Stop, Talk & Listen

It is has been a rarity that I've written about my favorite TV programs. In fact, I try not to share my preferences for fear of retaliation, ha ha ha. But after mulling over the issue for quite some time now, here goes:

I chose to write about VIVA Cinema's STOP, TALK & LISTEN (STL).

This is my favorite showbiz talk show for over six months now since i moved to a new place in Ortigas. The cable provider carries the VIVA Cinema over channel 45 and i was surprised to find very familiar faces chatting and having fun about the latest showbiz buzz! I remember telling myself, "Aba, meron pala ganitong show?!!"

STL is hosted by writer-par-excellence Dolly Ann Carvajal, the talented Mr. Fu and the refreshingly intelligent beauty Maui Taylor. Now, if it sounds that i'm raving over these three, well duh, guys have you heard them take a spin on the latest news and gossip?

What makes STL appealing to me is that fact that it is NOT like any other showbiz talk show that caters more to the drum-beating and publicity stunts of networks and movie outfits. There is less of pluggings and cutesy profiles, instead viewers are taken into a brazen look at celebrity happenings, no excuses just plain panning, or not! The hosts are so candid and yet very responsible about their actuations. Thank God, they are on cable!

Segments like "Alam ba News", "Gumaganon" and "Huling Hirit" are worth looking forward to if you're into hot, juicy insider tales.

Gumaganon, in particular, is the blind item portion of the show and is the most sought-after as the entries are really more ticklish than shocking! But what makes it more fun are the hosts' futile attempts at "misleading" viewers with their clues and hints. From hunks to sexy actresses, young male celebrities to celebrity hosts, showbiz denizens don't seem to stand a chance from Maui, Mr. Fu and Dolly Ann, who are curiously moving about in their own circles inside the biz.

In truth, STL is not pretentious and the chemistry among the hosts is enough to sustain one's interest in the goings-on. You have to be on guard and watch out for one-liners from Maui, Mr. Fu and Dolly that can really bring you to tears laughing. Why sometimes you could actually feel that they are having a blast themselves! And that makes viewing more worthwhile. A refreshing escape from the drudgery of hard (and often repetitive) news and scandals.

Dolly's "Chickadora" is a one-on-on interview segment with celebrities. Although recently i catch out takes from previous VIVA programs. Siguro busy si Dolly Ann to sit for fresh interviews?

Although apparently on a shoe-string budget (naku baka mag tampo si Boss Vic and Valerie) STL is still worth keeping on air. If only for the honesty the hosts bring into the program, the staff and crew seem to have less problems in their hands than those from other big-budget, fully-produced talk shows pummeled by big and diva-nesque EGOS.

I can only hope that the set does get a revamp! Hindi ba uncomfortable yun seats ng hosts? Maybe a sofa would be better?

But apart from that, STL is top on my showbiz talk show list! It's pure fun, mindless (yes!) trivia and loads of insider savvy. As a viewer, i never felt that topics and issues were forced down my throat.. and that, as you know, is not a cool feeling.

STL is aired three times a day, 7 days a week! Take a peek, if you want to CHILL!

Kudos to VIVA and STL hosts, staff and crew!

"At dahil dyaaaan....may gumaganon..."

The Power of First Impressions

Communication expert Jill Bremmer shares these insights and I reprint:

I had the pleasure of watching the movie "Working Girl" again recently. It stars Melanie Griffith, Harrison Ford, and Sigourney Weaver and tells the story of how a girl from the "wrong side of the tracks" succeeds in the pressurized world of big business. I never tire of seeing this movie. The plot, direction and acting are all first-rate, but I love it because of what it teaches us about the power of first impressions. Melanie Griffith's character knows that she must remake her New Jersey image in order to be accepted as a Manhattan professional. So she does just that. She changes her wardrobe, hairstyle, even her voice. And what happens? She is instantly welcomed into the high stakes world of mergers and acquisitions. She knew instinctively that, in order for her ideas to be heard, she had to first "look the part." By making some simple adjustments in her outer image, she was given the opportunity to reveal her inner qualities.

This movie illustrates beautifully what psychologists, communication experts and image consultants have been saying for years. First impressions count! Packaging is important, whether we're considering a house, a product or a person. We think what looks attractive or reliable from the outside must surely be on the inside. We judge books by their covers; we buy houses based upon curb appeal and we take people at face value. And they do the same to us!

I'll agree with you that none of this seems fair. People should be judged by their inner values and beliefs, but it is often the first impression that determines whether someone will stick around long enough for you to reveal those wonderful qualities. Very few people will ever see those documents that define who you are, such as your resume, diploma or birth certificate. Like it or not, it is often that first impression that determines your future, more than your professional achievements, family background or educational credentials.

When you step into a room, people make subconscious decisions about you. Within about thirty seconds, they've judged your economic and educational levels, your social position and your levels of sophistication and success. And keep in mind that they're basing those decisions purely upon what they see, i.e. your wardrobe, hairstyle, smile and posture.

