By Manuel L. Morato
We have to accept that we have excellent make-up artists in the Philippines. That’s a given.
As former Chairman of the MTRCB (Movie and Television Review and Classification Board) for six long years, I’ve met moviestars with and without make-up. There are those who are good looking without make-up; as there are those who are not good-looking at all without make-up.
Lately, we’ve noticed how good looking all those who appear on TV; and of course, in the movies. Ang kapal na ng mga make-up ngayon, like plaster of Paris or whatever they are called. It is so thick that even an ugly looking woman can be “sculptured” or “customized” to look good and young. Whatever plaster is applied so thickly indeed removes ang mga kulubot sa mukha, making a face look 20, 50… years younger – on TV or on screen. It’s amazing. Our make-up artists, we can say, are among the best in the world. They can contour an ugly face to look like a million dollar face! But too much make-up can render a face expressionless.
Note however, that it can also be unbecoming to a truly pretty face.
Take for example our recent or latest Miss Universe Philippines, Rabiya Mateo. She has what it takes. In my opinion, she looked better with very little make-up. But on the night of the Miss Universe competition in Florida, her make-up was so thick that it was so unbecoming of her real looks. She could not even smile anymore. All the candidates for that matter had plaster faces for whatever cement or porcelain was used on them. All, without exception, had plastered faces. How can their real looks be judged? They could not even smile anymore because of the heavy make-up.
I’ve judged many candidates on various beauty contests before decades ago, organized by Ferdie Villar; also on television for “Miss this” and “Miss that”… While the deformed parts of some candidates faces were remedied through this heavy make-up, it is unfair to the truly beautiful faces to be covered by thick make-up.
It has been said, time and again, that make-up helps because of the strong flood light used on stage; on filming a movie or appearances on TV. I can grant them that.
Maggie de la Riva and I have had for many years a TV talk show, “Dial M,” and make-up artists and TV directors were on the look out to see to it that make-up was applied on us because of the strong flood lights. Well, as an actress, Maggie is used to that. But I’m not. No make-up for me as I am allergic to it. Hanggang a little powder lang just to remove daw the oil on the face. Ok hanggang doon lang. Kung pangit lumabas, so be it. I really cannot stand make-up on my face.
But Korea beats us, as far as make-up on their stars, TV and movie are concerned. Grabe mag make-up ang mga Korean stars, movie, TV and stage. Ang mga lalaki, mukhang mga babae. Hindi na masabi kung yong mga singers ay babae o lalake sa kapal ng make-up. Mukhang babae lahat yong mga lalaking singers. Yong pantalon lang ang nag-iindicate na mga lalake pala sila. Very confusing. Baka sa Korean make-up artist gumaya ang ating mga make-up artists. Ok lang naman yon. Parang hindi lang bagay sa isang beauty contest like Miss Universe, Miss International, and Miss what not…
Rabiya Mateo was a winner if she smiled a little bit more; and more casual walk on stage. She might have been tired and was not herself anymore. She was too stiff. But she is a winner to me. Maybe she could not smile because of the heavy make-up. But I repeat, she is better looking with only a slight make-up. The faces of those candidates with very heavy make-up made their faces expressionless. It’s so makapal, to smile was made difficult because of the foundation. Halos magkakamukha silang lahat. They all look like “baby dolls.”
If I may give my opinion, the beauty contestants must be judged without make-up; or only with a little make-up. No long fake eye lashes that can almost sweep the floor.
Meron talagang magaganda maski walang make-up. Yon talaga ang dapat mahusgahan. Ang problema, baka wala nang sumali.
Guys and gals, what’s the moral lesson? Scrape with paint remover the face of the girl you intend to marry; and girls, do the same with the guy you intend to marry for there are men with heavy make-up as well. You just might scare each other to kingdom come!
Remember, politics plays in these beauty contests. The U.S. has a big issue on the Mexican illegal migrants. Why not Miss Mexico!!!
For comments and suggestions email at mlmorato@yahoo.com
