IN THE TRAIN

While travelling the 390 kilometers from Dammam in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia heading to its center and capital Riyadh via train, it was supposed an ordinary trip that should left nothing when traveling is over.  But what happened, in that three and a half hours travel, I had this experience that thought me.  I have learned the lesson of train.  The train is a mode of transportation consisting of a series of connected wagons that runs along the rail track to transport the passengers or cargo.  It passes through the country sides away from megacity and traffic.  Usually it is a long distance travel that requires readiness at least physically.  Train has its own exclusive road which is the railway, making it as fast moving and runs uninterrupted up to its destinations.  I chose the night trip to fit my schedule both with my work and passport appointment.  As my usual practice in any of my travel, I came early to the station to avoid rush and last minute hassles.  The station is clean and well-ordered, I seated for about a couple of two hours waiting the call for the departure.  The hot black coffee was perfect for cold weather in winter January.  Although I am used to wait without digital gadgets to entertain myself but the Wi-Fi to access my social media account helped me to kill the empty hours and too soon I heard the call for the passengers bound to Riyadh.

On board, I prepared myself for the long hour travel and I heard that distinctive horn signaling the start of the travel.  While the train started moving from slow to fast, I feel comfortable with its smooth run although there are some noises maybe from small pieces of small stones that hit the bottom of the wagon when the high speed train passes.  And I found myself while sitting in the convenience of spacious and soft chair, I have observed the other passengers who are heading on their own destinations.  The wagon is not crowded by the way, and I see the families whose young children are playing.  Travelling with family is truly very sentimental that becomes memories to look back when the children have grown.  There are female friends traveling in group.  Travelling with friends is always fun.  I remember when I used to join in out of town trip with my formers colleagues and travelling then was full of funny conversations.  Back to the train, I hear the tiny laughter from submissive children, life is so precious and innocent, children are so real, no malice, grudge, doubt and no evil.  While silently sitting and hearing those mild noise from the sound of engine, rolling bearings on the rails and those small gravels that hit in the wagon when blown, I thought that our own life is passing in this world uncertain of what’s going on outside.  Beyond our control is the undeniable disorder that happening around.

There were two stopovers to unload and upload the passengers.  Each stopover allowed me to meet new faces and scenario.  There is refined and silent, pleased to meet, confident, loner and dependent, sophisticated and communicative.  With the sceneries I see inside and outside the wagon, I look at them in a screen like watching cinema.  In that different thoughts about the scenarios that play on my mind, I have noticed I didn’t feel bored at all.  Until in a few minutes we have arrived in our final destinations.  Our life could be long but we can make things that will make us colorful, worth and learned so we do not get bored.  Our travel in life is like train.  It is long, sometimes tiring but it is always heading to our destination.  In our journey we will meet different people with different stories and each one will bring us different lessons.  We may not like our communicative neighbor but we can always find ways not to hear them.  And when it seems inevitable, sometimes letting it be will instill us the temper, cooperation and calmed under disturbed.  Public transportation is melting pot of different kinds of people, learn to be patient, to adapt different type of personalities, to consider differences, to respect and even to be independent. We are sharing the same world, let us respect the place where we are, let us respect each other’s characters whatever difference we have like our respect while inside the public transportation train.  Altogether, people that can get along well will arrive at their destination.

LOOKING UP WITH SHARON

(Except for very few, all written here are from my own resource.  I did not copy from other articles although 1% google just to confirm the numbers that I mentioned in this writing.)

Today, I would like to be “be-showbiz” in this merry-go-round and topsy-turvy but engaging world of local show business entertainment by paying respect to this unique and distinguished artist.  This may look-like an excerpt tabloid from a showbiz columnist but this is my own writing to disclose how much I like this artist as a performer (and in personal life).  And I chose on this not ordinary day just in time of her 52nd birthday.  If there is one actor that I really admired, followed and supported, it must be Sharon Cuneta only, dubbed as the Philippines’ Megastar.  The millennial may not witnessed the great record and valued contribution of Sharon in movie, television and recording industry but they have to consider that Sharon will not be dubbed the Megastar for nothing and it has to be note that after her era of dominating the showbiz industry, no one among the new, younger and famous actresses have surpassed or even duplicated her legacy and record.

