Do you find news about politics and politicians interesting?

Yes, for me, news about politics is the hottest menu served three times a day and politicians are enjoyable to watch.

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: Entertaining, yes, but never interesting. They’ve brought and lowered the bar so much, reading political news feels like reading up on entertainment.

Laughter is the best medicine

Jose Parco, Kalibo, Aklan: I find new on politics and politicians very interesting and awfully amusing. If they’re not traveling abroad, they’re squabbling among themselves in the Halls of the Senate or the Lower House. What could hold the attention more than this?

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: But of course I do. Serious news demands thought and attention, but I find most of it entertaining. What better way to start the day?

Merlino Quinsay, Ilocos Sur: Politics, yes. Politicians, no, but they can be amusing sometimes!

Ed Ledesma, Iloilo City: Hardly; although, quite often, they more than adequately augment Phil. Star’s Comics section.

Manny Cordeta, Marikina City: I read news about politics and politicians as I am a daily subscriber of this broadsheet, aside, of course, from other news that hog the headlines. Honestly, I find them interesting for the very simple reason that they keep me abreast of what’s happening around us. Suffice it to say that they, too, are somewhat amusing and entertaining at times. They provide me with comic relief, and sometimes I can feel my problems vanish into thin air. I’m suddenly reminded of the song, “Send in the Clowns.”

Eric Gopilan, Quezon City: Politicians are like clowns and telenovela actors.

It’s boring

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: Politics and politicians are boring. They should try telling the truth for a change. Many politicians lie. Can’t they just, for once, tell the truth?

Nony de Leon, Bulacan: If a news item is about what a trapo has to say about politics, I usually do not pay any attention.

Vir Lauzon, General Santos City: Not at all.

Leandro Tolentino, Batangas City: Boring. Couldn’t they find topics other than reforms? Change is the most abused word in US politics. Do we have to copy them?

Pat Cuilan, Benguet: Our media is feeding us boring news about politics and politicians, while small Pinoys, as usual, struggle to make a living.

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: I find both boring. I’m bored with the politicians’ antics and the politics here in our country is something that I cannot stomach.

June Deoferio, Cavite: No, it’s the same old stories and promises, most of which do not happen after they are elected.

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: Not always. In fact, oftentimes, it’s boring! Nowadays, news about politicians would either be about squabbling, grandstanding, traveling abroad without shame, doubling their own salaries, reviving the unsafe Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, expanding party list representations, blatant graft and corruption, etc. While many problems of the same nature are basically the same in the past 25 years: Traffic on Edsa, Taft, Cubao, Pasay, and many other parts of Metro Manila; floods after a storm; the dirty Pasig River; smoke-belching buses; workers’ low salaries; the unexplained poverty of many and the unexplained wealth of our few politicians!

Cris Rivera, Rizal: It’s annoying. There’s nothing new about our politicians today. We have the same sweet-talking trapos in Philippine politics – always full of promises.

Dino Monzon, Caloocan City: Not really. Politicians are mostly con men and women, charming the hoi polloi come election time. Once in office, their true agenda and colors surface.

Noel Banias, Metro Manila: Like a remake of an old movie, only the names of the stars change. The news remains the same over the years – this politician exposing a scam, another demanding a probe, still another threatening to expose the mother of all scams. So what else is new?

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: Not anymore. I find it boring due to the corrupt ways of politicians. I change channels when their TV ads appear, and it’s my last priority to read in newspapers.

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: No, it has become disinteresting already because so many politicians give sugar-coated speeches, but once elected, their promises become null and void. Nakakasawa.

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: Sorry, but news about politics and politicians is no longer interesting to me.

It’s our national pastime

Erlinda Cenzon, Laguna: News about politics and politicians is as interesting as the daily tsismis brought by the neighborhood tsismosa. Nakakainis, nakakatuwa, pero walang sense.

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: It’s interesting to talk about politics and politicians as everything about them is always newsworthy.

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: Politics is our national pastime, aside from basketball and beauty pageants. It’s the daily topics of conversation in coffee and barber shops. News about politicians and politics? Bring them on.

Romeo Caubat, Masbate: Yes, because politics and politicians are my cup of tea/bread/butter. Besides, I’m really interested in the affairs of our government.

L.C. Fiel, Quezon City: What makes Pinoy politics interesting is its status as our premier sport with the politicos and media as players. The more bruising the game, the more enjoyable for us.

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: Politics is peopled by politicians who are either good, bad, or ugly. That makes the news about them quite interesting.

