GMA with Jerry Yan vs. Erap’s FPJ magic?
November 9, 2003 | 12:00am
Has Jerry Yan of F4 become a more potent symbol in our electoral politics rather than the ideas or leadership styles of Lee Kuan Yew, Thaksin or Mahathir? Is the nefarious impact of showbiz gossip and morals gradually supplanting the corrupt politics of our traditional power elite in our national elections? What is happening to 21st century Philippine democracy – have we become more mature and discerning in our choices of leaders or not? What can be done to overhaul, rationalize and modernize our political culture and system in order to liberate the people’s creative energies and innate talents for a globally-competitive Philippine economy?
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s sycophant propagandists were publicly chided by her ally Senator Kiko Pangilinan for misleading claims that Dubya Bush in Manila endorsed her 2004 presidential bid. Were they the desperate spin doctors who leaked the incredible story that Taiwanese pop star Jerry Yan (also known by his TV drama character Dao Ming Xi) of the F4 boy band might endorse her presidential bid?
There’s nothing wrong with GMA’s photo-op with the Taiwanese star, but making claims that he might endorse the President for election is preposterous and an insult to the people’s intelligence.
What about the wildfire speculations that Philippine cinema’s "Da King" Fernando Poe Jr. is being persuaded by controversial ex-President Joseph Estrada to run for the highest public office of the land in order to bring the opposition forces back to political power? FPJ is a decent and honorable man, but he has yet to reveal his political plans and his blueprint for reforms.
To the credit of former Education Secretary Raul Roco and Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, even their bitter critics acknowledge that both have not degraded Philippine politics with showbiz gimmicks. In fact, Ping Lacson elicited applause when he recently told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) that he would never do song-and-dance numbers because he wanted to "uphold the dignity of public office."
Entrepreneur Ben Chan of Bench has pulled off a marketing coup by enlisting popular Taiwanese star Jerry Yan, who plays the role of the rich and dashing Dao Ming Xi in Meteor Garden. If Erap and his allies succeed in fielding FPJ in 2004, can we really fault GMA for her recent high-profile meeting and photo-ops with Jerry Yan as part of her efforts to boost her popularity versus FPJ? What about TV celebrity Senator Noli de Castro – is there any truth to the rumors that the Lopez clan of ABS-CBN network and Meralco is persuading him to gun for the 2004 presidential polls?
To all the legions of die-hard F4 fans out there, do not misunderstand. This writer is not against the public adulation of F4 or Jerry Yan. I’m just worried about how entertainers and show business have become excessively important in the consciousness of the nation and even among the youth of our generation. Are we propagating the right moral values when the focus is too much on porma instead of substance, intelligence and character?
With the way our local pop culture and politics have come to literally worship all kinds of actors, actresses, singers, basketball players and bold stars, perhaps it wouldn’t be too far-fetched for our leaders to someday even smuggle F4’s Jerry Yan into our country, give him citizenship and then acclaim him as a presidentiable to save the Philippines from despair?
Why couldn’t the political advisers and spin doctors of GMA try to seek advice from ASEAN’s legendary statesman Lee Kuan Yew instead of highlighting photo-ops with a long-haired young star? In India, which like the Philippines is a Western-style liberal democracy with huge socio-economic problems, some experts publicly voiced out their wish that their country can hire Lee Kuan Yew as their national CEO for the sake of national progress. Isn’t it tragic that our highly-educated leaders prefer to let the public witness them lionize Jerry Yan and other celebrities, instead of emulating the Lee Kuan Yews and Mahathirs of Asia.
Jose "Joey" Araneta Concepcion III recently texted this suggestion for this column: "You may want to do a column on what businessmen feel about FPJ running for president and if ever who should be the best person for this position."
The eldest daughter of a billionaire taipan texted this writer: "You think the business community will vote for FPJ?" We replied that it depends on what his socio-economic policies and government platform will be, who the economic managers and advisers FPJ will choose. On a less serious note, this writer texted back: "I’m certain the Japanese business community and investors will oppose the election of FPJ as president, dahil sa dami ng mga Hapon na pinatay niya sa kanyang mga films."
As part of the propaganda campaign to stop a possibly blockbuster FPJ presidential bid, his detractors are now busy mass producing and texting FPJ jokes that seek to belittle his worthiness to be the national leader. Even people who are not his critics or enemies have also started to concoct and pass around FPJ jokes almost reminiscent of the past Erap jokes on ex-President Estrada.
A rabid anti-FPJ business executive of the Makati Business Club texted this message: "Bush asked: What are the pollutants in your country? FPJ replied: We have a lot of pollutants! We have sisig, kilawin, chicharon, mani! Erap commented: Nadale mo pre, ganun din sagot ko!"
Another anti-FPJ political leader and GMA loyalist sent this text: "Qualifications ni FPJ: mas matangkad kay Gloria, mas maliit ang tiyan kay Roco, mas maraming napatay na mga criminal kay Lacson, mas matatag sa inuman kay Erap."
In fairness to FPJ, he has led a life free from sordid scandals that usually mark showbiz stars. His wife, actress Susan Roces, is the paradigm of an elegant and virtuous lady.
A close friend of FPJ told this writer: "It is unfair and cruel of critics to belittle Ronnie as an uneducated or ignorant guy. This is simply not true. He is a successful businessman and movie producer. True, he is a high school drop-out, but it wasn’t due to his lack of intellect or discipline, but because his father died early and Ronnie was forced to support his family. Ronnie is well-read, decisive, courageous and compassionate, but above all – he is not corrupt. Don’t forget that despite being the best friend of Erap, Ronnie never once asked for any favor from government. Spare FPJ the anti-showbiz bias by the elite. Why not give FPJ an equal chance as any lawyer or politician to run for president? Who knows, FPJ may become the Ronald Reagan of Asia?"
Jerry Yan, FPJ and even celebrity television talk show host Noli de Castro are not the problems. The dilemma is in our unwieldy and anti-progress political culture which has transmogrified from a rotten patronage system of guns, goons and gold into a frivolous system of celebrity glamour, popularity and even scandals. Couldn’t we muster the political will to push for a more efficient political system that would encourage only the best and the brightest people to join government? Maybe we need Jerry Yan to be the celebrity endorser of socio-economic and political reforms?
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