MANILA, Philippines - I just got back from a jaunt across several European countries that climaxed in the United Kingdom, where my artistic appetite was whetted double-time but sated, too. On a hop-on, hop-off tour bus (that I took twice!), I craned my neck as far as it could (wishing I had one as long as a giraffe’s) to ogle at the houses where the Beatles lived and the music school where Sir Elton John studied (yup, they were included in the bus tour itinerary!). While (window) shopping at Harrods, I secretly hoped that I would run into Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow, who both decided to leave the US and reside in London, to ask them how their British lovers compare with past American sweethearts. If by chance I met Victoria Beckham, I was ready with my application form to be a nanny for her husband David Beckham, err, I mean her kids, for free (ha, ha, ha!).
Indeed, the world would be much duller without the artists and entertainers of the United Kingdom. In all aspects of life, Great Britain has real flesh-and-blood celebrities who sparkle, especially in the entertainment firmament. Even the Philippines is not spared from their luster. Foreign British magazines like OK and Hello! have local editions. Through the media, we are exposed to the lives of the Queen and members of her family, and other popular English entertainment personalities.
Below are a sampling of enduring British celebrities who have become part of the consciousness of Filipinos.
The music group that has influenced world culture is the Beatles. (At a recent fund-raising concert for the Philippine Science High School by my daughter’s batch, I was astounded by 13- to 17-year-olds singing with their parents to Beatles songs performed with gusto by the Bloomfields Band). On the subject of groups, we have the Bee Gees, referred to as “Britain’s first family of harmony,” and the Spice Girls that holds the best-selling album by a female music group in history. In the ’80s, we were all enthralled by the androgynous Boy George, and the seemingly macho vocalist of the pop duo Wham! who later admitted to being gay, George Michael. The bespectacled Sir Elton John is considered the world’s most famous pianist. Although controversial as well, made more so with partner David Furnish, he is a great fund-raiser. He was one of the few invited to Prince William’s wedding last April. Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay, an alternative rock band that became mainstream and conquered the music scene, won over America’s hot Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow. Of course, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber has influenced musical theater with Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats and other works, some of which were turned into films.
In the field of motion pictures, I should not fail to mention Robert Pattinson of the Twilight series. Pattinson, first seen in the big screen as Cedric Digory in Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire, has reinforced the seductive charisma of a vampire, someone to desire and love, and not to fear. Water for Elephants, where Robert played the role of a young man falling deeply in love with the much older circus performer in the person of Reese Witherspoon, was an unexpected box-office hit, obviously because of his crowd-drawing capacity. Daniel Craig is said to be the better Bond. We are awaiting the latest, much-guarded, 007 movie in which he stars.
Filmdom’s royalty come to mind with Sir Laurence Olivier, Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Michael Caine and Sir David Attenborough. Whichever the genre, these ladies and gentlemen of the Queen put gravitas to a movie. A comedian for all seasons, Rowan Atkinson, the Mr. Bean, is loved by people of all ages. A very private person, even his age is not known. We have the Oscar winners with Colin Firth and Daniel Day-Lewis. Then, there are the other British gems that include Vivien Leigh, Julie Andrews, Sean Connery, Vanessa Redgrave, Peter O’Toole, Jessica Tandy, Angela Lansbury, Ben Kingsley, Peter Sellers, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson, Hugh Grant, Clive Owen and Keira Knightley. Kate Winslet of the Titanic fame, now a mature movie star in such classics as Revolutionary Road, has become a much better actress. And of course, we have the younger set with Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson of the Harry Potter films who even dare to play challenging theater roles.
Although these British celebrities may be deemed royalty in the world of entertainment, Filipinos are not far behind in terms of talent. We have shown to the world what we can offer through the likes of Lea Salonga, Freddie Aguilar, Charice, Arnel Pineda and Jed Madela. Taking a leaf from the hop-on, hop-off tour buses of London, would it not be great to include in Philippine tour itineraries Olongapo City where both Freddie Aguilar and Arnel Pineda started their musical careers and mention the name of Charice to lure tourists to Pampanga? Why not invite tourist night owls to the music bar of Arnel along Timog Avenue with Arnel himself entertaining guests? Surely, there are many imaginative ways to hitch the Philippine tourism industry to the star of our great Filipino artists to make even bolder and bigger our country’s imprint in the world entertainment scene.
(E-mail me at celebrationsdot@yahoo.com or text 09275000833).