Showbiz and politics make heady mix in RP
By Malou Mangahas
MANILA (Reuters): Movies and TV networks have become a breeding ground for politicians in the Philippines but critics say that mixing show business and politics could leave voters star-struck when election time comes around.
Joseph Estrada, former movie idol and ousted president, has lost his lustre but more stars than ever will be jostling for votes and public office in congressional and local elections on May 14.
"These candidates are popular because they are often seen on TV and the movies but running government is something else," says insider Joel Lamangan, an award winning film director.
He and others say the proliferation of stars in politics offers a distraction rather than a solution to the problems of the people of the Philippines.
"When they've run out of movies or contracts, they turn to politics, that's bad, that's not public service," says Lamangan.
Six senatorial candidates rating well in surveys are television anchors, movie stars, or married to "megastars". Dozens of other celebrities are running for congress, governor or mayor across the nation and they all boast the perfect qualifications.
Noli de Castro, ABS-CBN's highest paid and most popular news anchor until this week, says he wants to be a senator to address "in a new, bigger arena" the poverty and injustice he has seen as a broadcaster.
Once elected, he says, his priorities will be "free education for indigents, housing for the poor and the delivery of basic services".
A consistent leader in opinion polls, De Castro was eased off the new administration's senate slate after several non- governmental organizations said he was pro-Estrada, a charge De Castro denies.
"I don't owe any politician or party. I owe only the people... I will be an independent and will not take sides," he said after deciding to run as an independent.
The Estrada coalition slate has since adopted him as a candidate.
Another hopeful, radio personality Ted Failon, told his listeners he wanted to be governor of his home province "so I could serve my people".
Estrada showed actors can go right to the top, rising to the presidency with a record majority but 31 months later, he was forced from office amid allegations of graft when the armed forces rallied to his opponents following mass street protests.
Estrada denies any wrongdoing but the debate on whether he enriched himself while in office is far from over, with his opponents pressing for a corruption trial.
Fears of possible voter fallout against celebrity candidates has not stopped the stars from trying to join a long-list of former colleagues who have crossed into politics.
Two former anchors of ABS-CBN News, the largest TV network, are now senators. In May, three more personalities from the network are in the senate race. It they win, five of the 24 senators will come from ABS-CBN stable.
Five other ABS-CBN anchors and reporters are vying for other positions and other TV and radio agencies have also produced candidates.
But many commentators are not impressed.
"So much of TV news in the Philippines is entertainment already," columnist Nelson Navarro told Reuters.
"The presentation of the news is market-driven. They cover news and politics like they are selling soap and perfume."
Movie stars are crossing over, he says, "because they have discovered politics is a better source of income... for movie stars headed for the sunset, it's a way out of old age."
Lamangan agrees, saying only those qualified should run for office, urging education to ensure a mature electorate.
Navarro says voter education must focus on "the poor who worship movie stars". This was Estrada's power based.
"The years of political cynicism, graft and corruption, have so bastardized politics. It's come down to a matter of entertainment," Navarro says.
Stars in politics are "a function of a country that's deliberately poor, an elite that is callous, and you offer democratic rights as a farce." he adds.
"It's an imperfect system... the only saving grace here is the transparency of it all," he says. "We can yell our heads off and complain when we witness cheating in the polls."