[ALDUB Nation Ready Featured Image from Eat Bulaga Facebook Page.] Is the ALDUB Nation Ready? Article delays, a flood of test papers and several editorials later, here I am with another editorial concerning ALDUB. Perhaps a way to voice out opinions. It may be another interruption with your stream of episode recaps that I constantly post here ar The Philippines Web. But soon enough I know that I need to share my insights regarding the next “civil war” that erupted online. [Also, being a home-writer meant being constantly “inuutusan ng magulang”. That is a sure time killer.]
Don’t worry. I still plan on making episode recaps on the episodes that involved “Jake”. Because I know someone needs to archive the memories and translate some of the transcribed dialogue for the non-Filipino inhabitants of the ALDUB Nation. So let’s take the time to discuss creativity involved in the recent KalyeSerye episodes. Despite knowing that KalyeSerye is originally intended to be a problem solving segment that mixed sarcasm and parodies of self-help advice columns, some viewers like Randy David wished less of the slapstick in the story. Almost everyone else followed suit. Forgetting that the KalyeSerye is a segment in a variety show whose content leaned heavily towards comedy. Is the ALDUB Nation ready to add some “realness” to the plot?
The other clout to add “realness” into the story was based on a joke on Alden Richards himself. Ever since that episode where Bossing Vic Sotto’s son, Vico, made a cameo. ADN has seen how “cute” Alden looked like whenever he’s jealous. Whether it’s just for kicks of if he’s genuinely jealous, the ALDUB Nation lapped it up and kept on chiding Alden on social media. Like imagine if Alden is jealous for real. It must have been a lot more difficult to keep it in. So fans got an idea what to suggest next to Ms. Jenny Ferre, head writer of the KalyeSerye? Is the ALDUB Nation ready for a third wheel that either YayaDUB or Alden genuinely liked?
Time to answer the question based on the Twitter wars that followed. No. I had to spend sometime muting certain individuals on Twitter again. They got too carried away with what they are watching. They ended up attacking even Maine Mendoza herself and her family. I haven’t seen any tweets of them attacking even her family. Either they are bots, paid attack dogs from the ALDUB Demolition Team or some cowards who only found courage by using alternate Twitter handles. Possibly all of the above. But is the ALDUB Nation Ready for a spicy third wheel angle if some inhabitants of the ALDUB Nation itself are immature to know reel from real?
Surely, some of the netizens that complained about the events that transpired at the KalyeSerye are fans of Showtime. So what? It means that even if they are fans of Showtime, they watch Eat Bulaga too. I know some netizens on PinoyExchange.com who have started a “loyalty check” by using ALDUB as basis. That was the first thing that came to mind when a “loyalty check” occurred online too. Some netizens like @thefilipinospec ended up posting tweets that really started critiquing on some ADN citizens’ tendency to pounce at any available opportunity whether justified or not. Can’t people have opinions anymore regarding the current storyline?
Well I admit that I am partially responsible for the hypocritical view on Lola Nidora. Especially during her beast mode days before her worst nightmares in Donya Tidora and Donya Tinidora arrived. Her sisters arrived obviously to drive Lola Nidora to paranoia and cure her clingy tendencies of YayaDUB. I know. I know. I’m still not totally buying the “tamang panahon” alibi. I still occasionally view her as some overprotective and possessive relative with trust issues. Sometimes the Jake angle is a ploy to disprove my hypothesis. Alden seeks friendship and more from YayaDUB. Lola Nidora loses her sh*t. Jake becomes a little too friendly for comfort for YayaDUB. And she’s fine. She even delivered that infamous speech at the ALDUB Trust episode.
“Di naman puedeng si Alden, may mundo. Tapos itong si Divina, ikakandado natin. Pag-isipan muna mabuti. Kung huhusgahan nyo si Divina na wala naman kayong nakikitang ebidensiya. Bigtime! Grabe kayo sa kanya! Si Divina, nagaaral. Masama ba yun? Hindi nyo dapat pinipigilan ang pag-unlad ni Divina. Hindi lang naman si Alden ang buhay nito. Pano uunlad kung puro kayo husga? Kasi nasasaktan ako kapag sinasabi ninyong humaharot itong si Divina. Naghigpit ako kay Divina kasi di ko alam saan pupunta [ang relasyon nila]. Kundi kayo nagtitiwala, hindi pagmamahal. Ang pagmamahal may kalakip na tiwala. Pag walang basehan, parang anay yan. Hindi nyo namamalayan, may bukbok na.”
