SEEING PINOY

For the longest time it seemed the only Filipinos I saw on American TV were either freaky, attention-starved Pinays on reality shows such as MTV's The Real World, Blind Date, and ElimiDate -- or crazy (literally speaking), attention-starved Pinoys on American Idol or, worse, Dog, the Bounty Hunter.

I mean, it just got to the point that when I'd see Filipino-looking persons on any TV show, I'd close my eyes and fervently wish they wouldn't make fools of themselves. Or if they did, that they'd claim to be Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders instead (like real Filipino fools often do).

But then lately it seems that I've been seeing Filipinos who make me want to root for them. For instance, every Tuesday night -- without fail -- I vote for Mig Ayesa, who's competing on Rock Star: INXS. Not only is he genuinely talented but he's also clearly a decent chap; he cheers for his competition up on stage and comforts them when they get back home. Whether or not Ayesa does end up fronting INXS during its next world tour or not, I sincerely hope to see more of him for years to come. By the way, I don't vote for him simply because he's Filipino -- I never voted for Jasmine Trias and Camille Velasco, after all. I'd even buy his cd, and I haven't said that about anyone who's ever won a talent competition -- not even Kelly Clarkson, whose albums both went platinum.

I've never watched So You Think You Can Dance?, but I've read it's a sleeper hit. Many of my friends even like it. But because Petite recently raved about a terrific (Filipino-American) dancer named Ryan Conferido, I've decided to check out the show this coming Wednesday.

Now I'll be the first to admit the idea of Hugh Hefner simultaneously dating three very, VERY young blondes grosses me out (although the skeptic in me thinks this is all PR). I mean, there are impossibly beautiful women in their 40s, after all (which is about half of Hef's age, and thus still affords him bachelor bragging rights) and -- really -- what's wrong with just ONE girlfriend? So I'd never seen The Girls Next Door for that very reason.

But last Sunday, there was a marathon screening of this relatively new reality show on the E Channel and I confess I got hooked enough to watch four out of five episodes. On the second episode, two aspiring Playmates stayed the night at the Playboy Mansion to shoot test pictorials the day after. One of them, Raquel Gibson, was a cross between Jessica Alba and Angelina Jolie -- although she had the personality and spunk of neither. When they showed Hef and his harem on a night out, the exotic-looking lovely (she's half-Filipina, half-Italian) could have passed out in the restroom and no one would have noticed she was missing. I've got to admit she was very beautiful despite her dull demeanor, and once the camera started clicking and flashing during the shoot, she was miraculously transformed into Jezebel incarnate -- a sultry, wild-eyed, irresistible temptress.

Anyway, I read somewhere she may be Playboy Miss December 2005, but I suppose we won't know until the issue's about to hit the newsstands. And even if Hef and his editors don't include her in the relatively small sorority (622 as of this month) of Playboy Playmates, I hope Gibson gets other opportunities for significant - er - exposure. Just as long as it's not another dating reality show. If it were, then she'd have to hold a decent conversation -- and we, too, don't know anything about that so far.

It wouldn't be surprising if former Miss Teen USA, Vanessa Minnillo (also of MTV fame) gets to interview any (or all) of them for an Entertainment Tonight segment. Pampanga-born Minnillo knows a bit of what it's like to be Filipino in the entertainment world -- but definitely a lot about what it's like to have rightfully earned her place under the spotlight. Hopefully, these other three newcomers will too soon.

Comments

[dexie]

ok, before i start babbling, just giving you a warning, i'm a sucker for supporting pinoy talents here in the US.. LOL.

wheww, now that's out...

I *heart* MiG. He is soooo taleted and just genuinely a sweetheart. He rocks! :) Win or not, he's already got a well established career in the London theater. I'm looking forward to seeing more of his accomplishments.

I'm also rooting for Ryan and Melody from that Dance competition. I just wish Melody would be more *forward* with her talent. I notice she's always at the back once the credit starts rolling. She needs to shove her face in that camera once in a while so the voters would remember her. I mean Ryan doesn't need anymore publicity. His hair alone is doing a great job...LOL.

I watched Vanessa won her Ms.Teen USA before so when I saw her hosting MTV TRL, i was so happy for her. She's very articulate. Beauty pageants get a lot of flack but when The View ladies asked her months ago if it's really a good thing to be in one and she said, paraphrasing it of course(this is me being pathetic for remembering it..hehe), "it helps a lot but it's always up to the person to utilize what opportunities she's been given". Which is so true. We can have every resource staring right at us, if we don't reach out and do anything about it, nothing will happen.

Ok, enough of my blather. :)

[John]

I don't particularly like blondes. So would dating 3 brunettes just as bad?

Kidding!

[Gigi]

Hi Dexie! So tonight was the first time I watched "So You Think You Can Dance?" -- and Melody was awesome! I didn't know there was a Pinay in the competition (I think her "Philippines" tee kinda gave me a clue there :) ), because I kept hearing about Ryan. I agree with you -- I think Melody should just shove herself out there and get more camera time (like Snow was doing at the end).

Hello John! Go ahead and date your brunette(s) -- as long as you're not old enough to be her (or their) grandfather. :) It's just strange how Hef doesn't look strong enough to stand up (and I wonder if other parts of his body can, too), and yet he's not satisfied with one woman.

[Yey]

Gigi, how about our newscasters on Channels 5, 7, 11 & 13? I'd love to hear your comments, not just on the women but the men, too.

