Bias Against Showbiz Candidiates

If you did not know many Filipino actors make the transition from the stage to politics. Actor-politicians are very popular. The people never vote on competency but on popularity. So, it's kind of strange that apparently actor-politicians are despised. At least according to Showbiz Senator Lito Lapid.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2043588/lapid-disappointed-over-bias-against-showbiz-candidates

Senator Lito Lapid has expressed frustrations over the continued bias against showbiz personalities like him who are seeking public office.

“When actors like us enter politics, it’s as if we are poisons. People don’t want us here. But when professionals, lawyers, and wealthy individuals enter politics, it’s like food for them (critics),” said Lapid in Filipino during a media conference Thursday in Palo town, Leyte.

Oh, wow. When actors enter politics it's poison but when lawyers enter politics they are...food for critics? What is he even trying to say? If "professionals, lawyers, and wealthy individuals" who enter politics are food for critics it would seem as if they are also not wanted. To be food for critics (i.e. devoured by critics) is to be roundly criticized and not praised. Lito Lapid does not understand his metaphor.

Lapid is seeking another Senate term in the May 12 elections under the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas.

Several actors and entertainment figures are running in the May elections.

Aside from Lapid, other showbiz personalities vying for a seat in the Senate are reelectionist Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, former Senate President Tito Sotto, actor Philip Salvador, and comedian Willie Revillame.

Salvador and Revillame are running for the Senate for the first time.

Senators Robin Padilla and Jinggoy Estrada were also actors before entering politics.

Lapid admitted feeling hurt by the criticisms and how many people look down on actors who seek public office.

“We are not abnormal. We have feelings, too. We also get hurt,” he said.

Oh no. Boo-hoo. Actors have feelings. Yeah and the Philippines has needs. The Philippines needs competent leaders. You know, people who understand the law. The Philippines does not need showboating actors (Bong Revilla, Tito Sotto, Robin Padilla, etc.) who only care about their image and legacy.

Despite this, Lapid highlighted his legislative accomplishments, noting that since he became a senator in 2004, he has filed over 900 bills, about 100 of which have become laws.

Among the laws he authored are the Meat Labeling Act of 2011, the Comprehensive Unilateral Hearing Loss Research and Development and Rehabilitation Act, the Urban Agriculture and Vertical Farming Act, the Corporate Social Responsibility Act, the Kindergarten Education Act, the Adopt-A-Wildlife Species Act, and the Free Legal Assistance Act of 2010.

Lapid, who started his showbiz career in the 1970s as a stuntman, expressed gratitude to actor Coco Martin for casting him in his shows, admitting that his continued television exposure has helped younger audiences recognize him.

“I thought the younger generation—the millennials—no longer knew me. But now they do. They call me ‘Supremo,’” he said, referring to his character in the television series “Batang Quiapo.”

Lapid acknowledged that his strong performance in election surveys could partly be attributed to his television appearances.

In the January survey conducted by Social Weather Stations, he ranked third to fourth among Senate candidates.

So, this guy, Lito Lapid, has filed over 900 bills!!! Talk about overregulation. What society needs that many potential laws? How many of those bills are for actual needs and not things like declaring a holiday? Incredibly 11% of his bills have become actual laws. That is a dismal percentage indicating the majority of his legislation is worthless. 

It is possible for any actor or popular personality to become a competent politician. Ronald Reagan is exhibit number one. He was an actor who became president of SAG, who became Governor of California, and then became President of the United States. But not everyone is Ronald Reagan. 

Why don't we leave politics to people who are trained to be politicians? Let's keep actors and hangers-on like Go and Bato out of office.