Don’t blink

Don’t blink | Daily Tribune

As the clock ticked toward 1 January 2000, Regine Velasquez ushered in the new millennium by singing on top of the Manila Peninsula Hotel on Ayala Avenue in Makati. That was the highlight of a New Year special mounted by GMA to welcome the 2000s.

It was a marvelous performance from Asia’s Songbird. The grand production number somehow calmed the uneasiness felt by people on this side of the globe over what was in store for the future.

In the dying days of 1999, there was fear about computers going haywire — with online records getting erased as a new millennium sets in. Some even took out their cash from ATM machines — afraid that their money would disappear with the changing of calendars.

When all those fears proved to be unfounded, life went on — like all’s right with the world. It turned out that there would be a lot of challenges, tragedies and, thankfully, triumphs in the next 25 years.

As part of DAILY TRIBUNE’s silver anniversary, The Butcher looks back at the milestones in the field of entertainment in the last 25 years.

MURDER AND IMPEACHMENT

The early days of 2001 became historic when President Joseph Estrada (an actor) was removed from office on charges of corruption. In the movies, MTRCB head Dr. Nicanor Tiongson (a Gloria Arroyo appointee) was also asked to resign for allowing the exhibition of Jose Javier Reyes’ sex film, Live Show.

In summer of that year, Aga Muhlach wed Charlene Gonzalez amid a family squabble — with aunt Amalia Fuentes objecting to the union. The marriage, which produced the twins Andres and Atasha (now both in showbiz), proved to be successful and is turning silver next year.

On 11 September 2001, the 911 attacks happened in New York. Filipinos were still in shock over that tragedy on the other side of the globe when on the morning of 7 November, the lifeless body of Nida Blanca was found inside her car at the parking area of the Atlanta Centre in Greenhills. Blanca was a board member of the MTRCB, which then had its office in the same building.

Blanca’s death spawned a lot of theories. Authorities, however, pointed to Blanca’s husband, Rod Strunk (showbiz name: Rod Lauren) as the mastermind. But somehow, Strunk was able to leave the country and never came back.

On 7 July 2007, he leaped to his death from the second-floor balcony of his hotel in Tracy, California. The Nida Blanca murder case is still unsolved and most likely will remain that way.

After Nida’s death, incidentally, Teresa Carlson also died (on 23 November) after jumping from the 23rd floor of the Platinum 2000 Building, also in Greenhills where she lived.

CLAUDINE AND HER BARRETTO SISTERS

Most of the last 25 years saw the Barretto sisters Gretchen, Marjorie and Claudine in the news, but not in a good way. Claudine’s name was dragged when — on Good Friday of 2002 — ex-boyfriend Rico Yan died of acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis while vacationing in Palawan. When that happened, Claudine was in Zambales with Raymart Santiago.

Unknown to the public, Claudine and Rico had already split up half a year earlier. When Rico died, Claudine was already dating Raymart.

The two wed in 2006. It was a shaky union that ended in 2013. Long after they had separated, Claudine and Raymart were still at each other’s throats.

Gretchen, by the way, was a no-show at Claudine’s wedding. They were already at odds then.

Every so often, one of the Barretto sisters would be on television denouncing a sibling. The dirty linen, however, was washed mostly on social media.

The frequent fights escalated into a full-blown scandal at the wake of the patriarch, Miguel Barretto, at the Heritage Chapels in Taguig on 16 October 2019. It happened in full view of then President Rodrigo Duterte

Last April, another family controversy took place — at the wedding of Claudia Barretto (Marjorie’s daughter) and Sebastian Lorenzo. Claudia’s father, Dennis Padilla, felt that he was not treated well at the event and ranted on social media where netizens feasted once again on yet another Barretto family drama.

The players in the Barretto family feud often change. In the beginning, Claudine and Marjorie teamed up against Gretchen. At times, it’s Gretchen and Claudine vs. Marjorie. As of this writing, Claudine is on the warpath with brother Mito. Nobody knows what’s going to happen in the next breath.

