75 reasons to feel good about 2002

Cheer up, folks! Things aren’t really as bad as they seem to be, or as they are, at least not as bad as in other countries like Argentina where anarchy has forced the President to quit after four years of economic crisis and the one succeeding him to do the same after barely two weeks in office, with the new one’s fate as uncertain as the country’s direction.

Think positive, hard though it may be, what with the peace and order situation as it is and the grim headlines that greet us every morning before we can even brew our cup of coffee. Look at the bright(er) side of life (well, pretend that it is there) and imagine that light at the end of the tunnel and things will turn out right, just you wait and see.

If you ask me, there are at least 75 reasons to feel good about 2002. Here they are:

1. Sharon Cuneta is turning 36 on Sunday, Jan. 6, with a free show at the UP Theater (half of it to be covered "live" for her self-titled ABS-CBN show and the other half reserved for the next Sunday’s telecast as "Part 2")

2. The Lord of the Rings (said to be better than the Harry Potter movie... I insist that the book is far better) is showing in Metro theaters.

3. Some of the (truly good) Metro Filmfest 2001 entries are on extended run in select theaters.

4. Kris Aquino isn’t screaming on Game K N B? and she looks better – more comfortable and slimmer – in clothes by Paul Cabral.

5. Edu Manzano is saying an emotionless "goodbye" to the weakest links.

6. Christopher de Leon is turning more and more people into millionaires.

7. Pareng Oca Orbos and Mareng Winnie Monsod go on with their weekly animated debate.

8. Judy Ann Santos is maintaining her sexy figure.

9. Piolo Pascual is up and about despite negative criticisms.

10. Martin Nievera will have more concerts both here and abroad.

11. Kuh Ledesma remains optimistic despite the fire that gutted her Republic of Malate.

12. Regine Velasquez is starring in a movie (Viva Films’ Hanggang Ngayon) with Richard Gomez.

13. The Buzz will go on dishing out juicy showbiz items.

14. S-Files will do the same.

15. And so will Startalk.

16. Boy Abunda’s Private Conversation is finally on "mainstream" television (ABS-CBN, Wednesday nights, after Headlines).

17. Karen Davila will give birth to her and DJ Sta. Ana’s first child.

18. And so will Bernadette Allyson to her and Gary Estrada’s first child (Gary’s second; he has a love child with Cheska Diaz).

19. Korina Sanchez will be as much of a fighter as she has been all these years.

20. Atty. Mel Mauricio will continue to enlighten us on legal matters on GMA’s Unang Hirit and his daily DZBB radio program.

21. Randy Santiago will not – yet – take off his shades.

22. John Estrada and Vanessa del Bianco will continue to keep everybody guessing.

23. Rustom Padilla will keep on spinning the wheel of fortune.

24. Ogie Alcasid will continue presiding over "family feuds."

25. Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres will celebrate their fourth wedding anniversary on April 28.

26. And so will Aga Muhlach and Charlene Gonzalez (their first) on May 28.

27. Nora Aunor will turn 50 on May 21.

28. Vilma Santos will turn 49 on Nov. 3.

29. Vandolph will walk again (please, Lord, let him!).

30. Action stars will stop wearing black leather jackets and dark glasses even indoors.

31. The Hunks (Piolo Pascual, Diether Ocampo, Bernard Palanca, Carlos Agassi and Jericho Rosales) will still be around – more baring and daring?

32. Dolphy will turn 74 on July 25.

33. Jessa Zaragoza and Dingdong Avanzado might have a baby.

34. Jolina Magdangal’s movie, Kung Ika’y Isang Panaginip (with Leandro Muñoz and Rafael Rosell IV), will finally be shown (on Jan. 30).

35. Sen. Loren Legarda will continue hosting her ABS-CBN show Kabalikat.

36. Mother Lily will produce even more movies – "quality" ones this time.

37. Assunta de Rossi and Rica Peralejo’s rivalry will heat up even more.

38. Armida "Tita Midz" Siguion-Reyna (and family) will not yet (let’s hope they don’t) migrate to Vancouver.

39. Direk Marilou Diaz-Abaya and Cesar Montano will collaborate on another "blockbuster" project.

40. Matet will continue to be controversial – "tactlessly" so.

41. Aiza Seguerra will continue to shine (dumating na ang kanyang panahon as a singer).

42. Geneva Cruz and KC Montero will hold on to their "conjugal" title as the Denial Couple (kahit kitang-kita ang ebidensya).

43. Ogie Alcasid will continue writing beautiful love songs.

44. Mystica will split up even wider.

45. Charo Santos-Concio’s Maalaala Mo Kaya will still be the No. 1 drama show (as far as this follower is concerned – and a million others, I’m sure!).

46. Caridad Sanchez will go on shedding copious tears when she’s asked to comment about the late Nida Blanca on national television.

47. Orly Ilacad’s Virgin Cafe will be SRO on weekends (especially) because of its band line-up (Side A, True Faith, etc.).

48. FPJ and Susan Roces will celebrate their 34th wedding anniversary on Dec. 25.

49. Cogie Domingo will be more active.

50. Angelu de Leon will not have (oh, no, not again... not so soon!) another love child.

51. Tikoy Aguiluz’s CineManila will be held in December.

52. The annual Metro Filmfest will go on as usual, Dec. 25 to Jan. 3, 2003, and it will be as controversial as it has always been.

53. Jessica Soho will do more incisive, controversial and sometimes "earth-shaking" features on her Reports (GMA).

54. Ai-Ai delas Alas will be happy fancy-free.

55. Rosanna Roces, Ai-Ai’s former friend, will team up with Marissa Sanchez in a show, but not to "spite" Ai-Ai.

56. Mikey Macapagal-Arroyo is starring in another movie.

57. Jinggoy Estrada will do the same.

58. Vanilla Sky, the Tom Cruise-Penelope Cruz starrer, will be shown first week of February.

59. Kristine Hermosa and Jericho Rosales’ romance will bloom even more.

60. Rico Yan and Claudine Barretto will still be an item (low-key though they’re keeping their romance).

61. Gretchen Barretto might make a showbiz comeback.

62. Robin Padilla will maintain his good relations and rapport with his Australia-based family.

63. John Lapus will be as visible – and as audible – as ever.

64. Lolit Solis’ alok-bati segment on Startalk might be extended to two minutes (due to popular demand).

65. Inday Badiday will continue reminding radio listeners to be, uh, "careful, careful!"

66. Kuya Mar d’ Guzman Cruz will serve more juicy/meaty showbiz delicacies on his DZXL program Showbiz Power with Kuya Mar.

67. Peque Gallaga will do movies again (hopefully, hopefully!).

68. Bold movies will still be around.

69. MTB will finally give away the one million jackpot on Winner Take All.

70. Aga and Charlene’s twin children, Antonio Andres and Atasha Aaron, will be baptized.

71. Jamie Rivera will continue singing inspirational songs (like Heal Our Land).

72. Year 2002 will – hopefully – be better than Year 2001.

73. Christmas will be on Dec. 25, as it has always been.

74. The sun will still rise in the east.

75. The sun will still set in the west.