Tanong sa shampoo presscon, stay or go ba dapat ang press?

Kahapon ay ipinagbubunyi natin ang mangga­gawang Pilipino, kabilang tayong mga mama­ma­hayag doon.

Nakalulungkot lang ang nalathala sa Philippine Entertainment Portal o PEP nitong Martes na may ilang kasama sa hanapbuhay ang nadismaya sa aming mga bumubuo ng programang The Ricky Lo Exclusives, kabilang siyempre ang host nito (Philippine Star entertainment editor/columnist) na si Tito Ricky.

I believe I am in a better position to come to Tito Ricky’s and our program’s rescue, na ang pinag-uga­tan ay ang press launch para sa aming shampoo/conditioner product held at the poolside of the Hotel Intercon last Monday night.

To begin with, our invitation was sent to us more than a week before the event, and their staff knew there was going to be a sit-down interview by Tito Ricky. Since I was the writer assigned to the episode (that aired last Tuesday night), my job would be a lot easier kung sasama ako sa event, bagay that I don’t normally do.

My crew arrived at the hotel before the appointed time (7 p.m.). It took more than an hour before we were allowed to set up right at the photo-op area na may backdrop ng produkto. Dumami na ang press fotogs, even representatives from TV and print media started coming in torrents.

The program started past 9, inip na inip na ang karamihan sa mga kasama ko, most of whom left even before the four new endorses (Ruffa Gutierrez, sisters Gretchen and Claudine Barretto, and Judy Ann Santos) descended the well-adorned stage and were ushered to Tito Ricky’s interview area.

Despite the security control, hindi magkamayaw ang mga fotogs wanting to take their best shots. Kaso nga, mas una kaming pinagbigyan. I had to do a floor director, este, crowd director task who had to politely request the fotogs to please move back and stay away from the two cameras on tripod already in place. Nagpaumanhin pa ako sa kanila that the interview wouldn’t take more than 15 minutes, kahit pa kung sinunod namin ang set of questions written on Tito Ricky’s cue cards, it would have taken all of eternity.

Hindi pa man kami tapos ay sumesenyas na ang staff ng event wanting the interview wrapped up. When I asked for the running time, wala pang kinse minuto ’yon. Shortly after the interview, those four ladies stood up as they hurried towards the restroom. Matiyaga pa ring naghintay ang ibang media sa labas. But the impatient ones left. Next thing was, nagagalit daw sila sa amin. Now, what was it you were angry about? Bakit ang ibang nag-stay pa ay may napala (na interview/shoot)? Or was it because, as one reporter said, “Wala kasing ‘happiness,’ just gift packs.”?