So here’s the thing. I write super mushy, super steamy rom-coms. Most of my one-star reviews describe my books as mindless, shallow, stupid, and unrealistic. My heroines are weak. My heroes are jerks. You get the drift.
But I also receive emails and messages on FB from readers all over the world, and these people tell me how my books have made them laugh and cry, how my stories have allowed them to forget the real world, even just for a while. My “senior” readers tell me my books take their minds off the pain of their illnesses. Other readers tell me my books are their way of de-stressing after a long, tiring commute, a hard day at work, a challenging day at school – you get the drift, too, right?
Honestly, I think it’s the same with AlDub.
I know it’s definitely the same for me at least. When I’m exhausted after writing, when I just want to stop worrying about my mother’s health (she’s NOT dying, but a recent scare had us thinking she had some serious illness)…I watch AlDub. In fact, if I can, I watch Eat Bulaga in its entirety because I find the entire show entertaining.
To be honest, before AlDub, or at least since I start self-publishing full-time, I didn't have much time to watch TV. I got too busy working, and my primary motivation for working is to earn a living so I could make my loved ones happy and be of greater help to those in need. It just so happens that I also love what I do, which makes my job enjoyable but definitely not stress-free.
When I first watched AlDub, it was instalove. I can’t explain it, but I just enjoyed every minute of it. So much so that I was motivated to show my support, regardless of what other people would think of me. I don’t know Alden or Yaya Dub personally, but they seem like good people to me. I could be wrong, but that’s what I think for now, and because I know tweets help in increasing brand recognition for the two celebrities, I tweet.
Question is - does watching AlDub make me exceptionally shallow? Does it make me a rather unfortunate example of a Filipino citizen?
I don’t know.
What I do know is that I’m at my happiest when I make other people happy. As for what AlDub has to do with that, here’s how it works (in my case at least):
Watching AlDub will NOT help solve any of the major problems that our country suffers from. But I don’t see how not watching AlDub is going to make our country’s situation any better either. People who, for whatever reason, are not as involved in solving our country's problems pre-AlDub are unlikely to change even if they stop watching said show.
On the other hand, watching AlDub can (not saying it always or ever does, but there's a possibility) start a chain of good deeds.
Honestly, after watching an episode of AlDub, I’m in such a good mood that even when I encounter some kind of negativity in my personal life, my main instinct is to just laugh it off while mentally saying to that person, AlDub you. Watching this show makes me extra patient, extra generous, and who knows? People I’m extra patient and extra generous with can end up being the same with other people…and so forth.
In the end, kanya-kanya lang yan (to each his own). Maybe it’s just a phase, maybe it won’t last. Honestly, I don’t care. I’m just happy to tag along for the ride and have something relaxing (not to mention AFFORDABLE) to look forward to Mon-Sat.
But I also receive emails and messages on FB from readers all over the world, and these people tell me how my books have made them laugh and cry, how my stories have allowed them to forget the real world, even just for a while. My “senior” readers tell me my books take their minds off the pain of their illnesses. Other readers tell me my books are their way of de-stressing after a long, tiring commute, a hard day at work, a challenging day at school – you get the drift, too, right?
Honestly, I think it’s the same with AlDub.
I know it’s definitely the same for me at least. When I’m exhausted after writing, when I just want to stop worrying about my mother’s health (she’s NOT dying, but a recent scare had us thinking she had some serious illness)…I watch AlDub. In fact, if I can, I watch Eat Bulaga in its entirety because I find the entire show entertaining.
To be honest, before AlDub, or at least since I start self-publishing full-time, I didn't have much time to watch TV. I got too busy working, and my primary motivation for working is to earn a living so I could make my loved ones happy and be of greater help to those in need. It just so happens that I also love what I do, which makes my job enjoyable but definitely not stress-free.
When I first watched AlDub, it was instalove. I can’t explain it, but I just enjoyed every minute of it. So much so that I was motivated to show my support, regardless of what other people would think of me. I don’t know Alden or Yaya Dub personally, but they seem like good people to me. I could be wrong, but that’s what I think for now, and because I know tweets help in increasing brand recognition for the two celebrities, I tweet.
Question is - does watching AlDub make me exceptionally shallow? Does it make me a rather unfortunate example of a Filipino citizen?
I don’t know.
What I do know is that I’m at my happiest when I make other people happy. As for what AlDub has to do with that, here’s how it works (in my case at least):
- I work to earn a living, and the money I earn, I spend on my family, for my personal use, and for my monthly tithe (a.k.a. giving back).
- In order not to burn out from work, I need to de-stress myself.
- To de-stress, I watch AlDub.
Watching AlDub will NOT help solve any of the major problems that our country suffers from. But I don’t see how not watching AlDub is going to make our country’s situation any better either. People who, for whatever reason, are not as involved in solving our country's problems pre-AlDub are unlikely to change even if they stop watching said show.
On the other hand, watching AlDub can (not saying it always or ever does, but there's a possibility) start a chain of good deeds.
Honestly, after watching an episode of AlDub, I’m in such a good mood that even when I encounter some kind of negativity in my personal life, my main instinct is to just laugh it off while mentally saying to that person, AlDub you. Watching this show makes me extra patient, extra generous, and who knows? People I’m extra patient and extra generous with can end up being the same with other people…and so forth.
In the end, kanya-kanya lang yan (to each his own). Maybe it’s just a phase, maybe it won’t last. Honestly, I don’t care. I’m just happy to tag along for the ride and have something relaxing (not to mention AFFORDABLE) to look forward to Mon-Sat.