Social media darlings: Brand-new treats from Park Bo-gum, Maymay Entrata

Dean Schneider and the Hakuna Mipaka pride

Much of the performing arts and entertainment sector has been greatly upended by the pande­mic’s destructive reach. It’s a sorry state of affairs that is exacerbated by the recent shutdown of ABS-CBN, the country’s premier content provider of films, TV shows, streaming programs and music, whose absence further exposes the industry to opportunists, political or otherwise, who know nothing about the art and business of show.

Of course, there are times when I want to temporarily distance myself from the purulent hate rhetoric on social media (our 25 years with this paper has desensitized us from the braindead twaddle of bashers and trolls) or the snooze-indu­cing, self-indulgent chat shows and Stories on Facebook and Instagram.

So, I keep things positive by watching the latest updates from Swiss wildlife advocate Dean Schneider (who has 8 million followers on IG) and his pride of lions in the 400-hectare Hakuna Mipaka Oasis in South Africa. It’s instructive to see how man and beast manage to happily coexist in this private animal sanctuary devoid of the perilous consequences of human entitlement and privilege. What else is left to say but, “Sana all.”

Tucker (right) wiith his “mom” Courtney Budzyn

Social media has also enabled me to get entertained by the unabating curiosity of beagles (on Beagle Universe on Facebook) and the canine romps of Tucker, the 2-year-old Golden Retriever owned by Courtney and Mike Budzyn of Michigan. The photogenic pooch has 2.5 million fans on Instagram and 1.97 million followers on YouTube.

In a country weighed down by an atmosphere of virulent impunity, YouTube clips from Judy Sheindlin’s “Judge Judy,” dispensing swift justice to stubborn lawbreakers who finally get their comeuppance in a very public forum, also provides a short-term source of relief.

Maymay Entrata

On the music scene, Maymay Entrata’s latest recording, the soothing and satisfying Star POP-produced single “I Love You 2,” written by Joven Tan and initially meant as an ode to her home network ABS-CBN, has taken a bittersweet turn after Congress decided to finally put an end to the company’s franchise operations last week—along with 11,000 of its employees’ jobs. It’s just appalling to see something so economically devastating during a pandemic.

After winning “Pinoy Big Brother: Lucky 7’s” top plum in 2016, Maymay began fulfilling her avid followers’ expectations by smashing boundaries and trying out new things—from acting and singing, to her unexpected foray into modeling.

We also note with fondness that the singer-actress’ songs are nothing to scoff at, so a hearty pat on the back are in order.

For both the naysayers and the uninitiated, listen to “Kakayanin Kaya” or the digitized-sounding “Magdamag” (with erstwhile screen partner Edward Barber in tow), from Maymay’s six-track “#M0806” album last year, and you’ll know what I mean.

Noting how any new posts about Maymay and the MayWard or the relatively new MayDon (with equally popular boy-next-door Donny Pangilinan) tandems generate impressive spikes in the number of “likes” and “follows” on Inquirer Entertainment’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, her followers are certainly out to prove they’re likewise a force to reckon with.

That having said, the young actress’ staunch admirers should give Maymay, who turned 23 last May 6, enough elbow room to pursue projects away from a love team partner or forge partnerships with a variety of actors from time to time, to let her step out of her comfort zone and help boost her versatility as a solo performer.

Park Bo-gum

Meanwhile, fans of Park Bo-gum have something to get excited about when the 27-year-old Korean heartthrob (“Reply 1988,” “Love in the Moonlight”) returns to the small screen by way of “Record of Youth,” his upcoming series on Netflix that is set for a September release.

Joining Bo-gum in his latest rom-com adventure are Byeon Woo-seok (“Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency”) and Park So-dam (“Parasite”). In the series, Bo-gum and Woo-seok portray models-turned-actors who cross paths with a budding makeup artist (So-dam). Promising pre­mise, right K-drama aficionados?

The series is helmed by Ahn Gil-ho, the director behind such Koreanovelas as “Memories of the Alhambra” and “Watcher.”