Sunday, April 01, 2007 Luab: Maging sino ka man By Evelyn R. Luab Ligth Sunday
PEOPLE who know me well, know that I go for certain TV series, like West Wing and Boston Public when they were still in season. I enjoy a good script, a fast pace, clever repartee and innuendoes. I have a group of friends who also enjoy the same things I do.
May we surprise you with the fact that we got caught in the web of this very popular T.V. novela Maging Sino Ka Man?
This program has been running on for some time now. Actually we want Ellie (John Lloyd) and Jackie (Bea Alonso) to finally kiss and make up. We want poor JB (Sam Milby) to be happy again, in business as well as in his love life.
In an effort to keep this program going, the plot goes in and out of the labyrinth path of pathos (Christopher de Leon’s previous anger at his wife and daughter) of happiness Celine’s (Anne Curtis) and Bryan’s love life (Ryan Eigenmann) of fear, etc.
A great number of us drop whatever else we are doing during the nine to 10 time slot to watch where the story is going next.
The blood that runs through our veins is the same blood that hankers for the simple things in life. We enjoy seeing Boy gets Girl in the end or vice versa.
We want to laugh and cry with the characters. In short, mubo ra ta ug kalipay. (We are easily pleased.)
Imagine, after a trying day of solving complicated, difficult problems involving finances, office intrigues, sibling jealousy, land grabbing, etc,, we are offered a refreshing play where one simply enjoys the beauty of a true-to-life simple plot where most of the time, we can guess what will happen next.
For many senior citizens who really do not know what to do with themselves, we now have a goal each day. We wait for nightfall to come, then armed with a plate of popcorn or peanuts we sink in an armchair to empathize with Jackie or Ellie whose love life runs the gamut of so much pain, misunderstandings, jealousy and what have you.
Actually, I laud the think tank that came up with this program.
In these present times, the scavengers, at the moment, really have nothing to look forward to. However, when they can sit down in front of a neighbor’s TV (Oh yes, Virginia, especially in depressed areas, one does find a few TV sets in homes which only measures 10 ft. x 8ft.) they forget the stench where they came from. All they remember are the anticipated questions they have formed in their minds. Will the evil Oca finally get his revenge? Will Ellie finally forgive Jackie. Will Celine continue loving Bryan?
The Filipino is still a wonderful race. We are able to assuage aching stomachs brought on by hunger. We are able to overcome problems, such as the loss of a son or daughter to drugs. We are able to forget, even if just for an hour or so, the fact that we have to wear out our soles again the next day in job-hunting. However, in the meantime, we shall enjoy Maging Sino Ka Man, then talk about it after the program. For a while we forget that for many of us, tomorrow will continue to be bleak. Praise God for complicated story lines, for good actors and actresses for people who help us to be happy even for a little while.
