*

On the days that I closely followed PBB2, I did not waver in my support to Dionne. On the day that she was evicted, I continued to rally behind her and lambasted HMs that I believed did not deserve to win. My support to Dionne was due to reasons that I have posted in the forums and I don’t have to repeat them here.

But why did Dionne did not make it? Here some of the observations that I mustered to rationalize the turn of events.

It was clear to me at the start that a Cebuano competitor would be having a difficult time making it big in PBB2. In the past seasons and in other contests of ABS-CBN, Cebuanos have been making a name as part of the Big 4 or winning the most coveted award. The Cebuano votes were instrumental to catapulting Kim Chiu and Keanna Reeves as big winners.

Another Cebuano for PBB2? If so, the Cebu votes must be that powerful. But PBB has to counteract this so that the reality show would not appear as a “Cebu reality show.” And for any Cebuano that enters the game, a tough and arduous task and a daunting public opinion and judgment have to be hurdled by this competitor. Dionne became such recipient. She was the last among the 12 regular HMs to enter and all eyes started sizing her up.

Thus, the secret HMs task and her “flirty” role with Zeke. The task went well but her supposed “relationship” with Zeke started tongues wagging. Dionne became a victim of hostility and judgmental public opinion. At the time that Dionne wanted to redeem herself, Wendy and her cohorts proved to be stronger. Dionne did not escape the constant nomination; isolated herself and forgot that she was into a game where HMs’ nomination play a vital part. She survived the ordeal, largely due to the Cebuano votes and sympathy that she generated among the Filipino viewers. At the same time, the Wendy “hate” movement started taking place where Dionne became a recipient of votes that vowed to ouster Wendy. Dionne was able to evict Zeke, Kian, and Wendy.

But the 4th nomination was Dionne’s most challenging period. Her fans were pressured mentally and financially due to the unstoppable nominations. The Cebu and sympathy votes were tested; and no one would ever know the truth if Dionne got only 39% compared to Nel with an overwhelming 64%. Allegations of vote switching started to pop up considering that there was no “third party” that validated the results at the time, the low Nel fan base, the growing anti-Nel movement in Bacolod (as the Ilonggos were angered by his constant nomination on Saicy), and Nel’s ultimate eviction having the lowest votes among the top 7.

Dionne also refused to compromise her principles with BB when she was asked if she wanted to meet her biological father. This could have been a story that would keep her in the house, but she stood her ground. She became a “sale” item as she did not want the network to “invade” her private life. The “alleged” vote switching coupled with the scenario that she was no longer a “hot” item, Dionne finally exited. Unlike Wendy, who unwittingly enjoined the PBB telenovela resulting in the besmirching of her personality and public hate, Dionne opted to get out of the house with a pure heart rather than compromise her beliefs. She lost the game. Cebu lost the game.

But even if Dionne did not make it in PBB2, she has the talent, physical attributes, determination, and purity to become a star. For many of us that supported her throughout the season, Dionne is still the winner.

“I really have nothing against them.  I’m hurt.  But i don’t keep grudges in my heart.”

- – -

Dionne, you make us proud.  You have a big heart.  And for us, you are the BIG WINNER!

I have seen it coming.  They will keep on nominating her until finally, she gets kicked out of the house.  Oh please, spare us the “hindi po kasi siya masyadong nakikisama,” or “sa lahat po kasi ng mga housemates, siya po ang hindi ko masyadong nakikilala,” drama.  Hello, even if I were her, I’d rather talk to myself than to talk to people who would backstab me the moment I am no longer within earshot or insult me to no end.  And if she’s the person who you know personally the least, wouldn’t you want her to stay instead just so you can spend more time together?  Oh well, if I am as smart as D, being in the company of some pea-brained, just-good-at-gyrating, not to mention not-so-nice people, would definitely bore me to death.  But even smart, ever as patient and uncomplaining, D, tried hard to cooperate with them in their various activities.  Maybe it’s because she was raised well by her mother and was loved and cared for by her family.  She is not KSP because she understands, and tries hard to understand. 

I must admit tomorrow would be a steep hill to climb considering that many find that boy amusing and funny.  I wonder if people would still find him amusing and funny if they can see and hear the insults he has hurled at D over the last few days, as well as his backbiting spree with the reigning backbiting queen, W.   Even his own cousin, who dropped by my tita’s office a few weeks back campaigned not to vote for him because he has a little attitude problem.  Tikalon guid kuno katama. Hahaha. 

