Are The Stars Out Tonight?

 Not everybody has a chance to brush elbows with the stars in the entertainment, modeling, and pageant industries so when the invitation starts knocking at my door ... who am I to refuse. Others may frown at it ... but it is irresistible. Well-meaning friends have given us the opportunity on a silver platter (it is like allowing us to get something easily ... without having to work on it) so when I saw the window ... in basketball lingo - an opening ... all I did was to dribble the ball ... do the lay-up and shoot it for the much-needed money shot.

In soap operas, you will see roles that are flash in the pan ... you will see them now and the next time you realize they're gone. And some actors by virtue of being good at what they do ... create indelible characters that convince the audience and fellow actors ... that this man needs to stay.

This happened to McCoy de Leon in Batang Quiapo. The fact of the matter is ... his character is good only for a brief period of time ... but because he was good at being bad ... his character evolved and look what happened he stayed with BQ for 2 years already ... and it looked like his end has not come yet ... because just like Tanggol ... he has nine lives too.

McCoy in real life is the exact opposite of his screen persona. He has a ready smile ... he has a firm handshake you could almost feel the man is real and sincere.

McCoy indeed is the Real McCoy!

Ready Na Ba Si Willie Revillame?

Willie Revillame ... the host of Wowowin and Wil of Fortune wants to expand his horizon and will test the political waters and explore the feasibility of becoming one of the senators of the land.

He is now busy campaigning, and his political odyssey will become a litmus test for whether the Philippine voters are still ready to accommodate another actor in the already crowded Senate seat.

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Hundi ba nagsasawa ang mga voters ... at wala ba silang actor fatigue? It seems that we have a lot of movie personalities who are not doing well in their acting careers ... and without any hesitation ... they want to try the murky waters of politics as a fallback plan ... or a backup plan when primary plans fail?

If you are observant there is already an excess supply of movie actors in the Senate - Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Revilla, Manny Pacquiao Robinhood Padilla, and Lito Lapid who without qualms followed the footsteps of Joseph Estrada, Ramon Revilla, and Rogelio deal Rosa.

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The Senate takes pride in that monopoly .... and the House of Representatives is within a close striking distance.

The names of Richard Gomez, Lucy Torres, Lani Mercado, Bryan Revilla, and Jolo Revilla (did you smell dynasty?) Dan Fernandez and Alfred Vargas are at the forefront.

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Other movie personalities also occupy lesser positions like Isko Moreno, Vilma Santos, Herbert Bautista, Dingdong Avanzado, Jason Abalos, Alex Castro, Ejay Falcon, Monsour del Rosario, Edu Manzano, ER Ejercito, and Gary Estrada.

May pahabol pa: Rey Malonzo, Imelda Papin , Marjorie Baretto, Ervic Vijandre. Roi Vinzon, Anjo Yllana, Joemarie Yllana, Aiko Mellendez, Alma Moreno, Cristina Honzales, and the list goes on and on.

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Why am I writing this? Nagtataka kasi ako kung alam ba ng mga artistang ito ang pinasok nila? It seems na pumasok lang sila dito ... dahil wala na silang mapuntahan? They came in ... oblivious of their responsibilities at wala man lang kaplano-plano kung ano ang gagawin?

Meron ba silang plataforma de gobierno? With the exceptions of Dan Fernandez, Vilma Santos, Richard Gomez, or Herbert Bautista wala naman yatang mga major contributions that are noteworthy ang mga ito. 

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Bilang isang artists follower ... there was this exchange between Willie and a reporter that I find so amusing on the campaign trail.

Reporter: Ano ba ang mga batas ang isusulong ninyo sakaling manalo kayo bilang senador?

Willie: That's a good question. (Naku pinuri pa ang tanong ... di ba pinaglumaan na ang sagot na yan sa mga beauty pageant? Pero kidding aside ... delaying tactics lang ito para siya ay makaisip ng magandang bwelta.)

