I turned a year older recently. How old? That is just between me and my God.
Among the many people who made me feel loved as I turned a year older were JC de Vera, Bianca Gonzalez, Boy Abunda, Toni Gonzaga, Drew Arellano, Gabb Drilon, Pia Magalona, Noel Ferrer, Allan Diones, Rose Garcia, Isah Red and Joey Reyes (who composed a unique poem for me as a gift!).
“Ang showbiz mo naman!” remarked one who greeted me on Facebook (someone who I don’t recognize really). Obviously, she’s not in the business.
It was obvious, too, that her comment had no small degree of snark.
Showbiz may look all puffery to many but, in reality, it is serious business. I know showbiz often deals with perception and illusion, but the world is as real as real gets. Indeed, there’s no business like show business.
Back to that girl who posted on my Facebook wall.
Nowadays, people in and outside of showtown like to say with palpable snobbery, “Hindi ako showbiz ha!” Or would brand this individual or that as “showbiz” as an insult. Showbiz has become the equivalent of being fake, pretentious, dishonest, unreal—“hindi artista.”
Notice that when one dismisses or accuses somebody for being dishonest, he would shout to the highest heavens, “Showbiz ka naman eh!” or “’Yung totoo! Ang showbiz mo eh! Sabihin mo na kasi ang totoo!” You are bound to hear that expression when one denies anything: from a current fling to when one isn’t actually brave enough for candor.
The opposite is also true. It has also become linguistic law that, when you want to underscore your claim to authenticity, you would say, “I’m not showbiz.”
At this point, those among you who have been using these expressions as pejoratives, you want to assure me that you don’t mean any harm—that you don’t mean to diminish or trivialize or dismiss outright the entertainment industry.
Some would say it’s people like us in showbiz, who coined these expressions, and that it’s our fault these have achieved such popularity. They may have a point, because, in showbiz, some things may be superficial, or, perhaps, simply larger than life to an ordinary person. And, with our penchant for self-deprecation, this expression was commonly heard from artistas, denying that he or she dated this person or that, all the while promoting their new TV show or new movie on talk shows. Or, when an artista is confronted by the media at a news conference about he or she having an issue with a costar, prompting the artista to vehemently deny any such thing—which would then prompt the media to retort: “Showbiz ka talaga ’te!”
But, since it’s my birthday, allow me to wish for this put-down I’m writing about to be banished forever from everyday discourse. I admit that it’s hugely annoying for someone like me, who has made a decent and honest living in the world of showbiz.
Would I do an Incredible Hulk and throw a major tantrum when people like myself who are in the business, are labeled as fake and duplicitous? Hindi naman! But I don’t approve of this stereotyping. Besides, hypocrites and stupid people are everywhere—in any business. And, in showbiz, you would also be surprised how many people are genuine and even smart.
Anyway, continuing my wish, I hope people would find another expression that doesn’t cast in unflattering light this business that I’ve loved and continue to love better than anyone.
I hope that, with this little column of mine, people would start to realize that “I’m not showbiz” is an expression that is derogatory to a group of people who are hardworking and deserving of their respect.
Words are powerful and should be used responsibly.
The next time I’m told, “Ang showbiz mo naman!” I would reply, “Aba siyempre! Proud pa!”