I was a silent fan who started following Sharon during her early movies.  Although I was not able to follow her career from the very beginning, I was able to trace it back and found how she came to be at the time I admired her not only as a young star but also her personal traits that reflect on her in public appearances.  Raised to stardom in the 80’s, Sharon Cuneta actually started in show business in 1978 as child singer.  But prior to that, she used to do cameo role for her actress auntie’s movie and T.V appearance in children show.  Unknown to some people, Sharon’s very first single was actually “Tawag ng Pag-Ibig” but it was in this smash hit and phenomenal “Mr. D.J.” record when she rocked the radio and music industry.  Enough to call her the young singing sensation, received gold award, became every household name and earned the moniker D.J.’s Pet, subsequently launched her first album with the same title.  And the rest of the following records and albums were hit after hit that made her the Jukebox Princess.

In 1981, Sharon tried mild shift from singing to acting, a tough decision that is critical in showbiz industry because it is not guarantee for a famous singer to be equally famous as an actor or vice versa.  But Sharon broke this showbiz myth when she was successfully launched in her debut film “Dear Heart” that was an instant blockbuster.  The star is born, the next films were sure hits making her the hottest teen star.  Sharon accepted concerts and her popularity easily filled the venues like the big dome Araneta Coliseum.  Doing the recording and acting at the same time, Sharon still managed to do her own television shows like “C.U.T.E.”, “Okay Sha” and then later hosting a solo musical variety show which is her forte via “The Sharon Cuneta Show”.  She showed intelligent hosting job with her eloquence, no nonsense talk, nice conversant who can speak with all types of people and wit to handle the conversation.  From poor little rich girl roles, Sharon has matured and played rugs to riches roles melodrama, and has evolved into fine actress and shortly bagged Best Actress Awards from different award-giving bodies.  Sharon broke another myth that acting award is jinx, but then, Sharon managed to sustain success in her chosen field.  Along this, she was named “Box Office Queen” for several years (she eventually elevated Hall of Famer), won music awards, performed concerts in and out of the country.  This established her status and reputation in the industry.  You can never have both career and love, and in showbiz there is another myth that any actor who got married losses popularity and career.  Not for Sharon, when she got married on September 23, 1984 in Manila Cathedral, Sharon became even more popular.

The 90’s, Sharon was the country’s most expensive and effective celebrity products endorser, the hottest, biggest, number one, top performing artist and highest paid actress on her generation.  These without question sealed her prime, exclusive and respected status as the Philippine’s Megastar.  She was a record-breaker, breaking her own records, beating any star-studded movies fit against her solo starer whether local of foreign films.  Sharon was the only actress whose films an go side by side with the King of Philippine movie.  Her over popular fame put her in pedestal to the point that even her name was written in lyrics of OPM song.  Her move "Madrasta" gave her the elusive Grand Slam Queen for winning Best Actress from all award-giving bodies.  She became the dreamed leading lady of every actors and action stars saying any action star's career is not complete without working with Sharon.  She was practically the queen for topping the entertainment industry with her certified blockbuster movies, gold and platinum awards, consistent high-rating TV show, left and right TV commercials and out of town shows.  She has reached her best days during the 80's and 90's and she had ups and down but to sum it up, for decades she had the best of times in this local show business industry.

To date, Sharon has starred in 53 successful movies all were starring roles.  Sharon is an actress who never cast in any smorgasbord movies to ensure the marketability of the film.  She did guest appearances in some movies not for talent fee but for support.  Given the fact that the country’s inflation rate and the population have gone so high from Sharon’s era up to this millennium, Sharon’s box office films still can be one of the country’s highest gross films of all time.  The greatest reputation of Sharon is her tremendous popularity in the history of Philippines showbiz where she was idolized by Filipino mass.  Her legacy as movie queen of 80’s will remain unprecedented.  She is the champion of the mass.  The space of this writing is not enough to describe her success in all fields that she has chosen.  Today, Sharon is an icon.  She is a multi-awarded Filipino actress, singer and TV host in the history of Philippines show business.

