Saturday, May 08, 2004
Pinoy penchant for electing celebrities to face test (9:45 a.m.)
MANILA -- He may be the Philippine answer to Arnold Schwarzenegger but can tough guy screen idol Fernando Poe run the country?
It is a question 43 million people will be asking themselves as they cast their ballots on Monday where celebrities are gaining force in politics.
Joseph Estrada, a matinee star turned politician, was elected president six years ago only to be thrown out in disgrace halfway through his term for corruption.
Estrada may have blown the biggest script of his life but his popularity has not diminished despite his drinking, womanizing and gambling.
Will Poe, a close friend of Estrada, be able to pull off a victory?
Despite opinion polls putting incumbent Gloria Arroyo ahead, there are many who believe the election is too close to call.
On the surface Poe, a high school drop out, has nothing to offer except his star status while Arroyo has the advantage of office and is a trained economist.
Unlike the large political clans which have dominated the politics and business of the Philippines, the likes of Poe and Estrada represent a new elite -- that of celebrity.
In the last 24-member senate, nine percent were there only because they were celebrities. They included actors, TV anchors and sporting heroes.
Arroyo's own vice-presidential running mate, Senator Noli de Castro is known mainly as the host of top-rated television news programs and her senatorial slate includes two young film stars and a former basketball hero.
Poe's running mate, Senator Loren Legarda, is also the host of a popular talk show and his senatorial slate has several celebrities including Estrada's son, Jose.
Both de Castro and Legarda appear on the same television network owned by the Lopez clan.
The country's top female ten-pin bowler, Olivia "Bong" Coo, is running as an independent for Senate. In the Manila suburb of Parañaque, TV comedian and mayor Joey Marquez is seeking a Congress seat while his estranged wife, former screen siren Alma Moreno, is aspiring to become mayor.
Arroyo, stressed her experience as her main asset over Poe in her speeches, but she is careful not to belittle his celebrity credentials.
Mike Defensor, spokesman for the Arroyo campaign, has defended the choice of celebrities as candidates saying, "These are people who can win and at the same time govern."
He said de Castro and others like him in Arroyo's camp have all served in government before, unlike Poe who has no experience of public service.
The uncertainty of the Estrada years has made businesses anxious over the possible election of more film stars.
Nick Tiongson, dean of the University of the Philippines' institute of mass communications, said: "Definitely, it shows an electorate that is not very politically mature. Obviously in the campaigning, it is not the issues that are discussed.
"If the economic conditions are better, people would have access to better education, higher standards. I don't think people would be as prone to believe in heroes. It is desperation that also pushes them to that kind of thinking."
Ricky de la Cruz, a political science professor for the church-run University of Santo Tomas said: "It is the candidates who have misjudged the Filipino people as to their maturity, intelligence, etc. (They believe) the people are easily entertained by a candidate dancing on TV."
But the preference for film stars may also be a sign of dissatisfaction with traditional politicians, Tiongson suggested.
"In the past, they have elected people with academic qualifications, (like) lawyers, but what good has it done the country, what good has it done to ordinary people?" he said. AFP |
