EDITORIAL - Running on popularity

The Lakas-Kampi of the administration has just picked actor Edu Manzano as runningmate for presidential aspirant and Department of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro for the May 2010 elections.

A popular television host, Manzano is expected to help salvage the sagging popularity of Teodoro, who lags behind in surveys among presidential contenders.

But is he the right choice to be Teodoro’s runningmate? Is he really a winnable partner enough to compensate for Teodoro’s apparent lack of popularity among the masses?

Well, Manzano is not new to public service although he is more popularly known in the entertainment industry than in politics. He was elected vice mayor of Makati City for only one term.

In 2004, he was appointed first chairman of the Optical Media Board, a government agency whose primary job is to combat optical media piracy. He resigned from the post a month ago to pursue his political ambition.

At first, he was reported to be running for the Senate under the opposition Liberal Party. As it turned out, however, he eventually landed as Teodoro’s runningmate after several vice presidential aspirants turned down the invitation to join the administration ticket.

Manzano would be facing far more formidable and more politically established opponents. Senators Mar Roxas and Loren Legarda, and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay have more experience in public service splashed in their resumés than the veteran actor.

Of course, Manzano is more popular than his opponents. He has already become a household name even in the remotest barangays in the countryside.

Elections are supposed to be about voting for the right candidates. They are held in order for the masses to confer their trust and confidence on those who are capable to serve them.

This is not to say Manzano is not capable and the right man for the second highest post in the land. He may have all the qualities needed for a vice president.

But the way we see it, it is his unprecedented popularity that would fuel his candidacy. And whether he can pull an upset against his more experienced opponents remains to be seen.