A wish list for 2026: Showbiz, power and the

A wish list for 2026: Showbiz, power and the | Daily Tribune

For Richard Gomez to finally learn how to control his temper. He went through a lot in his childhood and was bullied both for his mother’s image and for his skin color. But this must be clarified: his mother, Stella Suarez, never did pornographic movies. Whatever sexy scenes she did were merely simulated. Given the success life handed him, perhaps it’s time he learned patience. Whatever his reasons for committing a violent act at the SEA Games in Thailand, he will never be able to justify it in the public eye. He built his name the hard way and succeeded tenfold.

For Atty. Rowena Guanzon to choose her battles carefully. I like her ferocity. Her rants are necessary because Filipinos are often timid even in the face of abuse. What she can still work on is her pettiness. If she runs for the Senate in 2028, would I vote for her? Why not? I may not be on the same political page as Guanzon, but the Senate needs her noise.

For Jinggoy Estrada to realize that three is not always a charm — and that strike three means you’re out. Another indictment would mark his third stint in detention.

For Grace Poe to clear her name. The public never expected her to be linked to corruption scandals. I hope she finds her way out of this mess, if only for the sake of her parents, Susan Roces and Fernando Poe Jr.

For Lito Lapid’s voice to finally be heard in the Senate. Of course, no one is stopping him from speaking. Knock, knock — is anyone there?

For Robin Padilla to finally realize that the Senate is not for him.

For Allan Peter Cayetano, I wish this on behalf of the people of Taguig City. The supposed P10,000 aid promise appears to have been misconstrued, yet he continues to be bashed for it. I also wish that one day he finally learns introspection. Didn’t he say the Philippines had become an embarrassment abroad because the Senate’s flood control investigation turned into a circus? Of all people, he said that?

For Arjo Atayde not to have entered politics — though that ship has sailed. His name has been dragged through the mud due to accusations linking him to the flood control program scandal. Had he stayed in showbiz, he would have preserved his reputation as a serious actor. Judgment, of course, should be reserved until after any conviction.

For the Bilyonaryo channel to continue its thorough investigations into political matters. It has become one of the strongest sources of political news today. GMA News and Public Affairs should take note.

For ABS-CBN to finally find a home it can call its own. Despite everything, it remains the most important television network in the country. It would be tragic to see it disappear. Knowing its resilience, I trust the day will come when it rises again — perhaps not on analog TV, but certainly in content creation.

Finally, for Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto to continue his good work. He is a blessing not just to Pasig but to the entire country. His calling out of media figures over the Discaya interviews helped open the floodgates to the still-ongoing investigations into the flood control program scandal.