CEBU, Philippines - As the Philippine elections this May 10, 2010 draw nearer, more and more celebrities are finally getting into the campaign spirit, trumpeting to fans their candidates of choice via internet and other media.
So, who are supporting whom? And why are they supporting them? Their reasons range from longstanding friendship, to family influence, to genuine belief in the candidate’s platform for the country once elected into office.
One of the most active and widely-followed celebrity netizens is TV host-actress Ruffa Gutierrez, who bared her preferences for president and vice-president in her Twitter account this week: “Four months ago when mom (Annabelle Rama) told us she was for G1BO, we all laughed at her. Nag-iisa siya! Eight days before the elections, we realize she was right all along. Just got hit by the green fever! My president is G1BO TEODORO!”
For her VP bet, Ruffa tweeted she was rooting for Mar Roxas of the Liberal Party: “Four days to go Philippines!! Here we gooooo!!! My Vice President is none other than Mar Roxas!!”
In her posts, Ruffa, who’s helping mobilize celeb volunteers for the Green Team, named other colleagues in the industry who are fellow Gibo supporters: director Jose Javier Reyes, actor Aga Muhlach, actresses Dawn Zulueta, Rufa Mae Quinto, and G Tongi; young stars Megan Young, Bubbles Paraiso, Ehra and Michelle Madrigal; beauty queen Lara Quigaman, broadcasters Christine Bersola-Babao and Daphne Oseña-Paez.
The Canada-born Paez, who is voting for the first time this year as a Filipino, said in her own Twitter account: “I have never felt this passion towards a leader. Last year, my dad was all about Gibo. I still laughed, thinking no one knows this guy. I swallowed my words when I heard his plans and vision.” As for the award-winning direk Reyes, he tweeted, “My president has balls and brains, dignity in his person, and clarity in his vision. He is neither a product of self-promotion nor emotion.”
Other artists who are openly backing the admin bet through their Twitter accounts include singer Jolina Magdangal, whose rocker-boyfriend is Mark Escueta, a band member of Rivermaya, which has appeared in TV commercials and campaign sorties for Gibo; and actor Ping Medina, son of veteran actor Pen Medina, who is known to be among the staunchest critics of President Gloria Arroyo in the showbiz industry.
The family of the late master rapper Francis Magalona, on the other hand, has declared their support for Bagumbayan Party presidential and VP bets, Dick Gordon and Bayani Fernando.
“Just because someone speaks his mind, short-tempered na ang tawag nyo? Kaya uso dito ang backstabbing, e. Cowards,” said Pia Magalona, addressing criticisms leveled at Sen. Gordon’s supposed “short fuse.”
Pia, whose active campaigning on the internet is shared by her daughters, actresses Maxene and Saab, further tweeted on the merits of Gordon: “Like I also say, I’m not voting to win a friend, I need a LEADER! I want someone AUTHORITATIVE! Go Gordon!”
Gordon-Bayani also has the nod of singer Aiza Seguerra, actress-veejay Iya Villania, as well as Chito Miranda of the band Parokya ni Edgar. “Go Gordon! Go Gibo! Good luck sa inyong dalawa! Sana isa sa inyong dalawa ang manalo. Forget the surveys! Sa survey ko, kayo ang panalo,” tweeted the Parokya ni Edgar frontman.
Of course, those artists, who have made their endorsement of the other national candidates known—long before the official campaign period commenced—have remained unswerving in their support. Liberal Party standard-bearer Noynoy Aquino, in particular, already drew a star-studded show of force so early into the race, owing to the showbiz clout of his youngest sister and biggest endorser, TV host-actress Kris Aquino-Yap.
Recently declaring support for Noynoy is comedienne and “Wowowee” host Pokwang, who joins the powerhouse company of Kapuso stars Claudine Barretto, Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes, Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, and Kapamilya stars Ai-Ai delas Alas, Boy Abunda, Kim Chiu, Coco Martin, Anne Curtis, Mariel Rodriguez, Bianca Gonzales, Jodi Sta. Maria and the megastar Sharon Cuneta. There’s also the legendary trio, APO Hiking Society, who is made up of Danny Javier, Buboy Garovillo and Jim Paredes, young director Pepe Diokno and Ciara Sotto, plus celebs who are/were also seeking elective posts such as Gov. Vilma Santos, Cesar Montano, and Richard Gomez, who just recently got replaced in his congressman bid by wife Lucy Torres.
Pokwang explained her decision in a Philippine Entertainment Portal interview: “Because sobrang mahal na mahal ako ng Aquino family, especially Ms. Kris. Yung pakikisama niya sa akin nung nagsisimula pa lang ako sa ABS, talagang nakita ko na ang suporta niya sa akin. At ibinabalik ko lang po ang ibinigay niya sa akin.”
Celebs going for Nacionalista Party standard-bearer and his VP bet Loren Legarda have not wavered a bit in their support, as well. Villar’s endorsers are also regarded stalwarts in Philippine show business, with backstories, or so the artists said in interviews and advertisements, had parallels with the “humble beginnings” of the senator. There’s the “King of Comedy” Dolphy, comedian Michael V., “Wowowee” host Willie Revillame and boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, who’s also seeking an elective post.
You can say what you want about showbiz’s place in Philippine politics. But celebrity power, according to many a socio-political analyst, has been a tried and tested means to boost a candidate’s profile, presence, and popularity, especially among the masses. And this isn’t confined to Philippine politics.
On the global stage, an oft-cited example is the 2008 United States presidential race, wherein interest in then candidate Barack Obama (who was called by critics a “greenhorn”) was buoyed up by Hollywood’s A-listers led by the influential talking head Oprah Winfrey. We all know what happened next.
Closer to home, young superstar Judy Ann Santos had been viewed by many pundits as primarily responsible for generating name recall for Sen. Jamby Madrigal during her successful senate run in the 2004 elections after a failed first try in 2001.
But the senator, who is also the lone female presidential candidate in this year’s elections, deplored in a forum the “use of actors” in campaigns, calling Santos’ endorsement a “folly” that she will not repeat.
The lady senator has since apologized to the actress, but for Santos, it was a lesson learned on political endorsements. After different political parties reportedly sought out her endorsement for this year’s elections, the actress (like what other big names in showbiz Piolo Pascual, KC Concepcion, Angel Locsin, etc, did), despite seemingly strong ties to certain celebrity supporters, or to even to the candidates themselves, has decided not to make her choices public this time.