WHAT gifts did our favorite entertainment luminaries joyfully discover under the Yuletide tree last Christmas day? We hope they include these glittering goodies:
For Marilou Diaz-Abaya, who’s valiantly battling the Big C, renewed health, so she can continue to gift and bless us with the deeply insightful and luminously inspiring films that only she can make.
For Ina Feleo, her first full-length directorial assignment. Better known as an actress, Ina is an even more remarkable new filmmaker, as evidenced by the short film she made several years ago, in which she directed her own parents, Laurice Guillen and the late Johnny Delgado, in a movingly perceptive and confident meditation on life, love, family, illness and death. Clearly, that kind of level of talent deserves a full-length showcase!
For master impersonator, Willie Nepumuceno, the full recognition his unique talent and achievements deserve. He isn’t “just” an impersonator of well-known stars and political figures, he’s taken his art and craft way beyond mimicry, and his gallery of iconic characters say a lot about the serio-comic nature of the country’s life and times today.
Why are there no awards for an artist of Willie Nep’s range and stature? Maybe he makes it all look too easy, so some clueless people don’t see the great amount of time, thought and work that goes into his creations? Well, let’s honor him for that, too!
For child star Xyriel Manabat, who’s played too many overly “wise” and “old” roles of late, a truly and believably juvenile character to play—for a change!
For “underutilized” talents like Alfred Vargas and Francine Prieto, more multimedia projects worthy of their gifts and versatility.
For new discoveries like Mart Escudero, Alwyn Uytingco and Xian Lim, even bigger breaks to firm up their bids for durable stardom.
For Nora Aunor, an even more significant stellar showcase to follow up on the partial success of her TV5 miniseries.
For Vilma Santos, a worthy thespic challenge aside from the horror-drama she’s agreed to do. Yes, she needs to reassure producers of her bankability, but she also has to further challenge herself as a film artist.
For Ricky Davao and Jackielou Blanco, an acting project together to make the thespic sparks fly again.
Artistic urges
For Isay Alvarez, more musical and acting offers, since she’s at her happiest and most creatively productive when both of her prime artistic urges are stroked and served.
For Ali Sotto, a news or public affairs show for her to feel most feistily and zestfully productive and in her element. And, for bracing contrast, a comedy-musical production to remind today’s audience of her other defining past and future involvements as a versatile performer.
For Mitch Valdes, an indie drama or satire that will remind everyone that she’s a certified, true-blue, legit acting (Urian) awardee!
For Pinky Marquez, a well-deserved day off from her multiple and myriad stage-TV-film-live performance-business interests and involvements—so she can catch her breath!
For Alex Gonzaga, Jennylyn Mercado, Vina Morales and many more stars of relatively dim wattage, the belated realization that they aren’t nearly as versatile as they think.
For Zaijian Jaranilla, a good and strict diction and enunciation coach, so he can be better understood.
Hosting virtues
For Manny Pacquiao and all the other shouters and screamers on TV, the realization that they should stop bellowing to come up with fake approximations of the desired hosting virtues of “excitement” and “energy.” The microphone’s already been invented, so they don’t have to scream to be heard!
For many TV news people, the breaking-news epiphany that they aren’t the news and they aren’t “stars” who have to keep calling attention to themselves. Just like true art hides itself, so should newscasters know their place and self-effacingly just read that darn news copy—which (reality check) has been researched and written by somebody else.
And, for all actresses on TV and in the movies, stop constantly and eternally fixing and fussing over your darn hair! It’s just hair, so leave it alone and focus on your performances, instead!