A certain Rosmar Tan, described as a social media influencer, is running for councilor in Manila in the May 2025 midterm elections. Here’s her sound bite: “Aanhin pa ang katalinuhan sa law o anuman po …” Or: What good is knowledgeability in law or whatever …?
The lawyer Vince Tañada, who is also a movie and stage producer, director, writer, and actor, warns the candidate to first study the law and its formulation, pointing out that what she is embarking on is far from easy. Here is his simple explanation:
“Ang tinatakbo po ni Rosmar ay konsehal, legislative po ito. Yong legislative po, tama ka naman d’yan, kapatid, na naiboto si Robin Padilla. At ngayon naman ay tumatakbo si Phillip Salvador, kasama pa itong si Willie Revillame.
“Inuulit ko po, tatlo ang branches ng government, ang executive, ang legislative at ang judiciary. Ang executive po, dito kasama ang presidente, vice-president, mayor, governor. Sa legislative, sila po yong senador, congressman, vice mayor, konsehal, at mga board member po sa mga probinsiya. Ang judiciary naman, yong mga nasa korte. Tandaan po natin na ang tatakbuhan nina Phillip at Willie ay legislative.
“Hindi naman po pwede na ang rason nila sa pagtakbo ay pang-executive. Yong pagbibigay ng tulong sa mga mahihirap, pagtsa-charity work, pagbibigay ng pera o bigas, strictly speaking, hindi po yon papel ng executive. Ang pagtakbo po ng senador ay paggawa ng batas. Hindi naman po executive ang tinatakbuhan nila, legislative. Ang pagtulong sa mamamayan ay hindi gawain ng mga senador.”
In English, Tañada says: “What [Rosmar] is gunning for is for councilor, this is legislative. You’re right, sister, anyway, that Robin Padilla was voted to the Senate. And now, Phillip Salvador and Willie Revillame are running for senators. I repeat, there are three branches of government. The executive includes the president, mayor, governor. The legislative is for the senators, congressmen, vice-mayor, councilors, provincial board members. Meanwhile, the judiciary is for the people in courts. Let’s be reminded that Phillip and Willie are running for the Senate, legislative. It’s not proper that their reason for running is being an executive.”
His warning to the candidate is succinct: “Kaya kung ako ikaw, Rosmar, mag-aral ka muna ng batas at pagsulat ng batas. Hindi basta-basta ang pinapasok mo.”
Despite his being a lawyer and his illustrious political roots, Tañada never dreamed of entering the government and is convinced that he can be of help to others outside politics: “Kahit abugado ako at galing sa pamilya ng mga pulitiko, hindi ko pinangarap pumasok sa gobyerno. Kahit hindi ako pulitiko, makakatulong ako sa aking kapwa.”
Questions
In this light, would Tañada root for the singer and new Bar passer Jimmy Bondoc for the Senate? If we use his parameters as our gauge, would the health tips of cancer patient Dr. Willie Ong, or Ben Tulfo’s my-brother’s-keeper exposés of oppression, or his sibling Erwin Tulfo’s social welfare secretary tone, serve as guarantees for seats in the Senate?
What about band member Marc Gamboa, son of a cosmetics manufacturer—would he survive in the senatorial battle by playing music during campaign sorties? (Of course, you can’t fault the father, Louie Razon Gamboa, for taking pride in the son: “I’m also very, very proud of him.”)
Or Camille Villar, a potential calendar girl with her posters tacked in every nook and cranny all over the countryside long before the period for the filing of the certificates of candidacy, as though she were a beauty queen fresh from a pageant overseas. Does being a member of the House of Representatives, child of a billionaire ex-politician, daughter and sister of incumbent senators, make her a surefire addition to the Senate?
Can it be said that fame, public adulation, walking the corridors of power, and the accompanying and unlimited perks—all subsumed in the never-ending mantra of “helping the needy”—are top of mind in the reelection bids of Bong Revilla and Lito Lapid, and of boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and TV personality Tito Sotto?
Guy and Vi
They may not be pitted against each other for the same post, but fielding themselves in the political arena has heightened the rivalry of Superstar Nora Aunor and Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos after all these years.
Nora has filed a certificate of nomination and acceptance as second nominee of the party-list group People’s Champ Movement, while Vilma is in the running to reclaim the post of governor of Batangas province—a level of role-playing in both real and reel life.
