Win some, lose many more

HONTIVEROS. Cautionary focus on disaster-preparedness.

Last month, the viewing treat as far as we were concerned was Pia Hontiveros’ extended focus on disaster preparedness in Metro Manila, which warned viewers that earthquake-prone faults and other dangers lurk that could result in many casualties and deaths if we continue to ignore experts’ insistent alarms.

Also very helpful was a long feature on the ARRM bill and how it could finally bring relative peace and prosperity to parts of the Philippine South.

In addition, we enjoyed and learned a lot from the ANC show, “Up Close and Personal,” hosted by Korina Sanchez, which went to different Southeast Asian countries to shoot insightful features on some fascinating Filipinos living and working there.

On the debit side, we were dismayed to catch on “ASAP” a “singing” portion in which Alex Gonzaga, Luis Manzano and Anne Curtis sang really badly.

They appeared to do so “intentionally,” but after a while the really sour notes they hit grated on the viewer’s ear and sensibility!

There really should be a limit to non-singers’ cynical display of their grinning and goony mediocrity, which has even become “trendy.”

Aside from the sour singers we’ve mentioned, it appears that a certain notorious nonsinger has become quite a “negative sensation” on YouTube with her excruciatingly monotone vocal videos. We hear that she’s become such an “in” joke that she’s registered 600,000 hits! —Is this an omen of more horrendous aural depradations to come?

Similarly dispiriting on “ASAP” was Ai Ai de las Alas’ “plugging” performance for her new album and movie (“Past Tense,” costarring Kim Chiu).

We understand perfectly well that stars have to call attention to their new projects, but the way Ai Ai chose to do it on “ASAP” was, in our view, quite counterproductive: Now billing herself as ADA, she tried to dress, look and sing really sexily—but, she came off more as a turn-off than a turn-on.

Stars should invest in good, clear, truth-telling mirrors to keep their self-evaluation real and factual, and not end up biting them in the beatific behind.