Multitasking

Netnet Camomot

THERE’S this live Facebook interview of Xian Lim via One Music PH last Monday. He was promoting his upcoming concert at Solaire, and all I could think of was, He sings?

He had a guitar with him then, so the next query was, He can play the guitar?

The interviewer happened to mention that Lim brings around a keyboard whenever and wherever he travels, so the last query that my minute brain carried around for the rest of the day was, He plays the piano?

And all along I thought he’s simply the ka-loveteam of Kim Chiu.

A guy with many talents will never cease to amaze the object of his desire, who could be Chiu, that is, if the loveteam is indeed true and not a mere public-image ploy to entice more fans.

Showbiz is one of the topics that we can escape to while the Marawi siege is ongoing, especially now that it’s rumored to last for six months! Que horror!

Love teams have lasted for a much shorter time, depending on the fans’ response–if blah, definitely a day; if rah, more than a day.

But showbiz and politics do merge when we’re talking of Ate Shawie and Kuya Kiko, Richard and Lucy, Tito and Helen. In case you haven’t noticed, these three pairs are somehow connected with each other. Ate Shawie is the niece of Tito and Helen since the latter is the sister of the megastar’s mom, and Richard is the ex of Ate Shawie. Kuya Kiko, Tito, Richard, and Lucy are all politicians. It’s a small world after all.

Showbiz is one of the sure-na foundations for a political career in Pinas. I’m not saying it’s the best foundation, but it does help in the popularity department and name recall, thus, sure na.

In case you haven’t noticed again, politics does not require much education. As long as you can pretend to be the best in your job, well, sure na. It’s all about public image. But there are times when the politician can’t rely on his public image team anymore, when he himself has to show up and perform his duties as a public servant. Hey, even Britney Spears has to sing well, otherwise she’ll lose the loyalty of her fans.

Spokening dollars, er, English is not required, too, in politics. The politician can always hire an interpreter to avoid being lost in translation.

In other words, he should be a public servant first and foremost. The famous quote from “The Little Prince” comes to mind again: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

A crisis such as the Marawi siege can reveal a public servant’s heart, on what it’s saying, what it feels, what it sees. That heart would also influence his team and the people who are now working with him and that team. I always believe in blessings in disguise, and this siege, even if it has become a most painful lesson to all, especially to the residents of Marawi, will eventually reveal something good in the end.

Remember “Sendong”? What lessons did it teach us? Well, it caused floods, which may not be as bad as a siege that keeps on going and going like an Energizer Bunny on a perpetual sugar rush. But typhoons have taught us to be aware of the weather. I now check the weather forecast before going out of the house, a habit that I used to have while in the city that never sleeps, to know if I had to bring an umbrella, wear a jacket or sweater, or simply bring that jacket or sweater for the cooler evenings, wear sneakers or flipflops.

With the dry or rainy season in Pinas, however, it’s all about the umbrella. If you’ll stay out under the sun, bring an umbrella. If it’s going to rain, bring an umbrella. If you’ll be staying indoors and no rain in the forecast, no need for an umbrella.

Rihanna even has a song for it: “You can stand under my umbrella/(Ella ella eh eh eh)/Under my umbrella/(Ella ella eh eh eh)/Under my umbrella/(Ella ella eh eh eh)/Under my umbrella/(Ella ella eh eh eh eh eh eh).”

If only that umbrella can protect the military from sniper fire.

Meanwhile, Angel Locsin visited Marawi’s evacuees at Baloi, Lanao del Norte where she helped give food packs and school supplies. She was supposed to play the role of Darna again, but the plan was shelved, no thanks to a spine injury which happened during her two-year training for the role. She’s now called as a real-life superhero for her help.

Gal Gadot, who everyone knows by now is “Wonder Woman,” also had a back injury, she said she threw her back. She had to stand up in some TV interviews but the back sprain was not the reason why she wore flats even to the movie’s premiere. Her doctor already allowed her to wear heels, “But considering my back I figured it wouldn’t be a good idea. And also, I just wanted to be comfortable! It’s the biggest premiere of my life.” Well, she’s 5’10”. If she wears heels and stilettos, she can easily be a six-footer.

See? Not even a superhero role can save these beautiful actresses from injury.

Like Xian Lim, Gadot also has many talents–sings, dances, beauty queen, model, Israeli Defense Forces’ combat trainer, actress, was in Law school for a while, wife, mother to two daughters–definitely a “Wonder Woman.” Would inspire anyone to wonder, I wonder how she has been able to achieve all that.

Pinoy showbiz artists, though, have to learn to multitask and be triple threats, er, treats: sing, dance, act. For maximum exposure. Teleserye during the week, and musical variety shows and showbiz talk shows for weekends. Wheeeee!