Debate with Mare at Pare

Debate with Mare at Pare
Format	debate show
Created by	GMA Network
Developed by	GMA News and Public Affairs
Starring	Winnie Monsod Oscar Orbos
Country of origin	Philippines
Production
Running time	1 hour
Broadcast
Original channel	GMA Network
Picture format	480i SDTV
Original run	November 18, 1998 – November 1, 2006

Debate with Mare at Pare (Debate With Mare And Pare) is a highly watched open debate show in the Philippines. It is aired every late night Thursdays (technically Friday at 12:00 midnight) on GMA Network. It is hosted by Pareng Oscar Orbos and Mareng Winnie Monsod.

The program has been awarded by the Philippine Movie Press Club as best public affairs program and best talk show by the Catholic Mass Media Awards.

Debate is the first of its kind in the country, combining information and entertainment in discussing various issues. The hosts act as moderators of the debate.

Debate pioneered the use of highly computerized televoting system, wherein televiewers cast their votes on the featured issue. These include SMS, internet voting, and telephone voting. From 1998 to 2000, pagers were used when SMS were not yet in the market,

Debate first aired on November 18, 1998. From February to June 2001, Mrs. Monsod was briefly replaced by TV news anchor Mel Tiangco when she ran for the position of senator.

The program is confrontational, bold, fiery, spontaneous, and highly opinionated. Not only that, it has become a venue for people to reach out and even confront Philippine officials. It has also become an important tool in policy making decision of Philippine leaders.

Hosts

• Oscar "Pareng Oca" Orbos - Pareng Oca one of the most respected names both in the field of politics and television. He is a five-time best public affairs program host for Debate at the Star Awards for Television given by the Philippine Movie Press Club.

• Solita "Mareng Winnie" Monsod - Considered by critics as one of the best discoveries in the history of Philippine television, Solita "Mareng Winnie" Monsod was a Professor of Economics in University of the Philippines (UP). Mareng Winnie is a five-time recipient of PMPC Star Awards for Television as Best Public Affairs Hosts. She is also an awardee of "Ka Doroy" broadcaster of the year given by the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster sa Pilipinas in 2000. Her husband is Christian Monsod, convenor of the political group One Voice.

Voting Process

A viewer are entitled to vote on a particular issue or subject posted on TV. That subject could be the featured proposition for the debate or a related question to the topic.

• SMS

Every viewer are entitled to send in text messages or SMS for voting, reaction or simple information about the subject. Each message sent costs PhP 2.50

• Internet voting

A viewer can visit INQ7.net for voting. At first, an internet vote count was regulated by a saved cache on the viewer's computer. This however were abused by some viewers, making internet vote counts exceeding 20,000, which is unusual for an audience with an internet connection. Organizers now require voters to register or to login first before casting votes.

• Phone call

A viewer is entitled to call for reactions or submit votes through an automated voice system. In rare cases, organizers entertain calls to be aired live on TV. One example was when President Joseph Estrada called in and made remarks to the chairman of the Philippines' Securities and Exchange Commission. Each successful call costs PhP 10.00. (for 1-908 PLDT numbers)

• Pagers

Every viewer were entitled to call and leave messages on the pager numbers posted on TV. Each message can be for voting or reactions. The system was discontinued in 2000 when SMS were available for interactive voting.

See also

• List of Philippine television shows
• List of GMA Network shows

External links

• GMA Network Site