MANILA, Philippines — On the heels of the recent filing of candidacies by political aspirants, including social media influencers and content creators, the theatrical release of the election-themed Cinemalaya 2024 entry “Balota” couldn’t have come at a better time.
Directed by Kip Oebanda who collaborated with producers GMA Pictures and GMA Entertainment, this political satire that blends suspense, thriller and comedy earned its lead star Marian Rivera her first-ever Best Actress award.
In the film, a land-grabbing tycoon and a former male sexy star are locked in a tight race for the mayoral seat of a small town. As violence erupts amid the election, Teacher Emmy (Marian) finds herself in charge of protecting a ballot box, which contains not just the last copy of the election results but also the key to the election’s integrity. Emmy tries to outsmart and outmaneuver those determined to sabotage the elections.
The film also stars popular content creators and comedians Sassa Gurl and Esnyr as Babe and Ehrmengard, respectively, the outspoken “queens” of the town.
In real life, they have also used their platforms to speak out on certain issues or support candidates. So, when asked what Filipino viewers can learn from the film, especially with the 2025 midterm elections approaching, Sassa Gurl said that “Balota” is overflowing with messages for the audiences because of the country’s corruption issues and “flaws in our system.”
For Sassa, the main message of the film is to question what’s happening around us, because if you just let things be, things stay the same.
“Kaya yung mga taong nagsasabi na protesta ka ng protesta, wala ka naman pinagbago, kung walang mag-kukwestiyon, walang mag-uusap d’yan. Malaki ang ambag at tulong ng mga taong sumisigaw sa kalsada kasi andun ang tunay na laban. Hangga’t hindi tayo nagpapakita ng ating show of support, hindi tayo makakapunta sa another point.”
Asked by The STAR about their reactions to content creators joining the political fray, Sassa Gurl replied jokingly at first: “Ang masasabi ko lang, ‘Sana all.’ Sayang. I got busy these past few days, I would have also filed.”
But kidding aside, the content creator said that the issue here is not about where the political aspirant comes from, but it’s about whether they can do the job or not. “Hindi issue kung saan ka nanggaling bilang isang politiko. Ang issue dito is kaya mo ba? Kaya mo ba gawin ang trabaho dahil isa ito sa mga pinakamabigat na trabaho at hindi yung naisip mo lang na tatakbo ka. That’s wrong.
“Kasi kung nanalo ka, ano rin yung gagawin mo d’yan? Magsasayang lang din tayo ng pondo kung wala kang masyadong alam at wala kang knowledge about politics and all? Because malaki yan eh, you’re representing people and people ayaw nila yung bini-bull***t lang sila. Although may mga taong nananalo na nam-bu-bull***t pero kung patuloy natin pinu-push ang ganitong sistema, wala tayong makikitang pagbabago kasi nagluluklok tayo ng mga taong nangingitlog lang naman.”
Sassa Gurl, who had a bit of political experience as part of the Sangguniang Kabataan, continued, “Ang pagtakbo ay libre naman. Well, actually, hindi rin libre kasi gagastos ka din, but libre mag-file. So the question is nasa mga tao din — iboboto ba natin yung mga ganyan? So, ano, bibigyan tayo ng mga sabon-sabon? Rejuv-rejuv? Although at least nakaka-kinis, i-ko-Korean natin ‘to. Pero alam mo yun? It’s a big joke…”
“So we need voters’ education and education in general. We have an educational crisis in the Philippines. We’ve seen it in game shows. I’ve become ‘Sisa’ girl, oh my god. Nakakaloka!” said Sassa who trended recently after a game show contestant answered “Sassa” instead of “Sisa” when asked to name the Noli Me Tangere character who is the mother of Basilio and Crispin.
Esnyr, on the other hand, stressed on the seriousness of political involvement, saying that running for office is not about creating content.
The 2022 TikTok Creator of the Year opined, “Yung pag-run for politics, it's not just, yes, for the content. There’s a saying that I read, it’s not because you can, you should do it."
“And I think politics is not just SSG (student council) sa school or like classroom officers. We’re talking about a lot of people here. And the lives of people are also at stake here.”
For Esnyr, anyone aiming for an elective post should have the experience and understanding for such a responsibility.
“Before you join such things, I hope that, first, you have the experience in leading, in leadership. Next is you have the background in what you’re getting into,” he noted.
He also expressed his disappointment over some content creators whom he believed had ventured into politics without fully understanding its implications.
“Kasi nakaka-disappoint yung iba, yung nakikita natin na ibang content creators. Hindi naman sa dyina-judge natin. Kasi hindi lang sila content creator, napapanood na rin sila ng mga tao. Kagaya nung role ko dito sa ‘Balota.’ Isa akong, hindi naman sa bayaran pero may mga totoong tao din akong ni-represent dito sa ‘Balota.’
(Because it’s disappointing to see some others, like other content creators. It’s not that we’re judging them. Because they’re not just content creators, they’re also being watched by people, like my role here, I’m not saying I’m paid, but I’m also representing real people here in “Balota.”)
Esnyr is concerned that some creators may unknowingly exploit their audience. “Super sad na baka madamay sila ng mga pinag-gagawa ng mga content creators na yun kasi may pera or may kaya and nagugulat sila sa katotohanan na ginagamit lang sila.”
“There are more deserving people for the position. Bakla, itigil niyo yan,” Esnyr added.
To help in voters’ education, Esnyr believes that they have to use their platform so they might release content that will touch on electoral issues in the run-up to the 2025 polls. Sassa Gurl, on the other hand, will announce the aspirants whom the influencer plans on endorsing or not.
Sassa Gurl added, “As a content creator, you have a responsibility to your following. You have to be truthful, you have to be factual, in terms of endorsing whoever that politician is, ‘di yung nagpapadala (tayo) sa mga pera-pera nalang. People have given us power. Influence is power.”
“Balota” opens in cinemas tomorrow, Oct. 16.