Derek is a name no one wants to hear at ABS-CBN
What's in a name?
A lot apparently, as it became a big issue in the promotion of the movie "A Secret Affair," starring Anne Curtis and Derek Ramsay—a reunion of sorts after their immensely successful first project together, "No Other Woman."
The issue lies in the network allegedly prohibiting the mention of Derek's name in any of the ABS-CBN shows where the movie is being promoted.
Anne confirmed as much in a press conference of the film on Monday, Oct. 15.
Anne frustrated
"Anong magagawa ko?" Anne told reporters. She said she was frustrated at first with the directive, but in the end accepted "that it's the way it's supposed to be."
She said, "They have their own reason so I have to respect that."
Anne has been told not to mention Derek's name when she promotes their movie on her daily ABS-CBN variety show, "It's Showtime."
Derek's parts have also been edited out of the movie trailer that airs on ABS-CBN, a real feat considering he is Anne's leading man.
Derek himself was initially upset that Anne had to face the predicament of not mentioning his name in the course of promoting the movie. But, in the end, he said he respects it.
"Sad but that's the way it is," he said.
How can a name hurt the network?
Derek was one of the top male leads on the Kapamilya network before he transferred to TV5 earlier this year.
This appears to be the most obvious reason why Derek has become something of a Lord Voldemort in the halls of ABS-CBN.
Too harsh? Or too silly?
What can a name do to hurt a giant network? I'd understand if they chose to ban Derek forever from even coming within a few meters of the ABS-CBN premises.
Defies logic
But a ban on even mentioning his name? It's something that defies, well, logic.
Will Derek's name cause sound waves to reverberate around the network studios and cause it to collapse? Will it cause the network's fortunes to regress? Will it launch an outbreak that will spell doom for Mother Ignacia and Sgt. Esguerra residents? Will it jam the network's frequency?
And is ABS-CBN cutting off its nose to spite its face because Derek, after all, is just as vital as Anne in the success of the movie or else the network wouldn't have cast him?
I'm not taking the side of GMA-7, but when almost the entire frontline of Kapuso stars jumped ship, I never heard of any "order" prohibiting the staff and remaining stars to stop mentioning the names of the defectors from their programs. In fact, I still hear people talk about Anne Curtis and all the former Kapuso talents in GMA shows.
Maybe ABS-CBN should rethink this policy. It's senseless and oppressive, and brings its lofty ideals and advocacies down the pit. Actually, it's petty and childish, if you ask me.
What do you think?
For more on the story, please read this Yahoo! Philippines OMG! news article.
