABSCBN. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarapanBise?src=hash">#HarapanBise</a></p>— Acid Jetty (@JETTYFIERCE) <a href="https://twitter.com/JETTYFIERCE/status/721653168795332608">April 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="tl" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Harapanbise?src=hash">#Harapanbise</a> ay napaka boring at naging question & answer lang, debate ba kamo eto? Boooohhh ABS!!!!</p>— Mary Ann H. Lim (@nvrbeenbetter) <a href="https://twitter.com/nvrbeenbetter/status/721705264244781056">April 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="tl" dir="ltr">Napakapangit ng set at utterly boring ng debate nitong ABS. Wala pang kachallenge-challenge mga tanong. Ano ba yan <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarapanBise?src=hash">#HarapanBise</a></p>— Axel (@axelpuhgeh) <a href="https://twitter.com/axelpuhgeh/status/721694056540037120">April 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="tl" dir="ltr">Boring vice presidential debate..<br>Actually not a debate. It is a Q&A ... paulit ulit mga sinasabi at bolahan ng mga kalaban ni Marcos...</p>— ali mariano sastre (@alimarianos) <a href="https://twitter.com/alimarianos/status/721677176857346048">April 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">THIS FORMAT IS SO DISAPPOINTING!!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarapanBise?src=hash">#HarapanBise</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PiliPinasDebates2016?src=hash">#PiliPinasDebates2016</a></p>— JESSICA (@jessicagcostes) <a href="https://twitter.com/jessicagcostes/status/721659270219956231">April 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The ABS-CBN VP debate format is lacklustre. 90% went to commercials and some weird fiesta music then the rest went to debate <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarapanBise?src=hash">#HarapanBise</a></p>— Adrianne Dave Guilas (@DaveGuilas) <a href="https://twitter.com/DaveGuilas/status/721677971602280448">April 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wtf! Ati-atihan drummers? Fiesta ba theme ng <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarapanBise?src=hash">#HarapanBise</a>? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PiliPinasDebates2016?src=hash">#PiliPinasDebates2016</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews">@ABSCBNNews</a></p>— Darwin Awardee (@Darwin_Awardee) <a href="https://twitter.com/Darwin_Awardee/status/721662540212604928">April 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarapanBise?src=hash">#HarapanBise</a> is twice worse as compared to the 1st <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PiliPinasDebate2016?src=hash">#PiliPinasDebate2016</a> organized by GMA-7. Andaming chechebureche!!</p>— WEBSTER (@chevalierkun) <a href="https://twitter.com/chevalierkun/status/721652099709186048">April 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Overall, this so-called VP debate, because of its weird format and badly filtered questions, was not at all value-adding. <a href="https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews">@ABSCBNNews</a></p>— ANGRY FILIPINA (@angryfilipina) <a href="https://twitter.com/angryfilipina/status/721679380766859264">April 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Overall the debate (if we could even call it that), under the festive veneer, felt shallow and rung a bit empty. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarapanBise?src=hash">#HarapanBise</a></p>— Janin Volante (@thesunwontset) <a href="https://twitter.com/thesunwontset/status/721714016754601984">April 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Others felt the questions were more suited for a beauty pageant.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">With the fish bowl and that kind of question, Ms. Universe nga ito. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarapanBise?src=hash">#HarapanBise</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PiliPinasDebates2016?src=hash">#PiliPinasDebates2016</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LeniIsMyVP?src=hash">#LeniIsMyVP</a></p>— Michael Villorente (@verticalidiot05) <a href="https://twitter.com/verticalidiot05/status/721659442069053440">April 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">They just had <a href="https://twitter.com/alanpcayetano">@alanpcayetano</a> answer a question on superpowers. WTF?! what is this <a href="https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews">@ABSCBNNews</a>? a beauty pageant? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PiliPinasDebates2016?src=hash">#PiliPinasDebates2016</a></p>— Stries Casallo (@Stries_Casallo) <a href="https://twitter.com/Stries_Casallo/status/721659603264491521">April 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Who approved that superpower question for a VP debate? Seriously?! <a href="https://t.co/V8KU1xjBPk">pic.twitter.com/V8KU1xjBPk</a></p>— Ally V. Cabo Chan (@allycabochan) <a href="https://twitter.com/allycabochan/status/721675989768478720">April 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="tl" dir="ltr">Bakit parang pang Bb. Pilipinas yung questions kanina sa <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarapanBise?src=hash">#HarapanBise</a>? The pageant's also happening tonight. Akala ko debate ito...</p>— Adelaide Santos (@Adelaydee) <a href="https://twitter.com/Adelaydee/status/721661086022238209">April 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Did they mix up the questions for the VP debate and for Binibining Pilipinas? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarapanBise?src=hash">#HarapanBise</a></p>— Rica (@ricagfernandez) <a href="https://twitter.com/ricagfernandez/status/721660524677607424">April 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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What do you think of the ABS-CBN vice presidential debate? Did it help you in deciding who to vote for in the May elections? Post your comments below or share your views on X. – with reports from Aldrin Brosas/Rappler.com
Aldrin Brosas is a Rappler intern from Aquinas University of Legazpi.