Maganda ang tanong mo ha ... pinaisip mo ako sa tanong na yan (sigi Kuya Wil i-dribble mo pa ng konti ... aba ... biglang naisip niyang mag-lay-up ng bola)

Ikaw sa tingin mo anong batas ang gagawin ko? (This is a case na ang tanong ay sinasagot by throwing back the same question  to the reporter.)

Reporter: Eh sir hindi po ako ang tumatakbo bilang senador. Ikaw po yon? (pa-smarteng sagot ng reporter)

O kitam? Nagkabistohan tuloy!

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Ito na nga ang problema sa mga artistang gustong maging politiko.  Akala nila nasa showbiz pa rin sila ... at malusutan ang lahat ng bagay.

Tingnan mo si Robin (number one senator yan ... thanks to us ... at ginawa niyang "on the job training" ang Senado. Learning by doing ang peg niya. While the rest of his colleagues plunged themselves into the nitty gritty details of the country's problem ... siya naman nasa orientation pa... and busy familiarizing himself with the working environment.

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Hindi rin nagpapahuli sa mga debate si Robinhood. Hirit lang ng hirit ... nagmukha na siyang gamogamo palaging napapaso. I lost count how many bruises he accidentally have ... pero sigi pa rin nang sigi.

The first time naririnig ko siya na nag-aArabic (I worked for 10 years in the middle East)... my jaw dropped.  The second time I heard it ... wala nang novelty. Hinanapan ko na siya kung ano pa ang mai-offer niya? So far wala naman ... mistulang rah-rah boy pa rin siya ng kanyang Poon ... and he is always on his side ... comehell orhigh water ... earning the ire of people of the Filipino people.

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Going back to Willie ... this is the second time this question was asked of him. He was asked the same question right after he filed his candidacy ... what his plans are just in case he won. What was mind-blowing ay ang sagot niya: "Tinatanong ninyo ang plano ko ... eh hindi pa ako senador".

Di ba nakakainsulto ... at nakakagago ang response? Marami nang naunang mga senador diyan na naging laughing stock ... and became objects of ridicule... gusto pa ba nating dagdagan?

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Sinabi pa ni Kuya Wil na independent siya? Talaga? Independent saan?

Pagkatapos kasama mo si Bong Go sa pagkampanya? Chummy chummy nga sila. Kailangan pa bang bilogin ni Kuya Wil ang ulo natin?

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Let it be known na hindi namin pinepersonal si Kuya Wil. The fact of the matter is meron pa nga kaming picture na kasama siya. Binigyan niya rin ako ng jacket. Patunay na noong mainstay siya sa Wowowin ... I am a silent fan. He is good at being a host ... magaling ding siyang drummer. And I feel mas marami siyang matulungan bilang TV presenter and anchor ... kaysa maging politiko siya.

Kung gusto niya talagang maging senador ... e di mag-aral siya at maghanda. Kuya Wil ... there is a possibility na itanong ulit ang question na iniwasan mo. The third time that the same question will be asked ... at hindi mo pa rin masagot ... it is time to ask yourself: " Ano ba ang ginagawa ko sa mundong ito? Kung feeling mo hindi ito ang mundong gusto mong mapabilang ... pack up your things while it is still early ... while your self-respect and dignity is still intact!

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Women Are Like ...

Women are like ... hurricanes.

When they come ... they are WET and WILD ... and when they leave they take your dog and house with them.

Model: Dia Mate - Reina Hispano Americana 2025- Winner

Men Are Like ...

     
Men are like ... smoking.

They are deeply embedded and a "HARD HABIT" to break.

Model: Miko Santos- Mr. Teen Ager Universe Second Runner Up;

Pageant Result: Mister Teenager Universe 2025

The winners of Mister Teenager Universe 2025 from left to right: Alex Charlton - Australia - First Runner Up. Rafiansyah Iqbal - Indonesia - Mister Teenager Universe 2025 and Miko Santos - Philippines - Second Runner Up. The pageant was held in Bali Indonesia last March 1, 2025.

Choice Cut

 (Some Pinoy programs and movies on TV barely make a glitch on our radar screen, but there were lines uttered that invaded our collective consciousness so much so that we find ourselves echoing its most famous lines in our everyday conversations. Some lines manage to put a smile on our faces making us happy and contented.

