Maja reacts to sex video scandals

Maja Salvador is not the type who attracts controversy because of her strongly-worded  comments. But she decided to speak her mind about  the  sex video scandals rocking showbiz these days.

“Kayo mismo, dapat protektahan ang sarili. Kung may gagawin kayong isang  bagay,  (dapat)  private yon.  Nakalulungkot lang.  Sa bawat pamilya, may  nanay, may kapatid, may kaibigan na babae.Sana ma-realize nila  na may mga kamag- anak silang babae. Dapat alam nila paano respetuhin ang mga babae.”

Maja is well aware of the ups and downs of social media because she herself is active on Twitter and Instagram.    

Thanks to her Coby Kyros tablet (she has just renewed her endorsement of the brand), Maja has become social media savvy.

She uses gadgets to check emails, memorize scripts, post updates in her Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Scriptwriters email Maja revisions to their work.  Her stylist sends pegs for her hair and make-up by email. 

She whiles her time away during lulls on the set by playing Candy Crush and downloads various apps using her ever-handy tablet.

Still, she knows too much of anything is bad.  So Maja has learned to draw the line.

“Dati, sobrang addict sa Twitter and Instagram. Ngayon, only the best moments  and special events ang sine-share ko.  Feeling ko, kung  bawat galaw ko i-po-post ko,-baka mawalan sila ng excitement. Hindi naman sa nagpapa-miss (ako). Kailangan mo lang i-balance lahat.  Hindi lang post ng post.”

Positive messages

Maja’s posts border more on the feel-good.  She posted emergency hotlines  typhoon Maring victims can call if they need help.  She posts network-approved updates on her teleseryes.

“Kung alam mong makakatulong, post mo. Pero kung makakasama or puro nonsense, tahimik na lang ako.”

Sure, Maja has her share of bashers. Who doesn’t?  But she has learned how to deal with them.

“Hindi yan mawawala san mga artista.  Kailangan respect mo opinion nila.”

Maja admits some of her bashers have crossed the line too much, she has decided to block them from her account.

For the most part though, Maja simply refuses to let them get into her system.

“Smile na lang tayo. Hindi ako apektado. Hindi ko na lang binabasa ang mga comments.  Pag nag-post ako, deadma na.  Mga likes na lang ang nakikita ko. Kung masaya ka, wala kang ibang hangad sa paligid mo kung hindi (ang) maging masaya ang lahat.”

Only goes to show that Maja is happy with her relationship with Gerald Anderson, her partner in the just-concluded Star Magic Ball.

Communication, she says, makes her relationship rock-solid.

“Kailangan nandiyan kayo para sa isa’t isa. Kung anong gusto mo, i-share mo lang.”

Her wish list

And what does Maja still want in her career?

Her  Urian Best Actress award for “Thelma” in 2012 was a dream come true.  But Maja doesn’t want to rest on her laurels.

Ten years after she entered showbiz, Maja wants to work with more  brilliant actors she can learn from like Sharon Cuneta, Nora Aunor and Chistopher  de Leon.

“Gusto kong makagawa ng pelikulang makikilala internationally.  Ang ‘Thelma’ na-invite sa filmfests ng ibang mga bansa. Kung kaya ng Pinoy na gumawa ng ganoong kagandang pelikula,  kailangan lumaban at ipakita natin ito sa buong mundo.”

A teleserye with her in the title role, adds Maja, will be just as great.

Meantime, projects  are waiting for her. “Maja Unveils@10” concert shows nationwide celebrate her decade-long stay in showbiz.  A teleserye and movies – indie and mainstream are in the works.

In an industry where stars have risen and fallen, how does  Maja maintain the luster in her career?

“Yan din ang tinatanong ko. Ang daming mga bata diyan.  Mahirap mag-maintain kung nasaan ka. Kahit sobrang tagal mo na, may  darating na sisikat na bago.”

Career longevity

The key, she says, is an open mind and a willingness to be always up on one’s toes.

“Kailangan  tanggapin mo (ang mga nangyayari).  Kailangan pagtrabahuhan mo. Kung oras mong sumikat, sisikat ka talaga.  Kung hindi pa, kailangan mong maghintay kung kalian ang time mo. Habang wala pa, gumawa ka ng  magagandang pelikula o  teleserye, hindi man ikaw ang bida, pero alam mo na magmamarka at may maiiwan sa mga tao.”

All these, plus prayers ("pwedeng magdasal kung nasa traffic") keep Maja’s star shining ever so brightly. And she knows  these will see her through in her career – where competition is tough, and longevity is a privilege reserved only for a few.