Maricel Soriano. Image: Screengrab from YouTube/Ogie Diaz
Maricel Soriano said she is not bothered by younger stars’s seeming lack of respect to senior celebrities, as she advised her fellow veteran stars to learn to live with it and not make a big deal out of it.
In an interview with Ogie Diaz, which was uploaded on his YouTube channel last May 19, Soriano said that she sometimes feel for the senior celebrities who were given the snub by younger celebrities who happened to walk past them without even giving so much as an acknowledgment. However, she said that she has learned that one should no longer make an issue out of it, and learn to take things in stride.
“Nakakita ako ng gan’un pero hindi ako ‘yung ginanon,” she said, when she was asked by Diaz about being snubbed by younger celebrities on set. “Kumbaga, nasaktan din ako. Habang pinapanood ko ‘yung eksenang ganun, ‘Eh bakit ako? Bakit ako? Hindi niya ba ako kilala? Hindi man lang nagbibigay-pugay?’ May gan’un kasi.”
(I’ve witnessed it, but I never experienced it myself. In a way, I feel hurt for them. Every time, I see something like that happen, “Why me? Why me? Doesn’t she know me? Doesn’t she know how to show respect?” There are some who tend to think that way.)
The screen veteran also looked back at the practices with the celebrities of her time, saying they had to go through numerous lengths in order to show respect to older stars.
“Kami noon, pudpod yung lips namin sa kakahalik sa kanilang lahat, and that was our upbringing. ‘Yun ang training namin. Nakagisnan namin ‘yun na magbigay-pugay ka. Kahit nasa dulo pa ako [ng room], pupunta ako doon tas sasabihan ng, ‘Tita, nandito na po ako,’ saka ‘Ako po si Marya,’” she said.
(Before, our lips would feel numb from kissing their cheeks, and that was our upbringing. That was our training. We got used to acknowledging these stars all the time. Even if I’m at the end of a room, I would approach this celebrity and say, “Tita, I’m here.” or “Hi, I’m Marya.”)
Even if the practices of this generation’s celebrities appear to be jarring to veterans, the “Soltera” star chose to not make a fuss about it anymore.
“Sinabi ko sa sarili ko, ayokong ma-stress sa ganyan. Number one, hindi ko naman kayo kilala. Bakit ko naman i-stress-in ang sarili ko? Now, if you come to me and you tell me who you are, ganyan-ganyan, then I will entertain you,” she said.
“But then, in the meantime, if you are not coming to me and saying, ‘Hello,’ e di, wala ka rin mapapala sa aking, ‘Hi,’” she continued.
(I told myself, I don’t want to stress over things like this. First of all, I don’t know them. So, why would I be stressed about it? Now, if you come to me and tell me who you are, then I will entertain you. But then, in the meantime, if you are not coming to me and saying, “Hello” then, you wouldn’t receive a “Hi” from me.)
During the interview, Diaz pointed out that there are some screen veterans who can’t help but feel upset about not being acknowledged by younger stars, without disclosing their identity.
“Wag mo nang dibdibin. Wag na. Hindi worth it,” Soriano stressed in response. “Mga bata ang mga iyan eh. Hindi nila alam ang ginagawa nila.”
(Don’t get too upset about it. Don’t. It’s not worth it. These celebrities are still young. They do not know what they’re doing.)
The “Inang Yaya” star also shared that she’s the one who makes an effort to approach the younger stars, in order to create a healthy working relationship with them.
“Laging gan’un kasi walang gustong mag-introduce sa amin. Sasabihin ko, ‘Hi, I’m Marya,’ Gan’un na lang,” she said.
“Dati nga, meron akong ka-eksena na hindi ko kakilala [so nagpakilala ako sa kanya],” she further added. “T’as sabi niya, ‘Gusto ko nga po sana kayong lapitan para batiin kaya lang nahihiya ako.’ Sabi ko, ‘Next time, wag ka na mahihiya.’”
(It’s always like that because no one is approaching us. I would say, “Hi, I’m Marya.” That’s it. Before, I worked with a star whom I didn’t know, so I chose to approach them. Then they said, “I wanted to approach you but I’m so shy.” I said, “Next time, don’t feel shy about approaching me next time.”)
Known as the “Diamond Star,” Soriano has appeared in a string of successful films and teleseryes throughout her career including “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow,” “Inang Yaya,” “A Love Story,” “Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real,” and “Inagaw Mo ang Lahat sa Akin,” among many others. EDV