I Think I Like Jolina… Erm.

When I was much younger, I thought that Jolina Magdangal was some weird-ass celebrity trying to impress people with her flamboyantly gay clothes. I always got confuzzled whenever I watched her host on TV, with those Rainbow Bright-inspired outfits and accessories that would put any drag queen to shame.

But recently, I realized, hell. We pretty much have the same sense of fashion. I then began LOL-ing at myself and wondered when people would coin a word synonymous to “jologs” based on my name.

I don’t know why they had an inherent aversion towards her style then, given that it was so hip, so individualistic, so Tokyo. She never tired to conform, didn’t try to be your typical, boring pretty face whose name we never heard of again after G-mik. Most of all, she was a trendsetter.

Do you remember those butterfly hair clips with springs to make them look like they’re moving? Well, those were first seen on Jolina, when she guested on ‘Sang Linggo Na Po Sila, if I’m not mistaken. Same goes with those tacky mini clips that didn’t really do much for your hair except make you look like you’re 4 years old. 2 days after she wore them, the clips were already being mass-produced and sold in palengkes.

Back when it was the style to do multiple 2-inch folds on the hem of one’s jeans, Jolina shocked everyone when she came out on ASAP like a farmer and did a single huge-ass fold at the bottom of her denim pants. This she accentuated with platform shoes and colorful blings. Okay, it may be acceptable to wear something like that these days but let me remind you that back then, people thought Boyzone was cool. And Leandro Baldemor was hot. And oh, please don’t ask me why I remember that ASAP episode. >_>

Also, when I was in 6th grade, Tamagochi became popular and she was one of the first to come out in public with a virtual pet. I don’t know why conservatives went ballistic over it and started hating Jolina because she’s forward-thinking but if I remember right, she basically said it’s perfect for asthmatics who couldn’t keep pets. She then looked at the camera, smiled and gave them the middle finger. Wait, maybe that didn’t happen.

Okay, I’m pretty much digressing now but my point is that… I think I like Jolina’s… fashion. I can’t believe I’m saying it but I do. Well, the old Jolina, at least, back when she was still funky and weird. I look back and realize that I’d kill to have the clothes and accessories she wore back then. Now she’s all normal and boring and bleh.

And I thought maybe, just maybe, she’s not the main reason why she was disliked by many. Maybe it was her erm, equally interesting fans. Or her “status”. Or the fact that she uttered the infamous line “But I’m just your bestfriend!!!” in her movie with Marvin Agustin, Hey Babe, which was released in 1999. Whatev. Just like Anna Dizon, Jolina is Jolina. Please don’t call me jologs.

ps: My good friend, Aleah Aliporo, directed a documentary called “JOLINA”, which chronicled the lives of some of her biggest fans. I wasn’t one of those fans. lol. You guys should see it! Very very interesting.