(Second of three parts)
This is a continuation of my list of the polite and courteous young stars in local show business. I’m glad that the list is long because that means this world is getting to be a much better place with well-mannered young people. And so here is the second part:
KC Concepcion — The classic like mother, like daughter. She obviously inherited the excellent public relations skills of her mother, Sharon Cuneta. I knew her as a kid and to my surprise, she said that she also remembers me. (We were in Boston around the same time a little more than a decade ago.) When I interviewed her last year as part of the promo for her movie For the First Time, we hugged each other warmly and it seemed like it was only yesterday when we bumped accidentally into each other at the Boston Common (she was with Sharon and then Senator-to-be Francis Pangilinan) and we screamed with delight at the chance meeting. She was practically just a kid then, but look at how she’s grown — so beautiful. Her heart, however, hardly changed. She’s still the same nice kid, who I watched play in the corridors of St. Luke’s Medical Center when I visited her mother after a slip at the New Frontier Theater during the premiere night of one of her movies in the early ’90s. KC may be all woman now, but in my eyes she’s still the same polite and courteous little girl I knew from way back.
Luis Manzano — Another child of show business who got all the good traits of his parents, especially when it comes to dealing with people. During the wake of Rudy Fernandez on June 7, 2008, we were both covering what was going on at the Heritage Memorial Chapels when he walked across and said hello to me (he was the younger one and he had to be the one to approach me — which is what I do when I see older people in a gathering). Soon enough, even his co-hosts Mariel Rodriguez and Bianca Gonzales followed suit and I said to myself what nice kids they were. The last time I saw Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos, I complimented her about how well she raised Luis and the proud mother beamed with pride. Ditto with dad Edu Manzano who smiled from ear-to-ear when I told him how lucky he was with Luis. Stay that way always, son.
Lovi Poe — The first time I met her was at the party of Jun Lalin in a restaurant in Eastwood some years ago — when she was very, very new in show business. In fact, this is one little confession I have to tell her now: I didn’t know her yet that time. But she went to me and introduced herself and I never forgot her from then on and I will always remember how courteous and polite she is toward those older than her in the industry. I had been hoping nothing but the best for her since then.
Raymond Gutierrez — If there’s one thing Eddie Gutierrez and Annabelle Rama can be proud of, it is the fact that they raised well-mannered children — with Ruffa Gutierrez as Miss Personality. Rocky and down the line are nice kids, too (and for that matter even half brothers Ramon Christopher and Tonton Gutierrez). But it is Raymond I always bump into these days because we host the same type of show and we keep seeing each other at showbiz events. He always greets me with a handshake and a warm smile and I will always appreciate his being respectful toward an older member of the entertainment profession.
Rich Asuncion — The StarStruck alumni are mostly a polite and courteous bunch of young stars. Rich is among the nicest. When we see each other — at Flawless events or even recently in Greenbelt — she always makes the effort to be warm and friendly and I salute her for that. I’ve always wished her success and hope in my heart her attitude doesn’t change.
Ejay Falcon — I remember I was having a treatment at the Flawless branch in Greenhills and was lying on my back when somebody approached me to introduce himself. Wiping some of the guck off my face, I tried to look hard and I said, yes, I recognize him — even if he is a product of ABS-CBN, our rival network. He was obviously done with his procedure and was leaving and also wanted to say goodbye. I never saw him again after that, but I’m happy for his success now that he is doing the lead role in Katorse. I’ve always wished for the success of these young, polite and courteous stars and he is obviously one of them.
Ella Guevarra — After Rita Iringan, she is the next nice child star in the GMA 7 stable of talents. I eventually met the dad, Dennis Guevarra, and I realized why Ella has such great manners: Mr. Guevarra is very nice himself and serves as a good example to his daughter. Why can’t the parents of other young stars teach their kids the same? One time during a live coverage in Marikina, I was in the same room with a child singer. For all that time we were together, the kid never said good afternoon or anything. Nearby was the father. I smiled at him to give my respects because it seemed like he was older (I could be older, but, heck, he looks older!) He just looked at me and turned his face away. Fine! No wonder the kid was rude. Like father, like son. Maybe Mr. Dennis Guevarra can conduct lessons on courtesy and politeness among the parents of other child stars. If the present situation is not remedied, I dread to think what monsters we will be dealing with in the next generation of stars.
(To be concluded)