"ACTOR POLITICANS"
by Micky
Imagine this! President Fernando Poe, Jr. of the Republic of the Philippines, Vice President Elizabeth Oropesa, Senator Richard Gomez, and Mayor Aga Muhlach Now that you're done imagining, I'm going to ask you something. Can you think of an actor-politician who has served our people well? It's hard to think of one, right? Because of this, I am against actor-politicians who have no prior experience in public administration and who lacks in educational background. Since Erap became president of the Philippines, several actors wanted to join the political arena. Of course, who wouldn't want to be in the place where you have access to power and money? I come here todayto expose the folly and stupidity of celebrities running for elective positions. Quite simply, I think its a travesty.
And why do I say this? First of all, politics is very much different from show business. Though you face people in both situations, you can't act in politics in the same way that you can't decide on what policy and reforms to make in movies. In show business, all you have to do is touch the hearts of the people; in politics, you don't only have touch their hearts but you also have to make their lives better. In both professions, you are popular; however, politics is more than just popularity though popularity may gain you entry into politics.
Second, several actor-politician wannabees don't have adequate education. In fact, even our President doesn't have a degree in his resume. For an actor-politician wannabee to succeed in politics, he has to have a degree that would back him up in decision-making. Having a degree perhaps in public administration or political science would do him well when it comes to public service. Being a public servant means that you're going to do what is good for the people. If you have no experience in public administration, how could you possibly serve the people? You might end up serving yourself. Also, having enough experience in public administration will serve as a training ground for your future responsibilities as a public servant. As noted journalist and TV host Lourdes Jimenez otherwise known as Inday Badiday said, "I remember, in the heat of the presidential campaign, whenever some quarters pointed out that Erap didn't have the necessary knowledge and expertise to be an effective head of state, his campaigners smugly retorted that he could always have as many advisers and consultants to help him do the job well." But you can't always rely on your advisers. That's why actor-politician wannabees have to have adequate education and experience in public administration. Lack of adequate education and experience in public administration would mean that you wouldn't be able to serve the public effectively. If you don't have the education and experience that would back you up in decision-making, you can be easily influenced by your advisers; and these advisers are capable of putting their own welfare first before that of the people.
Third, they're simply popular. If a certain party feels the need of getting high ratings specially when the elections are just around the corner, they entice some actors who are popular enough, to join their party and run for whatever position seems available. In effect, the presence of the actor in that certain party automatically garners the party high ratings. Actors are victims of political parties who view them as their ticket to winning due to their strong mass appeal. As newspaper columnist Crispina Belen said, "They might be recruited by party leaders who realize the actors' popularity and therefore winnability. Actors also gain popularity if they're candidates for the upcoming elections because people specially the masses see them as the roles they played in their movies. If a certain actor in his movies played the role of a good politician, the people may perceive him as a good politician in the making."
Having stated these arguments, I honestly think that most actor-politicians get elected because of their popularity not because they have the ability. If their popularity and empty promises would keep on blinding us, we could expect our country to remain as what it is in right now, in retrogression. As good citizens of this country, we should be responsible in electing someone who we think could best serve the people, someone who has as adequate education and experience fit for a responsible public servant.