Throwing their Hats

ARIEL Aquino Muhlach or better known as Aga Muhlach is the latest movie and TV actor who joined the political bandwagon. He took an oath last week and became a member of the ruling Liberal Party of the present administration. He is said to run for a congressional seat in Camarines Sur.

Who else might be the next showbiz personality who wants to become a star in next year’s mid-term elections?

Perhaps, aside from their much reliable “want to serve” reason, many of our movie and TV actors and actresses of today are throwing their hats into the political ring because of lack of their projects on the big screen and the boob tube.

Gone are the days when many Filipinos go to movie houses to see the latest action flick, the tearjerkers and the touching love stories that our actors and actresses then starred in.

Show business today is not much profitable, unlike before when we as students would save some of our “baons” so we can see a movie after classes. Watching movies were once bonding moments for classmates since there are no malls to loiter around then.

There were too many action stars then. Of them, some were just even learning to hold guns, matched with their macho looks and opulent managers who became instant celebrities.

Actresses meanwhile shed some skin during the burlesk, bomba, bold, TF and ST movie genres, for them to shine like stars during a dark night. Some bold actresses came from you-know-where and became famous with their beauteous faces and bountiful curved bodies. Dramatic actresses meanwhile were often the old-timers who honed their acting skills through time and experience.

One of the factors putting down show business is the influx of computers where one can download movies and watch them instantly. There are also the pirated compact discs that are sold not only in malls but also on sidewalks for cheaper prices.

Movie houses that were once favorite hangouts and dating places are not much earning now except for some movies that can be counted by our hands. Mostly they are American movies, sad to say.

Some actors and actresses have shifted to different income-generating activities such as live shows during fiestas and other occasions, TV guestings, product endorsements on print and television.

To sum it up, show business is not as profitable as it was before. Comparatively speaking, there is not much to do for our actors and actresses of today as compared to during the golden age of movies.

Noteworthy is the fact that many of our actors and actresses, regardless of whether they still have their movie projects or otherwise are joining the race. Their exposures and popularity anyway give them the mileage when running for a public office.

It’s not that they are qualified or the other way around, but being in show business is not a guarantee that they can solve serious problems of people just like they do in the movies. We cannot equate good acting careers with good governance.

Action stars can shoot criminals easily in the movies, not in real life. Some do not even care in maintaining peace and order in a locality.

Many of our actors and actress today are becoming politicians. Many politicians meanwhile do want to become actors and actresses for their mileage and further public appearances.

Popularity plays a big role in our politics today. One who is popular can easily woo voters for their support during the elections, giving them an easy campaign and an advantage over their rivals.

Many showbiz personalities have joined the race and we can expect more to join. Their frequent TV shows guestings, appearances and movies give us a clue that they are gunning for a public office. Wanna bet?

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