KOREAN INVASION

In the mid-1990s, Tagalized Mexican telenovelas became a main staple on local television. In the 2000s, however, Korean dramas took over Philippine TV — with Stairway to Heaven being one of the more popular series from South Korea. Dubbed in Tagalog, Stairway to Heaven was shown on GMA — complete with an original Filipino theme song sung by Faith Cuneta.

In 2009, six years after Korean TV launched Stairway to Heaven, GMA even adapted the said series with Filipino actors Dingdong Dantes and Rhian Ramos playing the lead characters.

The other popular Korean soap operas dubbed in Filipino were Jewel in the Palace, Lovers in Paris, Baker King, Coffee Prince and Full House.

A NEW LOVE TEAM IS BORN

Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz initially teamed up in My First Romance in 2003. That proved to be a box-office hit. Then came One More Chance that even had a sequel — A Second Chance.

John Lloyd was also paired with Sarah Geronimo in A Very Special Love, It Takes a Man and a Woman and You Changed My Life, which were also commercial hits. However, an entire generation will always identify themselves with Popoy and Basha, the characters played by Bea and John Lloyd in One More Chance and A Second Chance.

THE INDIES

Ang Daan Patungong Kalimugtong, Ebolusyon ng Isang Pamilyang Pilipino, Tirador, Death in the Land of the Encantos, Himpapawid, Ang Damgo ni Eleuteria, Yanggaw, Sheika, Amok, Confessional. Do you recognize these movie titles? These are indie films that were part of local cinema in the last 25 years.

In the beginning, some of these movies were produced on a shoestring budget. But not anymore — although these are still cheaper to mount than mainstream film projects.

When the indies had just invaded cinema, anyone with a camera was able to come up with a movie or two since everything had turned digital. Look, ‘Ma, no film — which was expensive to procure.

In one swoop, there came a new breed of directors. Some were there only for masturbatory purposes — to share stories only they appreciate.

In time, the world of indies was able to separate the wheat from the chaff. Those with mere illusions of being recognized as bona fide directors disappeared from the scene. But those with real talent prevailed. And so, indie movies are still around – with themes that do not have commercial appeal. Its followers are few, but there is definitely still a niche for indies in some corner of this dying movie industry.

TV GETS REAL WITH REALITY SHOWS

Big Brother was a Dutch TV show inspired by the George Orwell novel 1984 that was published in 1949. It showed contestants living in a house with surveillance cameras – just like in the book.

ABS-CBN adapted the concept and came up with Pinoy Big Brother that produced several successful alumni, including Kim Chiu, Melai Canteveros, Robi Domingo and Maymay Entrata.

It was in one season of Pinoy Big Brother where Rustom Padilla came out to the world as a member of the LGBTQ. Rustom, of course, is now BB Gandang-hari.

GMA also came up with its own reality series — Survivor Philippines, which was adapted from an American program that, in turn, was inspired by the Swedish TV show Expedition Robinson. A successful alumna of Survivor Philippines was Solenn Heussaff.

GMA STRIKES GOLD IN STARSTRUCK

Ali Sotto and her diplomat husband Omar Bsaies lived in Mexico from 2000 to 2003. One of the Mexican shows she followed closely was a talent competition where the contestants would be in close interaction with each other — falling in love in the process.

During a chitchat with then GMA executive Wilma Galvante, Sotto brought up the concept of the Mexican show. That same year, Starstruck was born.

Starstruck turned things around for GMA: Its popularity helped the network wrest the No. 1 position away from ABS-CBN. GMA 7 became the leading network for 10 years. Today, GMA 7 claims to be No. 1 again. But then, does it even have a competitor?

TALENT POACHING

In 2009, Manny Pangilinan became the new owner of TV5 and revitalized the network setup. During the first quarter of 2010, Paolo Bediones, a certified Kapuso, was able to transfer to Channel 5 without GMA management noticing it. His contract had expired apparently and that gave him the freedom to move to TV5 which promised to give him the moon and the stars.

