Multi-awarded actress Maricel Soriano expressed her indifference on the lack of respect from young stars toward the more senior actors.
During her interview with Ogie Diaz, uploaded on his YouTube channel on May 19, Soriano mentioned feeling sorry for senior celebrities who got ignored by younger stars without any acknowledgment.
The Diamond Star, however, emphasized the importance of not dwelling on such incidents and instead adapting to them gracefully.
“Nakakita ako ng gan’un pero hindi ako ‘yung ginanon,” she narrated.
“Kumbaga, nasaktan din ako. Habang pinapanood ko ‘yung eksenang ganun, ‘Eh bakit ako? Bakit ako? Hindi niya ba ako kilala? Hindi man lang nagbibigay-pugay?’ May gan’un kasi,” Soriano added.
The Kapamilya actress also recalled the extensive efforts made by celebrities during her time to show respect to their senior counterparts. That’s why, despite finding the practices of today’s generation of celebrities, unsettling,
Marya (as she’s fondly called in showbiz) said she chose not to make a fuss about it anymore.
“Kami noon, pudpod yung lips namin sa kakahalik sa kanilang lahat, and that was our upbringing. ‘Yun ang training namin. Nakagisnan namin ‘yun na magbigay-pugay ka. Kahit nasa dulo pa ako [ng room], pupunta ako doon tas sasabihan ng, ‘Tita, nandito na po ako,’ saka ‘Ako po si Marya.
“Sinabi ko sa sarili ko, ayokong ma-stress sa ganyan. Number one, hindi ko naman kayo kilala. Bakit ko naman i-stress-in ang sarili ko? Now, if you come to me and you tell me who you are, ganyan-ganyan, then I will entertain you.
“But then, in the meantime, if you are not coming to me and saying, ‘Hello,’ e di, wala ka rin mapapala sa aking, ‘Hi,’” she explained.
After Diaz pointed out that there are screen veterans who couldn’t help but feel upset about not receiving acknowledgment from younger stars, Soriano advised them to brush it off because it’s not worth their stress.
“Wag mo nang dibdibin. Wag na. Hindi worth it. Mga bata ang mga iyan eh. Hindi nila alam ang ginagawa nila.”
Soriano also added that she is the one who takes the initiative to approach younger stars and foster a positive and harmonious working relationship with them.
“Laging gan’un kasi walang gustong mag-introduce sa amin. Sasabihin ko, ‘Hi, I’m Marya,’ Gan’un na lang,” she said.
“Dati nga, meron akong ka-eksena na hindi ko kakilala [so nagpakilala ako sa kanya],” she further added. “T’as sabi niya, ‘Gusto ko nga po sana kayong lapitan para batiin kaya lang nahihiya ako.’ Sabi ko, ‘Next time, wag ka na mahihiya.’”
Recently, another Kapamilya actress, Sharon Cuneta, also shared to Ogie Diaz her experience with snobbish young stars.
According to Cuneta, it’s sad that the younger generation of stars doesn’t know how to show courtesy to the senior actors.
“Meron kasing nakakalungkot—minsan nasasalubong namin noon sa [ABS-CBN] corridor. Pagdaan [nila] feeling ko, ‘Kamag-anak kaya ni boss Gabby ‘yon?’. Parang Lopez kung umarte, daig pa ‘yung mga Lopez. Si Don (Geny) nga bumabati kahit sa janitor.
“‘Yung mga bata ngayon, makasalubong mo lang face to face, parang [‘yung] dinaanan nila poste lang. Hindi naman ako nag-eexpect ng anything, just a little (smile and nod). ‘Yung parang kahit walang hello, smile lang.” the Mega Star shared.
Singer-comedian Tuesday Vargas, also shared the same story in a social media post in December 2022 about her experience with snobbish young stars.
