FIRST SAY:
"Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not?
Some people have to go to work and don't have time for all that shit."
--George Carlin
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It used to be that politics, especially national politics, is anathema to showbiz personalities. The business of governance whether in the executive or the legislative department is serious business. And the public as well as the denizens of show business are content that actors and actresses confine themselves to the silver screen, the world of make believe.
That was the lay of the land in the 1950s and through the 1960s.
People considered government as the real world; actors were not real; they only play parts assigned to them by the script.
Government officials behaved like gentlemen and intellectuals, with lofty advocacies for the poor and the oppressed. In stark contrast were movie actors who were troublesome, drunkards, womanizers and with bad morals. Movie actors cannot enter politics which was the exclusive domain of principled and well-behaved individuals.
This was the reason why Engineer Emilio Ejercito and Dona Mary objected vehemently when actor Joseph Estrada told them that he wanted to try politics, to run as mayor of San Juan, Rizal.
Before Erap, only one movie-radio personality was successful in national political scene. He was Eddie Ilarde, a popular radio announcer and commentator whose popularity earned him a seat in the Senate.
Arsenio Lacson and Francisco "Soc" Rodrigo were Alpha males in the field of media (radio and print) but they were not "artista" in the sense that Erap was.
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Fast forward to the 1970s and 1980s and what do we have?
Numerous actors and actresses tried their hand in politics, whether national or local, dreaming of the same success that Erap somehow showed possible if an actor is patient and serious enough in taking the leap.
And so showbiz denizens swooped down on the political firmament like hungry eagles--Tito Sotto, Herbert Bautista, Lito Lapid, Vilma Santos, Isko Moreno, Joey Marquez, Alma Moreno, Cristina Gonzales, Daniel Fernando, Bert "Tawa" Marcelo, Yul Servo, Sam Versoza, Raymond Bagatsing, Dan Fernandez, Marissa del Mar, Dindo Fernando, Ramon Revilla, Bong Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Carreon, Patrick dela Rosa, Atoy Co, Yoyong Martires, Imelda Papin, Roderick Paulate, Sheryl Cruz, Manny Pacquiao, Alfred Vargas, Aiza Melendez, Edu Manzano, Rico Puno, Monsour del Rosario, Angelica Panganiban, Phillip Salvador, Rudy Fernandez, E. R. Ejercito, etc. ad infinitum.
Almost anybody who has a name in showbiz thought he or she can be elected. Even Amay Bisaya ran as vice president against Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and later as governor of Bohol, both unsuccessfully.
The tragedy of Fernando Poe Jr.'s gunning for the presidency in 2010 is permanently etched in the nation's history.
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The midterm elections next year will be no different. Vilma Santos is running again with the rest of her family members. They will try to corner all juicy positions in Batangas and in their district.
Two popular personalities who in the past had tried to ward off suggestions that they should ran, are seeking public office this time. Nora Aunor as second nominee of the party-list People's Champ, and Willie Revillame for the Senate.
Note, too, that in May 2025, three showbiz personalities are running as mayor of Manila, the capital city: Isko Moreno, Raymond Bagatsing, and Sam Verzosa.
Why are showbiz greats and not-so-great seeking elective positions?
The movies have not been a reliable source of livelihood for the actors lately, especially for the action stars, and particularly for the sexy stars. And they know that with the way our political system works, they stand to make money in this game, if they are willing to shed some of their scruples and look the other way every once in a while. In other words, they would like to cash in on their popularity and name-recall status with the masses.
The successful media giants such as Noli de Castro, Ted Failon, the Tulfo brothers, Sol Aragones, Jiggy Manicad, etc. might need to prove that they are better than the movie actors in politics.
Showbiz and politics can now be considered an amalgamated society with the same cast of characters, give or take a few media and sports heroes to boot.
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