Wish list for 2012

THE start of a spanking-new year zaps us with a renewed burst of optimism, an infusion of faith and hope in the goodness of man, despite extensive evidence to the contrary, and in the innate integrity of the universe and its self-healing and self-renewing power. And so, we dare to come up with our breathlessly bountiful celebrity wish list for 2012:

Topping our list is the fervent prayer that Nora Aunor will be able to get her unique singing voice back after her remedial procedure in Boston early this year.

In our view, the fact that our best actress-singer has been silenced by a flubbed cosmetic procedure in Japan is harshly symbolic of 2011’s annus horribilis dimensions. Can you imagine the universal joy that will spread across the land when our epoch’s Ibong Adarna sings again?

Control

Next, we hope that, by the end of 2012, plans to return control and supervision of the Metro Manila Film Festival to the members of the Filipino movie industry shall have been signed, sealed and delivered. The move is long overdue, so it really is about time! Only film people, certainly not politicians, know best how to properly showcase the finest works of our film artists, for the edifying entertainment of local lovers of the best in cinema.

Hoping more generally, we trust that all other flawed TV-film competitions, festivals and awards be set right and made more competent, honest and convincing. That’s a really tall order, given the morass of crassly subjective motivations that currently makes many “awards” dubious and downright fake—but, if all good men and women rally to the worthy cause, it could happen.

We also wish that Sharon Cuneta really works hard to return to her old stellar silhouette, so that her big move to TV5 will signify a bright, new chapter in her professional and creative life, not just a profitable change of address.

Ditto for Aga Muhlach, whose own move to TV5 hasn’t yet resulted in renewed creative dynamism and shows truly worthy of his talent, experience and stature in the TV-film Industry.

Another TV5 program that’s encountering problems, due to its distracting and unfunny “comic relief” flourishes, is the weekday food show, “Gellicious.” May host Gelli de Belen acknowledge the need to effect the necessary changes—soonest.

Much more positive is the observation that 2011 has been a distinctly “different” year for Boots Anson-Roa, who used to be limited to generally goody-two-shoes roles. Well, no longer! In one of her teleseryes, she played a grandmother—who was an NPA amazon! And, in the concluding “Munting Heredera,” she’s as (sweetly) vile and villainous as can be. We trust that Boots will continue to expand her role choices, and emerge as one of our most versatile senior stars in TV and film productions this year.

We also wish that other generally overlooked but vastly talented senior stars will be given roles that showcase their exceptional talent. In particular, we hope that the TV-film industry belatedly “rediscovers” the undimmed thespic gifts of Hilda Koronel, Mitch Valdes and Tetchie Agbayani.

And, in the important field of broadcast news and public affairs, we hope for major reforms, starting with a reevaluation of what constitutes real  news, as opposed to the currently excessive focus on fires, accidents, robberies and other “generic” incidents that make for “hot” visuals, but don’t really detail how history is being told and made on a daily basis—which is what genuine newscasts are supposed to chronicle.

There should also be a greater emphasis on news analysis than simple reportage, so that viewers can better appreciate the significance in their lives of the incidents being covered.