The Author and the Blogger

THE AUTHOR AND THE BLOGGER

by Antonio C. Antonio

June 10, 2014

About the Author…

In the 1970s, Lotis Melisande Key was a movie and theatre actress who starred in more than 80 films in the Philippines and other countries in Asia.  She received a FAMAS Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress for her outstanding character portrayal in the movie “Dalawang Mukha ng Tagumpay” in 1973.  In spite of her excellence in dramatic/serious roles, Lotis is best remembered for appearing in about a dozen popular comedy films which starred Dolphy, the King of Philippine Comedy movies.

Lotis, in a never-ending search for excellence, transitioned to theatre.  Her acting skills were further honed to perfection by stage director Roxanne A. Lapus, a legend in Philippine theatre.  Under the expert tutelage of Director Roxanne, Lotis played leading lady roles to other stage greats like Gus Aldeguer and Miguel Faustman for SRO… a company that pioneered high-end dinner theater in hotel ballrooms.  Several years of exposure in the theater arts further brought out the artist in her.

After moving to the United States in 1986, Lotis pursued her love for the visual arts by keeping busy with video production, TV commercials, voice-over dubbing, radio and theatre.  By 1999, she became a theatre director and began writing stage plays.  Writing, directing and producing stage plays allowed her the opportunity to extensively travel north America. 

With her passion for writing theatrical pieces, Lotis moved up to writing reports and articles for numerous magazines and newspapers based in the US.  At present, she is the Vice President of the Minnesota Christian Writers Guild and takes special pride in being called a “Christian Author.”  So far, she has authored two books: “The Song of the Tree” and “A Thing Devoted.”  I have yet to read Lotis’ books but judging from her blogs posted on her website (www.lotiskey.com) which I have read, these books will be very interesting reads.  She is an excellent writer with a knack for using metaphor… guaranteed to get your imagination juices flowing.  Lotis is truly a creative and intellectually engaging writer!

It is quite unfair for people to remember Lotis as just an ordinary actress and comedienne.  Actors and actresses live in a structured world where the script becomes their bible.  Everything is fed to them and all they need to do is memorize their lines, internalize their character and play/act the role when the director shouts “action!”  And, as many would say, showbiz and movie personalities could survive in their glitter and glamour world with a minimum requirement for brains.  Even more disturbing is the fact that some teenagers join the showbiz bandwagon even without the benefit of a formal education so long as they look good on television or on the big screen.  This seems to be the stigma often attached to TV and movie stars.  After Lotis left the Philippine show business scene in the mid 1980s, her fans lost track of her and they never had the opportunity to know the other intellectual facets of a person they only knew to be a movie star.  There really is more to Lotis… but, sadly, her literary brilliance seems to be overshadowed by this showbiz stigma.  It’s really time for people to acknowledge Lotis as a scriptwriter, a playwright, a journalist, an author and a novelist.  I should add that Lotis is a graduate of St. Paul’s College-Manila.

Lotis is married to Bambi Kabigting who used to play basketball for the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the Crispa Redmanizers.  Time for a little throwback… Many moons ago, I used to watch young Bambi play for United Parañaque in the local summer basketball tournament.  Even as I was awed by his basketball skillset, I had to cheer for the opposing team, Sun Valley led by Bert Guevarra who played for Letran in the NCAA.  I also remember a hyper active young boy who cheered wildly for Bambi then… someone who someday will run for Vice President (Edu Manzano).  Anyway, to keep the long story short, Bambi was the top scorer in that game and United Parañaque won.

A casual encounter between the Author and the Blogger…

When Lotis Key found out that I’m a pro-environment Blogger, she commented:  “Thank you Anton. Wow I didn't know people like you existed in the Philippines.  I'm in Minnesota right now but I go back to Manila every few months.  Here's one for your book... I used to drink water straight from the tap in our kitchen... locking my mouth against the faucet because I was in too much hurry to get a glass.  I never got sick.  A few months ago I had an iced tea in Mega mall... sick for three days.  I used to wear white a lot.  Try that now... you'll need a new outfit every other day.  As soon as I leave the airport my throat swells and my voice becomes very raspy (sexy daw).  It won't clear up until I am in Antipolo.  My heart just BREAKS for the generation condemned to live in that, day after day.  What will the next generation of our children be?  Pollution is robbing their minds and bodies with every breath they take.  Naku don't get me started.  My heart is with the children I see everywhere sleeping on the filthy streets and begging for scraps of food.”  I answered: “That's sad... anyway, at least you're "sexier"! There are several of us (pro-environment advocates) but still very few compared to the 100 million population we have now.  Hope you can find time to check on my blogsite: https://antonantonio.blogspot.com/... You'll enjoy it! Stay well...”

This casual exchange of comments with Lotis bared another of her innate personality… the author has a pro-environment heart and mind.  Her observations validated my argument that there is less concern for air and water pollution and landscape ecology planning in our country.  Lotis, as I observed, is a natural at concern for the future generations.

Another bothersome note is the impression that environment advocates don’t exist in the Philippines.  Perhaps, this is the shared impression of people living in environment-friendly countries including Filipinos who now live abroad.  Could we blame them?... certainly not!  The manner by which we have treated our environment and managed our natural resources in this part of the world is not at all ideal.  Do I sound like I’ve given up?... of course not!  My blogsite (antonantonio.blogspot.com) carries several articles on ways and means to engage the public to increase their level of concern for the environment.  It seemingly is an uphill climb but at least we have started popularizing environmental issues now.  Eventually we’ll get there!... how?  In a blog I’ve written entitled “The Ripple Principle” (antonantonio.blogspot.com, posted April 22, 2014), I outlined a simple and doable method to increase environmental awareness.  We, lovers of Mother Earth, may be fewer than we think but we are surely and steadily increasing in number day by day.  Ms. Lotis Key will certainly be a very positive addition to our ranks.

Lotis Key once said:  “The true calling of the artist is not the entertainment of fools but the awakening of thought.”  It is my fervent wish she also contributes her thought-provoking literary artistry to environmental causes too.

Just my little thoughts…