All these beautiful writings about Sharon’s career that I have written are as good as my impression on her personality.  I may not know her nor even with her in real life but what I see are the main reason of my admiration for Sharon.  This is not fanaticism because I can still criticize the girl and I stand for it but I would still love the good sides of her.  Sharon was born with silver spoon, raised the convenience in a private village in Makati, attended to an exclusive Catholic school in Pasig, and daddy’s girl of a City Mayor father and yet these did not mold her to a spoiled brat rich kid.  But despite of coming from a well-off family, Sharon’s charisma to the general public wins because Sharon is such a humble person.  She is down to earth and genuine person.  For me she was never hypocrite and finicky as what her critics throw on her.  It takes one to know, for that I know she is not.  Her good breeding is nice model to people and this won me to look up this artist.  Her love to her craft, fans and character of a good daughter and artist made me liked her like no other actors.  Though she’s from a good family but whatever she has now, wherever she goes, she really worked hard every cents of it.  Her dedication and perseverance to reach her star are unparalleled and for this she is worth to admire and really deserved to be respected.  Young artists will come and go but Philippines show business will not have new Sharon as successful as, as good as and as same as Sharon because there will be only one Sharon Cuneta in the history of Philippines’ show business. 

PAGHANGA KAY SHARON

Gusto kong magpaka-showbiz ngayon sa pamamag-itan ng pagbibigay ng respeto sa isang kakaiba at kilalang artist.  Maaaring ito’y magtinging halaw mula sa babasahin ng isang tagapagbalita sa industriya ng pelikula ngunit ito ay sarili kong sulat upang ilahad kung gaano ko kagusto ang artista na ito (maging sa personal na buhay).  At pinili ko ang natatanging araw na ito sa kanyang ika-52 kaarawan.   Kung may isang artista na talagang hinangaan, sinundan at sinuportahan ko, ito ay si Sharon Cuneta lamang, ang tinatawag na Megastar ng Industriya ng Libangan ng Pilipinas.  Maaaring ang mga batang-milneyal ay hindi nasaksihan at nalalaman ang napakalaki at napakahalagang nagawa at naiambag ni Sharon sa industriya ng pinilakang tabing, telebisyon at musika ngunit kailangan nilang alalahanin at isaalang-alang na hindi tatawagin si Sharon ng Megastar ng basta-basta lang kung wala lang, at kailangang isipin na pagkatapos ng panahon ng pamamayagpag ni Sharon ay wala sa mga bago, bata at sikat na artista ngayon ang nalampasan o napantayan man ang magiging pamana at ang naging kasaysayan niya.

Isa akong tahimik na tagahanga na sinundan si Sharon nuong kanyang mga naunang pelikula.  Bagamat hindi ko talaga nasundan ang simula ng kanyang karera ay nagawa ko naman masundan kung paano siya naging siya nuong mga taon na hinangaan ko na siya na hindi lang basta batang artista kundi pati na rin ang kanyang personal na buhay at ugali na nakikita sa tuwing pagharap niya sa publiko.  Sumikat si Sharon nuong dekada-80 ngunit nagsimula talaga si Sharon nuong 1978 bilang isang batang mang-aawit.  Pero bago iyon, saglit na lumabas si Sharon sa pelikula ng kanyang tiyahing artista at lumabas din sa pambatang programa sa telebisyon.  Lingid sa kaalaman ng ibang tao, ang unang plaka ni Sharon ay ang “Tawag ng Pag-ibig” ngunit sikat na “Mr. D.J” ang bumulabog sa radyo at industriya ng musika.  Sapat upang tawagin siyang pinakasikat na batang mang-aawit, makatanggap ng gold award, maging bukam-bibig na pangalan sa bawat tahanan at tawaging “D.J.’s Pet, kasunod na inilunsad ang kanyang kauna-unahang album na iyun din ang titulo.  At ang mga sumnod na plaka at album ay pawang mga patok upang tawagin siyang Jukebox Princess.

