Viewers extol ‘inspirational’ celebrities

GARCIA. Larger than life.

IN Philippine showbiz, everyone seems to be trying to out-misbehave each other. However, there are a few “inspirational” celebrities out there who people still have a genuine admiration for. We asked a random sampling of TV and movie viewers about the stars they most admire, and here are some of their glowing replies:

“I admire Michael V. Hindi lang s’ya magaling na comedian, he’s also a humble person. Wala siyang effort magpatawa at simpleng tao pa rin s’ya.”—Pette Bernard Rose, engineering student

“Kidlat Tahimik. Despite audiences preferring Hollywood-style movies, he continues to make films that explore Filipino culture. He does it because he really loves what he’s doing; he doesn’t pander to his audience.”—Maritess Gentil, analyst

“I’d have to go with Anne Curtis, because, for me, she appeals to all ages—plus, she’s the perfect mix of sexy and classy. And, she’s so true to herself that no matter how silly she gets, you’ll still find her admirable.” —Lyle Magana, college student

“Lourd de Veyra. He says what he means, no frills. Whether with his band or on his TV show, he delves into issues that should be questioned and discussed. It’s refreshing, especially since most other people in show biz and the media are content with being the same as everybody else.”—Claire Mendoza, teacher

“Sam Concepcion is one of a kind. I admire him not only for his looks, but also because he is really talented—he can sing, dance and act. He’s also been exposed to the public since he was very young, and he knows how to deal with that.”—Renz Seto, med student

“Lea Salonga. She is undeniably talented. She’s known not only here in our country, but also abroad.”—Julius Blanco, CSR

“Coco Martin. Because he has proven his worth and skills, whether it’s in an indie project or a mainstream TV show.” —Moon Maranan, student

“Eddie Garcia. He’s like the Energizer bunny—he just keeps going and going. He could be 90 already, and he’s still going strong. He’s larger than life! Did you know he was a Philippine scout in World War II? Plus, he’s a gentleman—no scandals.  They don’t make stars like him anymore!”—Christian Navarro, HR assistant