Dingdong may not accept gov't post

First was Boy Abunda (for Tourism secretary?), followed by Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde (for Optical Media Board head?) and Grace Poe-Llamanzares (for MTRCB chief?). All “feelers,” so far.

Whether or not they will accept those posts if ever President-apparent Noynoy Aquino makes a formal/official offer is subject to speculations (although Boy has said categorically that he will not, bound as he is by his ABS-CBN contract which is still good for one year and a half).

Then, Noynoy said in answer to a reporter from GMA News that, yes, he would offer Dingdong Dantes and Ogie Alcasid government posts, “Kung papayag sila, bakit hindi?”

Like Boy, Mother Lily and Grace, Dingdong and Ogie are, I believe, qualified for whatever positions Noynoy has in mind for them. So what if they are from showbiz or have supported Noynoy during the recent campaign? If they are qualified for the posts, why not?

But even before the GMA News story came out, Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre (of The Filipino Reporter) had already asked Dingdong (and Ogie...more on him later) about that “possibility.”

‘Em “bashers” (ever on “red alert,” ready for “attack”) can heave a sigh of relief for the meantime. No, hinted Dingdong (founder and chairman of Yes Pinoy Foundation, advocate of the National Youth Commission and DepEd spokesman for the youth), he’s inclined to politely say no to such “offer,” but promised to continue his all-out support for Noynoy in “easing the sufferings of the masses and restoring their trust and confidence in government.”

With his career at its peak, why would Dingdong take a gamble and get enmeshed in a red-tape-ridden government position?

Edmund did another Reporter-Funfare tie-up interview (first with Regine Velasquez), this time with Dingdong last May 2 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he and girlfriend Marian Rivera guested at the Heart 2 Heart concert of Ogie and his beloved Regine at Trump Taj Mahal (produced by Group Ole).

Here’s the rest of the interview:

What are your expectations about the Noynoy Aquino presidency?

“I expect transparency. I expect something that is black or white. I expect truth, and I expect decency.”

You have many expectations.

“Actually, expectations ng lahat ‘yon. ‘Yun ideally ang gusto natin. And I strongly believe (President-apparent) Noynoy can deliver.”

Your expectations from the rest of our leaders?

“Unang-una, ang pagkakaisa ng mga public servants and political figures. Yes, there must be opposition, but we came to a point na kailangang magkaisa muna ang lahat, walang iba-iba ang interest. That’s the first step, eh, we have to be united for a common goal. Kung mag-isa lang ang gagalaw at marami ay hindi makikinig o kokontra lang, wala tayong mararating. As what Noynoy said, ‘I cannot do this alone.’ Magawa lang ito, the possibilities are endless.”

You personally started your Yes Pinoy Foundation, didn’t you?

“Yes Pinoy Foundation helps the neglected sectors, specifically the children of fallen soldiers. We’re sending them to college. We formed it August 2009. Dati ko pa gusto ‘yon. Nagkaroon ako ng window to launch it. I asked help from my friends who became board of trustees like Wilma Galvante, Tim Yap, Gov. Dax Cua, Congressman Irwin Tieng and other influential people from various fields including business and military.”

You’re very positive about the Philippines. Do you really believe you’ll see a corruption-free and poverty-free Philippines in your lifetime?

“Yes, it may take time and maybe not now. But in time. That’s why we must never stop striving to achieve it. We must never be complacent. We need hope and positive thinking to make it happen. I think that’s the first step in order to get there.”

You sound like a politician. Do you have a desire to be a politico someday?

“Wala, wala. I believe you do not have to be a politician to help. It’s all about passion, commitment.”

Do you see yourself in public office, maybe five or 10 years from now?

“Hindi ko nakikita, kasi ang focus ko ngayon ay ‘yung pag-aartista ko. Nandoon talaga ang passion ko at kaalaman ko. Hindi naman ako pumapasok sa isang bagay na hindi ko alam.”

What if you are offered a government seat?

“Well, I will be flattered and I’ll tell them, ‘Thank you for considering me.’ However, marami pa akong kailangang gawing mga bagay na makakatulong din naman sa kapwa.”

As an artist, how are you going to help Noynoy’s presidency?

“As artists and as citizens, we rooted for him, we volunteered for him, we campaigned for him, we voted for him. Hindi naman ibig sabihin na titigil na ‘yun doon. In his presidency, all the more na dapat nandoon kami or tayo to support him, to assist him, to follow him, and also to remind him sa mga pangako niya sa taong-bayan. Nandito lang kami para paalalahanan siya at suportahan sa lahat ng gagawin niya. Nandito lang kami anumang oras na kailanganin niya kami.”