You know, it really doesn’t matter if D would win or lose in this popularity show slash contest although it would be really good if she’ll win.  Because you see, we loved her even before she joined PBB, and we will continue to love her because she is more than just a face in the TV for us.  Even if she leaves the tomorrow, nobody will be blaming her or calling her a loser and her mother would be more than happy to have her back.  That’s what makes D different from the rest of the housemates.  She will not be wailing “pagagalitan ako ng papa ko, ano na lang sasabihin ng papa ko na pinalabas ako,” unlike some other people I know.  D is in that show because she wants to, not because she was forced by her family. 

Whatever the outcome will be tomorrow, we will stand by her.  Ours will be the loudest cheer, and our hearts will continue to overflow with love for this little girl who has remained humble and strong, despite the difficulty of the situation, as well as the complexities of the people surrounding her now. 

But at this very minute, hundreds of her fans’ fingers are busy pressing BB Dionne because we want her in there, we want to show all those snobs that nobody gets away with bashing our beloved girl without getting a good spanking from us.  That’s how we love.

Had a Pinoy Big Brother book of records existed, Dionne Monsanto would have etched a place.

After all, PBB’s “Lovable Sweetheart” broke the record for having been nominated for eviction three times already and still managed to survive, thanks to fans who are seemingly increasing in number every nomination night. “We campaign and do text brigades, but most votes are really from her supporters,” happily notes Dionne’s mom, Dulce Siroy.

As observed during past editions of the ABS-CBN primetime reality show, a housemate being nominated consecutively usually falls down on the second or third time. But in Dionne’s case, she managed to surpass her third nomination, running away with the biggest bulk of the total votes at 40%.

Given only a day or less to celebrate the victory, Dionne once again found herself as a candidate for eviction last Sunday night. And for the first time this season, it’s a one-on-one fight between her and the popular “Mr. Perfect” housemate, Nel Rapiz of Iloilo City.

Because of her consecutive nominations, Dionne felt devastated. The 12 votes against her seemed to underscore that her housemates want her out badly. The housemates justified their votes by saying that Dionne remains to be aloof and still doesn’t mingle with them.

But Carla Chua, 24, from Las Vegas, Nevada disagrees, “The housemates know that D is a major threat to their success and this is a game of chance. Survival of the fittest is the theme. Of course, these housemates want themselves to win and D is one strong factor that may hinder their way to success. So they try to eliminate the competition that she poses.”

If the housemates want to drive her out of Big Brother’s house, her fans say they would be blocking the exit.

The FREEMAN Entertainment conducted e-mail interviews and scoured PBB forums to have a clearer picture of the lengths that Dionne’s fans went to show their support and their reasons for doing so. Buying vote cards, voting via text, writing appeals, defending Dionne and confronting the bashers are just few of the things that the fans have done to prove how supportive they are for this Cebuana bet.

Despite the consecutive nominations, Spain-based fan Ina J. Garcia, 23, would not tire of voting for her. “I would like to help Dionne reach her dreams, and through voting for her, little by little, she is a step higher into achieving it,” expresses Ina, who votes online.

Likewise, 17-year-old Kyle Reymund Bleza Jarabelo of Davao doesn’t mind spending money for vote cards and text votes for Dionne. However, right now, he’ll have to settle for texting. “Medyo kapos na sa budget for vote cards, eh. (My budget is a bit tight for vote cards now),” he explains.

Carla has already pledged her support for Dionne all the way. What made her support Dionne is her sincerity. “Dionne is the underdog inside the house, and I always believe in the capability of underdogs if only given the chance to shine,” she says.

Dionne’s survival through the past nominations is somehow reflective of how strong and united Dionne fans are. From a point-something lead over first evictee Zeke to the top 40% lead against Saicy and Wendy, the numbers seem to show how determined these fans are in making her stay.

After all, Ina believes “Dionne has the more heart and passion than any other housemate. An epitome of a young modern Filipina, Dionne is God-fearing, strong-willed and compassionate. She is a fighter. She may have flaws but she is brave enough to own up her mistakes, which makes her very human.”

