Generally, I found enjoyment in co-hosting "The National Entertainment Today," an online show that used to air daily, 10 to 11 am, Mondays to Fridays, over Media House Express (MHE) which was beamed on Facebook Live, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter and other social media outlets.
My co-host was colleague in the showbiz reporting beat, Art Tapalla.
Days before the maiden podcast, Allan Afable Hobrero, the President of the station asked what would be the blurb and the merchandising tool to use to promote the program.
I readily wrote my copy (which was finally and officially reduced to: "Gusto ba ninyong malaman ang pinakahuling "internationally renowned entertainment journalist Boy Villasanta and showbiz analyst and activist Art Tapalla."
I was aware there would be arched eyebrows and smirks from any quarters, really.
Without batting an eyelash, though, I pushed myself up in the context of my writing the annual Philippine cinema report for the "Made in Asia" book of the B.I.G. (Bucheon Industry Gathering) project of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BiFan) in Bucheon City, South Korea.
I have also been writing for Fil-Am community weeklies and some Saudi Arabian Filipino newspapers.
And in the advent of social media, its global reach makes for an international exposure.
Anyway, Art recently decided to quit the show which for some sense of loyalty, camaraderie and sympathy, I opted to leave the show as well.
Tapalla and I were supposed to market the program as producers, however no written agreement on file although it was verbally oriented with us before we went on air.
We were, of course, not paid for hosting it.
Three months had passed and no revenue yet for a co-prod arrangement and we, especially Art, would be dead broke as he didn't had a job that would pay him.
I regret we wouldn't have an outlet anymore that had a network where we could articulate showbiz news and issues in a different light.
But social media has opened up a democratic space of coming up with any type of shows competitive with traditional media like free TV (Very High Frequency--VHF), (Ultra High Frequency--UHF), Community Antenna Television (CATV) which is mandated to be run in short ranged broadcast by telecommunications owners for free airwaves on TV sets and subscribed (as in installation of cable system for clear reception and additional programming but with payment) by residents of a community that makes it a pay TV such as cable television.
In socmed, though, anyone can be a star.
Anyone can be a newscaster or an actor.
Look at TikTok, Reels, Facebook Live, YouTube or any video posts etc. that any Tom, Dick and Harry could play on the Internet.
It is on this premise that Art and I can organize our own online show or podcast or broadcast or whatever you want to call it.
We want to profess our own brand of an entertainment show very different from the typical trad or digital shows.
In our past tandem, we could say again and again "lipunan (society)" or "kapitalista (capitalist)" or "kolonyal (colonial)" and other terms unusually articulated by other showbiz-oriented host/s.
It is because we want to break tradition that show biz is only an escape or temporary relief to stresses, pressures and lies.
Honestly, entertainment people, events and places are also within the matrix of socio-political structure as in any other journalism areas or subjects before covered or written.
Movie reporting, sadly, might be seen as a trivial pursuit associated with rumors and gossip but looking closely, showbiz bits and pieces are also worth analysis and serious thoughts.
Come to think of it, show business is also a micro world of human relationships and interactions, of conflicts and resolves, of love and hate etc...
It is a profit goal-driven enterprise or if one isn't lucky or calculating, can be a losing proposition as well.
What pictures showbiz very well is motion picture itself where there is the perennial battle between good and evil no matter the kind or quality of presentation.
Articulating human rights (there are many topics about man as a social being and his struggles against injustice or stifling of freedoms) for instance, can be incorporated in an entertainment event which is above all, entertaining.
I always remember what screenwriter Bonifacio Ilagan told me about his experience as a writer once of a GMA Network noontime variety show: "Independence Day 'yon at gusto ko lang batiin ang mga bayani natin na nakipaglaban para makamtan ang ating kalayaan, aba, e, sinabihan ako na bawal 'yon sa show na 'yon (I just wanted to hail our heroes who fought against our colonizers to attain freedom but I was reprimanded that it was not appropriate in the show)."
Time to revolutionize entertainment shows.
Shorts: Talk about entertainment events and people in the family of beauty queen-actress Azenith Briones (1975 Mutya ng Pilipinas' Most Photogenic and leading lady of Dolphy in "Omeng Satanasia" and who was once Senator Lito Lapid’s partner). There is an earthshaking news about her which is currently circulating in social media about her being abducted, according to a certain Paul Macasiano, by four men. According to fellow actress Isabel Rivas, she is worried about her friend. Isabel said the feeds that are posted on Facebook, particularly, are the leads that the authorities could take to find Azenith. Rivas has concurred the expose of Paul that Briones' children might have something to do with her disappearance. P4M, said Macasiano, was withdrawn by Zenith's kin who wanted their inheritances distributed so the missing actress froze the account. In latest online conversations of her friends, she was brought to a rehab. John Matthew Briones Reyes, one of her kids, denied the accusations. He said that the public shouldn't believe what is circulating virtually. John Matthew said their mom is in safe hands...Michelle Marquez Dee fought a good fight as the Philippine rep in the 72nd Miss Universe contest held in El Salvador. Michelle said she could answer questions if she was given the mic if she was on Top 5 of the pageant. Marquez Dee finished Top 10 in the search...Original singer of "Pusong Bato" Aimee Torres celebrated her 48th birthday with a garden party at her Dasmarinas City Cavite digs. Aimee gave the party for her kith and kin in showbiz with her fellow celebrant, his dad Manny Torres who turned 77.
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