Chicago, Illinois – Actor Edu Manzano, who portrayed the role of “President Cabrera” in the long running television series of ABS-CBN FPJ “Ang Probinsyano” failed in his bid to dislodge reelectionist Rep. Ronaldo Zamora as San Juan congressman.
Edu was ‘killed’ in his role at the start of the campaign period for local elections. His ‘death’ didn’t help him after all to boost his candidacy as San Juan voters might still remember him a ‘murderer’ and ‘corrupt president’, a reminder to some politicians that God is not sleeping.
Likewise, a fellow character in the “Ang Probinsyano”, actor-comedian and councilor Roderick Paulete who was ‘Mayor Dimaculangan’ and was also ‘killed’ by Edu himself, also lost his bid for vice mayor in Quezon City to Sen. Tito Sotto’s son, Gian.
Although Roderick portrayed the role of a ‘good mayor’ in television, nonetheless, residents of Quezon City are not yet ready to have a comedian to govern them.
Rommel Padilla, whose role in the “Ang Probinsyano” was ‘leader’ of a rebel group and was also ‘killed’ together with Edu and Roderick at the start of the campaign period, also failed in his bid for congressman of first district of Nueva Ecija despite the help of his celebrity actor-son Daniel Padilla and estranged wife actress Karla Estrada in the campaign.
It only shows voters now realize that celebrities can only be heroes for their cause in movies but not in real life.
But it’s not all defeat for the Probinsyano candidates.
Actor-host in noontime ABS-CBN Showbiz program Jhong Hilario, who was also a villain in the “Ang Probinsyano”, won another term as councilor.
“Alakdan” Jhong was remembered by the “Ang Probinsyano” fans as the one that repeatedly ‘molested’ Bubbles, the character portrayed by former beauty queen Bianca Manalo.
And finally, former senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid, the “Pinuno” who was ‘killed’ while on ‘honeymoon’ with “the General” portrayed by model-actress Angel Aquino, is successful in his comeback in the Senate.
Congratulations to all!
While a number of actors and actresses that joined the elections for national and local elections emerged as victors, there were also celebrities who had been in politics for quite a time now but were rejected finally by their followers for being too old to govern.
One of them is Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada, also an actor. I predicted his defeat when I was in Manila before coming here after seeing my beloved city stinking with uncollected trash are everywhere and the chaotic traffic.
Some followers of actor-turned politician I’ve interviewed told me that they want Erap but they will not vote for him because he is always on wheelchair and no longer serve the interest of the city.
His former vice mayor and actor Isko Moreno beat him by a landslide vote. Moreno’s campaign slogan then was to clean the city and never let Manila Bay, now under rehabilitation, to become a reclamation project for moneyed capitalists.
Let’s see if Isko can fight the giant in the Palace.
From where we are, we observed that President Duterte’s backed candidates of the administration coalition in both chambers and the local races for governor, vice governor, board members, city and town mayors, vice mayors, and councilors also won.
All the opposition candidates of “Otso Diretso” lost the senate and congress bids bringing me to ask Vice President Leni Robredo if she will make good on her promise to resign her post if her “Otso Diretso” party, or even one, will not make it.
Paano na yan, Mrs. Vice President!
-o0o-
Believe you me. While making my usual 30 minutes to an hour daily morning walk here, we met a Mexican carpenter in a construction site.
He asked me where I came from and I answered, from the Philippines.
I told him that our President is Duterte, and he quipped: “Sorry, I didn’t know him, but Pacquiao, yes.”
“Really, is that how popular the eight-division world champion here in America than President Duterte?”
“Yes”, he replied. “In fact my fellow carpenters are now betting for Manny Pacquiao who will defend his WBA regular welterweight belt against WBA Super Welterweight champion Keith Thurman Jr. on July 20 (July 21 in Manila).” That’s how the Filipino boxer is popular here or in other parts of the world.
Very surprising! President Donald Trump will be running for reelection on November 2020 elections. He might think of Manny as his campaign manager to deliver thousands of votes in favor of him. And this to me may not be good news to Vice President Joe Biden who will be opposing Trump’s reelection bid!
