Days after the mortal remains of director Wenn Deramas were entombed, kumalat sa social media ang selfie photo ni Ai-Ai delas Alas sa kanyang pagdalaw roon. With her was an old lady na katiwala sa libingan.
The photo—kung saan walang kameyk-ap-meyk-ap si Ai-Ai delas Alas as though her memorial park visit was her top agenda first thing in the morning after waking up that day—elicited mixed reactions.
Bagama’t ikinatutuwa ng ilang netizens ang kanyang gesture, still others cast aspersions sa kawalan nito ng sinseridad, calling her “plastic” dahil sa naging alitan nila ni Wenn Deramas—including Star Cinema—over last year’s MMFF box office aftermath.
Sa aminin man o hindi ni Ai Ai, her visit to Wenn’s memorial marker was her easiest access to pay her last respects sa paraang hindi niya ganap na nagawa noong dumalaw siya sa burol. At the wake, kulang na lang ay gawing invisible ni Ai Ai ang kanyang sarili to elude public cynicism—if not outrage—na, “Bakit nandito ka, nakalimutan mo na bang sumama ang loob sa ‘yo ni Wenn?’”
At sa halip, nang lumabas si Ai Ai sa daraanan ng mga tao, she chose to slither out of the door like a snake extracted of its venomous fangs. Ang Ai Ai kasi noon quoted to have fiercely said, “Karma is a bitch!” was meek as a lamb, like a dog whose tail almost touched the ground.
Ang sumunod na tagpo was Ai Ai’s visit at the cemetery, kung saan she could spend longer hours reflecting on her verbal transgressions against Wenn. But let’s not be too cruel, walang may gusto sa nangyari. It was an act of God.
Huwag na rin nating ipako si Ai Ai as if nailing her on the cross of guilt ay dapat niyang pasanin all her life. Sinsero man siya o hindi sa kanyang pagdalaw sa puntod ni Wenn whose feelings she had hurt, only Ai Ai knew kung ano ang nasa kanyang puso, no need for a literal heart surgery.
Ang ‘di man lang siguro matanggap ng ilang nakakita ng kanyang selfie photo was the act itself of having it taken. Para saan, para ano? ‘Yun ang sinseridad na kinukuwestiyon ng mga ito, if not Ai Ai’s convoluted concept about genuine sincerity.
Wala kasing inilayo ‘yon sa isang tao with a benevolent heart for the less fortunate. Maglilimos nga, pero ipinagmamakaingay naman ang ginagawang act of charity.
SA BAGO nitong time slot (alas otso na ng gabi tuwing Sabado at Linggo), “Born To Be a Star” dons a new face para sa lalong ikasisiya ng mga tumatangkilik sa reality singing competition na ito on TV5.
Ewan kung on rotation ang mga bumubuo ng hurado, but last Saturday it was a welcome sight to see Kuh Ledesma and Janno Gibbs seated as judges. Sa totoo lang din kasi, nauumay kami sa mga analogies ni Andrew E when judging every contestant, he had better use them as lyrics in his rap songs.
Hindi lang ito ang bagong hitsura ng BTBAS. As all four weekly contenders reappear on stage bago ianunsiyo ang winner, they get to perform with one of the judges. Last Saturday, sinabayan ng mga kalahok si Pops Fernandez as she swayed to the beat of ‘Conga’.
Meanwhile, hindi na pala si Monti Parungao ang direktor ng BTBAS, but we didn’t bother to ask him anymore kung bakit binitiwan niya ito. Iba man ang may hawak na ng BTBAS, star hopefuls out there, samantalahin n’yo ang audition schedule ng timpalak na ito on March 19 and 20 (SM Sta. Rosa, Laguna) and on March 26 and 27 (SM San Fernando, Pampanga).
Pepperoni
by Ronnie Carrasco III
