Erap leads entertainment personalities running for public office

MANILA, Philippines - Many know that former President Joseph Estrada was an actor before he was elected to public office.

But he was not the first showbiz personality that joined Philippine politics.

The practice of actors joining the political arena dates back to 1957 when the late Rogelio Rosa, a very popular matinee idol, ran and won a seat in the Senate.

The list of actors goes on, and celebrities have become common fixtures in Philippine politics.

It was also believed that if Estrada’s friend, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr., was not victimized by the alleged cheating in the 2004 presidential elections, he would have been the second actor to hold the highest position in the country.

Now, Estrada is making a political comeback – leading showbiz personalities who are running for public office in tomorrow’s elections.

Estrada is in a heated contest for the mayoralty of Manila against re-electionist Alfredo Lim, a former police general.

In the present Senate, four started in show business before successfully joining politics. They are Vicente “Tito” Sotto, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Estrada’s son Jinggoy, and Lito Lapid.

Other showbiz personalities who are now in politics are Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Pangasinan Gov. George Estregan Jr., Bulacan Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando, Manila Vic Mayor Isko Moreno and Ormoc City Rep. Lucy Torres, wife of actor Richard Gomez.

Among the celebrities who will try their luck in politics for the first time in tomorrow’s elections are Ariel “Aga” Mulach, Annabelle Rama and Lito Camo, who are running as congressmen of Camarines Sur, Cebu City and Oriental Mindoro, respectively.

Singer Rey Valera is also seeking the vice mayor’s post in Meycauayan City in Bulacan.

Celebrities are just like other candidates

For Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez, showbiz personalities “are candidates just like every one else.”

“The Comelec makes no distinction between celebrities and regular candidates, especially with regards to qualification. We do not hold with the notion that celebrity status makes you better or worse as a political official,” Jimenez said.

Just like others who aspire for elective posts, celebrities also “have the right to be voted for and being a celebrity or not is just incidental,” he added.

But Jimenez admitted that celebrities do have an edge when it comes to winnability because of their popularity.