Politics is indeed an extension of other social fields like arts and culture, lifestyle and entertainment. Competition comes in various shapes and sizes, in different shades and colors.
Sadly, the fans have been spitting fire in defense of their respective idols—a veneration without understanding, to borrow from the progressive historian Renato Constantino.
The dialectics of the Nora-Vilma dichotomy are once again at the fore, and it would be good to review their contributions to the social culture, the public and the personal, and many other things. Between Ate Guy and Ate Vi, who presented the dissent against the established order, initially for the betterment of oneself, and then later, for the good of the many?
It’s an interesting issue to this day. As an argument, no “has-been” between these stars can be reduced to oblivion as measured by consumerism, for Nora and Vilma are established actresses, artists. An artist never dies; he or she just fades away.
Local scene
In the local scene, no matter the loud bashing, no one can stop the son of Vilma and Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Ryan Christian Recto, to run as representative of the lone district of Lipa City in Batangas and his half-bro, Luis Manzano, as vice-governor of his mom.
Check out the couple domination of Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres in Leyte—he as representative of the fourth district and she as mayor of Ormoc City.
Detained actor and ex-politician Dennis Roldan’s son Marco Gumabao, actress Cristine Reyes’ boyfriend, is trying his luck to represent the fourth district of Camarines Sur.
Actress Lani Mercado and son Jolo Revilla are running again to represent the second and first districts of Cavite, respectively, while EJ Falcon is gunning for a congressional seat in Oriental Mindoro.
Food vlogger Diwata is fourth nominee for the Vendors party-list, shouting not only his entrepreneurship but his gayness as well.
Would you believe that new dad Zanjoe Marudo and Imelda Papin’s sis Aileen Papin are running under Asap Na and Loyalista party-lists, respectively?
It’s a reelection attempt in Bulacan for drama/action star Daniel Fernando for governor and actor Alex Castro for his vice-gov.
“SDA (sex-action-drama) king” Dan Fernandez (to borrow the still-missing movie columnist, TV host and talent manager Boy C de Guia’s marketing brand for Phillip Salvador) could run full circle if he wins as governor of Laguna against erstwhile ABS-CBN broadcast reporter Sol Aragones, with actress-singer Gem Castillo as Dan’s vice-gov.
Miss Flawless comedienne Angelica Jones has filed her certificate of candidacy as provincial board member in Laguna’s third district, while action and drama superstar Roi Vinzon (a native of Pampanga but affiliated to Mountain Province by romantic liaison) guns for a board seat in Benguet.
A three-pronged mayoral fight in Manila is being waged by celebrities—Isko Moreno; the incumbent Honey Lacuna, former Radio Philippines Network Channel 9 newscaster Dodie Lacuna’s cousin; and Sam Versoza, Tutok to Win party-list rep and current boyfriend of Rhian Ramos.
The late talent manager Leo Dominguez’s protégé, action film hero Emilio Garcia, and the late director Wenn V. Deramas’ discovery, DJ Durano, are gunning for mayor of Bay in Laguna and Sogod in Cebu, respectively.
Other wannabes
Here are other names drawing attention.
Candidates for vice-mayor: prizewinning actor Yul Servo, Manila; action star, taekwondo champ and ex-congressman Monsour del Rosario, Makati; and actress Angelika dela Cruz, Malabon.
For councilors (Quezon City): actress Aiko Melendez (who filed her certificate with boyfriend Rep. Jay Khonghun, who is running again as representative of the first district of Zambales), hunk actor Enzo Pineda and former congressman Alfred Vargas, all of them from the fifth district, and Doland Castro of ABS-CBN’s “TV Patrol,” first district.
Pasig City: actresses Angelu de Leon and Ara Mina, second district, and beauty queen Shamsey Supsup, first district.
Manila: comedian and perennial councilman Lou Veloso, Jr., fourth district, and sexy actor Wendell Ramos, sixth district.
Caloocan City: controversial star Marjorie Barretto, mom of Julia Barretto, first district.
Paranaque City: Abby Viduya (aka former sexy actress Priscilla Almeda), Yeoj Marquez (son of Alma Moreno and Joey Marquez), and Allen Tan, all for the first district; and Ryan Yllana, second district.
Angeles City, Pampanga: hunk actor Aljur Abrenica and erstwhile Viva Hot Babe JC Parker.
Concepcion, Tarlac: Vice Ganda’s partner Ion Perez.
So who’s your bet?
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