Nuong 1981, sinubukan ni Sharon ang mag-artista, isang mahirap na desisyon na kritikal sa showbiz dahil hindi garantiya na kapag sikat na mang-aawit ay magiging sikat na artista rin.  Subalit sinira ni Sharon ang kasabihang ito nang matagumpay siyang inilunsad sa kauna-unahan niyang pelikuang “Dear Hear” na agad-agad ay isang blockbuster.  Kahit ang mga sumunod na pelikula ay pawang patok upang tawagin siyang pinakasikat na teen star.  Tumanggap si Sharon ng mga concerts at ang kanyang kasikatan ay madaling nakapuno ng mga malalaking lugar tulad ng Araneta Coliseum.  Sabay na ginagawa ang pag-awit at pag-aartista, nagawa rin ni Sharon na magkaroon pa ng mga show sa telebisyon tulad ng “C.U.T.E.”, “Okay, Sha” at ang pagho-host ng isang solong musical variety show na kanyang forte sa pamamag-itan ng “The Sharon Cuneta Show”.  Nagpakita siya ng katalinuhan sa pagsasalita sa pamamag-itan ng kanyang matatas na pagsasalita, may-saysay, magandang kausap, maurnong maktpag-usap kahit kangino at nahahawakan niya ang usapan.  Mula sa mga ginagampanang anak-mayaman, ginampanan niya ang mga mula sa naghirap na nagtagumpay, mga drama at nahinog siya sa pagiging magaling na artista na di kalaunan ay nanalo siya ng Best Actress awards sa ibat-ibang award0giving bodies.  May pinatunayan ulit si Sharon sa kasabihang ang award ay nagiging malas ngunit si Sharon, napanatili niya ang kanyang kasikatan.  Tinanghal siyang “Box Office Queen” sa loob ng maraming taon, kalaunan ay iniluklok siya sa Hall of Fame, nanalo ng mga parangal sa pagkanta, nagtanghal sa loob at labas ng bansa.  Dito naging metatag ang kanyang katayuan at repustastyon sa industriya.  Ang sabi ay hindi mo maaring makuha pareho ang tagumpay sa karera at sa pag-aasawa ngunit hindi si Sharon nang muli niyang basagin ang kasabiang ito ito dahil lalo pa siyang sumikat nang siya ay ikinasal nuong September 23, 1984 sa Manila Cathedral.

Nuon dekada-90, si Sharon ang pinaka-epektibo, pinakamarami, pinakamahal at pinakamaraming patalastas.  Siya ang pinaka-sikat, nangunguna at may pinaka-mataas na bayad sa artista sa kanyang henerasyon.  Ito ang walang duda na nag-selyo sa kanyang pinaka-eksklosibo, iginagalang at natatanging estado bilang Megastar ng Pilipinas.  Si Sharon ay record-breaker, kaya niyang talunin sa takilya ang mga pelikulang nilagyan ng maraming sikat na artista mapa-lokal o dayuhan man na pelikula.  Siya lamang ang artistang babae na nakikipagsabayan sa pelikula ng Hari ng Pelikulang Pilipino.  Ang kanyang sobrang kasikatan ay mandi’y isinulat sa liriko ng kanta.  Ang kanyang pelikulang “Madrasta” ay nagluklok at nagbigay sa kanya ng mailap na Grand Slam Queen Best Actress.  Naging pangarap siya maging leading lady ng bawat artista at ang mga action stars ay sinasabing hindi kumpleto ang kanilang karera kung hindi nila naging leading lady si Sharon.  Si Sharon ang malinaw na reyna dahil pinangunahan niya ang showbiz sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga patok sa talikya, mataas na rating sa telebisyon, kaliwat-kanang patalastas at mga shows sa ibat-ibang lugar.  Naabot niya ang kanyang pinakarurok ng pagiging artista nuong dekada 80 at 90 at mayroon man siyang mga kabiguan ngunit sa pangkalahatan, siya ay nagkaroong ng pinakamaganda at magaling na mga araw, taon at panahon sa industriya ang showbiz.

