Librarian Wins on "Gobingo"

A Filipino librarian won big bucks in a game show in 2008. Thanks to Grace Gonzales, who left a comment on my Facebook note, I learned that another librarian had followed in the footsteps of Aldric Gaerlan (see "Librarian as Game-Show Winner"). Further correspondence with Gonzales and the winner herself revealed that librarians were contestants on "Gobingo" last 14 August 2008.

The librarians who competed were Pamela Melorin, Elena Sagadal and Paulette Manalaysay. If you watch the first segment of the episode (see "Gobingo: Distracting the librarians"), you'll see how librarians who join game shows—and proudly identify themselves as such—can effectively counter librarian stereotypes just by being seen on TV.

Below is Melorin's slightly-edited story of how she won 100,000 pesos, even as she fought for respect for our profession:

I am an avid viewer of Gobingo so when they announced that they needed librarians for studio contestants, I immediately auditioned. I think around 20 librarians yung nag-audition. Tatlo kaming napili, pareho mga graduate ng PNU kalaban ko. Ako po yung nanalo sa tatlong rounds. I almost got the jackpot prize na car kaso medyo kinabahan na ako dun sa last three bets kaya ayun di ko nakuha.

Sumali ako kasi I want to uplift our profession. Kasi first time nila nag-open ng opportunity for librarians. Actually, ang concept nila parang bibigyan kami ng partner na artista at macho, tapos as they introduce our partners, parang magiging wild kami. Kasi ang notion nila sa librarians parang dull, manang at mahinhin. As they explained the concept, sabi nila dapat daw naka-ponytail ang buhok in the beginning and then when we see our partners, bigla kami maglulugay at magpapaka-daring.

Hindi ako pumayag. Sabi ko kaya nga ako sumali para mabura yung ganoong impression sa ating mga librarians and to uplift our profession. Sabi ko ayoko gawing joke ang aming profession, may mga license kami just like any other professionals. Tapos ayun bigla nila na-cancel yung ganoong concept and they instructed us to play as is. Nagulat nga yung GMA staff kasi may license din daw pala ang mga librarians.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: "It's not enough to complain about inaccurate images of librarians; we must be able to present alternative, positive images..."