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: Yes, I find it interesting and entertaining at the same time. Although at times, news about politics and politicians seem to be off-tangent to realities and the need of the times.

Lights, camera, action!

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: It’s not only interesting, it is also entertaining. Politics in our country is like a circus. No doubt about it, there’ll be more mudslinging and character assassination as the 2010 elections approaches.

Diony Yap, Bacolod City: Philippine politics is very interesting. Honest presidential wannabes have a slim chance of winning the race, but if you’re a movie star, you’re in.

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: Philippine politics and politicians are like magic and magicians. They entertain you and deceive you at the same time.

Geoffrey Gumban, Davao City: In our country, politics is a big joke and politicians are the greatest jokers! So both aren’t only interesting, they’re also amusing. That’s entertainment!

Rey Onate, Palayan City: I consider news about politics and politicians similar to showbiz news. It is as hot as an unplugged flat iron.

Luisito Vallo, Pangasinan: It always is. Whistleblower laughing at the one he’s accusing, Miriam offering to be shot by a firing squad, and Mr. Palengke cursing in public… What can be more interesting than that?

Benjamin Nillo, Las Piñas City: Yes, of course, especially now that the election fever is starting to heat up. Political drama involving presidentiables is now a daily scene.

Medel Verzosa, Ilocos Sur: Politicians entertain me with their theatrical and colorful delivery, outdoing nonsense movie stars and ads.

Imee Aglibot, Rizal: Yes, of course! In fact, they are more interesting and fascinating! Where else on earth could you find politicians such as ours? Be it a lady or a male solon, everyone will always make sure to get into the headline as often as possible. They outdo, outwit, outplay and outsmart each other. Oh boy, isn’t that just like the Survivor series?

Makes me sick

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: News about politics and politicians make me sick. They are like maggots; if one is bored, one looks for these creatures for fun or to raise his blood pressure by 100 per cent!

Richard Decena, Quezon City: News about politics and politicians is truly disgusting, except for news on Justice Secretary Gonzales, which I find very amusing.

Rudy Tagimacruz, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon: The daily dose of stories about dirty politics and some dishonest politicians does not interest me. Instead, it spoils my day.

Rose Leobrera, Manila: Politics makes me sick because I have lost faith in our political system for a long time now. Dati, when I see and listen to them, I’d be full of hope. Now, with what is happening to us because of our leaders who only want power and money for themselves, masisisi pa ba nila ako if wala na ako’ng gana at inaantok na ako sa kanila?

Voz Butuyan, Pangasinan: On the contrary, I would rather listen to my aged canary sing the old familiar tunes rather than suffocate in the fumes of the political bandwagon that inflicts turmoil and hastens national perdition.

Elpidio Que, Vigan City: Politics affects our lives; thus, it should interest me. But news about politicians? Puera delos buenos few, in the Philippine setting, why should it interest me when they project themselves as champions of the masa when, in fact, what they champion is their bulsa? Who would be interested in news that is nakakasuka?

I need to keep myself updated

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: Most news today, including those on politics and politicians, are usually nauseating, but I read them, skipping movie tidbits and socialites, to keep me updated on the goings-on in our community, in our country and in the world.

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: We are a nation that marvels at political intrigues. It follows that political issues take precedence in our daily concerns.

I.Q. Calata, Parañaque City: I find news about politics and politicians uninteresting. However, it is a must for me to read all the news about politics and politicians to keep me abreast of the goings-on in our political world, no matter how obnoxious some of them may be.

Joel Caluag, Bulacan: Unknowingly, our everyday life revolves around politics as nations are run by politicians. Isn’t that interesting?

We get to know our leaders that way

Aldo Apostol, Quezon City: Of course, the more news about them, the more we know their pagkatao, especially on how they handle and face situations.

Col. Ben Paguirigan Jr., Ret., Zamboanga City: We find news about politics and politicians interesting because we want to know who our political leaders are, what they do, and how they act both pre- and post-elections.

Ed Alawi, Davao City: Yes, it’s like opening a can of worms. We’re getting to know the modus operandi of corrupt officials.

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: Some are interesting; the news we read and hear about them are our only means of getting to know them. But most of the news about them are annoying.

Sahlee Reyes, Las Piñas City: Yes, it’s quite interesting to know how the people we voted into public office are faring. It’s just like following a telenovela. But seriously, it’s imperative that the citizenry be kept abreast on developments in the political sphere, as this concerns how our country is being run.

