What do Piolo Pascual and Leonardo DiCaprio have in common? They are both part-German.
What do Marvin Agustin and Keanu Reeves have in common? Both their fathers got jailed due to (illegal) drugs.
And what do Dominic Ochoa and Mandy Ochoa have in common? Nothing except their surnames (although theyre not related to each other).
Im referring to congressmen who have been (desperately?) trying to grab the headlines (well, you know, their own "l5 minutes of fame") by riding on the popularity of such TV "wonders" as the ABS-CBN chinovela Meteor Garden and the invasion of "little" people like Mahal, Mura (hes a man dressed as a woman in case you didnt know) and Dagul, all of whom are now part of the MTB family.
One congressman wants the MTRCB to check out the "destructive" effects of Meteor Garden on the young and some other agency to find out if making Mahal and company work on TV violates their, ehem, "human rights."
Like you maybe, Im amazed that our congressmen still have time to watch a lot of television despite the supposedly piles and piles of bills they have to work on in Congress. We journalists who are forever racing with deadlines arent so lucky. We can only glance at the TV set in the office once in a while and never hope to follow the adventures of the handsome F4 guys in Meteor Garden and the antics of Mahal and company. The honorable congressmans heart bleeds at the way Mahal and company are "being made fun of." Of course, I disagree with the guy. We laugh at Mahal and companys antics but not at them. Theyre comedians and were supposed to laugh at what theyre doing, arent we?
Now, are Mahal and company, uh, "exploited"?
I dont think so. Mahal and Mura and Dagul are into their late 20s and early 30s and arent they luckier than thousands of jobless people out there (perhaps waiting and waiting in vain for the good graces of their congressmen)? At least, Mahal and company are earning their keep and helping support their families. Or would some congressmen rather consign them to the perya?
More than the perceived "destructive" effects of Meteor Garden on the young, I think whats more harmful not only to the young are the not-so-funny antics of public servants who serve only their own interests and not (never!) those of the public. Whats immoral are government officials brazenly squandering the peoples money (long live the pork barrel!) to uplift themselves and not, yes, the public.
Our world would be a better place if congressmen (and other public servants) direct their "misplaced/displaced" concern to those malnourished children scattered around Metro Manilas streets and other unfortunate victims of the indifference and neglect of public/governmnent officials. It may not get them into the headlines but, Im sure, it will earn them a special place in the hearts of the public and the voters and, who knows, somewhere in heaven.
Meanwhile, excuse me while I try to catch a glimpse of Meteor Garden and what Mahal and company are up to this time on MTB.
The two actors agreed that working with Taiwanese director Ang Lee was a rewarding experience. Said Elliott, "Ang brings intellect to whatever he does."
Before Hulk (where he plays the military officer running after the monster Hulk, played by Eric Bana who co-stars with Oscar-winner Jennifer Connelly as Elliotts daughter, thus the conflict between doing his duty and his affection for Bana as his son-in-law), according to Elliott, he was never a comics fan. "But Hulk made me one even though at this stage of my life. Ive been in this business for more than 34 years!"
Asked if he was afraid of growing old (hes into his 60s), Nolte said no.
"At my age, I have a different outlook from the one I had when I was in my 40s."
He recalled that the death of his mother (at 86) three years ago left him kind of vulnerable. "When your last parent dies," said Nolte, "theres no more baffler. You know youre next. You need a witness when you die just as you need a witness when youre born."
In Hulk, Nolte plays Banas father and the conflict between them provides the Greek-tragedy part of the movie which is more than just an action flick about a comics character.
"I love the role," said Nolte. "If somebody else directed it, I doubt if Id do it."
The Okuya Tempura House is a favorite hangout of Regal Matriarch Mother Lily and people from nearby (ABS-CBN, GMA 7, etc).
On this page are pictured samples of the new Okuya treats.