Andrea Torres mapipilitang ibunyag ang mga lihim ni Marian kung…

ANDREA TORRES AT MARIAN RIVERA

WHILE Cinderella hurries back home before midnight, ang oras namang ito spent at home is also a quick change from showbiz to being oneself.

Like the fairy tale character who dons her tattered clothes ay nakapambahay din lang kami, nakasalampak in one corner of our house. Pero hindi broomstick ang hawak namin kundi telepono burning the lines with a former co-worker-friend back in GMA.

Hindi kami alipin ng mapang-aping mag-iina, kundi sunud-sunuran sa mga kuwentong showbiz na kasinglaki ng horse-driven chariot mula sa minadyik na kalabasa.

Isang gabi ‘yon na ang topic ng aming phone convo ay si Andrea Torres. Taong 2015 ‘yon, unang nakilala ng aming katelebabad ang noo’y da who pa lang na aktres sa pagdiriwang ng Sinulog Festival sa Cebu.

Amindst the bedlam ay may babaeng biglang lumapit sa kanya, then gave a perfunctory peck on his cheek. Nang makalayo na ito’y nagtanong ang aming GMA friend who that charming, respectful girl was (da who nga kasi).

Mula noon ay tinandaan na niya si Andrea. Totoo nga ang kasabihang, “First impression lasts,” and to this day, what our friend remembers of her ay ang kagandahan ng ugali nito.

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Nito lang pala nabalitaan ng aming kaibigan ang tungkol sa paghaharap ni Andrea Torres at ng binansagang Primetime Queen Daw (for space-saving purposes, PQD na lang ang itatawag namin sa kanya).

The result of that slyly orchestrated face-off—with Andrea portrayed as the aggrieved, helpless party—would later be her “exit pass” mula sa pangangalaga ng Triple A ni Mr. Tony Tuviera and consequently, ang pagpasok naman niya sa GMA Artist Center.

If Cinderella had wished for her Prince Charming to have her fetch nang magkasya ang naiwang glass slipper, may panalangin din ang aming GMA friend: happily ever after na rin sanang natagpuan ni Andrea ang departamentong tunay na magmamalasakit sa kanya like a glass slipper that would fit her to a T.

But concern is neither absolute nor complete kung hindi ito sasamahan ng pagtatanggol kay Andrea who like Cinderella is battling the forces of evil. Dito masusukat ang kakayahan ng GMAAC na salagin ang sinumang magtatangkang sumira sa kanya at sa kanyang career.

‘Yun nga lang, ayon sa aming kausap, that remains to be seen. What guarantee or immunity does Andrea have kahit iba na ang may hawak ng kanyang career?

Is it a question kung aling entity ang mas makapangyarihan: GMAAC or Triple A, still the home of the PQD? Will the PQD still step in and spread her wings far and wide? Ooopps, the height of power-tripping na ‘yon, ha?

We can’t discount the possibility kung paanong if Andrea is pushed and shoved, chances are ay lilipat ito sa ABS-CBN where there’s not a single brown-skinned actress. At kapag nangyari ‘yon, Andrea can throw cautions to the wind, ngayon pa ba naman siya matatakot ibunyag ang lahat-lahat ng pang-aaping dinanas niya kay PQD?

Katapusan na rin ‘yon ng career ni PQD na ngayon pa lang ay tagilid na.

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With our readers’ indulgence, pahintulutan n’yo kaming mag-alay ng mga huling salita para sa namayapang kaibigan at kasamahan sa industriya na si Richard Pinlac whose remains will be cremated tomorrow.

Enough has been said about—and even against—him. But for all his misdeeds, shortcomings, transgressions, kalokohan at kaluka-lukahan ay kaibigan pa rin ang aming turing sa kanya. Richard may have chosen the wrong path that led to his self-destruction pero mananatili siyang isang tunay na kaibigan na bibihirang matagpuan sa showbiz.

We will miss you, ‘Teh Chard, your fun company and the simple joys we shared. That we will always cherish from here and beyond.