The image on the silver screen and television was not enough to earn the electorate’s trust. No amount of advertisements, catchy jingles, dancing, social media following, or million-strong YouTube subscribers were able to convince the majority of voters that their names on the ballots deserved their most precious shade.
As DAILY TRIBUNE’s Uncut columnist Alex Brosas wittily posted on Facebook: “SI SAM HINDI UMUBRA ANG PA-SPAM. SI BENNY HINDI UMABANTE. SI DAN, HINDI SINUNDAN. SI LUCKY MINALAS. SI ARA WALANG MINA SA POLITIKA.SI MARJORIE BARRETTO HINDI IBINOTO. SI DENNIS PADILLA TINABLA. SILA ANG MGA TALUNAN. WALANG LABIS, WALANG KULANG.”
Thus, I cannot help but wonder, with real actors and to those with showbiz connections not making the cut, is it safe to that the era of stars winning political posts has begun, and is this a taste of what is to come? With these stars’ political stars falling, can we dare say that now the electorate is maturing?
Former legislator, boxing legend and Pambansang Kamao Manny Pacquio failed to make a Senate comeback. Another epic failure was that of Titanic Action star, Budots King and re-electionist Senator Bong Revilla. This year also marked his first and most painful defeat in his senatorial bid after serving three terms.
The ambitious lot composed of TV host Willie Revillame, broadcaster Ben Tulfo, singer Jimmy Bondoc and actor and Kris Aquino’s sperm donor that gave Joshua Aquino to the world, Philip Salvador, also did not earn the senatorial seat they all coveted.
Also part of team luhaan (in tears) are Luis Manzano who did not win the Batangueños. Actor and Cristine Reyes’ lover Marco Gumabao, who ran for Camarines Sur Fourth District representative, did not win. Santa Rosa Rep. and actor Dan Fernandez lost the gubernatorial race in Laguna. Actor Ejay Falcon also did not secure the vice gubernatorial seat in Oriental Mindoro.
In the city of Manila, award-winning actor Raymond Bagatsing and Rhian Ramos’ beloved Sam Verzosa kissed their political dreams goodbye. Now belonging to the league of extraordinary political wannabe has-beens are Victor Neri (Makati City), actor DJ Durano (Sogod, Cebu), Emilio Garcia (Bay, Laguna) and Rommel Padilla (Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija). Part of this league as well are actor and incumbent Manila Vice Mayor Yul Servo, actress Angelika dela Cruz (Malabon) and comedian Anjo Yllana (Calamba, Laguna).
Their councilorship dreams shattered are Enzo Pineda (Quezon City), Aljur Abrenica (Angeles City, Pampanga), Mocha Uson (Manila), Pasig City bets Shamcey Supsup-Lee and Ara Mina, Caloocan bets Dennis Padilla and Marjorie Baretto, and Abby Viduya, also known by the name Priscilla Almeda (Parañaque).
The final list of political casualties are partylist nominees, namely, comedian Bayani Agbayani (TUPAD), actor Zanjoe Marudo (ASAP NA) and actor Jeremy Marquez (Solo Parents). And yes, even the party-lists that employed Vice Ganda, Kim Chiu and Piolo Pascual, did not make it to the list of winners.
Actress and immortal beloved of Derek Ramsay, Ellen Adarna, posted on her IG story: “It’s honestly wild when you think about it. We’re the ones paying for public servants — their salaries, their offices, their benefits. All of it comes from taxpayers. We’re basically feeding them three meals a day, with snacks and coffee breaks in between. But when we deal with them? It’s like we have to tiptoe, smile nice and act like we owe them, like they’re royalty… in a country that’s already a mess. Uh, no. Shouldn’t it be the other way around? They’re supposed to work for us. Let’s not forget who’s actually keeping the lights on here. So, madlang people, don’t ever let anyone make you feel like public servants are above you. Because if they do? That means they’re more into maintaining power than actually serving the people.”
The last sentence of Adarna answers the why these names did not win. And we can add as well the following, the simplest answer would be, that the electorate “hindi sila gusto (do not like them).” Despite their good looks, megawatt smiles, charm offensive, buff bodies and anointed by this and that political persona, they did not earn the public’s trust. The sincerity they profess was weighed but found wanting.
Becoming a public servant was obviously lip service because they were clueless on the duties and responsibilities that come with the position they desired. Many had no political track record to speak of, and if there were, it was deemed dubious. Lack of experience and expertise in the political arena was a major factor for their failure. Lest we forget the obvious, for a handful of them, integrity and morality were questionable and politics was not the venue for their redemption arc.
With their humble pies served, may these actors get the wisdom of their political loss, and that whatever career paths or options they choose next, may it resuscitate their careers, credibility, morality, name and relevance.