That’s entertainment, alright!

Socialite and fashion icon Tessa Prieto-Valdez is Celebrity Duet's first grand champion. There's still a lot left to be desired when it comes to her vocal prowess—something even Tessa admits to—but she truly is one heck of an entertainer. One look at her, and you know you're in for a rollicking good time.

As much as I try to remind myself that Celebrity Duets is indeed a singing contest, and that there were better singers in the competition with Tessa, like the person I was rooting for ( Wyngard Tracy), I have to admit she deserves the victory. She was all heart and all about having a good time. You can never go wrong with that.

It doesn't hurt that she did it all for charity either. Tessa's P1 million prize will benefit 10 charity institutions, including the PGH Pediatric Ward and White Cross. This just goes to show she really wasn't in it for the money.

And that she doesn't really need it either.

Philippine Idol, rebooted

Now that the first season of Celebrity Duets is over, my thoughts go back to the first “local” reality singing contest I got hooked on: Philippine Idol. Of course, now it's going to be called Pinoy Idol, and it will be shown on GMA-7, instead of ABC 5. And, of course, we're no longer going to see Ryan Agoncillo as the host, and the judges won't be Ryan Cayabyab, Pilita Corrales, and Francis Magalona—at least not as a triumvirate. There's no official word yet, but with Ryan A., Ryan C., and Pilita already in ABS-CBN territory, then it won't be jumping the gun to say they won't be part of Pinoy Idol anymore.

Personally, I don't like this “starting all over again” business. I feel bad for Mau Marcelo, who, just last year, was ecstatic to be the first-ever Philippine Idol in history. As things are, she is the first and only Philippine Idol. Ever.

I'm pretty sure this will affect her career—if she even has one at all. The last time I heard about her was pretty much around the same time she was proclaimed the winner. I hope this doesn't get her down, because it took her such a long time to warm up to being the rightful diva that she is. The entertainment industry can be cruel, alright, but if there's one thing Mau should keep reminding herself of, it's that no matter how cruel it can be, it has nothing to do with her God-given talent. Absolutely nothing at all.

That being said, I think it would be interesting to have Mo Twister as one of the judges. And, as much as I admire her singing talent, I can't imagine Regine Velasquez doing a good job with this one. She can have Celebrity Duets. I hope they get someone else.

Feedback

I expected to get some, but I was quite surprised with the reactions to last week's piece on the Desperate Housewives issue. (What was that again, you ask? Yeah, it's already old news now.) Nevertheless, below are two reader comments I think are worth mentioning. I've edited them both a bit for clarity.

Lorenzo Escano wrote, “You are probably showing the same ignorance as the people involved in the show. Do you stop the fire as it happens or do you wait until it is too late? Would you feel proud or just say nothing if you were in a medical profession and the Americans would question your credibility? How shallow your mind could be! Oh, I forgot, that doesn't bother you.”

My reply to his email reads in part: “I'd rather not continue to dignify the slur against Filipino doctors because I'd rather focus on proving to myself and my country that comments like those have no truth in them. Energy better spent, if you ask me. And a much better way to stop the "fire," which, as much as it hurts me to admit it, does have an iota of truth in it.” I still think the same way.

An anonymous reader sent in this text message: “We Pinoys shouldn't make a fuss over it. After all, it's just a story. Educated people know (this) and leave it as it is.”

Of course, I don't think less of the people who made a fuss over Teri Hatcher's line. Neither do I think they're uneducated. To each his own. However, I see my part in uplifting the international image of Filipino professionals, as well as my part in helping build this nation, as a simple matter of doing the best I can to be the best that I can be.

Writers are always told to show, not tell. In the matter of this issue, I strongly believe the same advice applies.

Email your comments to [email protected]. You may also text them to 0920.273.7087. Please include your name so I can credit your comments properly.