Who says Ruffa isn't playing the Wilhelmina Slater role?

This article is a follow up to my previous one. Well, I just want everyone to know that Ms. Ruffa Gutierrez is playing the Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams) role in our local Betty La Fea! This is for the benefit of those who disagree... Let me prove it to you, sweetie! According to METRO Magazine Aug 2008 issue which Ruffa was on the cover, METRO wrote that Ruffa Gutierrez would be a local version of Vanessa Williams's character and would star opposite Bea Alonzo. Ruffa said then that she was so excited and playing Vanessa Williams's role in the Philippine version of the popular American spin- off, "Ugly Betty" was a surreal experience. She further explained that in order to do research for her role, she went online and ordered "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Ugly Betty (Season 1)" from Amazon.com. Then METRO asked and I quoted, "So is Ruffa Gutierrez ready to be nasty?" She answered that she would portray the role in her "own" way... she said that she could be nasty but in a reasonable sense. She also said that her character was more ambitious, more scheming, cold and more complex.
My point is, due to Ruffa's portrayal of the role in her "own" way, the character becomes tacky. Just like in my previous blog, I mentioned that she wasn't fierce! Just merely beautiful and fashionable for the role! She (Ruffa) even said that she wanted to be nasty in a reasonable sense, well, Wilhelmina is very nasty but never reasonable! How can Willie be reasonable if she goes to MODE not to work with anyone but work "against" everyone? Does the character require fairness or good judgement along with being nasty? Sounds very funny! Or should she forget about being reasonable and just be nasty for that's what the script requires her to do because the series wants an "outstanding" villain? Well, it's clear to me that Ruffa's portrayal of the nothing- but- a- walking- Chanel- with- an- office character is too far- fetched.

I DON'T Love Betty La Fea (Philippines)

It's been months already since ABS- CBN launched a new primetime show, "I Love Betty La Fea" and I honestly don't love it! Well, I am posting an honest opinion and I am not encouraging readers not to love it the way I don't love it! If you enjoy watching the show on a daily basis, then good for you because in my case, I just can't stand it!
Frankly, I am a big fan of ABC's Ugly Betty! I had 2 of its seasons downloaded on my laptop and used all the episodes for my American Accent Training sessions at work. We all really can't get enough of it- the story, clothes, accessories, humor, acting, Betty (America Ferrera) and of course, Wilhelmina Slater (Vanessa Williams)- they are just superb!
Well, I think the local one that we have here has a different plot and theme, I must say. It is based on the original Betty La Fea, the Columbian telenovela we grew up with plus ABC's Ugly Betty which most of us (American TV Series fanatics) are very much familiar with. I don't love "I Love Betty La Fea" for 2 reasons. One, I think Bea Alonzo (Betty La Fea) is too good for the role! The character is no challenge to her that's why her acting appears too tacky on screen. I fully recognize how good Bea's acting is and I think this role isn't for her. Her acting makes people think that Betty is a mere lunatic running around the office of a famous fashion magazine, madly inlove with her boss and becomes smart in random chances and pathetic circumstances. But what Betty in both of the Columbian and American TV series is, a smart- all- the- time assistant who's always there to save the day... just lacking aesthetic polish and fashion sense... Well, it seems to me that America Ferrera and Anna Maria Orozco can pull the character off far better and doesn't really make it cheap. Second, is Ruffa Gutierrez's being Wilhelmina Slater! It bothers me a lot! Why wasn't the character given to Ms. Cherry Gil or someone who is beautiful and fashionable but fierce! I'm not saying that Ruffa isn't beautiful and fashionable... she is! Very much! She's an icon for being both! But she isn't fierce enough for the character! She lacks the devilish attitude of Willie that can make people around her feel inadequate and beat down the lovable personalities of those like Betty. Wilhelmina is another important character, but way to lame in our local series.
As for me, the Philippine's "I Love Betty La Fea" is clearly doing a poor job of getting its message across by these two characters. It's nothing but a TV series that makes viewers laugh at a poor assistants' uncomfortable situations, garner sympathy for Betty's state, and continuously think that "ugly" people can only get jobs out of pity or random chance. Where is the concept of "Ugly is the new Beautiful" that both Ugly Betty and Betty La Fea are all about? Well, I believe it's lost by the flashy set and actresses who are not really meant to play Betty La Fea and Wilhelmina Slater roles.

I am now back to blogging!

Ugh! I don't know if you guys are happy with the news that "I've decided to blog again!" Well, I don't really know if there are people who actually read my blogs! Anyways, I don't care about the fact that nobody cares! Hehehe!
Well, the reason why I thought of blogging again is because I think I have some problems with my thyroid already. I am not sure yet... though, I went to the doctor and asked but I haven't had my blood tested to find out if it's my thyroid that has problems... But because I was sick for several days last week, I decided to focus on my current condition first before having my thyroid checked... But based on my researches on the net, having "carpal tunnel syndrome" and other symptoms that I choose not to mention here, I don't wanna take any chances, but I need to have my blood tested to find out if I really have problems with the thing I have in my neck!
Because of that, I think I can't afford to be over talkative anymore! I talk a lot! Gosh! Can't help my mouth from saying things! Not everything with sense, of course... some don't make any sense at all... But who has the right to stop me? I wanna talk! Although, I know that most of my officemates are irritated because I never stop talking about anything under the sun... even the things under our shirts and undies, Hahaha! I think that instead of talking a lot and annoying people because of my voice that is always all over the office, I've decided to blog again!
There are many things I'd like to talk about here... Well, I don't wanna give you hints of what you might read... just visit my blog a lot and see! I plan to update this blog everyday! I hope I'll be able to do that! Hahaha!
Anyway, instead of talking a lot... I will just make my fingers click my laptop's keyboard and write anything under the sun!

Desperate Housewives... Hating on Filipinos!

Dear Kababayan and Allies:

I heard through the grapevine about a remark made on an episode of "Desperate Housewives" last night. The scene entailed Teri Hatcher's character (Susan) at a hospital, being told by her
gynecologist that she might be hitting menopause. Susan replied, "Can I just check those diplomas because I just want to make sure that they are not from some med school in the
Philippines." If you go to abc.com, you watch the full episode and witness the scene at about 18:50 minutes into the episode.
This type of derogatory remark is not only unnecessary and hurtful, but is also unfounded,
considering the presence of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the health care industry.
Filipinos are the second largest immigrant population in the United States, with many entering the U.S. and passing their U.S. licensing boards as doctors, nurses, and medical technicians. In fact, the Philippines produces more U.S. nurses than any other country in the world.
So, to belittle the education, experience, or value of Filipino Americans in health care is disrespectful and plain and simply ignorant.
As Filipino Americans, we need to band together to ensure that this type of hateful message
is not allowed to continue on our television and radio airwaves. Given the recent amounts of media attention that has been given to Michael Richards (against African Americans ), Isaiah Washington (against gays), and Rosie O'Donnell (against Asian/ Chinese Americans), it is ridiculous that this type of hateful speech made it through various screenwriters, the shows' producers, the shows' actors, and ABC itself. Yet, this isn't the first time that negative remarks have been made about the Philippines or Filipinos in the past.
In recent years, we've heard one too many "dogeater" comments by "comedian" Joan Rivers on the red carpet or in her standup act, and I believe that it is about time that we stand up for ourselves, so that this type of hateful speech never happens again.
Please join me in expressing your concern, disappointment, and/or disgust to the producers of ABC.com. You can sign the petition at
http://www.pet itiononline.com/FilABC/petition.html
or you can reach them directly abc7@abc.com. And please feel free to forward this widely to other Filipinos/ Filipino Americans/ Asian Americans/ and other allies.

Sincerely,

Kevin Nadal,
Filipino Performance Artist/ Activist
knadal@g mail. com

- taken from my Friendster Bulletin as sent by my cousin Dean...

A lazy weekend with Enchong Dee!

