Fortified from thereon.

courtesy of Piggs
From Filmbug

I am a 36-year old guy working as a social worker in Mindanao. The first Maricel Soriano film I ever saw at the age of 17 was Hinugot sa Langit, a movie I thought was too dark and gloomy to appreciate. What do you expect from a teener who had not gone significantly through life.

I did not like the film and by curtain’s call Maricel was still insignificant to me, although I was able to write and submit a Humanities 101 reaction paper and got an A grade for the report.

My real initiation to a Maricel Soriano-fun-ride came with Maria Went To Town. Aside from teen-themed movies like Bagets, I was into watching comedy movies. The movie was downright hilarious, and its lead star was amazingly prolific as if she was doing the 3 roles with such incredible ease like the palm of her hand.

Until now, I think no one in here league can do the movie as she did. The only possible star who would have been credible acting the part would be the late Nida Blanca.

From then on, I have been an avid fan. Maricel, Snooky and Jackielou Blanco were the most written and covered stars during the Artista-Jingle-Orig Magazines heydays. Sharon came much too late.

In the post-EDSA ! scenario, Intrigue and Expose came, with its perennial cover and subject – Maricel Soriano. I remember during these times, I would be reading in columns and Letters-to-the-Ed sections of the magazines eloquent appreciations and adoration of fans from different part of the country, most notably that group who calimed to be from La Carlota Negros. Napaka-articulate ng mga ka-fans na yon. That early, it was already clear to me Maricel Soriano was the luckiest artista in the land. Precisely because she had fans who are intelligent, cultured, educated and who knew the rights reasons for their adoration of her. Unfortunately, fans of other stars extremely failed in comparison.

The same thing is true at present, going by the way fans defend her here at filmbug. So I wanna add my voice to the growing number of Maricel Soriano filmbug “fighters”

Why do I love Maricel Soriano? Aside from her artistry, I am inspired by her rags-to-riches story. That, to me, makes her genuine and a true person whom, I, as an ordinary mortal, can identify with. She was poor, lived a hard life, but struggled her way to stardom and not let anything – not the trappings of power and celebrity – get in the way. She’s not perfect. She was mean at times, a living proof of non-conforming snooty artista from the block. But this was exactly the reason I adored her. Seldom do we find an artista who defies celebrity norms, and one who chooses to live by her own rules.

Her beauty is a mystery. I have seen her a million times in photos, in films and on TV until she became just one of those artistas. Familiarity, as they say, breeds a feeling of routine, and reduces the sense of awe. But lo! I saw here one time in Greenhills and I thought I had never seen anyone as awesomely beautiful as she is. The skin, so flawless and fair! Was this the same Maricel Soriano that rose from poverty! It is true, Dina, Snooky and Sharon look like her alalays beside her.

My admiration fortified from thereon.