Sa ngayon, si Sharon ay mayroong kabuuang 53 pelikula na siya ang pangunahing artista.  Siya ang artista na hindi na kailangang ilagay sa maraming artista upang maisigurado ang benta sa takilya.  Mayroon siyang mga paglabas sa ilang pelikula bilang pagtulong sa ibang artista.  Sabihin na natin ang inflation at ang pagdami ng populasyon ay tumaas na mula nuong kasikatan ni Sharon hangang ngayon milenyo, ang naitalang kita ng pelikula ni Sharon ay maari pa ring masabing pinaka-mataas na kita ng pelikula sa lahat ng panahon.  Ang pinakamalaking reputasyon ni Sharon ay ang kanyang matinding kasikatan sa kasaysayan ng showbiz sa Pilipinas na hinangaan ng masa.  Ang kanyang legacy bilang reyna ng pelikula nuong 80 ay mananatiling hindi mapapantayan.  Kulang ang pahinang ito upang isulat at ipaliwanag ang kanyang tagumpay sa bawat pasukin niyang larangan.  Sa ngayon, si Sharon ay isang imahe.  Siya ay isang premyadong artista, mang-aawit at TV host sa kasaysayan ngindustriya ng libangan.

Lahat ng magagandang isinulat dito tungkol sa karera ni Sharon ay kasing ganda ng aking pagkakakilala sa kanyang ugali.  Maaring hindi ko siya kakilala o kahit na di ko man lang nakikita sa totoong buhay pero anuman ang mga nakikita ko ay ang pangunahing dahilan ng aking paghanga kay Sharon.  Hindi ito isang panatismo dahil kaya kong punahin ang taong ito at pangangatawan ko iyon pero mas nananaig pa rin sa akin ang mga magaganda niyang katangian.  Si Sharon ay ipinanganak na mayaman, lumaki sa kaginhawahan sa isang pribadong barangay sa Makati, nag-aral sa isang isang eksklosibong paaralang Katoliko sa Pasig, paboritong anak ng isang Alkalde subalit ang lahat ng ito ay hindi naging dahilan upang maging isang matapobreng mayamang bata.  Sa kabila ng nagmula sa mayamang pamilya, nanaig ang karisma ni Sharon sa masang-Pilipino dahil sa pagiging mapagkumbaba at totoong tao niya.  Para sa akin hindi siya naging ipokrita, mapagpanggap at maarte tulad ng ipinipukol sa kanya ng kritiko.  Kailangang maging kaparehas ka para malaman o maramdaman mo, at dahil dito alam ko na hindi siya ganuong tao.  Ang kanyang pinong-kilos ay isang huwaran sa mga tao at ito ang aking tinitingala sa isang artista.  Ang kanyang pagmamahal sa trabaho, tagahanga at ang pagiging mabuting anak at artista ang ikinagusto ko sa kanya sa kahit sinong artista.  Mula siya sa isang mayaman pero anuman ang mayroon siya ngayon, saan man siya nakarating ay pinaghirapan niya ito ng todo hanggang sa huling sentimo.  Ang kanyang dedikasyon at pagsisikap upang marating ang kanyang bituin ay walang katulad at dahil dito siya ay nararapat na hangaan at totoong karapatdapat na igalang.  Maraming mga bago at batang artista ang darating at aalis subalit ang industriya ng pelikulang Pilipino ay hindi magkakaroon ng bagong Sharon na kasing tulad at kasing galing ni Sharon dahil iisa lang ang Sharon Cuneta sa kasaysayan ng industriya ng panlibangang Pilipino.

