IT IS a known showbiz fact that Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto and Quezon City Councilor Roderick Paulate are bosom friends.
Dala na rin marahil ng limang dekada ni Ate Vi sa kanyang pamamalagi sa showbiz very well explains her open-mindedness as far as grabbing every challenging role is concerned.
Sa launch ng kanyang bagong ineendorsong ad campaign ng The Generics Pharmacy, sinuklian lang ni Ate Vi ng pagkainteres na makatambal si Derek Ramsay who, at a recent presscon, expressed his desire to work with the Star For All Seasons. Mismong kay Ate Vi na rin nanggaling na puwedeng mala-May-December affair ang kuwentong iikot sa kanila ni Derek, very much like the film she did before with Aga Muhlach.
Wala ring resistance si Ate Vi kung magkaroon man daw sila ng kissing scenes ni Derek, aniya, “Artista ako. Fifty years ko nang trabaho ito. I will not deny na malakas ang appeal ni Derek, but I’m a married woman. Trabaho lang ‘to.”
We cannot help but juxtapose ang senaryong ito sa sitwasyon naman ni Roderick. For the longest time in his career (like Ate Vi, he also started as a child star), mas nalinya si Dick sa mga comedy films, and what better way to entertain his audience than portraying one million gay roles (just an exaggeration).
Kung hindi kami nagkakamali, his last gay portrayal via an indie film (directed by Soxy Topacio) was in Ded Na Si Lolo, that was before he became city councilor in 2010. To our recollection, nasa pagitan ng second and third quarters of the same year when Vice Ganda did a remake of Roderick’s Petrang Kabayo.
What its director Wenn Deramas originally wanted was to cast Roderick in the movie, kung saan ipamamana lang nito ang sumpa kay Vice Ganda, or something close to that storyline. But of course, it was, in fact, in deference to Roderick na siyang unang gumanap sa naturang papel.
Kaso, the newly elected city alderman declined, politely though. Katwiran niya, kakapanalo lang daw niya noong nakaraang eleksiyon, what would his constituents’ impression be on him, or anywhere close to that apprehension. Ang impresyon ding namuo sa nakararami, goodbye to bakla roles, isa na nga naman siyang kagalang-galang na public servant with an image to protect.
Fast forward. Three years later, heto’t may bago na namang soap si Roderick sa GMA, this time, isang sitcom kung saan… dyaraaaan, bakla na naman ang kanyang papel! Being a first-termer, for sure, Roderick will seek reelection in May 2013 (huwag lang sanang makaapekto ang kinakaharap niyang graft charges sa Ombudsman involving salaries of alleged ghost employees at the city hall).
And should he make it again, for sure, no to gay roles again. At kapag bumilang na ng ilang taon ay muli niyang yayakapin ang kabaklaan sa TV at maging sa pelikula. After all, whether Dick likes it or not, he is better appreciated via gay roles that only he — among all actors, mapa-straight o totoong bakla — can do with such aplomb.
Mabuhay ang kabaklaan, isumpa ang kaplastikan!
SPEAKING OF Roderick, having begun his career at an early change, no doubt, he makes a good mentor in the much-awaited Protégé: The Battle For the Big Artista Break. The search takes a step higher dahil hindi na mga singing sensations lang ang hinahanap nito, kundi isang ultimate star material armed with various talents.
So far, naidaos na ang regional auditions in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Ilocos Norte, Sucat (Paranaque), at bukas, June 14 ay sasalakayin naman ng buong puwersa ng Protégé ang SM Batangas, SM Pampanga on June 16 at SM Mall of Asia on June 18 and 19.
Rodericks fellow mentors include Gina Alajar, Jolina Magdangal, Philip Salvador and Ricky Davao. Mas ibayong excitement ang ngayon pa lang ay nararamdaman ng buong production staff ng Protégé most specially its executive producer na si Ms. Reylie Manalo, na bossing din ng inyong lingkod sa Startalk TX.
ABANGAN NGAYONG Miyerkules sa Face to Face ang kuwentong Akala Nagpapakalalaki Na Si Mister, ‘Yun Pala’y Lalong Lumambot At Nagpaka-girl! Tampok dito ang mag-asawang Amado at Maria na makaraan ng 17 years ay saka nagladlad ang mister na handang iwan ang pamilya. Proud namang lumantad ang male lover ni Amado na si Carlo na meron ding asawa, si Mary Jane na nakieksena na rin.
Bukas, Huwebes, makisawsaw sa episode na Misis Na Mukhang Halimaw Ipinagpalit Sa Kumareng Magaling Kumubabaw! Nabuking ni Edna na ang itinuturing pa mandin niyang BFF na si Ella ang nang-ahas sa kanyang asawang si Elmer. Walang-kahihiyang ipinagbanduhan ni Ella na masarap daw maging isang kabit dahil nakapaninira siya ng isang magandang pagsasama. Pero sa bandang huli, batbat ng iyakan sa studio nang tawagin si Angelie, anak nina Elmer at Edna, na napilitang mamasukang kasambahay bunga ng kahirapan.
Pepperoni
by Ronnie Carrasco III
