From Showbusiness to Political Realm: Celebrities on Quest for Gov’t Positions

Election 2022 is coming.

Politicians who are eyeing for a government office have filed their Certificate of Candidacy
(COC) already. On the week-long filing, from October 1 until October 8, among them are
celebrities-turned-politicians who are vying for a seat in the government. It is not a surprise
anymore that some celebrities are aspiring to become politicians. Actors like Herbert Bautista,
Richard Gomez, and Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso are now mayors of their respective
cities, actress Vilma Santos is the current representative of Batangas, 6th District, and former
boxing legend turned politician, Manny Pacquiao, is a current senator.

This upcoming 2022 election, the number of celebrities-turned-aspiring politicians increased.

Notwithstanding the fact that every Filipino, including celebrities, have the right to run for the
positions they are aiming for as long as they are qualified; a natural-born citizen of the
Philippines, a registered voter, and can read and write. But are these celebrities credible enough
for the people or for their personal aspirations?

Bong Revilla, a famous actor for his television shows and movies, decided to enter the political
light last 2010. His fame as a celebrity helped him earn a seat in the government. Despite the
trust and opportunity, the mass has given him, he took advantage of it and in 2013, he was
convicted with plunder cases as an accomplice of the pork barrel scam, along with other
senators. Despite this issue, he ran again and now, he is one of the current senators of our
country. Another is Joseph Ejercito Estrada, also known as Erap, who was voted as a president
but was ousted for drawing off tobacco taxes and accepting millions of dollars from illegal-
gambling operators.

Now, new sets of celebrity-turned-aspiring politicians are arising. Karla Estrada, a singer, former
actress, and show host, has joined Tingog party-list, one of the party-lists whose representative
said yes to the shutdown of the network she was working on. Another is Mocha Uson, a previous
actress, dancer, and singer, who was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as the Deputy
Executive Director of the Overseas Workers Welfare. It is her third government position in
Duterte’s regime. But she is criticized for spreading false information and misleading posts on
her Facebook page which she had been using as a government officer.

Celebrities running for a government office are not wrong. No one must be generalized due to
the doings of others but the idea of them not fulfilling their duty and responsibility while in
office will go on as long as there are celebrities who are treating politics as an entertainment
industry.

Their sudden change of career is dubious. Our country needs more than their lack of credibility
and experience, especially that other celebrities-turned-politicians have chosen to taint their
image with their crimes. As a proof of their worthiness and genuine intention, it is better for
them to establish their image as politicians first. Starting with lower positions while showing that
despite their past careers as celebrities, they can also be politicians who could bring the positive
change that the Philippines need. Although it is not required, it is better for them to expose
themselves to the political realm ang gather experience so that the mass will not be surprised if
they vie for a higher position.

No one is stopping anyone for their political intentions, but the mass deserve leaders who will
really serve them rather than politicians who are masking their personal intentions with their
fame.

Politics is far from the entertainment industry; politicians must ought to serve our nation and the
Filipino people, not to entertain them while they materialize their agendas.

Sources:
1. https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/timeline-bong-revilla-plunder-case-pork-barrel-
scam
2. https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/14/news/the-impeachment-of-estrada-day-of-political-
tumult-in-manila.html
3. https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/karla-estrada-runs-under-tingog-sinirangan-
party-list-group-2022
4. https://www.rappler.com/nation/duterte-gives-mocha-uson-new-government-post-
september-2019