“What I really admire the most is yung pagiging tahimik lang nya (her being quiet) even though she knows her housemates are talking about her behind her back,” Kyle remarks.

A 34-year-old fan from Metro Manila (who prefers to remain anonymous) thinks, “Dionne is smart by being herself. This is a quality rare in an individual. She has the ability of not conforming to a group that is after her neck, but sticking to her principles without any trace of hatred.”

Furthermore, she wants Dionne to stay in the house because “She represents the cause of any Filipino, that in spite of difficulties, she can stand the test of times with a clean heart.”

As for Ina, she would very much want Dionne to learn from her experiences inside the house and not give up. “If she stays, she will learn more about the attitudes and capabilities she never thought she had.”

Even with this fourth nomination, her fans trust that Dionne has good chances of continuing her PBB stint. “She has our full support. Some fans of other housemates are even rooting for Dionne. And of course, Cebu is famous in terms of supporting their own kababayan,” Kyle says.

“If we, the solid fans of Dionne, stay focus, united, and have the same kind of teamwork for the past eviction nights, I am confident D can survive. If we truly believe in her, nobody and nothing can sway our solid votes for D,” Carla asserts.

Whatever the results of the Eviction Night will be, the fans will remain solid in backing their “Lovable Sweetheart.”

“You cannot let a good person down. No matter how much they push Dionne down, she goes back to the surface with a positive attitude and without vengeance,” an anonymous fan shouts out in a PBB forum.

She may have started out as a victim, but to her fans, Dionne will someday come out as the victor!

Dionne faces her fourth nomination. To save Dionne from being evicted from the PBB house this week, type BB DIONNE

Send it to 2331 for Globe, Sun and TM subscribers and 231 for Smart, Addict and TnT subscribers.

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/FREEMAN200705112402.htm

* 

From UpLate: Upon winning a game from the tic-tac-toe, what did Dionne ask from Gee-Ann? Forgiveness.

Now what better act can one show that to ask for forgiveness for something which, Dionne thought, brought trouble to Gee-Ann. Even if Dionne claimed that there was nothing wrong with Gee-Ann (and Mickey), but really with herself (which she also couldn’t understand), she took the courage to ask for forgiveness from Gee-Ann due to the negative impression she gave Gee-Ann.

That’s something very noble. All the more it should remind everyone of the of goodness present in Dionne! All the more it should spur us supporters to uphold Dionne above all the rest!

Let’s strive to keep Dionne inside.

*

Speaking of Gee-Ann, I was wondering why she had to push her feelings/opinions down Dionne’s throat.  If she reached out to Dionne and Dionne refuses, Gee-Ann should respect that.  People cope with loneliness and pain differently.  She (and the rest of the HMs) should respect Dionne’s silence.  She’s not making any trouble anyway.  She joins in the activities and tasks.  So what’s their problem?

Ah, they are paranoid because they can’t get into Dionne’s thoughts and feelings.  They labeled her insecure and papansin, like as if they don’t have their own insecurities.  Have you forgotten Gee-Ann that you have dolls so you could hide your insecurities behind them?

So, who’s insecure and papansin now? 

Dionne already said that there’s nothing wrong with Gee-Ann, “pero ako, I feel awkward towards you,” Dionne told her.  Gee-Ann still kept on blabbering about her reaching out to Dionne.  Gee-Ann must have forgotten how she treated Dionne in the past, promising to tell her first if she’d give up Pamela.  But she conveniently didn’t tell Dionne and they were supposed to be closest in the house.  If it were another person, she would’ve reminded Gee-Ann that she wasn’t such a good friend herself.  But Dionne did not pass the blame or say anything hurtful against Gee-Ann.

The least they (Gee-Ann and Mickey) should do is respect Dionne’s space.  Then again, with all the backbiting, backstabbing, and bullying, RESPECT doesn’t seem to play an important role in the PBB house.

Recently, a lot of people are demanding that they show Wendy’s backbiting spree.  But they are not showing it.  Not yet, at least.  And it has been weeks since Wendy and her minions started backbiting their fellow housemates.  Dionne, their favorite topic of conversation.  Many are wondering:  Why are they not showing Wendy’s bad side?

This is a DEAD ISSUE, but I can’t help but conclude that it was really in bad taste that the PBB management showed that Sunblock issue, in that particular angle.  They didn’t even explain to the public that Dionne did NOT do it to touch Zeke’s penis.  They showed it irresponsibly to get the ratings.  Because why else did they do that for? 

