5 Reasons Why I’m rooting for MayMay Entrata’s success in showbiz

Due to power of social media and new generation of fans, showbiz careers of today’s young stars face more challenges. I believe they experience much pressure than their counterparts before, particularly in   “bashing” and “fake news.”  In fact, it’s not only the gossip writers or their rivals who do it but any netizen.  This is why I’m rooting for Maymay Entrata’s, the Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Lucky Season 7 winner, success in showbiz industry. Here are my 5 strong reasons:

Note: I would like to clarify that this post doesn’t pertain nor intend to harm anyone else. I’ts not in my nature to bring someone down to lift the other. These are just my  opinions about Maymay, issues on young adults and culture on social media. Thank you!

Credit: Instagram/ @maymay_entrata0506

1. Rise up extra-ordinary Probinsyanas!

I don’t bite contestants who use their poverty to shine especially in a talent search (show me your talent po!). But I believe that there are ordinary Filipinos all over the Philippines who are more interesting/ inspiring to feature than what we usually see on TV. 

As for Maymay, she also represents ordinary girls from Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin, and Davao or Mindanao. In fact, I don’t know much about CDO before except it’s also a place where Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach was born and it’s one of the fastest rising business districts outside Metro Manila.   Meantime, what I only know in Camiguin is its sunken cemetery (because of an old movie Ikaw Lang Mamahalin Camiguin starring Gelli de Belen).  

I know that not all people from Camiguin, CDO, or Davao are as wacky, as fanatic, or as slim as Marydale Entrata is. But she’s a sample of ordinary girls from Mindanao. Are they friendly or hospitable? Do they like entertainment or workaholic?  There are maybe more interesting than the PBB 7 winner, but her triumph can inspire ordinary probinsyana girls to keep on dreaming and don’t mind the boundaries or conformists. In fact, it’s high time to embrace where we from and flaunt what we’ve got.  If Maymay Entrata can, we can do it too!

In the report of Abante Online, Maymay had a courtesy call in the senate on March 15. Senate President Koko Pimentel commended that the 20-year old Reality Show winner is an inspiration to many.

The courtesy call  (Credit: Instagram/ @maymay_entrata0506)

2. Filipina Feature is Filipina Beauty! 

I’m sad than some bashers call her ungoy (monkey), undin (I don’t know where this term come from except from a movie of Regal starring Manilyn Reynes), or ugly.  I feel sad for those who have similar features with Maymay na majority of Filipinos! So if you’re pango (doesn’t have pointed nose) and maitim (tan or dark skin), you’re already ugly? You have no right to enter showbiz? And if you find a person so pango and maitim, you have the right to ridicule him/ her?  Ridiculous! Are you insulting your ancestors and your Filipino blood ( tell me any instances in Philippine history na mestiza na bago pa dumating ang mga Espanyol)? We can’t accept if foreigners call us brown monkey, but it’s okay if we do it with our fellow Filipinos?

 I understand that each of us has own idea of beauty, but if you INSULT/ BASH someone (kahit hindi pa si Maymay) because you only find her not pretty isn’t that make you the real ugly? It tells also something about your culture (background, mindset, struggle, and aspiration). If you spend too much of your time bashing..  

• siguro kumikita ka man lang bilang  Troll / 
• you have dark side, 
• or  worst wasting your energy/time . (Please join  networking kikita ka pa) :P

I believe Maymay’s physical features is extra-ordinary, head turner, and a sample of pure Filipina beauty.  IMHO, she’s also a ramp model material and it’s nonsense to bash her look because

 conversation with Mccoy De Leon

 conversation with Jinri

… Maymay wows magazine editors and if you’re not a beauty expert anyway. 

3.  We need talented celebrities with good personalities

 In connection to item number 2, I find those who judge actors (based only on their physical features) don’t really appreciate real art and entertainment. 

IMHO in showbiz- beauty and popularity fade, but not those talented with good attitude.  You can only enjoy popularity 1-5 years, but if you don’t prove your worth as an actor - bye! At the end of the day, the management and the network need to keep their business running by removing those who don't add value on their sales and reputation.

I am not saying that Maymay is best in acting, has the finest voice, and a dancing queen. She needs more workshops or training to hone her skills. The important thing here, she has potentials (I like her unique voice quality and dance move) and it seems that she has good working attitude. If you’re willing to learn and adapt for good reasons, cool - I guess that’s the secret to enjoy long successful  showbiz career.

Sabi nga raw ni Charles Darwin ayon sa tsika ni Leon C. Megginson:  

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change."

Great Example? Madonna!

And fans should be careful whoever they choose to support, admire, and consider heroes. Because their heroes gonna play vital roles  of who they are right now, and who they will be in the future.

“We need heroes because they help define the limits of our aspirations. We largely define our ideals by the heroes we choose, and our ideals—things like courage, honor, and justice – largely define us.  Our heroes are symbols for us of all the qualities we would like to possess and all the ambitions we would like to satisfy.” – U.P. Professor Felipe M. De Leon (Agung XIX No. 4).  

4. It’s time to take a Funny girl seriously

In the two leading TV networks or any movie outfits, I don’t know any young female who is popularly known for being natural funny or comedienne. Yes, a good actor can be funny too given the good motivation and script (Hi John Lloyd Cruz, Maja Salvador, Toni Gonzaga, and Eugene Domingo!).  I think being wacky/ funny is one of the edge of Maymay to stand out among her contemporaries.  Given the right materials, she can even change the image of usual comedy in the Philippines which is more slapstick and mocking.   Want to know how? Watch Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, It Started with A Kiss (Ariel Lin), and Successful Story of Bright Girl/ My Love Patzzi (Jang Nara). I like character driven story!

As for her love team, Edward Barber, he’s a good leading man for her. Opposite attracts and differences make each one of them stand out?  Serious guy meets funny girl!   May I add that showbiz also need a young serious action female star today after Angel Locsin. I hope Kylie Padilla goes back to her root, and Liza Soberano pulls off her Darna stint. By the way, I am also watching La Luna Sangre - Kathry Bernardo is doing well.

Isa ito sa nadale ako sa acting prowess ni Marydale since these are all impromptu

5.  You see yourself in her – be as a best friend/ daughter/ granddaughter/ fan/

In my observation, Maymay garners fans in different part of the globe (especially OFWs) not only because she’s amusing. Her fans and other casual viewers can relate to her as…

·         A daughter of an OFW, 

·         a daughter  who grew up without the presence of her biological father (Broken family)

·         a student who do anything to have  education ( applied to scholarship)

·         a  teenager who experience ups and  down of young romances

·         a fan girl who becomes hilarious when she her idols

·         a granddaughter / daughter who just want to have better life for her family

·         a dreamer who just want to sing, dance, act, or join in a contest

·         a sociable/ friendly  girl

And it’s not gonna be hard to believe if ever Maymay will portray similar roles that I mentioned above. She already had experiences so may paghuhugutan.  In truth, it’s distracting to see ultra-beautiful and handsome guys in slum areas or in something gloomy situations.  Especially those appear with “sosyal” tone and “I woke up like this makeup” they may ruin the authenticity of the situation lalo na if sablay ang acting.  As a moviegoer/ cinephile, I admire actors who can imbibe their characters that as if you feel they’re different persons.  Ah I salute method actor or do anything to fit in their roles like Daniel Day Lewis, Christian Bale, John Lloyd Cruz, Kate Winslet, and Renee Zellwegar) .

PBB Big Winner Maymay Entrata: Deserved or not?

Personally, I hoped that Tanner Mata ang naging  Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Winner.  The format should be like the PBB 737 were there winners for adults (regular) and teens. But since the show follows the same voting method (which is through text votes), it’s not surprising that the Big 4 came from the Teen Edition (sino ba mahilig sa ganyan pa). I think that’s the only concern here. So questioning Marydale “Maymay” Entrata as the PBB Lucky 7 Big Winner is ...  

Why not MayMay Entrata?

Matagal na akong hindi nanood ng TV (since 2008), nasanay na ako na ako pa-video-video clips na lang sa Youtube. But it happened that the Teen edition hooked me and my OFW sister watched the regular edition (maka-Aura Azarcon) so parang nag-jive at na-magnify ang panonood ko. I watched the last three weeks religiously sa TV. Anyway…

Credit: Pinoy Big Brother/ ABS-CBN

Since I’m also into Youtube, I am aware too sa mga pro and anti-comments lalo na  matindi ang laban between Kisses and Maymay fans ( I think hindi naman affected ang mag-BFF).  Well without this fandom hysteria, the favoritism, charity, and what I mentioned "should be separate winners" issues – I don’t also see any reasons why The Wacky Go Lucky of Cagayan de Oro shouldn’t be the PBB Big Winner. 

Let’s say Maymay Entrata is pretentious 

–    I watched the  episodes of Follow  Lucky 3 Teens where Edward (La Union), Maymay (Camiguin and Cagayan de Oro), and Kisses (Masbate) went to their home towns.  Based on the video clips, they all had many supporters and I could say Kisses had more. The 17-year old teen is a sweet and lovely young lady who’s very brave to admit everything about her feelings. Sinong hindi hahanga di ba?  I like Kisses’ adorable sweetness as well as Edward’s intellect and kindness. 

On the other hand, what I noticed with Maymay’s homecoming was her many friends. She introduced her board mates and co- choir members, who seemed to be very close to her.  You could see that they’re not pretending in their warmth welcome.  Dito ang masasabi ko, having many friends tell something about the person. And friends really see the best and worst or the lie and  the truth. Ang nakakilala  talaga sa iyo ay kaibigan mo e at hindi madali magkaroon ng mga totoong kaibigan. Hindi ka dapat dumidepende lang basta sa fans (because of their admiration) at lalo na sa mga bashers (and their hatred).

* pag actors nga, hindi dapat pinakikialaman yung personal nilang buhay kasi ang importante yung capacity nila to entertain. Plus factor na lang talaga kung inspiring at mabait sila in real life. Bawal maging imperfect?

With Maymay’s fellow housemates, whether we count who voted her to become winner  or not,  what matter is  they were all had good relationships with her inside the house. Pag ganyan naman umiiba ng choice, okay lang ‘yan because we have different bets naman talaga according to  our own perspectives. But why Nonong Ballinan, Jinri Park, , Mccoy de Leon and Nikko Natividad, Elisse Joson, Tanner, Fenech Veloso, Luis Hontiveros, Ali Forbes,  Jessi Corcuera,  and Thuy (Nhuyen Thi Thuy) chose her as their big winner... common reason? "madaling pakisamahan." 

*Kaya nga rin napahanga ako nina Cora Waddell, Aura, and Tanner they’re not people persons and yet they able to survive the competitions longer. By the way, Aura  named Maymay as her favorite teen housemate in PBB Online)

Let’s say Maymay Entrata is OA 

I think OA is not the right term kundi kakaiba. We all have uniqueness that people either like or hate. And the first  reaction we would do if an individual has different ways of doing things is to think he or she's doing wrong. Actually that's the wrong side of it, dahil may tinatawag din na "norm" or 'conformity."   I don’t also like the way Maymay eats ( check big 4's late dinner after the 1st day of the Big Night) , but I don’t think that's enough reason to judge or bash her. In fact, sa mga kamag-anak kong mga Waray ay hindi bago ang nakataas ang paa, nagkakamay, at nakayuko habang  kumakain. And I can say mas nakakagana silang tingnan na kahit daing lang ang ulam kaysa mga taong nasa restaurant at maayos ang upo. What about table manners?  In defense of all foodies, the only thing that’s hateful is food wasting. Always remember that!   

