Don't wanna miss a thing

As of this exact moment, I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing is on second spot on global trending topics, only a notch after “11 Top Celebs I Follow.” Trending on Twitter may seem shallow and fleeting, but it is the modern-day pop culture barometer that says, “Yes, something is up with you.” Now, where you take that buzz is another topic altogether. 

Your fingers may be up and about trying to vote for Jessica Sanchez in whatever way you can, or if residing in the US, you may be in line to watch Filipino horror film The Road by GMA Films and Yam Laranas. In between I’m sure you were also riled up by the brouhaha that surrounded Manny Pacquiao’s anti-gay marriage stance. Whether in sports or in cinema or singing contests, the Filipino artist is hard at work, and how!

The Bayanihan spirit can be felt strongly in social media, because whether it is one vote or 100  comments, we all know that one click can make a difference. I was in LA last week to host the red carpet screening of Yam Laranas’ The Road at the Arc Light Cinemas to witness what one click could do. Faced with foreign media, Yam’s baby of a horror suspense thriller in three parts was very well received by an audience intrigued by what the Filipino film was all about. 

Now, this was not a predominantly Filipino audience who wanted to be scared the same way. I saw media from the Associated Press, Reuters, Fil-Am media, horror genre dotcoms all in the packed cinema for the US premiere. I felt very proud seeing Rhian Ramos being guided by aunt Ida Henares, both in Ito Curata as they walked down the red carpet with an invisible Filipino flag as they waved at onlookers. The world is watching, so might as well put your best foot forward!

The Filipino connection

On the road to The Road, there were little happy bumps along the way. I never really look forward to Los Angeles because I never wanna bother anyone with car rides and all the itinerary that LA life is associated with. This latest trip though has been about the kindness of strangers, now new friends. One moment I am in the audience of The Ellen Show watching Ellen De Generes interview Carrie Underwood live; the next hour I am holding two actual Oscar trophies and playing with actual Harry Potter memorabilia! Yes, you guessed it right, a Filipino works inside as top executive in the studio.

On this trip I was also very lucky to have finally visited the Barrio Fiesta in Los Angeles. On my second day in LA, I was helping myself to servings of beef kaldereta, kare-kare with bagoong and crispy pata! On top of that I got to meet the very friendly and respectable Fil Am media, all very willing to do their part to help get the message across. Some were very formal with their words, others fun-loving as they come — I felt right at home!

On this page, you’ll see behind-the-screens and behind-the-scenes photos of the people who make it work, whether it is me and our GMA Films family on our way to The Ellen Show set, or Annette Gozon-Abogar and Joey Abacan striding by The Road red carpet or backstage with Idol judges and GMA VPs Redgie Magno and Avin Arayata at the American Idols announcement of the Top 3 night. Each day since I arrived, one after another, all unforgettable.

By today we would have already known the results of the voting, a Filipino-Mexican Idol may be on the horizon, or not. By now we may be raving about the wonderful cinematography and clear storytelling that is The Road, as foreigners celebrate Filipino cinema with Filipinos in America. Currently we know that we are on the list of emerging countries (at long last) through a report by the BBC (and a series on CNN).

There is so much to look forward to, in every way imaginable. The best way to deal with it? Grab that karaoke and — in Steven Tyler style — hit it: “I don’t wanna close my eyes...”

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For more scoops and behind-the-scenes action, follow me at twitter.com/officialTIMYAP. Follow me on Instagram, officialtimyap.