Fingers crossed

Now that 2018 is here, bright and breathless and full of promising possibi-lities, hope springs eternal (anew) that this new season will bring bounties and beauties that eluded us last year.

Topping our list of “fingers-crossed” best wishes this year is the fervent hope that we’ll be seeing more of some stellar performers who have generally been underutilized and showcased to date.

The irony is that they are more talented than many of the lesser lights who are overexposed on the boob tube and other performing platforms. Let’s hear it for:

Alfred Vargas. The outstanding Seiko discovery was coming on strong and stellar some years ago—until he was sidelined by a similarly successful career in
politics and public service.

Now a congressman, he’s acquitted himself well in his new endeavor, but we hope that he can take his cue from Vilma Santos and find the time to also act on the big or small screen, even if only occasionally, because he’s proven himself to be good at it.

He could also act in a stage play, because he also has a gift for insightful characterization and live performance.

Expanding our hopeful horizons even more, we hope that Alfred will use his political clout to promote arts and culture in his district, and elsewhere. He can make a big
difference.

Also ripe and ready for a stellar comeback is Francine Prieto, another Seiko discovery who’s turned out to be more than just a pretty face—and a sexy body.

Yes, Francine has put on weight, but if she’s given a new opportunity and showcase in 2018, she can get back to fighting and shooting trim—and definitively prove her detractors wrong!

Singer-comedienne Cacai Bautista has succeeded to some extent in the biz, but she’s tended to appear in shows that are too, uh, low and undeserving of her exceptional talent and level of performance.

We hope that, this year, Cacai will raise her sights and standards and do roles and guest stints that stretch, instead of demean her talent. And our best producers and directors can do their essential share of the “career makeover” challenge by giving her those “better” roles that can bring out—the best in her!

Other “deserving but underutilized” talents who should perform much more often in 2018 include Niño Muhlach, Alonzo Muhlach, Xyriel Manabat, Yogo Singh, Arnell Ignacio, Victor Silayan, Jograd dela Torre, Cesar Montano, Christian Vasquez, Dominic Roco, Gary Estrada, IC Mendoza, Giselle Sanchez, Jao Mapa, Romnick Sarmenta, Joonee Gamboa, Marc Abaya, Marvin Agustin, Mel Martinez, Miggy Jimenez, Nathan Lopez, Paolo Bediones, Randy Santiago, Richard Poon, Ronnie Ricketts, Ryan Rems, Vandolph, Victor Basa, Jojo Alejar, Gardo Versoza, Tommy Esguerra, Belinda Panelo, Steven Silva, Pepito Rodriguez and Bo Cerrudo.