Show biz versus traditional politicians

By Al S. Mendoza 

 THE obvious question now is:  Do we want a show biz-powered occupant at the Palace or a traditional politician?

Grace Poe is show biz, the adopted daughter of the late FPJ the King of Philippine movies and Susan Roces the Queen of Philippine movies.

Mar Roxas and Jojo Binay are traditional politicians—Roxas a long-time senator before he lost to Binay in the vice presidential derby in 2010.

Poe, Roxas and Binay are now the declared presidential bets in the May 2016 polls.

Of the three, Roxas ranks as having the richest political lineage.

Mar’s grandfather, Manuel, was a former President of the Republic.

Mar’s father, Gerry, was a former senator.

Binay has been in politics for decades.

After Binay got himself appointed by Tita Cory as OIC-Mayor of Makati in 1986, the nation’s “Little Rambo” has stuck to his post like a barnacle.

When his term limit was up, Binay unleashed his wife to run for Makati mayor and, of course, the Doktora handily won.

After one term lasting three years for Mayor Elenita Binay, Jojo came back to recapture Makati City Hall.

When his time was up anew as Makati mayor, Jojo ran for vice president but not after letting his son, Jun Jun, take over as city executive.

Just when everybody thought it was the end of Binay’s political career as surveys and exit polls showed Roxas as consistently ahead, the nation made Jojo P-Noy’s vice president in a stunning reversal of form in 2010.

When analyzed in depth, Binay’s voting power came from his years of sisterhood cities, networking with mayors and barangay officials, plus his Boy Scouts conduits nationwide.

And hardly had he warmed his VP seat after his 2010 victory, Binay started building blocks in yet another bold bid to grab power at Malacanang.  

When asked once why Jojo allows Binay dynasty in Makati, he replied, “What’s wrong with that?  It is the will of the people that should prevail at all times.”

Jojo is vice president and his two daughters are incumbent senator and Makati representative, respectively, plus a son is reigning mayor of Makati.

Roxas has vowed to continue P-Noy’s daang matuwid (straight path) spin, centering mainly on a corrupt-free governance.

Quite not surprisingly, Poe virtually mouths the same P-Noy line as she announced her 20-point program of government if elected.

While Poe has a running mate already in Chiz Escudero, Binay and Roxas have yet to find theirs.

Like Poe, Chiz has also become show biz of late.

Did Chiz not marry movie heartthrob Heart Evangelista only last February?

And while Heart’s parents openly opposed Chiz as Heart’s love, even boycotting the wedding, they have now become family as Heart’s mother appeared at Chiz’s rally announcing his VP bid.

Is there a more show biz moment than that?

(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)

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