Let’s say people favored her because she’s poor  

      Yes possibly being poor is one factor to look appealing to many compassionate people. Marami sa teens ( Badjao girl Rita and Yong), regular, at celebrity ang hindi rin naman mayaman. But I guess  the management and PBB viewers favored Maymay because she’s wacky, soft-hearted, and talented too.  Common, many people could probably sing and dance, but not to write songs.  Iyong songs ni Maymay cheesy pero catchy, novel, and poetic. I read some comments na may isa pa ata siyang kanta na ipinapa-translate kay Tanner. On top of that, Maymay's voice has a unique quality that she doesn't  need to hit high notes to notice it. Well, I guess she’s not a choir member and a scholar for nothing.

    Bakit hindi na lang sumali sa The Voice no? Good decision na Mag-PBB siya kasi mahirap ang competition yun, pero madali rin ba ang mag-PBB?  If ako nga ay isang housemate at isasalang ako sa lie detector test, susundin ko ang ginawa ni Mccoy. 

You would don’t like her mannerisms, but on the other side overwhelming ang kanyang personality, positivism, and talents.  Ako nanood ako kasi na-amuse na rin ako sa kanya  – she actually touched my heart noong inaalagaan n’ya si Lola Pina, maging ate sa kanyang teen housemates, mamatayan siya  ng lolo, at mag-alangan sa kanyang sarili. Makaka-relate ka because very Filipino yung story at reaction n'ya. Nakakabilib yung positibo nyang outlook n'ya kahit na when she went outside PBB house temporarily, she knew already that she has bashers.

Let’s say the management favored her 

If ever, the good question here is why the ABS-CBN management favored her in the first place? Eddie may something nga sa kanya kung nagkataon.  If I’m going to analyze the business side...

       Among the housemates – I would tap the good looking ones like Edward, Kisses, Heaven Peralejo, Tanner, Mccoy, Elise,  Marco Gallo, Vivoree Esclito, Yassi Pressman, Hideo, Luis, Jinri, and Cora to win or have more exposure. They’re easier to market and nurture especially yung karamihan may mga experiences na.  So to choose a simple probinsyana ay sort of gamble or they already seeing the “X factor” para maging favorite si Maymay. Ang pinaka-business dito ay kung saan kikita di ba? In the field of entertainment, you can't really push to people who they would like. There are no sure and perfect formulas kasi even the talented,  good looking, and hard working people  ay nawawala sa limelight. Iilan lang may staying power.

     And by the way, she’s not UGLY-she has captivating Filipina BEAUTY ( like Janine Tugunon, Venus Raj, and Gloria  Diaz).  Tataya ako, kahit hindi iyan ipasok sa PBB at ma –expose siya she could find other careers.
     
       *I don't even know why some Filipinos think being tan is ugly, being not good in English is stupidity, and being poor/ rich is disadvantage. I guess they're being unrealistic anyway...

   Let's say it's because of the Mayward love team / fans 

      Again the bottom line is her X factor. Edward and Maymay wouldn’t have fans if  they see nothing. This is not the first time that two housemates become closer and not all housemates become closer become hit tandems. If I’m correct, it’s only Kimerald and Melason who found stardom after PBB. Edward by the way, is such as a wonderful boy that you’ll notice with or without Maymay. Ganun din sina Maymay, Kisses, and Yong. Nagkataon lang  may pares-pares at malakas nga ang MayWard (pero honestly natripan ko rin ang MayNer at JiNong :p )

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      If I have to pick who are good  contenders for the big winner slot  ( from the Dream Team) it would be Aura, Jerome Alacre, Cora, Tanner, Kisses, Maymay, and Edward. 

   IMHO, Maymay actually deserved to win for so many other reasons and so as Kisses Delavin, Yong Muhajil, and Edward Barber in case  sino sa kanila ang manalo. Hindi yan out of "favoritism," and "charity work" -  puwede pa pure Luck. 

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