Netizens are once again feasting on female comic Pokwang on social media. No, the issue doesn’t have anything to do with ex-husband Lee O’Brian this time.

Last week, Pokwang went online and gave the following reasons why she skipped the recent GMA Gala at the Manila Marriott Hotel in Pasay City:

1) She had to buy a dress, which can be quite costly.

2) There’s a chance she’d get bashed for her dress of choice.

3) She’d rather stay home and cook sardines that she sells in bottles.

While there were netizens who respected her decision, there was a whole bunch of social media users who pilloried her on Facebook. These were some of the reactions online:

For the millions and millions that the network pays her, she could have shown her loyalty by attending the gala.

How much does a gown cost anyway?

The annual gala is a show of solidarity and camaraderie among network talents.

There were also below-the-belt comments, the kindest of which said that “Pokwang is better suited in the kitchen than in the gala.”

I only met Pokwang once — at the wedding of Vandolph Quizon to Jenny Salimao. She seems to be a nice lady — no-nonsense and very down-to-earth.

Like those netizens who just let her be (it was her choice not to attend the gala, so leave her alone — they said), I find it necessary to come to Pokwang’s defense to enlighten the public about the realities of show business and what it takes to attend a red-carpet event.

Costs and practicality

First of all, let’s get to the “milyon-milyon” Pokwang is supposed to be getting from the network. Who in entertainment gets millions and millions? Well, there are a few endorsers who still get paid by the millions. But they’re very few.

And now that TV and the movies are doing bad business, there are studios that will try to get services at bargain-basement prices — or if possible, for free. Yes, some talents will do that — just to get some exposure. Maybe they’ll get a gift or a little token for agreeing to appear in a project free-of-charge.

Those P200-M showbiz deals being bandied about are for several projects that may take years to complete. The artist doesn’t even get to keep the entire amount because talent managers and agencies need to get their share of the loot. And let’s not even talk about taxes.

In the case of Pokwang, if there’s any truth to the netizens’ supposition that she gets millions and millions for her TV work, why would she even bother to slave it out in the kitchen cooking sardines that she has to sell? Preparing sardines for business purposes is a tedious process.

As for the cost of formal dresses, some social media users insist that Pokwang could very well afford to buy herself one. That’s true. But maybe she is just being practical.

The cheapest red carpet-worthy gown these days is in the vicinity of P50,000. That’s not even a head-turner. Pokwang must be thinking of the so many other things she can do with P50,000. Certainly not for a dress that she may never be able to use again because women, especially celebrities, don’t repeat clothes.