A Costly Price for Fame

Seriously, I have been wracking my brains for a suitable column name one week before this piece hit my editor's inbox. But for reasons alien to me, I couldn't squeeze one.

Until my day-job boss and confidante "R" blurted "BARBwire". Silently ambling for a more conservative list of names, I let the name stew --- along with the light banter that this particular Friday lunch group was stoking. But by the time we've reached the resto, the tide of votes have won me over.

Barb-wire it is.

Cutting the "S" from my nickname and adding "wire", would pretty much explain the nature of this space.

That BARBwire will be a source of showbiz news is already a given --- because I am one of those who work in the sidelines of the industry.

I hear, I see, I meet the celebrities in the flesh.

But it doesn't mean that BARBwire will remain a venue for such items alone.

This space will become deviant --- in as far as being labeled as an obscenely vapid corner.

There will be room for free talk, observations, opinions, forum, dialogue, listing and blogging. Biz news. Celebrity talk. Music. Movies. Rave and reviews.

Let's get interactive. Get plugged, don't be left unwired.

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In a welcome chance meeting with Gladys Guevarra, this deadline-beater immediately sensed an almost relaxed, calm vibe.

"Nakapagpapahinga na kasi ako ngayon eh," confessed the funny lady who used to be one of the regular faces in the number one noontime show Eat Bulaga.

She appeared to have gain weight, something she readily admitted. "Kain kasi ako ng kain. Maski gabi, kumakain ako. Hinahanap ko minsan na midnight snack, kanin!" she exclaimed followed by her trademark laugh that has tickled not only regular Eat Bulaga viewers but also made her nightly gigs in comedy bars a full-blown success.

But her accomplishments came with a costly price, her health.

This prompted Gladys to say goodbye to Eat Bulaga - the second family she deeply loves. It also meant limiting her nightly engagements that have become her bread-and-butter.

Her resignation raised a lot of eyebrows. But Gladys has been consistent with her reasons and has appealed for her critics and audience to understand. "Aanhin ko naman ang pera, kung may sakit naman ako," she said in an interview.

Nowadays, Gladys spends more time relaxing and catching up with sleep. She had herself booked for regular trips to a Makati clinic to aid her aching back --- the main reason why she whacked her bulging workload.

"May mga shows pa rin ako, pero Fridays and Saturdays na lang. Ito 'yung mga commitments na natanguan ko na before I have decided to quit Bulaga and bawasan ang trabaho ko," she expressed.

Now that she has more time to choose her projects, Gladys has decided to give GMA's offer to star in a fantasy program a go. Hence, the diva-mimicking comedienne will be playing the lead role in Magic Kamison.

The Sunday-afternoon fantasy show will premier this Sunday, February 4. Gladys is set to play the role of Chuchay, a kind-hearted soul who's being maltreated by her abusive aunt. Straying away from home and away from hurtful invectives of her tiya, Chuchay chanced upon this old lady whom she saved from being hit by a speeding vehicle. In return, the old woman gave Chuchay the magic kamison --- and from there, the adventures of Chuchay and the talking chemise starts.

"Ang magic kamison kasi nagbibigay siya ng kagandahan, salapi at talino," expressed the lady we would soon be calling Chuchay.

The audience will be seeing a different Gladys Guevarra in this latest offering of the Kapuso Network.

"Magda-drama ako dito. Makikita nila na umiiyak ako. Pero siyempre, makikita pa rin ng audience na papasukan namin ng comedy para siyempre, maging light siya," Gladys noted.

The Chuchay character was inspired from a real little girl --- Gladys' niece.

"It so happened kasi na lahat silang mga pamangkin ko, nasa bahay namin. Tapos, andun ako, pinagmamasdan ko lang sila. Si Chuchay, medyo maarte kasi 'yun eh. Kung papaano ko ina-act out ang Chuchay character ko, ganun siya. So inisip ko na i-incorporate ko siya sa mga gigs ko. Tapos, ginagawa ko na rin siya sa Bulaga. Tapos heto nga, nung nag-uusap na for kamison, napagkasunduan na si Chuchay character ko na ang gagamitin," explained Gladys.

Asked whether she had a hard time shifting from doing comedy to drama, the funny lady over at the Kapuso bloc readily shook her head. "Siguro, masasabi ko, mas mahirap kung if you're doing drama tapos magshi-shift ka sa comedy. Kasi 'yung timing, 'yun ang kailangan mong bantayan eh," she reflected.

Obviously, Gladys is happy with the way things are going, especially now that a new blessing has fallen on her shoulders.

Given a chance to hold a real magic kamison, to whom will Chuchay lend the enchanted chemise?

After some thought, Gladys named her picks --- "Allan K., Teri Onor and Jose Manalo."

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Have you seen the latest PANATA plug of the Kapuso Network? That plug which features the respected names in the field of broadcasting industry made its debut just recently. Do you like it? Can you say about it? Email me your thoughts at [email protected]