On Daniel Padilla and Justin Bieber
Just two weeks ago, I watched "Never Say Never", a documentary film on the life of Justin Bieber. I was never a fan of Justin. I thought, when I came across the title and read the cast who were on it, it's one of those Disney Movies that singers like the Jonas Brothers or even Justin Timberlake did. Walang wala akong idea what the film is all about. And so, inihanda ko ang sarili ko sa panonood ng isang cheesy na pelikula na kailangan ko at that time. Of course I was surprised to find it's a documentary pero ang mas ikinagulat ko ay - minutes to the film, I found myself sobbing and yes, yes, yes, bago matapos ang pelikula, I am officially a fan of JB. Late bloomer kong tinawag ang sarili ko. Kasi feeling ko, "nagsusumixteen" lang ako. I borrowed that term to the Kathniel fans na mga adults na rin na katulad ko, pero tila nababaliw sa mga teen na artista ngayon.
But prior to Justin Bieber, nauna ko nang hinangaan at sinubaybayan ang One Direction. (though hanggang ngayon sila pa rin ang pinapakinggan ko while driving) Bawat episode yata ng X Factor UK, hinihintay ko para lang mapanood sila.
The Justin phenomenon is also happening in the Philippines now with Daniel Padilla.
Being a Padilla, he got the charms of Robin. The way he speaks, he moves, is "Robin na Robin" sabi nga nila. He is this generation's Robin Padilla. Some say, he is the Justin Bieber of the Philippines. And I have to agree. When I saw Never Say Never, DJ is the only person that came to mind. And just like the JB mania, DJ's is infectious.
When we casted him at Princess And I, I was like - "sino siya? payatot". I even told him to gain some weight. Unlike Quen, si Quen kasi talaga ang papansinin mo, guapo, matangkad, maganda katawan, leading man material. But here's the thing with DJ, habang napapanood ko na siya, unti-unti kang dino-draw ng mga mata niya palapit sa kanya. And he is effortless in "hypnotizing" his audience and even his co-actors on screen. Yung charisma na meron si Robin Padilla, parang nalampasan pa niya.
Si Daniel Padilla pa lang ulit ang nakapagpabalik sa "fan" phenomenon, na parang ang tagal nang nawala sa showbusiness. (may pakonti-konti yung ibang artista) pero si DJ yung may mga tagahangang umiiyak pa dahil nakita lang. Sa dami na ng shows na hinawakan ko, at malalaki silang mga artista at malalaki ang followers nila, pero walang nagkakagulong maraming tao sa taping na hanggang madaling araw ay nagtitiyaga para lang makita ang iniidolo. Si DJ pa lang ulit ang bumubuhay nito.
Mahirap akong pakiligin as an audience, lalo pa't kabilang ako sa mga taong gumagawa ng mga kwento para sa screen. Pero honestly, ngayon, walang ibang nakakapagpatawa, nakakapagpangiti sa 'kin, and yes, even nakakapagpakilig sa telebisyon, other than DJ. At kahit Creative Director ako, hindi ko ikinakahiyang sabihin 'yan.