The curse of being a 'public property'

There will always be an essential space in a relationship that is “no entry” to anyone. Only the couple and their God have access to this place. Some would say that they know “everything” about a couple. This is jargon that simply says they know a lot — but not all. It becomes even dangerous when knowledge is culled from impressions. A neighbor can conclude that the man who lives two houses away is a devoted family man who diligently goes to work everyday and spends quality weekends with his children in the front yard. This same man can actually be a legally married philanderer to a clueless wife who lives in storm-battered but beautiful Samar with four kids who are single-handedly raised by this same abandoned woman who gets minimal financial support from this ideal husband to neighbors in the city.

My point is, it is dangerous to make conclusions, more so, judgement on people we think we know. It’s even a bigger crime to judge someone we don’t know. Or simply said, it’s not right to judge others whimsically.

This is the curse of being public. Because of the nature of one’s job, one can lose his right to invoke the right to privacy especially if one is in public service where a public servant derives his power from public trust. What he presents to his public is open to scrutiny and therefore, judgement by the people he serves.

But what if one is a movie star? Or a TV star or a pop star? When one is in a job where his primary tool is magic or charisma or the X-factor, how much disclosure is expected of him?

So, when a movie star says he graduated with honors in physical therapy from a non-existent university in Krasnodar, Russia to strengthen his image as an actor, does he go to jail? Or does he just get bloody flagellation from the movie press? Is that enough in a landscape where “bad or good publicity” is still publicity? Can you regulate an industry that has no rules of engagement on how one can be famous?

I have no answers.

Diet Cup a success

Here’s a piece from Sunny Ku of Masterminds International. The 1st Diether Ocampo Cup: Putt for Education golf invitational held at the Tagaytay Midlands Course some weeks ago was a swinging success. The tournament was organized by Diether Ocampo, Anthony Suntay together with Peach Mascarinas and Rima Ostwani along with Jay Ortega and his staff.

One hundred players answered the opening fireworks to signal the start of the tournament after the ceremonial tee-off with Diether, Willy Ocier, Jane Ortega and youngest competitor Ashia Nocum. In attendance were journalists Lito Tacujan, Teddyvic Melendres, Ding Marcelo, Jong Arcano and Reira Mallari. Some of the celebrities seen on the green include Monsour del Rosario, Epy Quizon, Jai Reyes, coach Chot Reyes and brother Billy, together with assistant coach Nash Racela.

The golf tournament was a fundraiser event for the benefit of the education program of K.I.D.S. Foundation, Inc., a group that strives to help give the less fortunate children a better chance at realizing their dreams through educational support.

ZestAir was on hand to support, Diether’s K.I.D.S. Foundation. “Our corporate social responsibility program happened to be well aligned with the goals of Diether and K.I.D.S. Foundation,” said Leveric Ng, ZestAir’s dynamic VP for Marketing. “We hope to continue to support the foundation and its many projects in the future.”

“As a matter of fact, we will do what we can to support kids’ education in general. ZestAir quite recently donated its services in flying-in a substantial amount of school supply donations to public school children in Cebu. Other efforts are being planned so that we can further assist in reaching out to school children all over the country,” added Deo Jovellano, ZestAir marketing manager.