Showlitics

As many of you know, I teach Business English to Europeans via distance learning. I only have a one hour stint daily now, but I still get the most interesting conversations with my learners. One of my French students, Bruno, constantly reads up on the Philippines, particularly because of his two Filipina teachers—one of those being myself, and the other being my friend Donna—whom he thinks are rather delightful. Yes, I’m flattering myself, but I’m also telling the truth.

Last week, Bruno told me that he had read about Brillante Mendoza and his film Lola in Le Monde, a French daily evening newspaper. Then he sent me photographs of two news articles on the Philippine elections. Jumping from the topic of show business to the Philippine elections, I couldn’t help but think how much of both have been intertwined in our own media lately.

Of course, there’s the matter of President-elect Noynoy Aquino, who was practically carried to the presidency not just by his parents’ legacies (a large portion of voters were born after 1986, you know) but also by the most influential showbiz personality of the year, Kris. People have been asking if she’s leaving the country, as she supposedly promised some time ago, after a controversy pitting her against former The Buzz co-host Ruffa Gutierrez. She has clarified that she meant she would leave if her presence would be bad for Noynoy. Based on results, however, she was able to help—and she would continue helping, even if it means making some career changes.

I don’t know if haters are right in considering her a threat to the country. Or, better yet, I do know she’s hardly that. So she may be annoying for some, but I’ve always thought that Kris should be the least of our worries, where presidents are concerned. We have the luxury of judging her because she has lived a very public life. Now, if only politicians were as transparent.

Then, there’s the matter of showbiz personalities who’ve made it to political positions, like Lucy Torres-Gomez (congresswoman), Herbert Bautista (mayor), Christopher de Leon (provincial board member), and Alfred Vargas (councilor). Of course, we have Bong Bong Revilla (yes, with the name change), Jinggoy Estrada, Tito Sotto and Lito Lapid in the Senate.

If the trend continues, pretty soon we wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between showbiz and politics.

But I have high hopes for this country and I will not be dependent on any politician to make that into reality.

Finalists of Virgin Labfest 6

Exciting times are up again for Philippine theater. Rody Vera of the Writers' Bloc, co-organizer of the yearly experimental theater festival Virgin Labfest, has announced the 12 plays chosen for the sixth edition of the Labfest:

• Bakit Wala Nang Nagtatagpo sa Philcoa Oberpas, by Carlo Garcia

• Balunbalunan, by Debbie Ann L. Tan

• Carmi Martin, by J. Dennis C. Teodosio

• Collector's Item, by Juliene Mendoza

• A Fistful of Sand, by Arlo de Guzman

• Higit Pa Dito, by Allan B. Lopez

• Huling Habilin ng Sirena, by Layeta P. Bucoy

• Isagani, by Alexis Dorola

• Matyag, by Gabriel Beato Francisco (pseudonym)

• Ondoy, by Remi Velasco

• Sa Package Counter, by Isa Borlaza

• Suor Clara, by Floy Quintos

I only started watching Virgin Labfest two years ago, despite wanting to follow it regularly since it began. If I were the type who’d have real regrets in my life, that would rank number three or so.

Virgin Labfest will run from June 23-July 4, 2010 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. If you’re in town, let’s catch it together!

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