Celebs endorsing candidates asked to go on leave

Plus: Joross Gamboa is latest kapamilya Who turned kapuso

SINGERS and  movie celebrities are a big hit among fans that’s why candidates aspiring for an elective post make use of their services in their campaign rallies to entice more people to listen to their speeches.

But the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting or PPCRV is asking that celebrities endorsing candidates be stopped from appearing in TV shows. They are saying that this is a form of safeguard to ensure that those candidates being endorsed by these celebrities would not have an advantage over their opponents.

A spokesperson of the PPCRV said that, “Kung nakikita nila na ang tagahanga nila o yung sinusuportahan nila ay kasa-kasama o kaakibat ng isang kandidato, malamang maimpluwensiyahan sila.” This statement from the PPRCV drew a positive response from Comelec, which said that the continued appearance on TV of a celebrity endorser is a violation of the Fair Elections Act and Implementing Rules of Comelec.

Comelec said a celebrity should take a leave or resign from his or her show. This is said to be included in Republic Act 9006. But celebrities are not being singled out since, according to a news report, even media volunteers for certain candidates should also be asked to take a leave from their position in the media. Those who violate the Fair Elections Act could be held liable and could suffer imprisonment up to six years.

When asked to react, an ABS-CBN statement said that they forbid their on-cam talents to use the network programs in any form during the campaign period to favor any candidate, party or party group.

Is there merit in the proposal of the PPCRV to ask that celebrities be stopped from appearing on TV? Well, it doesn’t seem fair because that would mean depriving these celebrities their source of livelihood. If they are not using the programs they appear in to entice people to vote for a certain candidate why should they be stopped from doing their jobs?

What should be stopped is the practice of some celebrities who openly and brazenly use their shows to endorse candidates.  The network itself should call the attention of the celebrity if they see that the said celebrity is using the network’s airtime to endorse a certain candidate. 

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For almost a decade, they made us believe in love. Such is the magic behind the Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz’s phenomenally successful loveteam.

On February 24, the celebrated on-screen couple is set to recapture this magic anew in a special post-Valentine reunion in Star Cinema’s latest offering ,”Miss You Like Crazy.”

“This is our gift to our fans,” says Bea, whose last movie with John Lloyd titled “One More Chance” raked in millions at the box-office and earned for them the titles Box-Office King and Queen for 2007. The film has not only boosted the couple’s local fan base but also strengthened their global following, making Bea and John Lloyd the most favorite love team among the Filipino audience all over the world.

Another cause for celebration in this new venture from Star Cinema is the couple’s reunion with box-office director Cathy Garcia-Molina,who also directed them in their last film together. This time, Direk Cathy guides Bea and John Lloyd toward embracing an off-beat romantic tale that would touch on the wrong sides of love, such as missteps and infidelity.

The film, which was shot both in the Philippines and Malaysia, also launches the promising big screen career for rising star Maricar Reyes. It also carries Erik Santos’ soulful rendition of the 80’s hit song “Miss You Like Crazy” as its official theme song.

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New Kapuso talent Joross Gamboa is happy to have made the move from the Kapamilya to the Kapuso network. He has really started 2010 with high-profile projects. He is now a regular performer at SOP where he has a special portion called “Danz Blog” with Mark Herras, Aljur Abrenica and Carlo Guevarra. He has a special role in the teen romance “First Time” and he gets to act with drama king Boyet de Leon in “SRO: Meet the Fathers.”

 “I am happy with all the good breaks that GMA has given me and I intend to give my best in the roles that they have entrusted me,” says Joross who has truly matured as an actor especially after winning the Best Actor award in the recent PMPC Star Awards for Television.

Joross also reveals that he has also been busy with school. He’s now a third year Mass Com student but he’s open to doing work even with other networks like TV5 which had been very aggressive in taking in new talents to their fold. “As long as there is work, happy ako,” adds Joross who was just launched as new image model of LeFroge line of apparel along with teen idol Edgar Allan Guzman, the Mr. Pogi Winner in Eat Bulaga.

Meantime, Joross says that he didn’t experience culture shock when he transferred to the Kapuso channel. “I have many friends who are working with GMA 7,” says Joross who hails from Daet.

This year, Joross, along with new manager Noel Ferrer, are also discussing the possibility of doing an edgy and challenging role on the big screen. “I really want to push my limits as an actor and I want to show a more mature and serious side of me,” he explains. This Star Circle Quest discovery knows that more than just being popular, he wants to truly make a mark as a good actor.

For now, Joross’ signing up with LeFroge, marks his new character with a sense of confidence but still, with a youthful charm—dynamic and excellent, very stylish but with a certain degree of respectability.