So what’s in a (screen) name?

For a (refreshing) change, this corner will digress and take a break from the topsy-turvy world of make-believe and get real. A Funfare reader suggested that a little story should be told about (screen-)naming stars. Good idea, isn’t it?

In showbiz, the Shakespearean line “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet” doesn’t always apply. The (screen) name has to be cinematic, easy to recall and possibly with a rhythmic ring to it.

Samples:

• Susan Roces (real name: Jesusa Sonora), Jessa Zaragoza (Richelle Ann Loyola), Rich Asuncion (Richelle Angalot), Marissa Delgado (Adoracion Boyle), Divina Valencia (Consolacion Fuller), Liza Lorena (Elizabeth Ann Jolene Luciano Winsett), Gina Alajar (Regina Alatiit) and Jaclyn Jose (Mary Jane Sta. Ana Guck).

• Dingdong Dantes (Jose Sixto Raphael Gonzalez Dantes III), Jose Manalo (Ariel Pagtalonia Manalo), Benjamin Alves (Benjamin Quiambao Sapida), Coco Martin (Rodel Nacianceno), Tom Rodriguez (Bartolome Alberto Mott), Wowie de Guzman (Jeffrey Camangyan) and Boobay (Norman Balbuena). 

Did you know that Ronald Valdez (Ronald James Gibbs) was initially named Ronnie Rios, Ronnie Romano, Reynaldo Dantes and then Raul Suarez until Dolphy, Susan Roces, Panchito and Rod Navarro “renamed” him when they were doing the comedy Kaming Taga-Ilog?

The late talent scout Dr. Rey dela Cruz named his discoveries after soft drinks: Sarsi Emmanuel (Maria Jennifer Obregon Mitchell), Coca Nicolas (Johnnalee Hickens) and Pepsi Paloma (Delia Duenas Smith). There were also the so-called “Boulevard Beauties” (Brandy Ayala, Aurora Boulevard and Epifania delos Santos) and the starlets named after actors (Ida Manzano, Ramona Revilla, Inez Veneracion and Keanna Reeves).

A friend is “threatening” to launch his own stable of “bold stars” and call them…Airline Beauties? Take these: Shirley Qantas, Guada Garuda, Cathy Pacific, Aloha Alitalia, Emma Emirata, Qatarina Quirino and Ara France.

Or why not Lutong Pinoy Beauties? Yummy: Adorable Adobo, Sheena Sinigang, Carrie-Carrie, Myrna Menudo, Ennie Haw, Dinah Dinengdeng and Karla Kinilaw.

Remember back then when comedians were named after pagkaing Pinoy? There were Dely Atayatayan, Andoy Balunbalunan, Tatlong Itlog, Balut and Manok. 

There. Unless you have suggestions, I will stop here already!

A poem for everybody  

Funfare has published this beautiful poem, A Blessing For You, twice in the past decade, and a third reprinting is in order as reminder to everybody to be thankful for whatever blessing, big or small, they have.

It was sent to this corner by celebrity lawyer Katrina Legarda who left a reminder, “Pass this poem on to as many people as you can,” adding, “if you are blessed, repay the blessings bestowed unto you and do something for others. A blessing cannot be kept. If it stops with you, then the blessing will disappear. The blessing will only keep working if it is continuously passed around. If you are a recipient of a blessing, keep it working by being the source of blessing to other people.”

Here it is:

A Blessing For You

If you woke up this morning

with more health than illness,

you are more blessed than the

millions who won’t survive the week.

If you have never experienced

the danger of battle,

the loneliness of imprisonment,

the agony of torture or

the pangs of starvation,

you are ahead of 20 million

people around the world.

If you attend a church meeting

without fear of harassment,

arrest, torture or death,

you are more blessed than almost

three billion people in the world.

If you have food in your refrigerator,

clothes on your back, a roof over

your head and a place to sleep,

you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank and

in your wallet, and spare change

in a dish somewhere, you are among

the top 80% of the world’s wealthy.

If your parents are still married

and alive, you are very rare

especially in the United States.

If you hold someone’s hand, hug him

or even touch him on the shoulder,

you are blessed because you can

offer God’s healing touch.

If you can read this message,

you are more blessed than over

two billion people in the world

that cannot read anything at all.

You are so blessed in ways

you may never even know.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)