Who’s afraid of the living?

Today is Halloween. In practically all gated communities, there are scary figures — usually skeletons — hanging outside residences taking part in the trick-or-treat tradition. On television and in streaming services, the features this past week were usually horror films — anything to scare people because this is the spooky time of the year. Stories about ghosts are also all over Facebook and YouTube.

But there is a saying in the vernacular that goes like this: “Matakot ka sa buhay, huwag sa patay (Be fearful of the living than the dead).” Unless it is a malevolent spirit, what can a ghost do to you? Be more wary of people who are still alive because they have the capacity to hurt you. They are scarier than ghosts.

In entertainment, well, media in general, there are personalities who are feared because they have the power to verbally assault you and, gasp, ruin your reputation. They are not necessarily bad people, but they are feared, mainly because they are fearless. Below are some of the public personalities who are scary — certainly not because they look it — but because they can be tough and upfront:

Raffy Tulfo — “Ipapa-Tulfo kita!” That has become the standard threat of anyone who feels aggrieved during most disputes in this country today. That is very telling of the inefficiency of the judiciary system in the Philippines. People would rather go to the show of Senator Raffy Tulfo than file a case in court — or even the barangay — every time they have to settles issues with combative parties.

The Tulfo brothers. It was the eldest of the brood, Ramon Tulfo, who started it all. Ramon began exposing police and government corruption in another broadsheet in the 1980s. The other brothers followed his lead and even branched out into radio, TV and social media.

It is Raffy now who is the most feared among the Tulfo siblings, maybe because he delivers results. Of course, he makes a public spectacle of personal — even intimate — issues that could otherwise have been settled privately. Without the scandal!

Unfortunately, justice in this country grinds so slowly that people resort to the brothers Tulfo to resolve their grievances against individuals they feel have wronged them. And that’s the scary part for the person at the receiving end of the complaint. One can go viral. Worse, you can get scolded by Raffy Tulfo on the air. Oh, how humiliating!

It cannot be denied, however, that Tulfo’s show can be useful to society. For one, it helps in clearing the backlog of minor cases filed in court.

Those who seek the help of Raffy Tulfo, unfortunately, are not always necessarily in the right. They drag into the mud the reputation of their perceived nemeses.

But wait. If somebody goes to Tulfo to complain about you and you want to protect your name, you can say no and refuse to go on-air. You have that right. If the Tulfo staff is insistent, threaten them that you will cuss and swear during the live program. They will get off your back. Those staff members still operate within reason.

Is there reason to get scared of Raffy Tulfo? Yes, but only if you do not know how to enforce your rights as a private citizen. Remember this — you are entitled to your privacy. No one among the Tulfos can take that away from you.

Cristy Fermin — Celebrities dread it whenever their names are discussed in her show. That’s never a good thing. Cyberlibel cases had been filed against her in the past two years. Senator Francis Pangilinan and wife, Sharon Cuneta, pressed charges against her in 2024 for remarks made by Cristy against the couple. Bea Alonzo also sued her that same year.

So, what happened to those cases? Relationships in the local entertainment profession are familial. It’s a very small industry. Through the decades, both parties have helped and supported each other. In the end, therefore, Sharon chose to forgive her “’Nay Cristy.” When Cristy was still a publisher and editor of gossip magazines, she may have come to Sharon’s defense during times the megastar was embroiled in some nasty showbiz issues. In the same manner, Sharon could have given Cristy’s publications exclusive interviews that may have boosted Fermin’s magazine sales.

It was also forgive and forget in the case of the cyber libel case filed by Bea Alonzo against Cristy. Philippine show business, after all, is really a small, small world. They are bound to bump into each other one day soon and they’ll kiss and make up.

Cristy is currently involved in another legal case — filed this time by Claudine Barretto. Cristy made a public declaration only last week that she is not worried about Claudine bringing her to court. It seems like Cristy has a lot of ammunition she can use against Claudine.

What could be the outcome of this case? Those two women have known each other since Claudine was 12. For all those venomous statements they are issuing on social media, you can bet that charges will be dropped in the end — for old time’s sake.

Annabelle Rama — Say anything you want against her and, most likely, she will just shrug it off. But try touching even just a single strand of her children’s hair and you are in big trouble. If she gets physical with you, consider yourself luck. Just avoid her verbal assaults because those are far more lethal.

To be fair to Annabelle, she will never be the first to cast a stone or cock a rifle. In other words, she will not start a fight. But try quarreling with her and she’ll finish it till the end.

Lately, Annabelle seems to have mellowed. Maybe because she has learned to choose her battles. Or perhaps the people she constantly fought with are no longer around.

Only two weeks ago, it was reported on social media that “she has died.” Of course, that’s fake news. However, she is said to be undergoing health issues at the moment. The great news though is that Annabelle Rama is still alive and kicking. But the kick is no longer as deadly as before.

Celia Rodriguez — She can really cut you down to size — but only if you are misbehaving. That is why people are on their best behavior whenever Celia Rodriguez is around. She can be very intimidating. That is her reputation — and she lives up to it!

Celia has earned the right to scare off people, particularly those who do not take their craft seriously. She has been in the industry for more than five decades. She is professional at work and expects everyone to be the same. Celia doesn’t really ask much. She only gets upset when co-actors on the set do not know their lines — and are late. The bottom line is — Celia only wants professionalism and that should not be taken against her. It’s for the good of everyone in the end.

Tessie Tomas — She is extremely professional. Tessie memorizes her lines like a prayer. That is why her performances are always flawless. Tessie gives one hundred per cent of herself to her role and that entitles her to demand the same kind of work ethic from everyone else on the set. Given the high standards she sets for herself, she can be scary to work with. Production assistants fear her — to death! Even writers of her shows are scared of her. But Tessie intimidates not just rank-and-file. Even some bosses walk on eggshells around her.

One time, she set a meeting with the late Deo Endrinal, who was a powerful force within ABS-CBN. The meeting was in Deo’s cubicle at the ABS-CBN compound. Deo was distracted during her talk with Tessie. A new ABS-CBN show was piloting at the exact time of their meeting and Deo kept looking at the TV monitor. He was only giving half of his attention to Tessie. Annoyed, Tessie pushed all the contents on Deo’s desk — ballpens, paperclip holders, knick-knacks and even important documents — to the floor. Pleased with herself, Tessie asked Deo: “So, can we talk now?” Oh, was Deo scared that time. To think, she was Tessie’s boss in the studio.

Korina Sanchez — She had always been a very decent person. Korina will not ruin other people’s reputation. But if you work for her and you don’t deliver, then you will get it from her — and how!

Korina is strict with her staff. She’s demanding — yes! But only because what she asks of you is something she herself can do.

But why still order other people to do those chores if she herself can do it, one may ask. That’s her way of passing on knowledge and everything she knows about television to others, particularly those under her. Isn’t it wonderful that there is somebody like Korina Sanchez who is willing to share everything she knows? She learned all those from her own personal experiences. She did it the hard way.

Being under Korina is the best training one can ever have when it comes to production work. But be ready for the consequences if you disappoint her. Be afraid. Be very afraid.