Whether intentional or accidental, the classic lines resonate with us, because we can relate to the scene and see our lives being lived out onscreen.)

No Other Woman is one movie that is pregnant with smart and funny remarks ... and not only that ...  it is replete with one-liners and punchlines ... that give the viewers snapshots of how witty the scriptwriter was ... they did it with much gusto. Those one-shot gags had the message stick in people's minds and set the stage for deeper conversations.

Without further ado here are some wisecracks that almost made me fall to the floor.

One writer summarized it all ... and I agree that the lines sizzle like those one sizzling sisig with pungent and earthy flavored hot chili pepper.

Anne Curtis: (as the sophisticated and seductive playgirl/heiress Kara Zalderiaga)

• I know the market, because I AM the market. 
• No pressure. Just shut up and kiss me. And don’t you dare fall in love with me? 
• I’m not a mistress. I never was and I never will be one. 
  
• A woman will only be a mistress if there’s an emotional attachment. 
• Paano mo naman malalaman na masarap pala pag di mo titikman? Kahit alam mong bawal, labanan mo cos’ eventually your body will just get used to it. 
• You can call me anything you want: a snake, a bitch, another woman. But I will never be a pathetic, boring housewife. 
• Ano ang gagawin ninyo if the only man you love is unfortunately married? I am not gonna give up Ram without putting up a goddamn fight! (sabay tapon ng wine glass. 
• When you see a big empty space, that’s when you realize you’re alone. 
  
• Your wife? (with highest level of mockery, sabay twitch ng lips. Achieve!!)

Cristine Reyes: (as Derek’s perfect and subservient wife who later on fights back)

• Bikini mo ba iyan o balat mo? (referring to Anne’s snake-skin swimwear)
• Baka makita mo pang nilalagyan ko ng lason ang pagkain mo. Joke lang. Medyo off yung humor ko lately. 
• Mababaliw siguro ako kapag nalaman kong may babae siya. Baka mapatay ko iyong kabit. Silang dalawa, actually. 
  
• Alam mo kasi ang marriage parang exclusive village. Kailangan mong bantayan para hindi makapasok ang mga squatters. 
• Why don’t you have dinner with us tonight? Pa-thank you ko na rin dahil kinuha mo ang asawa ko… bilang supplier ng furtinure sa resort ninyo.
• The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Pero sa ganda mong iyan, siguradong marami kang alam na shortcuts. 
• Ano bang mas madaling kalaban, yung p*tang mahirap o yung p*tang mayaman? 
• Hindi ako to! Pero ginagawa ko to para sayo! 

Carmi Martin: (Cristine’s mom who hailed from the province. Her husband had a mistress too)

• Kung ahas siya mas ahas ako! Tahimik pero kapag kinanti – nanunuklaw!
• Naku. Ganyan talaga kapag galing sa makating dikya, nagmamarka. (Referring to a kiss mark on Derek’s neck)
• Ang mundo ay isang malaking Quiapo. Maraming snatcher. Maagawan ka. Lumaban ka! 
• Panahon na para i-pack-up ‘yang si Lucy Torres mo. Ilabas mo na diyan si Gretchen Barretto. Sabi nga niya sa Magkaribal, ‘You want war? I’ll give you war.’ Anak, ako na ang bahala sa red stilettos mo! 
• Pare-parehong p*ta lang iyon! Yung p*tang mayaman, original ang Hermes. Yung mahirap, binili sa Greenhills. 

Was there anything that the writer missed and left out? 

The film is top-notch and the message is clearly delivered. Ditto with other departments such as acting, direction, cinematography, and storytelling. 

It was a night of witty quotable quotes ... as the lines were noteworthy ... it can quoted again and again ... thanks to its effectiveness ... the lines were short, crisp, tight, condensed, and succinct.

HINDI PAGMAMATAAS ANG MANGARAP - Homily by Fr Dave Concepcion on Oct. 19...