Entertainment wish list for 2017

We know there’s no such thing as a perfect year. Despite that, we continue to hope for the best every time a new year is upon us.

This Year of the Fire Rooster, let’s ring out the old, and ring in the new. Let’s look at the future with hope; confident that we will prevail despite the odds.

Here’s a wish list for the entertainment industry in 2017.

1. A successful Miss Universe pageant in Manila

The international pageant, which will gather beauties from around the world, will showcase not just the beauty of reigning Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Maxine Medina, but the entire country as well. Let’s hope the international beauties will fall in love with the country, and stay longer than usual to enjoy the sights. Let’s hope the extra judicial killings won’t scare them away, the way it did to American singer James Taylor.

2. Happy ever after for Anne Curtis and Erwan Heussaff; Billy Crawford and Coleen Garcia; and Bangs Garcia and Lloydie Birchmore

Anne and Erwan have been sweethearts for six years; Billy and Coleen for around two years. Bangs and Fil-Brit fiancé Lloydie Birchmore have been an item since March 2015. Although it’s not how long you’ve been hooked on each other but your devotion that counts, it’s obvious that the couples know one another enough to say they’ve found The One.

Now that Erwan, Billy and Lloydie have popped the question, let’s hope their love for their respective fiancees will stand the proverbial test of time.

Anne Curtis and Erwan Heussaff                                                                      PhilStar.com/File photo

3. A smooth-sailing relationship between Zsa Zsa Padilla and Conrad Onglao

Now that they’re back in each other’s arms, let’s wish Zsa Zsa and Conrad learn from past mistakes and make the relationship last this time. They realized they’re still in love with each other, and are willing to let bygones be bygones.

After all, Zsa Zsa and Conrad have been through other relationships. So, this one should show more maturity than the rest.

4. A second chance at happiness for Sunshine Cruz

All of us deserves a second chance, especially when we’ve been hurt before. Let’s wish Sunshine gets the annulment of her 13-year marriage to Cesar Montano, so she can break free from the bonds of her past. Macky Mathay is just around the corner.

5. Complete emotional healing for Sunshine Dizon

Now that Timothy Yap, Sunshine Dizon’s estranged husband has apologized to her, and she has accepted it, let’s wish the actress learns to slowly but surely move on. It’s not only for her sake, but for her two children with Timothy.

Let’s also hope the bitter breakup won’t make her close her doors on finding happiness the next time around – once she clears the legal hurdle, that is.

Sunshine Dizon                                                                                                    PhilStar.com/File photo

6. More awards for Filipino artists and films abroad.

Last year yielded a crop of awards for Filipino talents abroad.

Lav Diaz won the Silver Bear and the Golden Lion awards in Berlin and Venice, respectively. He also bagged the Principal Prize at the International Short Film Fest in Germany, and Best Feature at the Tabor Film Fest in Croatia.

Jaclyn Jose was declared Best Actress in Cannes, and Paolo Ballesteros, Best Actor at the Tokyo International Film Festival, where his Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry, "Die Beautiful," won the Audience Choice Award.

Similarly, Indie film "1st Sem" won top awards at the All Lights India International Filmfest, where lead actress Lotlot de Leon got special citation for her role as confused mom.

Let’s hope the list of international honors gets even longer.

Paolo Ballesteros receiving his Best Actor award from Tokyo Film Festival. PhilStar.com/File photo

7. Higher earnings for the MMFF.

The lines outside the cinemas were much shorter than previous years. And the outlook doesn’t seem as rosy as it was in 2015, when the annual festival raked in P1-billion for the movie industry.

Let’s hope more people troop to cinemas and watch the eight official entries. If not, the film fest beneficiaries -- Mowelfund, the Motion Picture Anti-Piracy Council, the Film Academy of the Philippines, and the Film Development Council of the Philippines, will suffer a lot.

If this year’s film fest fails to equal 2015’s earnings, this means we should go back to the previous years’ policy of showing commercial films that rake in billions for industry beneficiaries.

8. A safe delivery and healthy first-borns for Rufa Mae Quinto, Georgina Wilson, and other showbiz ladies who will get pregnant in 2017.

Georgina Wilson                                                                                               PhilStar.com/File photo

9. More Original Pilipino Music (OPM) to sing, reminisce, and dance to.

YouTube and iTunes have made it much easier for people to listen to foreign sounds. While there’s nothing wrong with this, it challenges local musicians to come up with more OPM that will make up for this onslaught of foreign music.

Young people and local performers obviously miss the old times as they are singing covers and OPM that defined their parents’ and grandparents’ time.

10. Wish for more celebrities to adopt Alden Richards’ humility.

He may be one half of the country’s most popular endorsers, but Alden remains as humble as ever. His packed schedule doesn’t keep him from finding time to answer e-mail questions. His handshake is firm and sincere. All those years waiting for that one big break has taught him a lot. Let’s hope more celebs follow his example.