Who are trying to pull Rustom down?

Funfare has just received two very interesting letters, one from Rustom Padilla lamenting the efforts of his "detractors" to pull him down now that he’s successfully rebuilding his career and the other from Makati Mayor Jojo Binay reacting to a recent item about a scene in The Animal where the lead actor, half-American and half-Filipino Rob Schneider, was perceived to have made a "slur" (bitchy remark) against his kababayan.

First, let’s go over Rustom’s emotion-filled letter:

Dear Ricky,

Just when I’m trying to start picking up the pieces of my life after a personal tragedy, I find that other people can actually derive satisfaction from pulling down those who try to come in from the cold.

This completely amazes me. I had imagined people would be more sympathetic, if not kinder, to others who have failed in some of life’s endeavors. In my case that of marriage. It isn’t always so.

I have kept to myself the sufferings I went through. They are not for the public to know. I have forgiven the parties concerned and am still trying to forget that episode in my life by simply trying to get a new life of my own. You know, keeping myself fit, burning excess energy at the gym, preparing myself for this my second wind in show business.

But it seems some people would rather see me destroyed even before I could make those first wobbly steps to recovery. They are quick to spread lies to put me in a bad light. The most recent of these was that Cebu incident where I reportedly danced half-naked or even nude in front of a crowd.

I have cleared this with you, Ricky, on The Buzz. I explained that Raymart Santiago and I had to take off our shirts during a game portion to start the ball rolling. We weren’t dancing; we were taking part in a celebrity game, all for the sake of good friend Randy Santiago. We were in Cebu, a whole contingent of artists all, including John Estrada, Vanessa del Bianco and Ai-Ai de las Alas, to attend the launch of Ratsky (owned by Randy) in that southern city.

There were just too many of us artists in that Cebu opening, why single me out maliciously?

By the grace of God, I landed a two-year build-up contract with a new TV network in Singapore. When our series, Paradise, met a few production kinks, many were quick to write us off. Instead of being proud of our accomplishments as Filipino artists abroad, some kababayan here made us the subjects of nasty intrigues. Na kesyo hindi raw nag-click ang programa namin at na-cancel agad ito. Through all of these talks, I try to remain cool.

Ricky, I have always been judicious in my actions. I’m the type who likes to be in control of one’s self in moments high or low, inebriated or not. Friends who know me well think I’m too self-contained. Maybe I am. Or at least I try to be. At this point, I can’t afford to ruin myself just like that.

I have been ruined enough, humiliated and devastated. I’m now in the process of starting a new life and a new career. It is my hope that people will give me a break. As I try to do so, I’m also healing myself. The fact that my healing process is done in full view of the public makes it even more tough for me. But I’ll carry on, hoping that friends like you will give me a hand every now and then.

Thank you very much.
Sincerely yours,
Rustom Padilla

* * *

And here’s Mayor Binay’s letter:

Dear Mr. Lo:

Thank you for devoting some space to the point I raised about the "slur" on us Filipinos in the movie The Animal. Apparently, you found nothing wrong with that supposedly humorous remark about "the dumb bitch" of a Filipino.

I really had no expectations that everyone would agree that it was definitely and absolutely a racial slur against us. After all, that is one of the major difficulties in "censorship". There is oftentimes no clear definite and absolute line that would distinguish the pornographic from the non-pornographic; the offensive from the not-so-tasteful; the insult from a witty remark.

I am not surprised at all that you, your reader Norman Gana and even Rob Schneider himself found it nothing more than a comic commentary well within the context of the movie. But my concern is not you or others like you who would have reacted in a similar fashion.

When I raised the alarm over that portion of the movie (and I knew it was at the risk of being called over-reacting, paranoid and with no sense of humor), I did so for the purpose of insulating those who were offended by it, and there were many. Audiences of that movie reportedly booed that particular scene.

I also did so to spare the young, impressionable minds from the danger of psychological suggestion. While on the surface they may have laughed at it, the remark could have left a lasting negative impact on their psyche that would forever influence their thinking, attitude, and behavior.

We all know that the Filipino has been famous for his "sense of humor". Look at how we can make light of even the most tragic national situation, and then leave it at that! The Filipino is likewise known for his predisposition to self-deprecating humor. Look at how we have never totally gotten rid of our "colonial mentality" and still look down on ourselves in the process!

Call me paranoid and overly suspicious. And you may tell me to lighten up. But I believe we should all give our propensity for humor a long, hard and serious look, or else discover too late that we could die laughing!

Very truly yours,

Jejomar C. Binay

Antoinette, Dingdong in made-in-USA telesine

In a span of less than three weeks, L.A.-based Antoinette Taus came home to do a Larawan series for GMA, cleared rumors that she’s pregnant by boyfriend Dingdong Dantes and renewed ties with old friends here. Antoinette has retreated back into domesticity in L.A. – but not for long.

Sometime next month, she and Dingdong will reconcile in a telesine to be filmed in San Diego, California. Titled Romy & Julie, the telesine is produced by Sining Pinoy Productions headed by 33-year-old Honesto Cadiz who’s currently vacationing in Manila (his father, Ding Cadiz, is from Taal, Batangas, and his mother, Crisanta Bañez, is from Leyte). Honest himself is playing a kontrabida-type role (as Dingdong’s uncle) in the telesine, to be shown on GMA, along with longtime California resident Divina Valencia.

Honest was only 10 years old when the Cadiz family migrated to the US. They live in Berkeley, California. He finished a course in Fire Science at Chabot College in Hayward, California, but Honest never practised as a firefighter. Instead, he worked as an inspector at the Toyota office in Fremont, California.

All this time, however, Honest has been dreaming to be an actor, egged on by his uncle, Lito Ilas, who was a movie writer here before he migrated to California five years ago.

The youngest among four children, Honest belongs to a family engaged in the care-giving business (they operate a home for the autistic and other mentally-impaired children whom they help undergo rehab and therapy). Honest has the looks, the height (six-footer) and the drive to be an actor.

"I purposely came here to join an acting workshop under Gina Alajar," said Honest, but the workshop was called off.

Back in California, Honest has been watching movies of FPJ, his favorite actor, and also those of Robert De Niro and Al Pacino.

After Romy & Julie, Honest hopes to produce another telesine, with Jolina Magdangal being eyed as lead star.

"Coming home to my native land is a dream come true for me," said Honest. "I plan to come back more often."