Maharlikang Pilipino.... Nalipasan na nga ba ng panahon???

'Maharlika...', nalipasan na ng panahon?
Author: Billy BalbastroColumn: Take Billy
BIKINI Open or Bikini Summit is the vogue of the season. It�s still summer so it�s fashionable to don the bikini. Not only on beaches or resorts or beauty pageants.
But bikini contest even in entertainment bars, comedy bars and discos.
"Tila nalipasan na ng panahon ang ibang contests gaya ng Maharlikang Pilipino," a keen observer tells us. "Hindi sila maka-compete sa mga bikini open contests ngayon. Umiikot lang naman ang mga contestants. Even the winners.
"Katulad na lang ng Mr. Globe 2005 na naging First runner-up sa Man of the Year Philippines 2005. Ang Mr. Globe Mindanao 2005 ay nanalo ng Ginoong Pilipinas-Visayas 2005. Ang Ginoong Filipinas 2005 ay Calendar Boys member 2004."
Oo nga naman, ano na nga ang maiiwan para sa Maharlikang�Pilipino, mga talunan o mga bonsai?
Anyway, the signs are not good for this contest.
Early this year when they had this Maharlikang Bulacan 2005 contest, there was a big howl even during the pageant that the contest was rigged. Mr. Photokina was known even before the winner was announced by the audience.
Says our informer: "Nagdagdag pa ang national producer ng winners niya saying na he had all the right to do that. Nagalit ang mga parents at pati ang mga tao sa likod ng Bulacan Convention Center. Even the designer-franchise holder now admits may lutong makaw."
What happened when they had this Maharlikang Tondo 2005?
"Nagkagulo rin. Hindi ginalang ang mga napili ng judges. Ang mga �friendly boys� ang pinanalo, and not even the names of respected show people, Direk Jeffrey Jeturian and Ed Instrella could save the contest from condemnation and shame," sabi ng eye witness namin.
Now we know why�Maharlikang producer appeared in Jeffrey Jeturian�s Bikini Open, The Movie. Sa galit siguro nina Jeffrey at Ed sa Maharlika big boss ginawa siyang HIV positive at AIDS victim sa pelikula.
That was one scene in Bikini Open we have to applaud. Or is it Direk Jeffrey�s way of telling his friend that like that AIDS victim, the days of Maharlika contest are also numbered?
Teka, nasa mga sinehan pa ba ang Bikini Open nina Diana Zubiri at Francine Prieto? Sana naman para masabi natin na lucky charm ng pelikula ang Maharlika producer!
Which brings us back to our observation that it�s the season of Bikini Open contests. Malamig na ang reception sa Maharlika and similar contest. Times have changed, indeed.
***
Hindi lang basta Kiliti ang titulo ng movie na ginawa ni Arman Reyes para sa WaterPlus Productions na bida ang D� Bodies.
We got this message: "Approved�dito�sa MTRCB ang title at layout ng pelikula ng WaterPlus na �Wag Dyan, �Wag Dyan�May Kiliti Ako Dyan.
So the original title, Kiliti: Sa Una Lang Masakit, has to go.
In short, perhaps that was not approved.
WaterPlus is probably aspiring for a late June playdate but then that�s the War of the Worlds season. Perhaps, they�ll settle for a July playdate instead.