When MTRCB called PBB’s attention regarding that scene, the management was quick to punish Dionne.  And they did not even lift a finger to clean her good name. 

Before Dionne entered PBB, she had a lot of good things going on for her — her VJ stint with RcTV, her hosting jobs, her feeding project, her school, her contribution to her town, etc.  She was well-loved and respected. 

Sure, Dionne is not a saint.  She admits to her own wrongdoings and weaknesses.  She does not pretend that she is perfect.  In fact, she is very down-to-earth, her peers and the people she has worked with would attest to that.

But everything that she was (and still is) and everything that she has done have been overshadowed by those few “inapropriate” scenes irrresponsibly shown on national TV.

And so why don’t they (PBB management) show Wendy’s backbiting spree?  What good name will Wendy lose?  Before PBB, Wendy chose for herself to be a mistress (she admitted this on primetime at the confession room), and work in Japan (she said: “takot po silang maagawan ng customers”).  So what has she got to lose? 

Of couse, it’s PBB management’s prerogative.  They have, after all, the power to CHOOSE the scenes they want to show on TV.

But if these people have souls at all, the least they could do is help Dionne gain back her good name.

* 

I am writing you once to again to pose a question for you guys regarding policies of your PBB2 show and houserules by “kuya” for some of your female housemates. Composing and sending you this letter will most likely be in vain but nevertheless I wanted to say my piece for the sake of 1/2 of your PBB2 female housemates that are being bullied not to mention backstabbed.

I am wondering what your plans–next steps are in addressing this infantile bullying attitude of Maricris Dizon. I am appalled that I have not heard or seen anything that tells me you are addressing this issue of her bullying Bea and Dionne. I was thinking that perhaps  Maricris’s disgusting demeanor in the dining table towards Bea should have been the straw that broke the camel’s back and therefore warrants Maricris being reprimanded and even getting automatic-nomination for eviction. Something long overdue should be done regarding Maricris’s unsolicited bitchy behavior towards Bea as it is very much reprehensible. I take my hat off to Bea who was still able to exercise some form of decorum though under attack, in the dining table, that shows she has respect for the other housemates trying to enjoy their meal.

Note to Director Dyogi: Bea like Wendy, also came from humble beginnings struggling to make ends meet. I wonder why we never hear Bea whine about this every chance she gets nor does she use this as an excuse for misbehaving nor does she use that to get sympathy and solicit votes??? Ahhh….the answer….excellent upbringing by Bea’s mother, that’s why!!!

One of the things in the past you asked the PBB2 housemates to do was to have an ‘open forum’ on past experiences regarding bullying. I guess my mistake was that I thought this was something you had them do so as to emphasize to them that it is something that will not be tolerated in PBB2 house. Sadly I guess I was mistaken.

This is one of the major reasons why your show is losing in the ratings game. Your obvious bias is just so downright repugnant that it is turning off your Filipino viewers simply because these types of offensive behavior being tolerated by your management is not exactly something a conservative decent society such as ours prefer to see. Don’t you think it is high-time that you actually get off your highly-paid butts and address these things!!!!

The bias that your entire production crew has for the ill-mannered housemates namely m^^^^^^^, w****, s&&&& and b++++, appears to be some kind of venom that has spread around your entire production crew as manifested in how this reality show is being shown to the viewing public. Just take your cameramen for instance. It is freaking obvious that these people are either related to OR have raging hormones and have the hots for OR perhaps even have a relationship with your favorite female housemates.

It is my fervent hope that ABS-CBN steps in and tries to save the remaining half of this show for the sake and the benefit of your very-much neglected and kind-decent-souls namely Bea, Dionne and Gee-ann who all have been harrassed, backstabbed and bullied by m^^^^^^^, w****,  s&&&&. and b++++

If you are not planning on dealing with this issue, could you at least ask w****, m^^^^^^^, s&&&& and b++++ to at least engage in backstabbing somewhere else other than the prayer-meditation room. It is just so offensive to us Christians watching that you tolerate this utmost disrespect of this poorly-raised housemates of yours to a room that is supposedly designated for prayers and meditation.

They are not only backbiting Dionne, they are also already bullying her. 