(It can’t be that Alden has his world. And Divina would be locked up here [with us]. Think carefully. You judge Divina without seeing any evidence. Bigtime! You are harsh on her! Divina goes to school. Is that a bad thing? You should not stunt Divina’s progress. Her life does not revolve around Alden alone. How will she progress if all you ever did is judge her? Because I am hurt whenever you claim that Divina is flirting around. I was strict with Divina because I didn’t know where [the relationship] will go. If you can’t trust, it’s not called love. Love comes with trust. If there is no basis [for the prejudicial behavior], it’s like a termite [that eats up on the foundation of the relationship]. The foundation has gone hollow before you know it.)
Is the ALDUB Nation ready when some overzealous fans [and haters, too] interpret this message negatively? No. How can the ALDUB Nation be ready when judgments occur before the evidences surface? Take note. Everyone including those who consider themselves “thinking ALDUB fans” are miffed with this speech. As if there is some sacred cow to consider before opening your mouth. Or posting status updates on social media. It’s not just Twitter anymore even if Twitter has become the battleground for the social media wars that erupted due to Jake’s impending arrival.
The ALDUB Nation is not ready for Jake. Frankly, I was harsh on Cindy. [Sorry, Cindy.] It was only in due time that it was revealed that all that brazen attitude is done under the orders of Donya Babah. But is the ALDUB Nation ready for her in case she is not acting under the orders of Donya Babah? Again no. If some overzealous fans of the ALDUB Nation went batsh*t crazy at Jake’s calls to Divina even before Alden has left for Dubai, who else will be ready for the realistic storyline? The slapstick-free storyline that Prof. Randy David once proposed in his column?
That’s when the purpose of the KalyeSerye proved its purpose to mainstream media. To raise the question again. Is the ALDUB Nation ready for a third wheel that is more Vince-Kath level than teleserye level complete with canceled weddings? No. Why? Because ALDUB was placed on a pedestal where the fans expect them to be with each other and each other only. The lines between real and reel are blurred. And most of us would want the ALDUB tandem to evolve into the MAIDEN (Maine and Alden) tandem. Some even went to the extent of comparing them to DongYan (Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera). Not realizing that it took 7 years and various team-ups with other actors and actresses before The DongYan Wedding.
Lola Nidora may not have mentioned the DongYan wedding in comparison to ALDUB. But she mentioned career growth – the possibility of YayaDUB and Alden having careers outside the relationship. The need for career growth was already addressed in the EB Dabarkads Pa More episode. Especially now that Maine Mendoza is still under attack for the Best Supporting Actress Award. [Anong petsa na ba? Hindi na sila natapos.]
Alden has proven his acting mettle long before the ALDUB phenomenon. Maine Mendoza on the other hand just celebrated her 6th month in the entertainment industry recently. So the pressure on her to prove her worth after the win was immense. Overzealous fans that demand for better projects for ALDUB just made the pressure more intense.
Is the ALDUB Nation ready to stay together and be strong for the rest of the inhabitants who wished nothing but the best for ALDUB? I can see that it can. Great civilizations get destroyed from within if the influencers, movers and shakers let them. This is why I consider one of the best moves ever to see Maine Mendoza apologize to Julie Ann San Jose.
It is Maine Mendoza’s proof that a few overzealous fans’ erratic behavior does not represent the ALDUB Nation as a whole. And of course, such negative behavior is not tolerated by her. Surely, she tweets without tagging anyone lately. But she didn’t have to explain herself to anyone when they already have judged you in their minds. Prejudice brings the worst out in some people.