I had my laziest weekend last week! Usually, I go out to meet friends at the mall or go to the office to have Conference Calls. Last Saturday, SM Dasma went on sale and as a shopping addict, I was supposed to be there since I had gotten my salary the day before, I could have just gone shopping for more clothes! But my body and brain said, "Hell no!". I just lied in the couch and watched TV. It wasn't a waste of time at all because I learned a lot of stuff from the programs that I watched. When I felt tired of watching, I went to bed and had forty winks!
The next day, I still felt the same. I could not find any reason to go out of the house. Turned the TV on as soon as I got up. Watched programs from one channel to another until I decided to put it on Channel 2 to see what was on ASAP. I had fun watching the SUPAHDANCE Album Launch! And the album is really cool! Such a smart buy! You can't just have dance music but an instructional CD that has videos that will teach you the moves! It's really great!
I got so intrigued by the mall shows after they were announced! Heard that the Full Circle Group, Mikey and Saicy would be at Robinson's Dasma! I suddenly felt different and started telling myself that I should be there to see these people!
The show started at almost 6pm. A DJ from 101. 9FM was there to host and people crowded the entertainment area waiting for the ABS- CBN talents to come out on the stage and perform. I arrived early and made sure that I was able to shop for clothes and groceries and had them left at the counter before I watched the show...
I was thrilled to see the Full Circle talents danced before the screaming crowd! Enchong Dee was the crowd's favorite. He wasn't just an eye candy but he did his thing really well! He smiled a lot while he strut his stuff and he danced really gracefully! I couldn't afford to look at the others for I was too busy staring at Enchong! It was really a day for me! Though he was there on the stage and I was in the middle of the stinking crowd, I was happy... I saw Enchong Dee!
Mikey and Saicy did the finale! It was great and people were screaming for the both of them! Hmmm... they just did my Sunday more than complete!
Next weekend, I definitely won't be lazy again... because I don't wanna miss great things this life has for me!

Umbrella Men...

Women are known to carry umbrellas whenever they go out of the house in this modern time. They don't want their skin to be burned nor get wet when it rains. But there isn't any rule that says "only girls can carry umbrellas and walk with them to protect themselves from burning their skin", right? I, myself walk with an umbrella in sunny afternoons. At first, I was scared to do it for I thought I would get dagger looks from people who think seeing a straight guy walking with an umbrella is such a strange scene. But then, I was able to convince myself that I don't ask these people money for me to be able to buy these skin whitening products... and another thing, I am not straight! So I must walk with an umbrella!
Today is just another day when I saw some "straight" men walking with umbrellas! They seemed very comfortable walking under the shade they could get from them. No remorse nor hesitation though being looked at by people who think that men walking with umbrellas on a sunny day are committing a heinous crime!
But seeing these "straight" men with umbrellas bothers me! Sometimes, I ask myself whether the guy is really straight, not so straight or not straight at all! I wanna know the reasons why they walk with umbrellas in the middle of the day... Is it because they are vain- metrosexuals who care much about their skin? Are they users of these whitening products as well? Or perhaps it's because this is the only way they know that can help them come out in the open and tell the world that they are somewhat not very straight?

Satisfied With The Break?

Part of my dream is to have my own show on TV. Since I was young, I had been dreaming of being on TV or on the big screen. I think, I had tried to come up with ways to realize this dream of mine but it seemed that it was really far- fetched. There were many reasons- one, I didn't have that "star factor"; two, I think I was not that exposed... though I performed a lot on stage from elementary to college but there wasn't any scout to spot me, give me an offer and help me to be on TV; third, I wasn't confident enough to audition because I always thought that others could do better and it would be a waste of everything trying; fourth, my family wasn't supportive enough; fifth, I could go on and on forever with reasons why the hell I hadn't been on TV!
But things went kind of different after college. Leaving the university and the guild gave me bravery and opened my eyes to countless possibilities and chances. First, I became one of the extras along with Toni Gonzaga, Luis Alandy, Trina Zuñiga in a comedy flick, "Da Sisters" that was starred by Vic Sotto and Michael V in 1998 and was shown on the big screen for MMFF and aired several times on TV. Second, I was lucky enough to be at Hot Stuff on Channel 13 as an extra again for Ato Agustin's interview and it was aired twice, one was on the program's regular time slot and the other was during PBA Halftime.
Year 2003 was the year when I was able to be at Search for a Star's final audition. Months later, I auditioned for Star In A Million twice, but I did not make myself to be on national TV.
It was just last year when I was offered to be the writer and the host of an online English talk show for Hae Yeon International English Center. I was really thrilled because I think it was really a "break"! Several episodes were uploaded in 2 Korean websites and watched by thousands of Koreans particularly the members of an English organization, Young Au San Check. These days, the show can be seen through 4 Korean sites and linked to 1 Japanese and 1 Chinese sites!
Do you think I am happy with this? Yes, I am but not yet contented with it... Just like common people... I am never satisfied! And the thing is, "The Chester Show" isn't on TV, it's on the net!