They generate mixed emotions

Nestor Buñag, Mandaluyong City: While issues become pertinent and worthwhile for national welfare, some vociferous politicians would be drab, inane, irrational, too, at times, amusing. Politics and politicians could be interesting, depending also on the interest and inclinations of the perceiver.

Norman Villamayor, Mandaluyong City: I have mixed feelings of exasperation, anger and amusement. I’d prefer they “walk the talk” rather than “talk and talk”.

John Francis Aberion (RCJ), Cavite: News about politics and politicians is interesting because they create a mix of reactions. On the positive side, some of their ideas are quite unique and interesting. On the other hand, politicians seems akin to an attitude defensiveness and self-righteousness, since they primarily take pride in their ideas, no matter that they may be wrong, and are not humble enough to even consider the ideas of their colleagues.

Eufrocino Linsangan, Isabela: News about politics and politicians used to be interesting, but that was long ago. Today, it’s funny and ridiculous. It will either entertain you or ruin your day.

Whatever they do affects us

Virgilio Sibayan, Pangasinan: Yes, because, today everything is politics. Good or bad news, everybody is affected because we are in a government manipulated “politically”.

Ryan Pahimulin, Rizal: Of course, as their acts and state of health affect the nation and every individual, directly or indirectly.

Only good politicians are interesting

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: Politicians and politics are like horse and cart. A trusted horse generates as much interest as its cart of good news.

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Yes to politicians who promote the welfare of our country. I hate trapos with crab mentality and those who always find fault without solid evidence.

Lucas Banzon Madamba II, Laguna: Yes, I find politics and politicians interesting. Politics is the art and science of directing and administering states and other political units and government. Politics and politicians constitute the political system of the country. One such politician I admire is Ramon “Kuya Jun” Magsaysay, Jr. who has significantly contributed a lot for the country.

Change the topic

Johannes Dalumpines, Taytay, Rizal: Let’s talk about other things, like the great deed of a 13-year-old student, Tushka Wenceslao, in Cavite, who saved her classmates from drowning during their outing. Neither politics nor politicians are worth my time.

Digoy Coro, Batangas City: Here, it’s not very interesting. News on foreign politics and politicians is, because they have delicadeza.

Rico Fabello, Parañaque City: I’m interested about how we are faring as a country. But interested in politicians? No!

Rey Joaquin, Las Piñas City: News on politics is always interesting as our politicians are so innovative that they can find ways to circumvent the law they themselves enacted! On the contrary, news about politicians is ho-hum! Trapos try their best to be statesmen but they fail miserably at it.

Felix Ramento, Manila: Our present politicians is nothing but self-seeking functionaries who have nothing better to do but aggrandize themselves at the expense of people. What good news story can we expect from them?

Politics has debased our nation

Edwin Monares, Rizal: News about politics and politicians is interesting in the sense that they amuse and provide comic relief from the nation’s crises, which are partly their own making. Politics and politicians in our country have degenerated to a point where people equate them to graft and corruption, stealing, cheating, lying, terrorism, killing, etc. Politics in this country is seen as a recurring business and a source of temporary livelihood.

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: I find the news shameful because our politics is dirty and our politicians are scums. Thus, we remain a Third World country.

One-sided reports are turn-offs

C.B. Fundales, Bulacan: News is interesting when written objectively and sensibly. Political press releases presented as news verbatim is downright appalling.

Nick Ocampo, Angeles City: News about our politics and politicians is very good and interesting when elections are approaching. The only bad news is the siraan.

Eddie Yap, Kabankalan City: Reports on politics and politicians in newspapers always make for interesting copy. They only become sickening when writers become subjective and tend to glorify their subjects and assert their beliefs. There are many intellectual readers and they can immediately discern if a certain write-up is a PR piece or plain hype. Good writers are always neutral and analytical and allow readers to make their own conclusions. Well-known columnists must only confine their opinions in their columns. It’s a space allowed for them to lambast, criticize, and reprimand their enemies or glorify and flatter their friends.

Josh Pacatang, Dipolog City: No, I don’t find news on politics and politicians interesting. I find them redundant and boring. Nearly all of these items are press releases of politicians themselves, bylined by a struggling news agent and mostly about how bad this country is being run by GMA. These politicians talk through their heads as if the books they read weren’t written by the same authors. 

Ed Angeles, Pasay City: Political news used to interest me, but for sometime now, blatantly negative sensationalist stories have become turn-offs.

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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