No guts, no glory.
They show lots of guts in pursuit of glory. Every day on Eat, Bulaga!, they walk on the ramp with studied confidence, egged on by hosts Ryan Agoncillo and Solenn Heussaff (or Pauleen Luna), and then they boast that they are more talented and better-endowed than their lookalikes before they are made to sing or dance and show their “acting” mettle in a brief skit.
The search for Mr. Pogi has been going on and off for more than two decades now. Each of the aspirants is deadset on inheriting the “throne” once held by Jericho Rosales and then by Edgar Allan Guzman, two of the graduates who have become stars in their own right. Perhaps as a nod to Jericho, the logo shows him in silhouette, flashing a come-on smile with his chin framed by his thumb and index finger (a Mr. Pogi “trademark” or ID).
Scratch a Mr. Pogi wannabe and he has a sob story to tell just like Edgar Allan who, according to his manager Noel Ferrer, “joined the search to augment the family income since his father had died.”
Edgar Allan’s success story is perfect material for Charo Santos-Concio’s Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK) or in Mel Tiangco’s soon-to-be-revived Magpakailanman. Or hasn’t it been televised in other shows already?
“Because he didn’t have money,” continued Noel, “Edgar Allan would commute to the rehearsals and rely on ‘treats’ from his fellow contestants.”
Then, he won in 2006 and the big time beckoned.
To date, Edgar Allan has done several indies, including Astig, Imoral, Magdamag and Ligo Na U Lapit Na Me (for which he won Best Actor in the Cinemalaya and Golden Screen Awards) and some mainstream movies (Shake, Rattle & Roll 13 and Unofficially Yours). For this December’s Metro Filmfest, he is the lead actor in Pedrong Walang Takot episode of Lola Basyang.
On Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the FAMAS Awards, Edgar Allan will receive the Youth Achievement Award. He’s basking in the glowing reviews of his performance as the lead actor (with Eugene Domingo as lead actress) in the PETA staging of Bona, the classic Lino Brocka starring Nora Aunor and Phillip Salvador who will be special guests (together with other cast members of the movie) at the thanksgiving and recognition program during the play’s last night next Sunday, Sept. 23, at the PETA Theater in Quezon City.
Before the show, Edgar Allan will launch his new CD titled Lite at the lobby and sign autographs. (For tickets, call +63920-5340102.)
Tomorrow (Saturday, Sept. 15), one of the 16 hopefuls will be chosen during the grand finals on Eat, Bulaga!
Take a good look at them.
(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)