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MANILA, PhilippinesââPaano kung manalo (What if I win)?â
The late comedy king Dolphy (Rodolfo Quizon) wasnât joking when he gave this reply to persistent suggestions for him to ride on his popularity to run for public office.
The chances of him winning were high.
According to a study done in 2015 and submitted to the UP Diliman Journals, the probability of celebrities winning if they seek election to public office was highest among the poor.
In their 2015 study, Clarissa David and Jenna Mae Atun said âit is common in the Philippines for celebrities [âŠ] to run for public office and win.â
This, âeven with little experience in political life and limited education.â
It said âcelebrities aspiring to be politicians can have an advantage going into an election, the clearest of which is basic name recall or familiarity with a broad spectrum of voters.â
GRAPHIC: Ed Lustan/șÚÁÏÉç
According to results of the study, which examined empirical correlates of voter preference for celebrity presidential and vice presidential candidates, wealthier respondents are less likely to vote for celebrities.
But the number of voters belonging to upper economic strata was much lower than those in the lower rung of the economic ladder.
Only 16 percent from Class ABC said they would vote for a celebrity for both president and vice president, compared to 24 percent from Class D and 31 percent from Class E.
Some 34 percent from Class ABC directly said that they would not vote for a celebrity for president or vice president, way higher than the 21 percent from Class D and 12 percent from Class E.
âReadinessâ needed
Maria Ela Atienza, professor of political science at UP Diliman, pointed out that she âappreciates celebrities who understand that a national political post requires a different skill set.â
She said that âthey need to hone these skills first if ever they want to earn these positions.â
This, as she explained that âgoing for a national post without understanding the responsibilities or without any preparation is a sign of arrogance,â stressing that âthe training ground should be at the local level.â
âPopularity may win votes for a celebrity, but readiness for the job is a different thing,â she said when asked to give her thoughts about the influx of celebrities and online personalities who filed certificates of candidacy (COC).
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The Philippines is home to almost 115 million people, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. At least 17.54 million are considered poor while 2.07 million are jobless.
As pointed out in the UP study those with higher educational attainment are less likely to select a celebrity for both president and vice president, with only 11 percent of college graduates selecting a celebrity for both offices.
GRAPHIC: Ed Lustan/șÚÁÏÉç
The 2020 PSA census showed that 38.6 percent of all persons aged five and over reached or completed high school; 29.5 percent had reached or completed elementary; and 23.4 percent had reached or completed college.
Helping people
Like Dolphy, actor Gerald Anderson declined politics, too, saying that he would not jump into something that he has not yet learned âbecause peopleâs lives are at stake.â
In an interview with broadcaster Jessica Soho, Dolphy had this to say about entering politics:
âDoon nga ako natatakot, kasi baka manalo ako. Kung talagang papasok ako riyan, talagang magsisilbi ka sa bayan. Kung mapapabayaan ko, huwag na,â he said.
(That is what I am afraid of, because I might win. If I am really determined to enter politics, I have to serve the people. But if Iâll be neglectful eventually, Iâd say no.)
Dolphy died in 2012 staying true to his commitment to shun politics.
But over a decade later, his statements will regain relevance as celebrities and online personalities jumped into the political pool, adding to the 43,033 individuals who filed COCs for the elections in May next year.
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As tracked by INQFocus, over 70 TV and online personalities formalized their election bids from Oct. 1 to Oct. 8, filing their COCs for some of the 18,271 national and local elective posts that will be available.
GRAPHIC: Ed Lustan/șÚÁÏÉç
Most had said they want to be of help, especially to the poorest Filipinos, with some stressing there is a lot to be done. âWalang magugutom. Lahat ng mahihirap ay mabibigyan ng trabaho,â they said.
Atienza explained that there is nothing wrong with celebrities seeking an elective post âas we have very basic requirements.â
However, she told șÚÁÏÉç that it would be wrong for celebrities who filed COC âto assume that it is easy to serve the country,â saying that âthey should actually prove that they are not ignorant and stupid.â
â[These] are the stereotypes of celebrities who become politicians,â she said.
Close to 15 celebrities and online personalities are seeking a Senate seat, including reelectionists Bong Revilla and Lito Lapid and aspirants Willie Revillame, Philip Salvador, Jimmy Bondoc, Willie Ong, and Erwin and Ben Tulfo.
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Some are eyeing a seat at the House of Representatives, like Marco Gumabao for Camarines Surâs fourth district and Ejay Falcon for Oriental Mindoroâs second district. Nora Aunor is a nominee of the party-list Peopleâs Champ Guardians.
Election win
Some popular figures, however, are staying away from the political circus.
Back in 2022, comedian and TV host Vice Ganda explained the reason he declined an offer to seek public office: âNot because you can win, you will run.â
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âI can win, I feel like I can win [âŠ] But for me, at this point, Iâm not good at politics. So why should I go there? What, to put the Philippines at risk?â Vice Ganda stressed.
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Anderson said he didnât have to be in public office to help people, which he did at the height of flooding recently.
âNagagamit ko naman âyung platform ko (I am already using my platform),â Anderson had said in an interview.
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Previously, he stressed that his âpower and opportunityâ as a celebrity is already enough to make a right impact: âIf you really want to help, the impact, power, and opportunities are there.â
Actress and content creator Ivana Alawi had the same sentiment, saying that âI know nothing about politics and lawmaking [and] if I were to enter such, I must take lessons first for three to four years.â
âI donât want to put our country at risk,â she said.
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As pointed out in the UP study, âpopular discourse about the determinants of voter preference for celebrities revolves mainly around social or economic class and education.â
It stressed that in the Philippines, âpoornessâ and âpovertyâ always play a central role in political discourse, with appeals to the masses indicated even in the simplest political messages.