GMA then started reviewing the contracts of its talents and gave raises all of a sudden. ABS-CBN, in contrast, had an excess of artists who were allowed to move to TV5.

Given its resources, Channel 5 was able to get some of show business’ biggest names. But no, there is no truth to the rumor that Sharon Cuneta was given a one-billion-peso contract.

DRAMA QUEENS, COMEDIENNES, BEAUTIES and HEARTTHROBS

Television developed a lot of drama queens in the last 25 years. Among them are Jodi Sta. Maria, Angel Locsin, Maja Salvador, Jennylyn Mercado, Carla Abellana, Janine Gutierrez and, of course, Bea Alonzo.

Ai-ai de las Alas entered mainstream entertainment in the late 1980s, but only became a big name in the new millennium through the Tanging Ina series. Her Tanging Ina sidekick, Eugene Domingo, also became a lead star not long after, thanks to Kimmy Dora. After Eugene, it was Pokwang’s turn to join the major league.

The past two decades and a half also saw the fairest invading show business: Marian Rivera, Iza Calzado, Heart Evangelista, Anne Curtis, Lovi Poe, Rhian Ramos, Solenn Heussaff, Liza Soberano, Andrea Brillantes, Sue Ramirez, Gabbi Garcia, Belle Mariano, Sanya Lopez, Maris Racal, Julia Montes, Ashley Ortega and Andi Eigenmann.

Three beauties were also officially crowned title-holders in major international competitions: Pia Wurtzbach, Catriona Gray and Megan Young.

A lot of matinee idols also sprouted in the new millennium: Daniel Padilla, James Reid, Enrique Gil, Sam Milby, Gerald Anderson, Xian Lim, Joshua Garcia, Paulo Avelino, Edward Barbers, Tony Labrusca, Anthony Jennings, Seth Fedelin and Donny Pangilinan.

GMA created Richard Gutierrez, but he bolted out of the network to move to ABS-CBN. Dingdong Dantes was already a heartthrob in the 1990s, but became a top leading man in the 2000s. Dennis Trillo and Tom Rodriguez became leading men to each other in the controversial series My Husband’s Lover.

THE RIVALRY

One needs a rival in showbiz to succeed. Think Susan Roces and Amalia Fuentes and Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos. The biggest rivalry among possible movie queens in local entertainment was between Kathryn Bernardo and Nadine Lustre.

In 2020, Nadine tried to leave Viva Entertainment, but was sued for breach of contract. She had no choice but to stay with Viva. Her relationship with her mother studio, of course, had become frosty and she was no longer given choice assignments. If there is a young movie queen now, the crown belongs to Kathryn Bernardo, especially with the success of Hello, Love, Goodbye and Hello, Love, Again.

VICE AND COCO

They knew each other during their humble years. Vice Ganda was a regular customer at a restaurant where Coco Martin was part of the wait staff. Who would have known that the two of them would become superstars of the new millennium?

WILLIE’S WHEEL OF MISFORTUNE

ABS-CBN turned Willie Revillame into a monster. When he became the host of Wowowee, ABS-CBN packaged him as a messiah who has the solution to all of the financial woes of the Filipino people. The network worked on his persona — from how he is lit in the show’s opening... all the way to his spiels. The trouble was, he believed in his own packaging.

His career was plagued with trials and even a major tragedy — the ULTRA stampede that claimed the lives of 73 people and injured 400 others. When ABS-CBN found him too troublesome, they let him go. He went to TV5, but was slapped with a child abuse case.

Willie was doing fairly well on GMA, but when Manny Villar opened AllTV, he moved there and that became the downfall of his career. He ran for the Senate in the last elections, but lost. Gone was the magic of Willie Revillame.

FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT OF A NETWORK

Charo Santos was well-prepared when she became the president of ABS-CBN in 2008. She was the first ever woman president of a major network. When Charo joined the movies, she wasn’t satisfied with simply being an on-cam talent. In her 20s, she joined Bancom Audio-vision as a line producer. Later, she also line-produced films for Regal. On her own, she put up Vision Films.

