Abrupt end for ‘Badjao Girl’s’ ‘PBB’ journey

GAVIOLA. Her unique essence and advantage should be preserved.

Contrary to expectations, “Badjao Girl,” Rita Gaviola, didn’t stay in the “Pinoy Big Brother” house all the way up to the “better” end.

The end happened “bitterly” for her last week, perhaps due to her occasionally “controversial” behavior, like crying too often because she missed her folks, and getting into heated “discussions” with some other contenders, because she misinterpreted their actions and motivations.

She’s only 13 years young, after all, and she comes from an impoverished background. So, she sometimes felt overwhelmed by all of her new experiences on the show, like a fish out of water.

Despite her early exit, however, Rita is still a promising find due to her unique back story. She has many empathetic and supportive fans who want her to do well and rise above the onus and limitations of poverty.

After all, she’s “unexpectedly” tall and lovely for a former “part-time” beggar, and could be tutored to learn the skills of the performing, beauty and modeling trades—if she’s open to being mentored.

So, Rita’s prospects depend greatly on how her handlers plan her next moves this season. What would really hit the career-enhancing spot is if she could be featured in a special TV drama showcase that would “prove” that she’s an intuitively sensitive actress.

Good and ready

Before that key showcase happens, however, they have to make doubly sure that she’s good and ready—don’t rush!

Another important consideration is that Rita should be “made over” only up to a point. The usual tendency in these parts is to completely transform a raw find into a sophisticated beauty and fashion plate.

This is ultimately counterproductive, because it robs the newcomer of the uniquely natural appeal and essence that made her different from many other starlets, in the first place. By all means, tidy up her look and act, but keep her fresh and real.

This advice goes not just to Rita, but also to other “finds” on social media who have become popular because they are “surprisingly” good-looking, despite the fact that they come from ordinary and even insignificant circumstances.

They include “Carrot Man,” who used to work as a kargador of sacks of vegetables from the Cordilleras. The last time we saw him on TV, he’d already been given a drastic makeover that made him look “better,” yes—but also just like many other new male comers out there.

Well, there’s still time for the handlers of “Badjao Girl” and “Carrot Man” to make “reverse adjustments” that will preserve, not deplete, their unique essence and advantage.

While they’re at it, they should also move beyond the taglines that initially identified them and set them apart. These were useful and catchy enough to get them noticed and talked about, but there’s more to show biz life than forever being limited to being known as “Carrot Man” and “Badjao Girl!”