Nora Aunor look-alike President Arroyo showed a bit of her acting prowess opposite comedy king Dolphy and other stars of the popular sit-com "Home Along da Riles" aired over Channel 2.
Taking time off from her busy schedule Friday, Mrs. Arroyo had a cameo role as herself in an episode that tackles the election season along the railroad tracks.
The show will be aired Thursday night.
As the episode’s special guest, the President is featured making a house-to-house campaign in the community of squatters led by Dolphy as the irrepressible Kevin Cosme.
She broke her self-imposed ban on ambush interviews by obliging some ABS-CBN reporters curious about her bit role before the camera.
"Masaya (I’m happy!)," she said, laughing. "What a great honor for me to work with a big star like Dolphy."
She added: "We want to promote wholesome family TV shows like this."
Although it was her first thespian role, the President came prepared for the taping as she memorized her lines while en route to the studio on Mother Ignacia Street in Quezon City, coming from Villamor Air Base after a trip to Mindanao.
ABS-CBN showed some footage of Mrs. Arroyo’s cameo turn in which she advises Kevin about politics.
"Narito ako para sabihin sa inyo ang mga bagay-bagay na dapat nating isipin sa ating pagboto sa darating na halalan (I’m here to tell you about certain things we should think about when voting in the coming elections)," the President as herself told Dolphy, who is a known friend of her predecessor.
Ousted President Joseph Estrada, a former actor, has insisted that Mrs. Arroyo is only an acting president.
Meanwhile, the real actor in the First Family, Juan Miguel or "Mikey," may be in for some competition. But while he has a professional fee, his mom’s acting for "Home Along da Riles" was done gratis. –Marichu Villanueva