In 1988, she became an ABS-CBN executive and helped it to become the country’s biggest network. In 1995, she set up Star Cinema, which became a huge film outfit. When she reached retirement age, Charo stepped down as president, but stayed on as consultant for the network.

IS THE DOCTOR IN? NO, BUT THE VIDEOGRAPHER IS

In December 2008, those in the know — The Butcher included –—became aware that Dr. Hayden Kho had sex scandals on video. Six months later, the whole episode exploded and Hayden was the most hated person in the world. Katrina Halili came forward to seek justice, while another prominent victim, Maricar Reyes, kept quiet. Reyes only spoke about the incident when she wrote a book about that ugly chapter in her past.

THE ARRIVAL OF SOCIAL MEDIA

When YouTube happened, it became possible for everyone to become a star. Then came other platforms and every other person became a content creator. Social media killed mainstream entertainment. It created overnight sensations. But unlike TV and movie stars, the staying power of internet stars is as short as the life span of a housefly.

ALDUB

Eat Bulaga! will always have something up its sleeve everytime its ratings begin to dip. In 1987, it was losing to rival Lunch Date, when then child star Aiza Seguerra saved the program.

In 2015, Eat Bulaga! was being overshadowed by It’s Showtime when AlDub happened. Alden Richards, a Starstruck reject, was starting to make a name for himself when he became a guest co-host in Eat Bulaga!. He needed a partner in the Kalyeserye series and Maine Mendoza, fresh from her Dubsmash success, was paired with him. They became an instant hit and their pairing is one of the biggest phenomena in local showbiz.

Maine slowed down after she married Arjo Atayde, while Alden remains a superstar.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF KRIS AQUINO

Kris Aquino became a star in the mid-1980s. In the 2000s, she was heralded as the Queen of All Media. She had movies and handled game and talks shows on television. She also had controversial issues involving Joey Marquez and ex-husband James Yap.

Kris was among the first celebrities to embrace social media. But, all of a sudden, she got sick — so ill that she needed to live in the United States. She is now back in the Philippines, but has opted to stay in a faraway place with clean air. Only heaven knows if she’d still be able to make a showbiz comeback.

SHOWBIZ DURING THE PANDEMIC

In 2020, the world stopped due to Covid-19. In local entertainment, life went on thanks to — drum roll, please — Vivamax. This streaming service of Viva Entertainment may have gained a bad reputation – what with its series of soft-porn movies — but it continued giving employment to showbiz practitioners during the pandemic.

Besides, Vivamax had some good film products. In Darryl Yap’s Revirginized, Sharon gave one of her most sincere performances. In fact, it almost earned her another Urian for best actress. Vivamax is now called VMX.

SIGNIFICANT FILMS

Hello, Love, Goodbye — It earned P880.6-M

Hello, Love, Again — It is so far the highest-grossing Filipino movie, earning P1.6-B.

Rewind — The most successful MMFF entry, it earned P924-M.

Kita Kita — A surprise hit, this Alessandra de Rossi-Empoy Marquez movie earned P320-M. Its production budget? P10-M.

Heneral Luna — This historical movie also made money at the box-office, but its most significant contribution to cinema is the fact that it made Filipinos — even the upper crust — watch local movies again.

BEST ACTORS/BEST ACTRESSES

In 2011, the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino came up with a list of the best actors and actresses from 2000 to 2010. The top choices were Cherry Pie Picache, Gina Pareno and Coco Martin.

Another list was made by the critics in the next decade and the winners were Nora Aunor, Angeli Bayani, Alessandra de Rossi and John Lloyd Cruz.

FILIPINO CANNES WINNERS

Raymond Red was the first Filipino to win at the Cannes Filmfest. This was in 2000. Next was Brillante Mendoza in 2009. The most celebrated Cannes winner from the Philippines, of course, was the late Jaclyn Jose, who won best actress for ‘Ma Rosa in 2016.

THE UNSINKABLE ABS-CBN

While the world was in the middle of the pandemic, the political supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte refused to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN. The network, having lost revenues, had to lay off thousands of employees.