WELCOMING THE NEW YEAR

During the holiday season, I grew up in a family celebrating the New Year’s Eve more prepared than the Christmas Eve.   Normally, we just shared the foods when we (children) were woke up around 12 a.m. after we fell asleep waiting the Christmas eve dinner or after the midnight mass although we usually go to the church on Christmas day.  Our family’s source of living dictated this set up where my parents demanded to work double time during this day than before the end of the year.  This overlooked a bit the occasion but when my parents accomplished their obligations just before the year end, we had the enough time to celebrate the occasion.  That’s why during the New Year’s Eve, we used to prepare more foods on the table, engaged in more activities, particularly arranged our house and usually wore new dresses.

On the night before the New Year’s Eve during my childhood years, I used to play outdoor with this tied junked objects made of tin that will make noise when pull while walking or running during the last few hours of the year.  Together with other children, we went around the whole barrio for a couple of hours to make some noise.  Back then, it was so rare to hear the loud noise from firecrackers where heated bamboo canyon was the “forbidden” firecracker then.  When the 12 o’clock midnight comes, hornpipes or trumpets in different colors, forms and sizes were blown simultaneously and loud noise filled the place.  There were fireworks releasing sparks and different colored flames that amazed every eye.  Lights in yellow, orange, blue, green, purple and red simply wowed the people.  This was how we welcome the New Year then, so simple.

Over the passing of times, people’s trend is slowly changing into more daring show of fireworks.  Different new firecrackers that are more dynamic, enchanting, lively and lauder were coming year after years.    Human’s nature in searching for fun never ceases but instead upgrades even more.  Since then until this day, firecrackers are now fiercer than ever before.  The more entertaining and the more forceful are the more appealing, the more overpriced and the more dangerous.   As result, every year since then firecrackers related incidents are increasing despite the government warnings and advices to avoid dangerous firecrackers.  People are not listening, learning and they do not care.  Never mind the cost, it is just once in a year anyway and never mind the risk, it is believed after all the lauder the New Year’s Eve is the scarier to drive away the bad spirit and the luckier new season is waiting.  As long as the people can afford and demand of satisfaction raises, the supply of firecracker continues.

From my childhood to quarter life age until today, celebrating and welcoming the New Year has changed a long way.  Is it still tradition and is it still right?  Amidst of this belief, superstitions, fun and trend, I don’t jump into this bandwagon because I don’t think it is right.  I don’t want to intrude to others custom, tradition and faith but in our times today I find it materialism rather than belief.  If you really want to follow your ancient belief, then why don’t stick to the old and original ways in practicing this belief?  But to change and exaggerate your ways of practicing it, I find it wrong, unnecessary, extravagance and impractical besides it is harmful to human, environment and to other living creatures.  Every start of the year, I feel sorry to see those injured and casualties of firecrackers.  You are starting your year right?  This is not supposed how to start the new year and this behavior must be stopped.

That is why I am so pleased when a government executive order was signed to regulate the use of firecrackers nationwide and ban the use of it in places of residence.  It is about time.  It may not totally guarantee the zero casualties but surely it will remarkably reduce the incidents of injuries and indiscriminate firings.  It is a great development and this is the start until it goes to total ban of firecrackers which I really wished.  Call me an antagonist or call me villain but I do not like firecrackers in welcoming the New Year.  Aside from I am not superstitious who believe these fireworks and firecrackers will drive away the bad luck, scare the evil spirits, and make life lively as another year starts, I look at them as materialism, worldliness and wasting.  I look at them as business rather than custom.  To believe bad spirits are just scattered around, this may be because you have done so much bad things the whole one year that made the evil spirits homed around you, then why don’t you live good?.   If you will be just fair enough the whole year and every year, then bad spirits and misfortunes will not surround you.  It is not in these laud firecrackers that will change our life into better.  What a better and right way of welcoming the New Year is to leave the negativities behind and be optimistic as the new year starts.  If you want to be lucky, do good to invite good return and put God first and you will be blessed.