I GOT clear word from an unimpeachable source that Maricel Soriano will soon be a Kapuso. This is welcome news para sa mga tagahanga ng mahusay at kontrobersyal na aktres. She is slated to star in Dingdong Dantes’ next series after the lukewarmly-received Genesis na natatandaan kong isa sa mga publicist ng GMA-7 ang nagkumpirma na it underperformed during its short, punctuated run. Kung bakit n’ya ginagawa ‘yon when a publicist is supposed to shield and protect his client’s interest totally escapes me.
Sinubukan kong to sit through Dingdong’s apocalyptic-kuno themed show dati at never ko na iyong inulit pa. It did not deserve a second chance. Ang sama ng pagkakasulat, ng special effects na mas mahusay pa ang primitive but inventive effects ng black and white flick na Anak ng Bulkan which starred Fernando Poe, Jr., Edna Luna, and a young Ace Vergel. At walang kupas ang tiim-bagang acting style ni Dantes.
Maricel, despite her being temperamental, and because of her prodigious acting gifts, can teach Dingdong a lesson or two about being in the moment, inhabiting the character, and the rest will follow by instinct. May mga kilala akong showbiz insiders na nag-give up na kay Dingdong, saying with finality and exasperation na ang naturang matinee idol ay forever King of Majestic Ham Acting.
Ako naman ay naniniwala sa time-worn adage na hope springs eternal. Despite Dingdong’s acting awards for One More Try and Segunda Mano, na hindi ko naiintindihan kung paano nangyari at sa paglamon sa kanya nang buung-buo ni Dennis Trillo sa series na Stairway to Heaven dati, I’ve always been quite fond of Dantes, especially during his pre-Marian Rivera association. I remember his lovely flush during a river cruise to launch his Bench Body endorsement years ago nang mabanggit ko at ng kapwa manunulat na si Alwin Ignacio ang pangalan ng edukadang ex-jowa ni Dong na si Karylle sa kanya.
What Dingdong needs are co-stars na hindi mangingiming sawayin siya kapag hindi siya makaarte nang matino, mga direktor na hindi enamoured sa kanya na naka-cloud ang kanilang logic and line of reasoning at nalilimutan ang kanilang rason for being there which is to squeeze out the best from this overaged heartthrob. And last but not the least, kailangan ni Dingdong ng isang publicist na magiging totoo sa kanya and address his weaknesses as a performer upfront, definitely not Rose Garcia na ke rami nang na-antagonize na showbiz press dahil sa kanyang mahirap ipaliwanag na ere at self-entitlement na na-acquire after being appointed as Dingdong Dantes’ manager Perry Lansigan’s publicist.
Lili, Actually!
by Arnel Ramos
