WHY DO many movie and television personalities continue to be elected in power even if practically everyone agrees that they are not qualified at all?
Every now and then, I get to ask myself this question. Just last weekend, I was in a post-Undas on-the-spot reunion with former classmates when this question popped out over dinner. After the perfunctory reminiscence of the good old days, things turned a little serious when a USA-based classmate commented that at the rate things are going, the country might just witness the complete domination of the country’s executive and legislative branches by actors, actresses, comedians, and other entertainment personalities who are deemed “winnable” by party leaders.
By “winnable” we mean their ability to connect with people by using their undeniable charm, made even more lethal by their onscreen persona.
Think about Robin Padilla singing “Wonderful Tonight” albeit off-key 90 percent of the time to shrieking female fans, projecting that bad-boy-with-a-heart-of-gold image and then you realize and accept with utter frustration that the number one slot in the senatorial elections is already in the bag. It was therefore not surprising to see Padilla top the 2022 Senate elections with 26.6 million votes, as he also led in 13 out of 17 regions and garnered the most number of votes from the overseas Filipino workers.
What about Lito Lapid, the “Supremo” himself who has aided Tanggol in his crusade to help and make things right for the lowly folks of Quiapo? I remember how during his gubernatorial re-election bid in 2001, pictures and video clips of him hanging from a chopper trying to rescue his cabalens stranded on the roof of their house were the barometer of an effective political ad. This larger-than-life image of Leon Guerreo was more than enough to mesmerize the Kapampangans who catapulted him to the provincial Capitol, first as vice governor from 1992 to 1995, and then as governor from 1995 to 2004.
Or have you even thought about the possibility of Willie Revillame topping the 2025 midterm Senate election? The TV host and game show icon is banking on his “Bigyan ng jacket yan!” popularity to win the hearts and votes of the Filipino masses, assuring them that the generosity he has consistently proven in his show will now find a bigger platform in the once august hall of the Senate.
I was about to continue with my litany of inexperienced, unqualified and incompetent would-be senators, representatives and local government officials when another batchmate quipped, “O dyang ali tala bobotu ren, mas dakal nala man reng magbotu karela, anya masambut la pa murin reng balu tamung karapat-dapat manyambut at sumuyu.”
Even for a few seconds, we all nodded and accepted this as the hardest of election truths. In a democracy, majority wins.
Is it then safe to assume that the common denominator of the showbiz personalities’ success in politics is their fan base-turned-political support base? Of course, we cannot and should never invalidate what the Filipino masses consider the right choice for a leader, given their own context. Instead of calling them out as bobotantes whose choices affect us and the others who never voted the same candidates, why don’t we become the catalyst for their re-education as voters?
Let us remind the Filipinos voters that even their idols’ sincerest of desires to serve the people must be backed up by solid qualifications for any position they aspire for. They should not stand in the way of those who are more prepared and qualified to do the job for them. Let us make these voters realize that a person’s goodness should never be equated with competence in government service, much more with a legislative position. There is a long list of good people who continue to show goodness even in the absence of an official title or position in government. Let us also teach these voters to evaluate the actual performance of their idols in Congress or in the local government units and see for themselves if they still deserve their vote.
Instead of dismissing the fans who have grown into a large political base, let us do what we can to help them make informed choices. Afterall, we will be both at the mercy of those elected in power until another election cycle comes. Hopefully by then, we would all reject the political dynasties, dismiss unqualified candidates and make the right choices.
