Famous Filipino People

People are always bitten by the “famous bug”. It’s natural for them to be fascinated with popularity. Somehow, everybody has this quench for news or information on famous people. From the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to the Royal Families all over Europe, to sports icons, and down to sensational local celebrities, all of us want to have a bit about their lives, lifestyles, and developments of any activity they might be undertaking. Across the globe, famous personalities are a part of ordinary people’s lives. What with mass media, Internet, and every other medium of informing people, everyone can now keep abreast of what’s happening here and there. In fact, there has never been a time like this when any particular information can be yours in just a click of the mouse or with the press of a finger in your cellphone keypad.

APL - Alan Pineda of the Black Eyed Peas

Most if not all, have become accustomed to the exposure of famous people’s lifestyles that the most typical individual can be caught unaware of being injected influence by them. A new hairstyle modelled by a famous actress or TV personality, and a new jersey sported by a famous hunk or celebrity sports player could immediately create a tremor of response in the market through racketing sales just within a few days. Never has it been that advertisers pay millions just to get a famous golfer, football/basketball player, or a new popular model to endorse any particular product. This goes to show how secure the manufacturers are when they invest in famous celebrities to endorse their product or service. And never has it been that common people would wish to be like his favourite idol on television until today.

Imeldarific!

Statistics show that the more popular the model who is endorsing the brand is, the more people would choose that product too. The desire to be like somebody famous is perhaps rooted from the belief that getting popular means getting more power. To the bloke next door, maybe if he gets popular like the celebrities, he will also get the vast influence and power famous people wield. Establishing a celebrity status seems to be an ultimate dream especially for the younger generation of today.

Manny “Pacman” Paquiao

The recent development in this popularity clamour are the reality shows that have sprung out everywhere which feature real situations wherein participants do or take tests to prove how adept they are at handling “real situations” in a specific setting or situation. Contests or competitions to prove one’s talent is not any more determined the traditional way. Now, it is not just being the best at what you do, but its about how to handle a certain situation, then coming out on top of it afterwards. Reality talent searches are abundant in the international entertainment industry, with open franchises for producers who would like to bring these to their home countries.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo - Philippine President

In the local scene here in the Philippines, people in the limelight are watched more for their own share of controversies and scandals in the entertainment and political arena than for other reasons. One big proof is the present government administration of Mrs. Gloria Arroyo that has stirred every Filipino here and abroad with the seeming unending corrupt practices and allegations not just by the opposition party but by neutral groups as well. Unknown people and entities before have come to the spotlight because of the entanglements with these controversies hounding the Arroyo administration. There are those who willingly air their side for fear of subsequent exposure if found out, and there are those reluctant individuals who just happened to come out because they now have to defend themselves.

Street Children in the Philippines

The ZTE broadband deal scandal is far from dying because it will be a long time before it can be finally concluded. In fact, with all the hocus-pocus of politicians in the Philippines, one can wonder if it will ever be solved and be stopped eventually. The latest crisis facing the present administration is the scarcity of rice, the staple for most Filipinos. And, with the increase in fuel and gas, the Arroyo Administration is fast becoming “infamous” to the common Filipino folks. Asserting that it is due to the rising prices in the international market, giant petroleum distributors claim they have no other choice. The price increase in daily commodities is occurring almost every day now. The Filipino people are indeed caught in a hopeless fix. Hence, the awareness and vigilance of every happening is significantly focused on the NCR (National Capital Region), the capital of the Philippine Republic, the region majority of other regions look up to, as the head is closely watched.

But through all these unending problems the Philippines is facing, Filipinos always find a good outlet to forget or to while away their difficulties even for just a time. A solid example is their inclination for film shows or pictures, their hunger for being the first to know any hot issue or topic involving their favourite actors or actresses, and their overall habit of prying into other people’s lives. Perhaps, it makes them alive and be inspired seeing celebrities acting in a movie which they can relate their life story to.

In the entertainment field, celebrity marriages and divorces are what make the industry alit with rainbow colours and filled with loud buzz. Presently, a continuing fight between two giant TV networks for show ratings is what’s usually in the headlines of local TV and showbiz magazines these days. They have succeeded in branding a Filipino either a “Kapuso” for GMA Network or a “Kapamilya” for the ABS-CBN Network. When new individuals meet, the question being asked first, “Are you a Kapuso or Kapamilya?”, is actually a common occurrence. This just shows how the whole country has turned their attention to showbiz entertainment and how every Filipino family, however poor, manages to acquire a box we call the television. As for book lovers, they can turn to showbiz magazines, and a variety of info on the goings and comings of famous Filipino celebrity can be perused. A lot of international reality shows are given local counterparts or series here too. This two TV networks are outdoing each other in who gets first the franchise of a bankable reality show abroad. Be it on games, soap operas, or singing competitions, everybody seems greatly afflicted with the celebrity fever because the masses can readily relate to these shows. The producers and directors have found a way to infuse more interaction with a TV program and its audience. That’s through text voting, which enables viewers to vote for their favourite reality show candidate or singing contestant. With the Philippines being an island country, the voting mechanism has opened for regional competitions where the participants in the show specifically hail from. People from the same region or province would naturally choose a contestant from their own local area. This is not just going to boost the popularity ratings but generate more income as well for the advertisers and the network stations.

Indeed, television and showbiz are able to dominate most of ordinary Filipinos’ daily life, making marketing and advertising very progressive with these media, evidence that competition really makes any kind of industry healthy. But whether this trend is helping the Filipino people or not still remains to be seen. Experts say there is always a downside when something is on top. Therefore, the great Aristotle’s Theory of Moderation could not be taken for granted but should be given due significance.