MANILA, Philippines — Credit Crazy Rich Asians, America’s No. 1 movie recently, for a new expression that has entered the mainstream. Crazy rich: Super, tops, awesome, wow, uber, over (as in the Tagalog word sobra). Here are some crazy rich anecdotes about Asian celebrities.
Lea Salonga’s secret to staying power
Catch a glimpse of the Tony awardee as performer extraordinaire. The scene: The all-star concert fundraiser post-Typhoon Haiyan at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The show’s director said Lea begged off from the media availability session backstage “because she wants to rehearse some more.” Lea, the award-winning, internationally-renowned star, not wanting to “Take 5” (break) and requesting extra time to rehearse: Wow! We could hear her singing Climb Every Mountain from the hit movie Sound of Music. (A tour de force performance of hit songs followed later.)
This calls to mind a popular showbiz anecdote, the one about somebody asking for directions to a famous New York City landmark.
Question: How does one get to Broadway?
Answer: Practice, practice, practice.
Also, talent, talent, talent: That’s how Lea likewise got to Broadway. And having gotten there, “arrived” in a big way.
Justin Lin: Sky’s the limit
The Fast and Furious director (third to sixth sequels) caught Hollywood’s attention in the 2002 film Better Luck Tomorrow (BLT). It was notable for its excellent filmmaking, as well as its daringly unconventional ending. At the BLT premiere, a huge Asian-American crowd had entered the Georgetown cinema in Washington, D.C. Others lingered at the lobby.
It was past noontime. Justin’s brother said apologetically, “He hasn’t slept a wink, hasn’t had lunch, everything’s so hectic… Could the interview take place in the lobby?” Hmmm, in that dim-lit corner? Standing? Rain gusts blowing our way? Okay. Few people gawked. He wasn’t famous then.
Justin looked calm, happy, feet not quite touching the floor. For 15 minutes, he talked about what directing the mainstream movie meant to him. One couldn’t blame him for wanting to be the next Steven Spielberg.
Fast cut to another film showing days later. Just before curtain time, he expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support. Looking sheepishly like a student, he waved to the audience, humbly acknowledging the applause. My article noted that he climbed down, two steps at a time, to the front of the theater just below the huge screen — “but his actual destination is Hollywood.”
Boots Anson-Roa sees the future
Nowadays, addressing almost everyone with respect, as in Lola, Nanay, Ate, Kuya is in vogue. But Boots, a rara avis who is extraordinary onscreen and off, was way ahead on this during her stint as the cultural and media attaché and community relations officer at the Philippine embassy in the US capital in the ‘80s.
Boots started the practice of calling co-workers Tita, Tito, Lola, etc. This caused much hilarity, particularly when others took to calling the younger ones Lola, but it also led to a feeling of a special bond. The practice also proved contagious. It was widely adopted in the community, and believe it or not, it continues to this day. By the way, Boots was called Lola Boots then. Recently, she played the title role in the acclaimed Lola Basyang.com. These days, when society is in need of a role model, it would be nice if that show is revived to see her reprise that inspirational character again.
David Batista triumphs against all odds
A month before Filipino-American David Batista (Bautista) skyrocketed to the top of the wrestling world, he was climbing the stairs of my relatives’ house in Arlington, Virginia, located about 10 miles from D.C. He looked like Rambo, with massive shoulders and arms the size of thighs. He was good-looking, too.
“I’ve been training, and I know I’m gonna be good at this,” he told his former in-laws. He was a nobody then. But that early, he exuded confidence in himself and boundless optimism. Soon, he was making his name on TV. He was crowned World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) champion. He landed on magazine covers. His Auntie Nieves saw a David action doll in a PX store in Virginia, looked at the price (almost $30, or P1,500) and cried, “Ouch!” Nevertheless, she coughed up the amount to show the family how proud she was.
David went on to become a top Hollywood action star. He plays Drax in Guardians of Galaxy and most recently appeared in Avengers: The Infinity Wars. Early this year, he visited his rough-and-tumble neighborhood in D.C. He reflected on how he could have ended up bad. Instead, he turned out okay (well, way more than okay). He told The Washington Post he was grateful for his success.
Jake Shimabukuro: Asians as versatile talents
The Hawaiian pride and ukulele wizard has performed for regular audiences, US senators and Queen Elizabeth II in London. Once, he performed America’s national anthem at an Asian-American gala event in the US capital. Good thing everybody was already standing because, for sure, his virtuoso rendition deserved a standing ovation.
For Charice, the show must go on
For Charice, first the show must go on. The shoes can go off later. Picture this: Party time during the Obama presidential inauguration. Charice was the star attraction at Asian-American gala events. She was very courteous, saying po and opo to the guests at the Philippine embassy reception in D.C. Hours later, she was a terrific crowd-pleaser at the loud, so very loud Asian American inaugural ball (live band and all), held at a luxurious waterfront hotel. Afterwards, it was obvious that her feet hurt from wearing high-heeled shoes all day. So she asked her “Tita,” the lovely Filipino-American wife of her US manager, famous lawyer Michael Gurfinkel, to kindly hold the shoes for her. Then she casually stood barefoot up the escalator, smiling broadly and hopped oh-quite-so-gleefully towards the lobby.