ABS-CBN had actually long prepared to leave television as its main platform because its officials knew that TV would inevitably die. As early as the 1990s, the network was already anticipating changes that would happen in the future. Unfortunately, the rug was pulled from under prematurely. The network was not yet 100 percent prepared to go digital at the time it was given a death sentence in 2020. But it’s ready now and isn’t dying to have a franchise because it is earning from its various platforms. Why, it’s even doing well on Netflix and in other streaming services.

ABS-CBN is only in the red today because it invested heavily on businesses that were not totally related to television. And now, a great part of the ABS-CBN compound had been sold. That complex may be gone soon, but ABS-CBN will stay on in various platforms — as it had envisioned decades before.

EAT BULAGA! JALOSJOS WANTS THE SHOW BACK

Romeo Jalosjos had owned Eat Bulaga! from the beginning. But he let his assistant Tony Tuviera run the show on his behalf. By 2023, Jalosjos was horrified to discover the talent fees of Vic Sotto and Joey de Leon: P2 million monthly for each one. Tito Sotto didn’t get as much because he was always absent anyway from the show due to his duties as a senator.

Jalosjos also frowned on the frequent overseas trips of the show’s cast and crew. He was determined to make changes — beginning with his children taking over production. Jalosjos also wanted to put Tito, Vic & Joey on a semi-regular basis. In their place, he had planned to promote Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola and Allan K. as main hosts.

TVJ and the Dabarkads decided to remain united. They left the Jalosjos group and began a new Eat Bulaga! on TV5 where it airs to this day.

ABS-CBN AND GMA AS ONE

Rudyard Kipling famously said: “East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet.” But on TV, the twain did meet when ABS-CBN and GMA collaborated on the series Unbreak My Heart in 2023. The show starred Jodi Sta. Maria, Gabbi Garcia, Richard Yap and Joshua Garcia.

The collaboration between the two rival networks continues today with Pinoy Big Brother, which merges the talents of the ABS-CBN and GMA. It’s Showtime, an out-and-out ABS-CBN production, still airs on GMA and serves as the flagship of Channel 7’s afternoon block. Who would have thought such arrangement was possible?

THE DEATH OF ICONS

Local showbiz’s biggest icon was Fernando Poe Jr. He died 14 December 2004. Then, on 8 June 2019, Eddie Garcia tripped on a cable while taping for the GMA series Rosang Agimat. He died two weeks later — on 20 June. His death led to the creation of the Eddie Garcia bill that shortened working hours during shoots for TV and in the movies.

Sadly, this 2025, other icons went in close succession: Gloria Romero, Delia Razon, Pilita Corrales, Nora Aunor, Hajji Alejandro, Ricky Davao, Freddie Aguilar and Cocoy Laurel.

In this life, however, even tragic circumstances yield positive results. These celebrated deaths may serve as a unifying factor for the local movie industry.

In show business, they say that there are no permanent friends, no permanent enemies — only permanent interests. With such mindset, is it still a wonder the film business was never united?

Sure, there are film organizations. But these groups work independently of each other. It’s always to each his own. As a result of that, the movie industry is now gasping for its last breath.

Last summer, the succession of deaths in showbiz became so alarming that something had to be done. Several people suggested that a mass, followed by a program, be held for the industry. Maybe that will break the chain of deaths.

But so as not to turn the event into something morbid, it was decided that the three major film organizations would align as one and work together to address industry concerns. The three organizations are the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the Film Academy of the Philippines and Mowelfund.

And so, on 5 July, industry members will get together for an event called Araw ng Pagkaka-isa ng Pelikulang Pilipino. It will be held at the Valencia events place of the Monteverde family from 3 to 6 p.m.

Yes, there will be a mass for the repose of the souls of our dearly departed in show business. But immediately after the mass, the three film organizations will lay down plans to help save the movie industry from its sorry state.

All three film organizations will act as one. And so, there is still hope for Philippine cinema. Showbiz will once more come to life.

Here’s to a more vibrant entertainment scene in the next 25 years!