Lani Mercado to throw hat into political ring?

Lani Mercado didn’t expect she would be given a surprise party on her 41st birthday last Monday. The wife of Senator Bong Revilla didn’t have the slightest notion that it would be a fete given by kababayans in Bacoor later in the night. The event was witnessed by the members of her family, led by Bong and their children Jolo Revilla, Yna, and the younger ones.

The surprise party was eventful for Lani as her townmates in Bacoor expressed an appeal for her to join politics anew after a failed attempt in 2001. They wanted her to run as a congresswoman for the planned solo district for Bacoor.

Since it was confirmed that a new district would be formed in Bacoor, a good number of people—from barangay chairmen, to the Society of Concerned Women of Bacoor and other women’s group—are urging her to run for Congress next year.

Lani had a hectic schedule that day. Aside from receiving an award as one of the Outstanding Women of Bacoor, she also paid a visit to a halfway home of abused women and abandoned children. Instead of throwing a party for herself, she threw a party for the abandoned kids with matching games, clowns, magic shows and food. Aside from receiving gifts, she distributed school supplies for kids and essential toiletries for the young adult residents.

Come April 18 and 19, there will be medical and dental missions in two depressed communities in Bacoor, which also include breast care and bone density exams. Aside from the environment, health and women’s concerns are also part of Lani’s advocacies.

Last Holy Week, Lani and their whole family went to Boracay as part of their family bonding. The actress-TV host also made use of that respite to think about what she would do in the months to come amid the clamor townmates in Bacoor for her to enter politics next year.

While she is happy with the support that the Liga ng mga Barangay of Bacoor is giving her, including its 73 charter members, headed by Barangay Captain Reynaldo Palabrica, who formally presented to her a resolution declaring support as well as an appeal to run in next year’s elections, Lani is bidding her time. But she is open to the possibility to run, buoyed by her desire to be of service to her townmates.

Last month, Lani was able to go around the town of Bacoor when she was invited to be the commencement speaker in the graduation rites of many schools. She also represented Bong in distributing medals of excellence and financial help to honor graduates. In those instances, Lani was able to feel the pulse of her townmates.

Being the head of the Municipal Environmental Office under Bacoor Mayor Strike Revilla, Lani saw the many problems affecting their town and how she could be of help. One of them is the plan to make Bacoor a city so that the people could enjoy the benefits that a city enjoys.

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ABS-CBN continues to uphold its leadership in the national TV ratings with an overall audience share of 44 percent or 8 percentage points higher than GMA’s 36 percent, based on the data from global research specialist Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) for the period of 1-31 March 2009.

Vivian Tin, Head of ABS-CBN Research and Business Analysis, said the network’s programs dominate the primetime block, clinching 7 out of the top 10 slots with the inspirational teleserye “May Bukas Pa” (39.1%), “I Love Betty La Fea” (37.5%) and “Tayong Dalawa” (36.2%) leading the race for the month of March 2009. 

She said “Tayong Dalawa” is doing very well that the number of applicants to enter the Philippine Military Academy has become “phenomenal,” while “I Love Betty La Fea” continues to inspire people. 

“TV Patrol World” (31.9%) continues to be the country’s leading TV news program, while “Maala-ala Mo Kaya” (32.6%) and “Rated K” (30.6%) had been performing strongly during weekends. “Wowowee” (22.0%) is the only noontime program that made it to the Top 20.

ABS-CBN continues to register very strong performances in Northern and Southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. Its TV ratings in Metro Manila is fast gaining ground, while its ratings in the suburbs and Central Luzon have remarkably improved due to the ongoing retrofitting of the network’s tower and the introduction of UHF channels in provinces like Bulacan and Pampanga.

“We are increasing our tower height in Metro Manila, which will allow us to have further propagation in signal, and changing our antenna type. We expect improvements in reception in suburbs starting mid-year,” she said.  “In Central Luzon, we have set up UHF channels so viewers can watch our programs and this has addressed the problem.”

In terms of socioeconomic class, the TNS data shows ABS-CBN continues to be the choice of empowered consumers.  It is leading in 85 percent of the total Philippine households or those belonging to classes AB, C, and D.  It is also leading in 70 percent of the country’s areas.

TNS is currently the world’s and the Philippines’ leading customized market research company.  It is the dominant TV ratings provider in China and offers the same service in Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong, and other parts of the world.  It recently bagged a prestigious TV ratings contract in the UK, edging out rival AGB-Nielsen.

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 “Bubble Gang” presents tonight the first part of its two-night special episode that was shot in Dubai. From the Philippines, “Bubble Gang” brings their own and unique brand of comedy with sexbomb Rochelle Pangilinan as guest performer.

Find out what could possibly happen to you if you were left alone in the desert and you didn’t have a drink of water for a long time.

Meanwhile, Wendell Ramos will pretend to be a belly dancer to stay away from his creditors, while Ogie Alcasid finds a magic lamp with a genie inside while he was lost in the desert.

In the segment, Ang Spoiled, Angelina (Ogie) will temporarily be separated from her yaya (Michael V) and will be replaced by Rochelle. Because Angelina misses her yaya so much, she would talk to her via webcam.

“Bubble Gang” airs every Friday after the Telebabad block. It’s the longest running and number one gag show in the country.