`Judy Ann Santos "deeply hurt" by Sen.

Jamby Madrigal's
statement about regret in getting the actress as an
endorser
By: Noel Orsal & Nerisa Almo

"Ieendorso ko [ang isang pulitiko] dahil

kilala ko siya, pinaniniwalaan ko siya, at
dahil gusto ko at buong puso kong
gagawin 'yon," said Judy Ann Santos about
endorsing a political candidate.

Judy Ann Santos initially did not want to

comment on the recent statement made
by Sen. Maria Ana Consuelo "Jamby"
Madrigal about hiring actors for election
campaigns.

The sole lady presidential aspirant in the

May 2010 elections was caught saying at
a forum held recently that: "The use of
actors—you had to pay P30 million to
endorse you—is an insult to the Filipino intelligence."

Sen. Madrigal also expressed her regret in getting a celebrity endorser—referring to

Judy Ann—during her senatorial campaign in 2004. The senator said, "I have seen
the folly of my ways... I will not repeat it because I do not believe you repeat a
mistake. But I also don't believe you should perpetuate lies that are perpetuated by
a big budget."

Judy Ann was hesitant to react to these statements made by Sen. Madrigal because
she did not hear it personally. However, to make things clear, the 31-year-old
actress related her feelings about the issue during the media conference of her
Lactacyd endorsement yesterday, February 15, at Annabel's restaurant on Tomas
Morato, Quezon City.

"I was hurt. I was deeply hurt," she admitted. "Honestly, in my opinion, sa sinabi
niyang mga words na she regrets getting my services... Of course, hindi naman po
ako manhid para hindi masaktan dahil buong paniniwala ko she got my services
because she actually believed in me and it was a sincere offer."

Judy Ann added, "And I think on my behalf, ang masasabi ko lang po talaga ngayon,
'Okay, 'yon ang opinyon niya, e.' Hindi ko po haharangin or hindi po ako makikipag-
away, or hindi ko sasagutin ito nang parang wala akong utang ng loob. Edukada po
akong tao."

Judy Ann also recalled the campaign rallies she attended for the Senator. "For
whatever it's worth, siguro naman po, sa bawat probinsiyang pinuntahan namin,
may lima o tatlong tao akong nakumbinsing iboto siya. Kung nakatulong man ako o
hindi sa kampanya niya, hindi ko naman po aangkinin lahat. Siguro nga, baka
hindi."

The actress also related that it was her talent manager Alfie Lorenzo who talked to
Sen. Madrigal's camp about the endorsement. "Before she campaigned for the
senatorial run, I already did an infomercial with her. From there, I thought that it's
okay and magkaibigan naman kami and magkapartido naman sila ni Tatay Ron [the
late Fernando Poe Jr.]."

LESSON LEARNED. Despite Sen. Madrigal's comment about geting celebrities as

endorsers, Judy Ann said she does not regret campaigning for the former senatorial
candidate.

"Kapag ginawa ko, ginawa ko," she explained. "Hindi po ako marunong magsalita na
nagre-regret ako kasi parang sinira ko na rin naman ang pangalan ko at sinira ko na
rin ang mga proyektong ginagawa ko. Parang bilang endorser, hindi ko na
pinaniniwalaan 'yong sarili ko kapag ako mismo sinabi ko na, 'I regret doing this or
doing that.' I did it because I believed in her. It's just that, hindi pala siya naniniwala
sa akin."

The actress also realized that this issue taught her a lesson about endorsing
politicians. "Siguro nga tama na bago ka mag-endorso ng isang pulitiko, kilala mo
siya, mula ulo hanggang paa, bilang tao na magseserbisyo sa Pilipinas. At alam mo
na siya o kilala mo na siya bago pa siya mangampanya."

So, when the actress was asked if she's would be endorsing a political candidate
this coming May 2010 elections, she replied, "Kung mayroon man po akong
ikakampanya, I'll do it in my own silent way. I opt to be silent kung sinuman ang
ieendorso ko. Kasi baka sa susunod na may mangyari, i-regret ulit kunin ang
services ko, mas doble sakit naman 'yon, di ba?"

She also stressed, "Ngayon lang, mas natuto ako na mas panindigan kung ano ang
prinsipyo ko."
ON FAIR ELECTIONS ACT. During the interview, Judy Ann was also asked about her
opinion on the Fair Elections Act, which states that celebrities and TV personalities
who are in any way involved with a candidate or political party "shall be deemed
resigned, if so required by their employer, or shall take a leave of absence from
his/her work as such during the campaign period."

The young superstar defended her fellow celebrity endorsers by saying, "Wala
naman sigurong pagkakaiba 'yong mag-endorso ang isang artista base sa kung sino
ang pinaniniwalaan niya, di ba? Ang pag-eendorso ng isang kandidato ay hindi
naman puro pera-pera lang. Ang ano rin niyan, e, kung sino talaga ang
pinaniniwalaan mo.

"Maaaring isipin nila na humahanap ng power o kung anuman. Pero sana kung ang
mga [ordinaryong] tao ay binibigyan nila ng freedom of expression, to campaign for
a certain person, sana hindi naman isantabi ang ekspresyon ng mga artista. Bilang
artista, tao rin naman kami. May karapatan din naman kami kung sino at kung bakit
namin iniendorso ang pulitikong iyon."

ON TALENT FEE. Meanwhile, the actress told the media to just ask her talent
manager about the supposed talent fee that she got for endorsing Sen. Madrigal.

Judy Ann said it's not proper for her to talk about it because, "Ang usapan ay pera,
hindi naman dapat ako ang tinatanong diyan dahil talent lang ako. Wala akong
karapatang sumagot diyan dahil ako, bilang artista, ginagawa ko ang dapat kong
gawin. Kung tungkol sa pera 'yan, siguro ang dapat nilang tanungin si Tito Alfie.
Hindi ko sasagutin 'yan."

She also pointed out, "Hindi naman ang lahat ng ito ay pera-pera lang, di ba? Hindi
naman porke't artista ka, may katapat na pera 'yan. Hindi po. Hindi po lahat ng
artista ay mukhang pera. Sana huwag naman nilang ilahat dahil parang sinabi
naman nila na wala kaming pinag-aralan at kung hindi dahil sa pera, hindi kami
gagalaw."

After this, the actress said she would not talk about the issue anymore. "Ayaw ko
na pong magsalita kasi kapag nagsalita pa ako lalaki lang, mapapag-usapan pa.
Sumagot lang ako dahil gusto ko lang malaman ng tao kung ano ang naramdaman
ko."