NAYSAYERS ARE AT it again. They say that death, if only bad luck, comes in threes.
After Asia’s Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales kicked the bucket, her balae (a Filipino term that pertains to parents of a couple, in this case Pilita was the mother of actor Ramon Christopher who married Lotlot de Leon, daughter of Nora Cabaltera Villamayor, real name of) Superstar Nora Aunor followed suit.
Not too long enough, the original Kilabot ng mga Kolehiyala (college girls’ heartthrob) Hajji Alejandro sang his swan song.
WEAK MATCHES
For a superstitious lot, this was ill luck among artists of the local Tin Pan Alley—a music industry tragedy, according to bearers of bad news, that foreboded if not foretold premonitions and negative vibes.
Come to think of it, though, Pilita, Nora and Hajji were not, especially Aunor, exclusively singers.
They were screen actors as well who dabbled in acting on TV and film. And theater, too.
Ate (a term of endearment to an older woman or sister by blood or affinity) Guy did three stage plays during her lifetime while Alejandro was part of the stage musical “Contra Mundum”–a stage adaptation of National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin’s English play “A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino,” translated into Filipino as “Larawan” by another National Artist for Lit Rolando S. Tinio—one year about this time before his death.
The cynics would read it as a series of three weak matches.
‘[T]his was ill luck among artists of the local Tin Pan Alley—a music industry tragedy, according to bearers of bad news, that foreboded if not foretold premonitions and negative vibes.’
SUPERSTITION FOLLY
One showbiz denizen would even ask for exorcism to ward off evil spirits in the biz.
What the fuss?
I don’t know about it, much more believe in it, since in between the three deaths, there was the demise of gay actor, or better still, transgender actress, Ian Valdez.
That made four deaths in a row that would definitely dismiss or dispel the superstition or simply, folly.
Or just because Ian wasn’t in the league of Corrales, Aunor and Alejandro that her death was sidetracked or wasn’t counted in.
CULTURAL SNOB?
How can we be selective or simply, forgetful?
If that wasn’t cultural snobbery, I didn’t know what that was.
Or the industry didn’t know it has also a significant talent in Ian Valdez who was also known to be a good wardrobe designer.
Before Ian breathed her last, she was the fashion consultant of Premiere Water Plus Production’s launch of an all-female sing-and-dance group ala-Bini, Bodies Next Gen or simply, BNG.
Lately, popular actor Ricky Davao passed on and the entire world was agog with tributes of all shapes and sizes for him.
Practically, all show people seemed orphaned by Ricky’s death which should be the case because he showed excellence and professionalism in his craft and human relationship, a rare trait in the desert of ethical standards.
In contrast, did the community offer as much attention to the passing of character actor Romy Romulo who was also an important person and actor in our midst?
Romy was a pro of mostly screen antagonist role or goon mold but a film wouldn’t be complete without his villain or character acting.
Best Send Off
The kitsch and slapstick comedian Amay Bisaya, Robert Gloria Reyes in real life, bid adieu to show business after battling a lingering illness.
Amay, in his own unique if not fanatical way, had built his clique in his lifetime in the biz.
He was a diehard Marcos loyalist, FPJ ardent believer, Bong Revilla, Jr. follower and an avid fan of senior stars that made him sort of a vassal in neo-feudal set-up.
Amay was a good man, a loyal friend, and he deserved the best sendoff