Boots: Will she or will she not? - FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo

She will, she will not. . . she will, she will not. . .

More than two weeks after Funfare headlined her bid for the Senate in this May’s elections, Boots Anson-Roa is having second thoughts about running and those who are surely voting for her (yours truly included) are hoping and praying that she will – she should. As I’ve been saying, our country needs good Senators (and other government officials as well) like the knowledgeable Boots and not Senators who can’t even perhaps distinguish "legislative" from "executive," thus ending up as objects of jokes and ridicule (and of interesting text messages – right on, "text brigade!") and national laughing stocks.

"I’ve been asking for a sign," Boots told Funfare during a brief chat, "just like I did in 1992 and then in 1998 when I was also invited to run for the Senate. In 1998, when I was about to say ‘yes," Pete (Roa, her husband) suffered a stroke and I took it as a sign for me not to run."

This time around, just when Boots is inclined to say "yes" to run under deposed President Erap’s party, she’s convinced that she has just received another "sign" not to and the "sign" came in the form of a text message maligning her. Funfare was among those who got the vicious text message which said that Boots has no alternative but to run as per Erap’s "order" because she has had a "past" with Erap and that "past" has born a son (referring to Boots and Pete’s youngest son Benjamin, now into his late 20s).

Foul, foul, foul! Unfair, unfair, unfair! Malicious, malicious, malicious!!!
That’s all I personally can say about that text message. For the information and enlightenment of the current generation, that "joke" (it was, it was!) started back in 1972 when Boots and Erap were making those "Erap" movies – you know, Okey Ka, Erap; Tatay Na Si Erap; Under de Saya si Erap; and Tama Na, Erap! The two were box-office hit as a team, thus those many starrers together.

While doing Tatay Na Si Erap, Boots was infanticipating for her and Pete’s youngest child. She wanted to beg off from the project but Erap (the producer) and Totoy Buenaventura (the director) prevailed upon her to go on, telling her, "For the first time in Philippine Cinema, a real pregnant actress is playing a pregnant wife, kaya very realistic."

To make a long story short, the movie was shot during the full course of the pregnancy of Boots who, by coincidence, gave birth on the day the movie opened in Metro theaters, prompting a tabloid to banner the story, "Tatay na si Erap!" Boots and Pete had a good laugh over it, and so did their children. You guessed it: Tatay Na Si Erap was again a hit and it even won for Boots her first FAMAS Best Actress (she tied with Vilma Santos, for Dama de Noche).

Who would have thought that that incident would crop in text messages – with a malicious twist cooked up by a sick mind – three decades later, timed with the report that Boots was running for Senator.

Now Boots is, as I’ve said, having second thoughts, inclined not to run.

"Ngayon pa lang may mga smear campaign na against me," said Boots, "What more pagdating ng campaign?"

But if you ask me, Boots should ignore those "sick minds" and go ahead and run. The best "sign" she should consider is the approval of majority of the voters for her (abortive? I hope not!) candidacy.

"But then," added Boots, "what about my family? I don’t want them to suffer from the vicious acts of some people."

Well, between peace in the family and the greater challenge to serve the country, which do you think the dignified and ever-a-lady Boots will choose?

* * *

FLASH: Just after typing this column, I received a faxed letter from Boots, which answers today’s "interrogative" headline. Let’s hear it from the Senadora(-to-be?):

The past weeks have called for a lifetime decision to run or not to run for the Senate. I thank former President Joseph Estrada for having invited me to join his PMP slate. I am very touched by his confidence in my capabilities.

However, after thorough evaluation, consultation and introspection coupled with prayers, I believe it is most judicious to beg off from the race. I realize that I do not have the propensity, much less the passion for politics, or more aptly, for politicking. The glaring and more pragmatic realities of Philippine political culture have begun to stare me squarely in the face. Hindi yata kaya ng kalooban ko. And I am not about ready to sacrifice my idealism. I believe I can render more effective public service through Media, Education and Civil Society.

This decision does not in any way detract from the friendship and support that my family professes for the Ejercitos. We shall continue to hold them in high regard.

These past 30 months of my incumbency as IBC-13 president have compelled me to "semi-retire" as a radio, TV and film host and actress. I hope to recoup lost time and swing back actively before the microphone and cameras. I shall also continue to work substantially in the lecture circuit.

With your help in sharing my plans with the public, I know this move should not be difficult.

Cheers to Rita Avila

Funfare congratulates Rita Avila for her good work on the ABS-CBN soap Marinella. Even if we don’t see Rita much on the big screen these days, we get enough of her on the small tube and we’re thankful enough for that, aren’t we?

Marinella has been a top-rater since it started in 1999. Director Jerry Sineneng first laid his magical hands on the show but was later pulled out to share his luck, talent and intelligence to such other top-raters as Labs ko si Babes and Pangako Sa ‘Yo. Director Khyrss Adalia gave a hand too. And now, director Erick Reyes is continuing its success.

The actors are almost losing their identities since the public have been calling them by their character’s names. They don’t mind it, of course, for they know it’s a good sign that they have positioned themselves in the hearts of the viewers.

The lead actors, Camille Pratts, Shaina Magdayao and Serena Dalrymple, have grown into beautiful "big girls" who are not only concerned with being professional but are also interested with their future as citizens (they were once heard discussing politics at the height of the impeachment). "What will happen to us? We wish the public will make the right choices ’coz we, as kids, can’t do so much now but hope."

Isn’t that wonderful? These kids who have placed themselves in the hearts of their audience have also placed their audience’s hearts in theirs.