Alden already had it worse. He’s been in the industry for 7 years. Or more if you include the years when he did the beauty pageant rounds. And he has survived his share of haters. From viewers skeptical of his versatility to certain fan clubs accusing him of being a user and a bandwagon rider. To users themselves that capitalize on his newfound fame as of late. Practically that has been anyone toxic to his career and personal life. And the ALDUB phenomenon only fueled his workaholic ethic even more. He’s striking while the iron is hot knowing that his 15 minutes of fame might get used up again. For now, it’s a far-fetched idea. But this recent Twitter war proved how some overzealous fans are making it harder for Jenny Ferre et al to extend the 15 minutes of fame further.
Is the ALDUB Nation ready for career growth? What do I mean? Is the ALDUB Nation ready for a storyline that features Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza plus a third wheel who’s not a villain but an actual option for either of them? That’s when the maturity of a fandom is tested. Because we simply need to remember something about Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza outside the KalyeSerye universe. He is an actor. She is an actress. Alden is playing the fictional version of himself at the KalyeSerye. While Maine plays YayaDUB in the KalyeSerye. What if Divina a.k.a. YayaDUB discovers the world outside now that the mansion is gone?
Applying realism in TV series can be scary. People watch you because it’s the closest thing they have to their ideal definition of love. Is the ALDUB Nation ready to breakaway from that make-believe world? [Aktingan lang ‘to uy!] Because in real life, not all of them have their own “Alden” and “YayaDUB” in tow. Sometimes, they’re like Jake. Others are like Frankie [for girls] and Cindy [for guys]. Each one has its own set of overprotective parents like Lola Nidora and supportive relatives and friends like Donya Tidora and Donya Tinidora. But for the most part, having your own Alden or YayaDUB is not a guarantee in real life. So when art via KalyeSerye starts imitating life, everybody loses their minds. Why? Because a realistic relationship is disappointing. Especially when you set yourself up for high expectations.
So if some inhabitants of the ALDUB Nation are in a relationship with cheaters, they don’t want that kind of drama at the KalyeSerye too. It becomes awkward and difficult to face. Because if you don’t like what you see on TV, you simply shut if off. In real life, if you catch your boyfriend or girlfriend in the arms of another, you can’t shut that thing off your head. Would the prominent inhabitants of ALDUB Nation ready to face that harsh reality?
It’s painful. It drives you deeper down in the abyss of depression. You lose the “kilig”. Realism takes over. And the inconvenient truth prevails. This is why some netizens end up tweeting [rephrased] “I don’t want this kind of drama. If I do, I’d watch Pangako Sa Yo or On The Wings of Love.” So in other words, the writers headed by Ms. Jenny Ferre end up getting stuck in a rut of a FANarchy-based creativity. Is ALDUB Nation ready to see their frustrations in relationships in the KalyeSerye itself?
On the other hand, is the ALDUB Nation ready for “realistic storylines” and “better character development”? Yes. This is why some inhabitants of the ALDUB Nation end up writing better stories on Wattpad or Facebook Notes. Because there are times when they have these plots in mind to make the story extra interesting and it doesn’t happen. It’s like what caused all of these Star Wars fan fiction and fan edit movies because in their mind, they have better concepts for the Star Wars franchise. In case some fan fiction writers in the ALDUB Nation thought about writing about ALDUB, is it a guarantee that Ms. Jenny Ferre et al would snap these concepts up? No. But no doubt that ALDUB spurned the creative juices of everyone that saw it. ALDUB Nation Ready Now?
Interested to know what Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza had to say on this? Is the ALDUB Nation ready in case they already saw it. Try not to overread their tweets in case you follow them at @aldenrichards02 and @mainedcm. Also, tune in to Eat Bulaga. Mondays to Saturdays at noontime. Like Eat Bulaga’s official Facebook page to catch last week’s ALDUB Kalyeserye episode replays.
There are episodes that I still plan to recap alongside the newer ones. But you never know when. So might as well like our official Facebook page, The Philippines Web. And follow us on Twitter @pinasamazing. Why do I still have to look back at them once in awhile? Because I realized that I end up covering even the little details. Namely side comments by the Kalye’s Angels that often get ignored. Feedback, comments and violent reactions are more than welcome at the aforementioned social media accounts. We’d be expecting you.