What can showbiz people do to help?

“People in the industry must think na hindi lang nagtatapos sa entertainment ang kaya nilang ibigay sa mga tao. What they are doing can evolve into something bigger or even noble. It’s so nice to see na marami nang taga-showbiz ang nagsisimulang gamitin ang celebrity status nila to make a difference. Sana nga mas marami pa ang mag-participate at kumilos dahil kahit unti-unti, kaya nating lahat na makapag-contribute para umangat ang bayan natin at mapabuti ang kabuhayan at kalagayan ng mga tao.”

* * *

A few days after the fabulous Ogie/Regine-Dingdong/Marian foursome were spotted on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, guess who was turning heads as he casually strolled around, enjoying the warm weather — yes, Manny Pacquiao (with an entourage).

Pacquiao was in New York to accept the Fighter of the Decade Award from the Boxing Writers Association of America at Roosevelt Hotel last June 4. According to Edmund Silvestre, it was former World Heavyweight Champion Joe Frazier who handed the award to Manny. Seen at the event were boxing luminaries including Oscar dela Hoya with whom Pacquiao had a bout.

Reported Edmund, “Among those lucky to run into Manny on Fifth Avenue’s 57th Street is Myrian Ayala, a NY registered nurse. She said that Pacquiao looked so simple in jeans and plain polo shirt that’s why people didn’t immediately recognize him. Myrian added that Pacquiao is so down-to-earth; he gamely posed for pictures with everyone who requested it. Manny’s wife Jinkee, who wasn’t with him at the time, was said to be checking out Manhattan’s swanky stores and looking for merchandise for her boutiques in the Philippines.”

Manny reportedly paid a visit to Fifth Avenue stores, including the popular Niketown on 57th Street on which was displayed his giant Nike posters and billboards and met and signed autographs for fans.

Added Edmund, “Last Saturday, Pacquiao and company were scheduled to watch the Miguel Cotto vs Yuri Foreman bout at Yankee Stadium in Queens, New York, aired live on HBO.”

* * *

The name Tria Bascon probably won’t ring that many bells among local music-lovers but in several places in Asia and Europe, the name is associated with good music. Name a genre and Tria can do it with fluid facility, in her own style — from standards to modern jazz, Latin, bossa nova, soul, to rhythm and blues.

A native of Cebu where many of the country’s A-list singers come from (Pilita Corrales, Dulce, Verni Varga, Sheryn Regis and JayR Siaboc of Voyzboys), Tria matches her delicious kayumanggi-kaligatan looks with a powerful voice that has been entertaining mostly foreign audiences since she embarked on an “international” career almost two decades ago.

She’s a world-class Filipino artist in her own right, a veritable Total Entertainer who has mastered her craft and cultivated her repertoire to encompass contemporary and modern standards, including the unique blend of East and West that gives her music a global and multi-cultural appeal.

“But there’s nothing more fulfilling than performing before our kababayan,” Tria told Funfare over lunch recently. She’s on a well-deserved holiday. “Iba ang dating ng palakpak na galing sa kapwa mo Pinoy.”

After doing the rounds of Manila’s five-star hotels (The Pen, Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-La, Dusit, Manila Hotel, Century Park, etc.), Tria ventured to foreign lands, also regaling audiences in the five-star-hotel circuits. She has been a favorite performer to serenade a captivated audience in Asia’s most elegant and exclusive hotel chains, such as Four Seasons Bangkok, the Grand Hyatt Taipei, Hotel Intercontinental Singapore, St. Regis Beijing, J.W. Marriott Seoul and the Island Shangri-La Hong Kong. This fascinating song siren has also enthralled patrons of the exclusive Hong Kong Jockey Club and Regent Seven Seas Cruises sailing the South Pacific aboard the six-star luxury liner M/S Paul Gauguin.

An award for Niña Corpuz

Congratulations to ABS-CBN’s Niña Corpuz (photo) who has been awarded The Media For Labor Rights Prize, a journalistic prize established by International Labour Organization (ILO), the labor arm of the United Nations.

The prize recognizes efforts to help spread information on international labor standards drawn up and overseen by ILO and their relevance to local labor and social issues.

Niña’s article titled Filipino Domestic Workers, Between Justice and Survival was chosen as the best story on labor rights among 50 entries from journalists and media professionals around the world.

The award ceremony will be held during the 99th Session of the ILO Conference (from June 2 to the 18th) in Geneva.

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