After about four minutes, they've also made decisions about your trustworthiness, compassion, reliability, intelligence, capability, humility, friendliness and confidence. At this point you've probably had the opportunity to speak, so they're now taking into account the way your voice sounds, the content of what you say and how you say it.

Impressions are based upon instinct and emotion, not on rational thought or in-depth investigation. They are the product of the associations we make between outward characteristics and the inner qualities we believe they reflect. In other words, we filter everything we see and hear through our own experiences and biases and assign a stereotype to them. First impressions are a kind of human shorthand.
When we talk of stereotypes, we instantly think of race or gender. But we all harbor assumptions regarding almost every human trait imaginable: tall or short, heavy or thin, articulate or not, clean or dirty, well mannered or rude, organized or disorganized. Whether we like to admit it or not, we all believe that one trait is preferable to another.

Part of the problem is that we have no time today to make informed decisions. We have become a transient society, leading fast-paced lives with sound-bite mentalities. Our encounters with others are brief and lack substance. So we've come to believe "what we see is what we'll get". I believe television is largely the culprit. Television creates stereotypes and reinforces them constantly. It's also conditioned us to expect messages to be delivered in thirty seconds. To prove my point, try watching a commercial, TV show or full-length movie without the sound. You can easily determine the characters and plot just by watching them. Analyzing the visual messages from their clothing, behavior and body language is all you need to understand the relationships and story lines.

Are first impressions lasting impressions? Yes, for a couple of reasons. First, our life experience has taught us that our first impressions of others have usually been correct. And when these subconscious judgments were reinforced again and again, we grew to trust and believe in our instincts.

First impressions are also lasting because we hate to admit we make mistakes, so we cling to our opinions rather than revise them. Psychologists tell us that, once we apply a stereotype to someone, we spend the rest of our days seeking to validate it. Our rational brain kicks in and looks for every opportunity to confirm what the emotional side, with all of its biases and stereotypes, originally believed. That's not to say that negative first impressions can't be overcome, but it will take much time and effort. Remember that you're trying to overcome human nature and that's not an easy task.

So what can we do to be in control of how others perceive us? Confucius said, "In all things, success depends upon preparation, and without such preparation, there is sure to be failure." All you have to do is to decide who your audience will be in any given situation, determine your objectives and make choices that match the audience's expectations. Do you want the promotion, the recognition, the relationship? Whatever your objectives may be, decide what qualities the decision-maker expects from that type of person and then dress, behave and communicate in the expected way.

Take a cue from successful salespeople. They employ a technique called "mirroring". They know that when they reflect the posture, speaking style and wardrobe of the other party, they open the lines of communication. That person begins to see them as someone who understands them and who shares their same values. Trust is quickly built and the deal is sealed. Try the same technique yourself. Think ahead to your objectives each day and whom you will encounter. Make choices that reflect their style of dress, behavior and communication and watch what happens!

The A, B, C's must be studied, analyzed and managed in order to make positive impressions on others.
• Appearance
• Behavior
• Communication

A PSALM OF LIFE

TELL me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream ! —
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real ! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal ;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way ;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle !
Be a hero in the strife !
Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant !
Let the dead Past bury its dead !
Act,— act in the living Present !
Heart within, and God o'erhead !
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time ;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate ;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

PRECIOUSNESS OF SILENCE

The Silence is Meekness.
When you do not defend yourself against offenses; When you do not claim
your rights; When you let God defend you; The Silence is Meekness.

The Silence is Mercy.
When you do not reveal the faults of your brothers to others; When you
readily forgive without inquiring into the past; When you do not judge,
but pray in your heart; The Silence is Mercy.

The Silence is Patience.
When you accept suffering not with grumbling but joyfully; When you do
Not look for human consolations; When you do not become too anxious, but
Wait in patience for the seed to germinate; The Silence is Patience.

The Silence is Humility.
When there is no competition;
When you consider the other person to be better than yourself; When you
Let your brothers emerge, grow and mature; When you joyfully abandon all to
The Lord; When your actions may be misinterpreted; When you leave to others
The glory of the enterprise; The Silence is Humility.

The Silence is Faith.
When you keep quiet because you know that the Lord will act; When you
renounce the voice of the world to remain in the presence of the Lord;
When you do not labour yourself to be understood; because it is enough for
You to know that the Lord understands you; The Silence is Faith.

The Silence is Adoration.
When you embrace the cross without asking "Why?"; The Silence is
Adoration.

Do You Want to be a Star?

Gusto mo bang sumikat?
I was recently invited by Rated K for an interview about how to break into show business. It's one great episode especially for the starry-eyed out there. Hosted by Korina Sanchez and aired Sundays over ABS-CBN. Video is courtesy of ABS CBN.

Rated K 31 Jan10 courtesy of ABS-CBN WWW FlipBooth... - Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

And We're Back...

After a long silence, I'm finally back in harness.
The last quarter of 2009 found me neck deep with commitments. Particularly the one below:

‘Rise to Fame’ features John Robert Powers students - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

Remembering Papa

For you, dear Papa!
JOSE S. REINOSO, SR.
October 4, 1927 - October 25, 1998

Home, Diana Ross, The Wiz