20 Philippine Showbiz Today
20 Philippine Showbiz Today
May 22 - June 7 , 2016
Showbiz celebrities that are lucky and unlucky in this year ’ s elections
King of Philippine movies Fernando Poe , Jr . would have served in various political seats had he ran for a different position in 2004 elections . With 11.7 million Filipinos rooting for him to be president , that number of votes would have given the late action star a sure seat in the Senate .
His ambition , along with his showbiz background , was heavily criticized . Many viewed his presidential bid as another Joseph Estrada stunt , which relied purely on his popularity and whose machinery was heavily supported by political interest groups . But if FPJ were not an actor , yet still popular among the masses because of his deeds and advocacies of national importance , we would have had Susan Roces as First Lady and perhaps Grace Poe as the 16th president-elect of the country .
Apparently , that isn ’ t the case and FPJ was not destined to be the president . This is now a classic story . And it should serve as a warning to every showbiz personalities who have this urge to be in politics . Though it is true that one can be elected solely because of one ’ s popularity , this year ’ s election results prove that popularity alone is not a ticket to a public of-
Presidential & Vice Presidential hopefuls in ‘ 04 fice .
You can say Manny Pacquiao and Tito Sotto are examples of showbiz / sports personalities that are extremely popular and now they are firmly entrenched in the Magic 12 of the senatorial race after the national elections on May 9 .
Yes , they are . PacMan ’ s only ticket to the Senate was his massive popularity among the masses being an international boxing champion . But his performance as member of the House of Representative , being an elected representative of Saranggani province , was nowhere near admirable . But
his international feat as a boxer has overshadowed his dismal performance as a congressman .
Senator Vicente Sotto III in his 3rd term
Meanwhile , Sotto ’ s case is different . Appearing daily on TV as one of the hosts of the popular noontime show Eat Bulaga and a the height of the popularity of the AlDub tandem has cemented him in the consciousness of the electorate . Never mind if the audience of Eat Bulaga are unaware of what Tito Sotto had done as a member of the Senate . Oh , yes , I almost forgot , he had been given an International Award of Honor by the International Narcotics Enforcement Officers Association . What else ? Sorry , I can ’ t recall of any .
Senator-elect Emmanuel Pacquiao
Pacquiao and Sotto can already breathe a sigh of relief . But the same thing cannot be said of actor and outgoing Manila Vice Mayor Francisco Domagoso a . k . a Isko Moreno , former actor Mark Lapid , actor and TV host Edu Manzano , actress Alma Moreno and radio personality Rey Langit
who obviously lag in the senatorial race and are almost impossible to be part of the Magic 12 even if a recount would take place .
It ’ s interesting to note that both Domagoso and Lapid have had successful political careers before the 2016 elections . Domagoso had been in elected position as a nine-term councilor in Manila ’ s first congressional district before becoming the capital ’ s youngest vice mayor . Lapid , meanwhile , was elected Governor of Pampanga at the young age of 24 . Similarly , Manzano ran a successful campaign in 1998 and won as Vice Mayor of Makati City . Alma Moreno was best known for her contribution as president of Philippine Councilors League .
Bacoor , Cavite Mayor Lani Mercado & son Cavite Vice Governor Jolo Revilla
Meanwhile , in the local race , actress and wife of detained Senator Bong Revilla , Lani Mercado , has been proclaimed mayor of Bacoor City in Cavite . Their son Jolo Revilla won another term as vice governor of Cavite .
Actor Richard Gomez won , at last , in an election , and this time as mayor of Ormoc City , his wife ’ s hometown city , while wife , Lucy Torres , was re-elected congresswoman of Leyte ’ s 4th District . Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos will be a legislator after serving three terms as governor of Batangas . She won as representative of sixth district of Batangas .
The stories of showbusiness personalities who plunged into the whirring world of politics are both disconcerting and odd .
Ormoc City Mayor-elect Richard Gomez
Former Senator Lito Lapid
Most fascinating is that of Lito Lapid ’ s political journey . From Vice Governor of Pampanga in 1992 to the Senate in 2010 , he ran for a local post as Mayor of Angeles City in Pampanga in the last elections and lost , ending his political career rather too soon and along with his son , Mark Lapid who failed to win a spot in the Senate ’ s magic 12 .
The Ejercitos , nephews of re-elected Manila Mayor Joseph “ Erap ” Estrada , suffered a big blow in Laguna and Quezon provinces . ER Ejercito failed in his bid to be elected back and reclaim his place in Laguna ’ s provincial capitol , though his wife , Girlie “ Maita ” J . Ejercito , has been re-elected Mayor of Pagsanjan town . Gary Estrada , a two-term member of the Quezon ’ s Provincial Board , failed as well in his bid to be the province ’ s Vice Governor .
Luck was on showbiz celebrity Alfred Vargas ’ s side . He ran unopposed in the 5th Congressional District of Quezon City and also with Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista , who won his last term hands down with no contest at all . His brother , Hero , was elected councilor in the 2nd district of Quezon City . Lucky as well is actor Yul Servo ( born John Marvin Nieto ), who is now a congressman representing Manila ’ s 3rd
congressional district .•
- N . Wang , MS
Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista