You're Always a Star (Updated)

By Bo Sanchez
You Have the Power to Create Love
(Take Another Step on the Simple Path to Happiness)

Imagine I’m an inspiring actor. You must agree that with my looks, it wouldn’t be too difficult to picture this scenario. After all, the horror genre is aplenty.

They tell me that there are five stages that every tinsel town personality must go through. Let me show you the anatomy of fame.

Stage 1: “Who is Bo Sanchez?” This is the starting point of every fame-hungry person: you’re a nobody. You have to make your first appearance on film, even if your role is that of a costumed freakish alien that gets pulverized by the star at the opening scene of the movie. It might be difficult to imagine now, but even Madonna, Demi Moore and Julia Roberts went through the stage where people asked, “Who’s she?”

Stage 2: “Get Bo Sanchez” This second level is intoxicating. By some stroke of luck, you get recognized for your thrilling talent or thrilling body. Your name is bandied around in the studios, and a small fans club is forming- no longer organized by your mother. Your price tag is still ascending, so all movie outfits fight for the right to make your first box-office. As you walk in the mall, you count the number of times people ask for your autograph. When you get tired of this, you start wearing shades. Ahhh. You have arrived.

Stage 3: “Get me Bo Sanchez look-alike.” The peak! Your face is seen on ads, tabloids, billboards, and TV gossip programs. You’re everywhere! Only the biggest producers can afford you now. So smaller media companies will settle for young artists who look like you. You’re now royalty (e.g. concert queen, king pop, box-office king, soap opera queen). Finally, you know you’ve reached this high point when you can no longer walk in a mall without a huge crowd following you hysterically screaming “Aaaaaaaayyyyyyyy

Stage 4: “Get me a younger Bo Sanchez.” But before you know it, the inevitable hits you. You hear your director ask for someone like you who’s ten years younger, ten years sexier, ten years bolder. You feel offended when scriptwriters offer you motherly roles. Soon, however, no other roles come except motherly roles. Your price tag gets slashed. Your name shrinks in movie and when they congregate around you, you wonder if you’re in some high school reunion of class ’27.

Stage 5: “Who is Bo Sanchez?” You meet some teens walking down the street and they pass you by like you were a telephone post. Ouch. Once in a while, a grandmother points to you and her family looks at you quizzically. You feel like a prehistoric artifact in a museum being surveyed. And then they walk you by. Double-ouch.

And then it hits you: You’re a nobody.

And you realize-wasn’t I here before?

Never go after fame.

In the heart of God, you’re always a star.

Always were, always will be

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In any part of this world when you’re famous, it is very normal that you experience the five stages mentioned above. However, I believe that most of us, if not all, go through the same path as celebrities do.

My dad, for example, is a seafarer. When he was in his 30’s, job offers were left and right. I can still see vivid pictures of my dad’s co-workers personally visiting him in our house; telling my dad that their employer want him back. He was like a celebrity in the maritime world. But that’s long time ago. Now that my dad’s hair is turning salt and pepper, the scenario has drastically changed. He’s having a hard time looking for a shipping company wherein age doesn’t matter. My dad is apparently getting a lot of rejections. Though he is not telling us, I know he is hurt.

My dad’s life is about being in bodies of water (rivers, seas, oceans etc.), enduring gigantic waves, facing fear in the middle of great storms and bearing extreme heat inside the engine room. Along with the physical struggle he seldom sees his family, his loved ones. He has obviously lived a difficult life but he loves his job. He is a committed sailorman.

My dad started as nobody. But through hardwork and God’s grace he is able to reach his goal. A priest once said “When God blesses your work, there lies your vocation.”I believe God has blessed my dad. I believe it’s his calling. It’s where God wants him to be. Now that my dad is facing some difficulties in getting a job, does it mean God has decided to stop blessing my dad?

No.

God’s love for us will never decrease. If good things will soon come to an end for my dad, perhaps God has a better plan - better than we can imagine. We just have to keep the faith and trust God’s eternal promise. The scripture says:

"It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." -Deuteronomy 31:8

"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." - Exodus 14:13a,14
"Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9

"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." - Hebrews 6:10

My dad’s celebrity status (in his field) may soon be over. But in God’s heart, I know he’s always a star. Always were, always will be.

Posted 5/27/09 8:18 PM

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The bulk ship, where my father worked, arrived at Manila Harbour Centre last Friday. Yesterday night, I, together with my brother, cousin and uncle, were able to explore the ship. If you think it was such a great experience, you’re wrong. Included in our itinerary were the following: my father’s room, toilets, laundry area, kitchen, entertainment area and engine room. The engine room was like a taste of HELL.It’s SOOO HOTTT!!! But that’s my father’s station. :(

When it’s time to leave, it’s so hard to say goodbye. That experience was totally incomparable to the numerous times we sent him to the airport. I’m used to it. I was doing it my whole life. But yesterday, the word goodbye suddenly had a different meaning: In our heart, Daddy you will always be a star. Always were, always will be. At papapakabait po talaga kami at parating pahalagahan ang inyong pagsisikap...
To all the families of OFWs, always keep in mind that your loved one is in SERIOUS BUSINESS. And when I say SERIOUS, it means THEIR LIFE IS AT STAKE. Because they want to give you nothing but the BEST.

10/19/09