Also, what about those who've made it bigger, like Lou Diamond Philips, Tia Carrere, Rob Schneider, Dean Cain, and ... Prince?

Oh, ok... so Prince is not really a Pinoy, after all.

[petite]

gigi, sayang naman the day you decided to watch SYTYCD, ryan's routine kinda bombed. i hope he doesn't get kicked out so you can still see him...er, kick ass. ;-)

yah, like you i never voted for jasmine trias or camille velasco. in fact, i think i only saw them a couple of times in AI. i'm kinda picky about the entertainers i follow and/or rave about. this time i found it quite nice to have a filipino-american on tv i could root for unabashedly.

i agree with you and dexie - melody's very talented too! and i am now also keeping an eye on mig ayesa and vanessa minnillo as well. :-)

[duke]

I always see Vanesa Minnillo on TRL but didn't know she was Filipino until you mentioned it.. nice read!

[chiqui]

My only problem w/Mig A is, he ain't a rocker! He's a real broadway or west end guy so he's actually acting out the part of a rocker. But I'm still rooting for him bec he does have a good singing voice & he looks the part. And he is Pinoy so there's some of that -- I'm rooting for him bec he is pinoy. Is bRooke part pinay? Btw, split a bottle of red w/Al so not sure if coherent.

[chiqui]

Sorry bout that. (I was coherent anyway). But I just don't believe Mig has rock roots (unlike like Bo Bice who really was a rocker). He's a bit stagey. But again, I do think he looks good and would fit in with INXS. I think it'll go his way. I hope it does.

[Gigi]

Hi Yey - I really have no comments on folks like Tia, Nia, Rob (although I had a funny personal encounter with him back during my Victoria's Secret days), etc. -- only because so much has already been written about them, and they're fixtures. BTW I thought Dean was half-Japanese/half-Caucasian (at least, that's what he's said about his heritage).

RE: Newscasters. Cher's on waaay too early for me (5-7 am); once I'm awake and coherent, she's gone. Then because I watch NBC morning news, I don't get to see Denise Dador on Ch. 7. And I don't watch Fox 11 News out of principle, and don't tune into UPN 13 (for no reason other than I normally don't), so I have no idea who our Pinoy newscasters there are. So I guess I can't comment about this either -- sorry! But let me know who they are and I'll tune in. :)

Hi Petite, OK lang -- I suppose it was time Ryan had an off-night (although Melody seems to have had the opposite). But he does have a lot of personality and presence!

Hello Duke - Thanks! I've always like Vanessa -- not only because I think she's got the entire "package", but also because she was always so open about her heritage/ethnicity from the get-go. I mean, I still remember when I first got here in the 80s and you didn't hear anyone admitting (or announcing) they were Filipino.

Hi Chiqs - Yeah I know Mig's not a true-blue rocker -- but like you, I kinda ignore that as I keep voting for him (online, of course -- I have no patience for phone or text-message voting).
BTW Brooke is French/Irish/Portuguese. If she has any Pinay in her, she's not saying. :)

PS: That must have been some excellent vino you had there!

[vince]

Hey Gigi & Yey! How is Cher's show doing? She used to be our anchor in Studio 23 here in Manila.

She previously had a morning show in Vegas but got pirated by that LA station...

[jayred]

I don't get to watch American TV programs here in Switzerland, so thanks for this nice update!

Nice to be back in the blogosphere to read your entries again. You're one of the best Pinoy bloggers around (just like Renaissance Girl).

BTW, I was looking for your July 2005 entries, but failed to do so the other day. (Guess I'm that ignorant!) Please help me locate them. I would like to read your previous blog entries which I failed to read while on a seven-week 'working holiday.' Thanks.

[Gigi]

Hello Vince -- Naku, I'm going to have Yey answer your question (are you there, Yey?). She actually has seen and hung out with Cher, so she might have a more interesting answer for you. As for me, I still haven't been able to catch her show since I got back. :)

Hi Jayred - Wow, thanks for the pat on the back; I'm so flattered, I just don't know what to say! :) But welcome back! Your blog always wants me to pack a bag and head for Switzerland. The hubby and I have discussed going there someday -- me for the chocolates and him for the watches!

[Yey]

Gigi: FOX 11 & UPN 13 newscasters are Jean Martirez and Maria Quiban. I believe that Bob de Castro is also with them, but I may be wrong. You're right about Dean Cain, sorry, my mistake.

Hi Vince! Cher is actually doing very well with KTLA 5. She's also done some live emceeing for some local FilAm nonprofits, and from what I understand, she may also be one of the emcees for the Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture (FPAC), which will be held next weekend (9/10-11). But I don't really know her all that well. We had a few dinners together, but that's about it. I haven't seen or spoken with her in quite some time, but the last time I spoke with her, she said that she was really enjoying working at KTLA on-screen and behind the scenes. If I get a chance to see her at FPAC (I may get stuck at the Culinary Arts Corner), I will make sure to give her your regards! ;-)

[Yey]

Gigi & Vince, I forgot to mention that Cher also comes on occasionally at the 7-9 a.m. morning news, which of course, can only be good for her. So Gigi, you may still get to see her. Of course, since I've been on vacation mode, it hasn't been necessary to wake up that early. Hehehehe!

[chiqui]

Unrelated: All I know is... can't wait to see "Brokeback Mountain"! (directed by Ang Lee). I'm sure it'll freak some people out. I'm sure I'll like it. Also, can you read Torn's last post on religion (4 Sep)? Curious to know what you think.