The senator is seeking for another term in this year’s polls
TACLOBAN CITY – Reelectionist Senator Lito Lapid expressed disappointment over the continued bias against showbiz personalities like him who seek public office.
Several actors and entertainment figures are running in this year’s elections. In the Senate race alone, aside from Lapid, other showbiz personalities vying for a seat include reelectionist Bong Revilla, former Senate President Tito Sotto, actor Philip Salvador, and comedian Willie Revillame. Both Salvador and Revillame are running for the Senate for the first time.
Senators Robin Padilla and Jinggoy Estrada were also actors before entering politics.
“When actors like us enter politics, it’s as if we’re poison—people don’t want us here. But when professionals, lawyers, and wealthy individuals enter politics, it’s like food for them (critics),” Lapid, speaking in Filipino, said in a media conference on Thursday, March 13.
Lapid is seeking another Senate term in the upcoming May 12, 2025 elections under the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas (Alliance for a New Philippines).
The senator said this attitude is unfair, pointing out that established politicians often use showbiz personalities to draw crowds and gain endorsements.
“Politicians rely on actors to attract people, to entertain, and to endorse them,” Lapid added.
He admitted feeling hurt by the criticisms and how many people look down on actors who seek public office.
“We are not abnormal. We have feelings too; we also get hurt,” he said.
Despite this, Lapid highlighted his legislative accomplishments, noting that since he became a senator in 2004, he has filed over 900 bills, about 100 of which have become laws.
Among the laws he authored are the Meat Labeling Act of 2011, the Comprehensive Unilateral Hearing Loss Research and Development and Rehabilitation Act, the Urban Agriculture and Vertical Farming Act, the Corporate Social Responsibility Act, the Kindergarten Education Act, the Adopt-A-Wildlife Species Act, and the Free Legal Assistance Act of 2010.
While not as active in making movies, Lapid has continued to appear in television shows, particularly in Ang Probinsyano and Batang Quiapo, both starring Coco Martin and aired on ABS-CBN.
Incidentally, Martin is endorsing Lapid’s reelection bid.
Lapid, who started his showbiz career in the 1970s as a stuntman, expressed gratitude to Martin for casting him in his shows, admitting that his continued TV exposure has helped younger audiences recognize him.
“I thought the younger generation—the millennials—no longer knew me. But now they do; they call me ‘Supremo,’” he said, referring to his character in Batang Quiapo.
Lapid acknowledged that his strong performance in election surveys could partly be attributed to his TV appearances. In the January survey conducted by Social Weather Stations, he ranked 3rd to 4th among Senate candidates.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
