ILUMINADA POJAS AT MAUREEN WROBLEWITZ
MATAPOS masungkit ang kauna-unahang panalo ng Pilipinas sa international competition na Asia’s Next Top Model, unti-unti na ring gumagawa ng pangalan si Maureen Wroblewitz sa mundo ng telebisyon.
Ginulat ng half-Filipina, half-German beauty kamakailan ang lahat ng sorpresa siyang lumabas sa longest running noontime variety program na Eat Bulaga.
Ayon kay Maureen, kinailangan niyang i-decline ang offers mula sa dalawang TV networks nang mag-decide siyang pumirma ng kontrata sa Eat Bulaga. Ayon sa dalaga, naging driving force niya ang matagal ng pangarap ng kanyang 82-year-old na lola na si Iluminada Pojas na regular siyang makita sa noontime show ng GMA.
“I’ve known the show since I was a little and I know that it is being watched by millions worldwide. As a matter of fact, my grandmother religiously watches it. It’s her longtime wish to see me regularly on television and me joining Eat Bulaga is, in a way, fulfilling that wish.
“At the same time, I want to try something new, venture into an unknown territory – live television. And what better way to do that than to be part of the longest and most successful program in the country,” aniya pa.
Ayon kay Jeny Ferre, SVP for Creatives and Operations ng Eat Bulaga, na-impress ang management sa ipinakitang determinasyon, passion and fighting spirit nito kaya naisip nilang kunin si Maureen.
“She’s a natural and has so much potential. When you talk to her, she has that charm and you’ll really feel that she’s here to prove something of herself. And we like that attitude. She’s eager to show what she can do and at the same time very open to new ideas,” aniya pa.
Dagdag pa ni Ferre, nais nilang yakapin at makapag-adapt si Maureen sa mundo ng telebisyon. Gusto rin ng management na unti-unting subukan ng modelo na mas maging active sa ibang portions ng Eat Bulaga, “She’s a model and it is understandable that she is not used to the television life. But she can very well carve her own path in this industry and we’re happy to be part of that.”
Para kay Maureen, napakarami pa niyang kailangan malaman at matutunan bilang co-host. Ngayon pa lang din siyang nasasanay sa live television at mag-host sa harap ng madaming audience.
“I still get nervous and I admire people who work live on TV because it’s not easy. I just try to calm myself down and get help from the people who have always been there for me. It’s scarier but it is fun. I actually enjoy it,” pahayag ng dalaga.
Ngunit kahit baguhan sa telebisyon, hindi naman nagpapaapekto ang model-TV host sa mga negatibong komento sa kakulangan niya ng experience sa hosting at maging sa kanyang Tagalog speaking skills.
Ayon kay Maureen, mas gugustuhin niyang mag-focus sa mga positibong bagay, “People always ask me if I get affected. Of course I get affected, I’d be lying if I say I didn’t, but I learned how to handle it and I think it is normal, sometimes I even laugh at the comments.
“I read it but I don’t really focus on them. I’ve already anticipated that I’ll have bashers even after winning ASNTM. If you decide to be in the public eye, not everyone is going to like you,” sabi pa ng bagong Dabarkads.
Dagdag pa ng dalaga na sa panahon ngayon, hindi na niya dinadamdam ang mga di magagandang sinasabi ng mga bashers. Natutunan daw niya ang pagkakaroon ng matatag na loob nang pagtulungan siya ng mga kapwa model noong siya ay nasa kumpetisyon pa.
“What I like to do is I focus on the good comments, especially those that will uplift my spirit. You just have to focus on the positive things. The hate, I just took that as a motivation and I will never let that bring me down.
“It also pays to surround yourself with positive people and those who truly believe and love you, like your family and friends. Keep a small group of people whom you know and trust deeply. At the end of the day, you turn to people who cared,” dagdag niya.
Nagpapasalamat si Maureen sa once in a lifetime opportunity na maging bahagi ng Bulaga. Gagawin daw niya ang lahat para maging proud sa kanya ang management at ang kanya mga taga suporta.
“After ASNTM, I’ve been traveling around. For once, I’ll be in one place for a long time and I think that is great. I also hope that they, the viewers, will also get to know more about me now that I am part of this big family,” hirit pa ni Maureen.