AS THE 2010 election draws near it seems difficult to dodge the strange awful feeling of déjà vu all over again when one looks at the political landscape, especially with the leadership-or-celebrity dilemma once again threatening to blur the collective consciousness of the Filipino voters.

We read for instance Joseph “Erap” Estrada trying to ape that famous Mao Zedong line in saying that peace in Mindanao should emanate “from the barrels of the government’s guns.” He told his faithful during his recent proclamation rally in Tondo, Manila that he was ready to reprise the role of the “war freak” who will direct gunfire on secessionist movements like the MILF.

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Much like the familiar anti-gangster roles he used to play on screen Estrada reiterated his impatience with lingering peace negotiations that have been taking place as a way of justifying his declaration of war during his term.

Of course Erap was not able to follow through on his program to rid Mindanao of secessionist groups as he soon got enmeshed with the battle of trying to stay in office.

However, the same tragedy is staring at us once more as a horde of movie stars, entertainers, comedians, and what have you, are once again setting their sights on various elective posts in next year’s polls. Have we learned our lessons or are we still willing to be duped into believing that running the country’s affairs can be entrusted to the on-screen, off-screen hero who is trying to win votes by promising to go to war.

The really scary thing is our penchant for celebrity and our failure to learn from history which may doom us to merely repeat it.