There’s a group in PBB — Wendy and her minions, Bodie, Saicy, Maricris, and Nel  — who, in between doing their tasks, do nothing but backbite their fellow housemates.  Their favorite topic is Dionne.  They accuse her of eating and sleeping too much.  As Wendy tells her minions, “akala ko ba may insomnia, tulog naman ng tulog.”  The insomnia was Dionne’s excuse when she did that one-week task with Zeke because they were up all night taking care of the four secret housemates.  Wendy of course, didn’t get that.  Then again, I’m not surprised if she didn’t get that.  After all, it took her 8 years to finish her college degree.

Wendy would tell the other HMs about Dionne’s crush on Mickey, about Dionne not doing her household chores.  She even commented on her hair during the Santacruzan.  She always has something to say, even about the most petty things.

Sure, those are her opinions.  But what’s the point of telling it to the other HMs and not tell it directly to Dionne?

If you ask me, there is nothing wrong with eating and sleeping.  Or having crushes.  Or not tying up one’s hair during Santacruzan.  What is very wrong is badmouthing and backbiting another person, especially if the one backbiting has a notorious reputation. 

Among all the housemates, Wendy has become the televiwer’s most hated.  The Official Anti-Wendy thread is fast growing.  And there, she has been labeled flirt (she is flirting with Bruce even if she has a boyfriend).  She has been labeled Kabit (because she told big brother than her boyfriend is married).  She has been labeled Japayuki (because she worked in japan).  She has been labeled Backbiter (because she backbites her fellow HMs and even people who is not part of the show).  She has been labaled insecure, desperate, KSP.   Most people in the forum threads call her the Resident Evil.

But oh, get this, Wendy’s group pray together every night.  When their prayer ends, instead of sharing their personal spiritual experiences, they would continue their backbiting spree,  inside the prayer room!

It’s funny how Big Brother has been tolerating this backbiting spree.

See, they can backbite and bully Dionne all they want.  The televiewers know that it’s Wendy and her minions who are the bad people. 

* 

It’s a quiet night inside the Big Brother’s House.  No weekly task.  No nothing for all the HMs, except for Nel of course, with his PBB fear factor challenge.  In the garden, Bea and Dionne recall their meaningful interaction with the marginalized and minority people.  Dionne shares how she used to celebrate her birthday with underpriviledged children and how she enjoyed putting smiles on their faces.  Bea on the other hand had experienced mingling with the Aetas…

Endowed with a good heart, D longs to put up a foundation one day to help more people.

She said that she got hurt because she noticed that Dionne seemed distant and she thought they were close.  I wonder what she meant by close, because even before Dionne decided to keep her distance, Wendy was already backbiting her.  She would act like she’s Dionne’s friend, and then she would talk ill of her behind her back.  

Then again, I’m not really surprised that Wendy is capable of doing this to Dionne.  She even badmouths her own mother (and in the end she said that she’s the best mother in the world.  ano yun?  confused eh?), and her boyfriend. 

In fairness to Dionne, when asked by Kuya about her crushes (Zeke and Mickey) and reminded her about her boyfriend, she had the decency to say: “narealize ko po na mali po ako.”  She did not blame her boyfriend or make excuses for her actions.   

Wendy on the other hand, blabbered on national tv about how her boyfriend made her feel like she’s second priority, blah blah blah.   And he’s not there to defend himself.   She was obviously asking for Bruce’s sympathy.  Again, she’s trying to say that she’s the kawawa one in their relationship.

And oh, she got jealous of Dionne.  Dionne blurted out one morning that she slept late because “nag-usap pa kasi kami ni Kuya Bruce.”  It’s funny why she got jealous.  Dionne called Bruce Kuya.  Is she trying to say that if she was in Dionne’s place, she would seduce her Kuya?  Isn’t that incest?  Haha.  It’s called *projection, Wendy dahling.  And why Wendy, is Bruce your boyfriend already?

She’s right, nakakaawa siya talaga.  With all her acting, the viewers could still see through her insincerity and kaartehan.  “Masama talaga ang ugali niya,” a group of nannies said in unison. 

Yes, Wendy.  Nakakaawa ka nga.

- – - – -

*projection

The attribution of one’s own attitudes, feelings, or desires to someone or something as a naive or unconscious defense against anxiety or guilt.