There was this forwarded tirade about celebrities running for public office, which I came across in our college friends’ group chat. Apparently, more and more of these popular names in show business and other fields not directly linked to politics and public service are eyeing to get elected in the coming polls, to the point that the race has become some sort of a mockery.
That former classmate of mine who shared the post noted that these famous people, some of them obviously inexperienced, are “thick-skinned” to even have the audacity to make use of their fame to win an electoral post. Another must have implied it’s the fault of the voters who put them in power anyway.
Let’s face it. Filipinos are obsessed with celebrities. For one, it matters to most people that they get to have selfies with the rich and famous. In the 2022 elections, I remember people expressing on social media their pride in having voted for their triumphant idols and that they’ve been their long-time fans, as if that matters to how the person they enabled would perform.
Yes, popularity alone can at times give these so-called idols instant positions in the government. It will take a kind of reeducation—an overhauling of social ideals, if I may say—to change the majority’s mentality and turn them into wiser voters. Call that being judgmental, but the election surveys alone would tell that the bar on voters’ education must be raised. Needless to say, personalities or characters are heading the pack; the doctorates and perceived intellectuals are lagging behind.
But wait, is it actually fair to think that it is unwise to vote for someone whose job prior to filing a certificate of candidacy is to act in front of the camera? Well, some actors do become competent government officials.
But it is now more common to see video clips that put on display others’ incapacity to act or speak as expected for a public official, which should argue that, generally speaking, they’re a miscast in their acquired role. It’s not even about them lacking the education and experience to serve their posts. It’s the ridiculousness that they bring to the table for everyone to feast on. Not to mention the possibility that they may end up as slaves to the allure of corruption.
Here’s my take: it’s almost pointless to urge people not to vote for some celebrities jumping into politics. There’s just too many of them who probably find it convenient to vote for someone they’re instantly familiar with. The predictable results over the years point to that. Another seemingly incompetent showbiz person would get elected.
So how do we address this matter? Well, perhaps there will come a time when showbiz colleagues would no longer find it cool to run, that doing so is blatant disrespect to the profession, or that everyone agrees that artists must live for the arts and, therefore, there’s no time for dirty politics.
Besides, a film icon once said that you can serve the public without having to win an election. Just make use of popularity to reach out directly to the people—the fans. It’s becoming harder to understand why some individuals would want to make laws when that is a very technical process, and likely a boring lot if you’ve been used to the excitement of shooting a movie scene or performing in front of delirious crowds.
In an ideal world, showbiz people should not be allowed to run, in the same way that it is best for a true-blue politician not to star in a teleserye. Yes, it’s everyone’s right to serve the people. But there is also the word delicadeza. It should come from a movie star’s resolve not to file for candidacy because that’s simply the classy move.
Not because you can, you should. You may portray a politician for a movie project all you want. But definitely, there are those who are more fit for the position but not just as popular. Why not give them a better chance of winning by taking yourself out of the equation? But then again, this is wishful thinking.
Until there isn’t a rule that will only allow a person with a certain degree and who passes a particular test—like the bar exam—to run for office, then some, without batting an eye,will always be using their celebrity status to conquer politics for whatever purpose—noble or not.
