While the United States is still coming to terms with the fact that their president is a reality TV star, the Philippines has long dealt with the unbreakable bond between show business and politics.
This messy intersection was highlighted yesterday when “Queen of All Media” and former first daughter Kris Aquino posted a rant about Korina Sanchez, a popular news presenter, and wife of politician Mar Roxas.
She was reacting to last night’s episode of Sanchez’ TV show Rated K, in which Kris’ ex-husband, professional basketball star James Yap, was featured.
Kris was not happy that Yap was depicted in a positive light, and proceeded to rant about the episode, a post that quickly turned political.
“[I] have really had ENOUGH. It’s simple- my brother doesn’t usually ask me to do anything- never anything for himself but for the candidate he endorsed. Because I love him, I followed him. All the criticisms for the help I did, I accepted. I went to Davao three times- during the 2010 campaign, the 2013 campaign for [Senator] Chiz [Escudero] and [Senator] Grace [Poe], and when PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) [was a guest on my show] KrisTV. All the times I met with [Duterte], I only saw good things,” Kris wrote in English and Filipino as a caption to a photo with Duterte.
“The feature aired by Mar Roxas’ wife’s show tonight was a slap in the face. Yes, I take it personally because I risked my future and my children’s future without asking for anything in return. And what they gave me and my children in return is making [my child’s] deadbeat father a hero…I apologize to my older brother, I also apologize to my godmother who is Mar’s mother- but it’s clear to me why Duterte won the presidency.”
Kris is one of the most influential figures in local show business. After a successful TV and movie career, she decided to focus on building an audience on social media through a web series posted on Facebook, where she has more than 1.4 million followers.
She also comes from a political clan.
Kris is the sister of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and the daughter of the late President Corazon Aquino and Filipino hero Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
During the 2016 elections, her brother Noynoy endorsed Roxas, Duterte’s rival for the presidency. Kris, one of the highest-paid endorsers in the country, also campaigned for Roxas despite a thorny relationship with Sanchez.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxIkAfrUzbI
Kris’ Instagram post came as a shock to many and quickly went viral on Philippine social media.
She quickly issued an apology to Noynoy, Roxas, and Duterte earlier today, saying: “I apologize for including politics, but that is the unfortunate baggage & responsibility of my last name. But I will not delete any posts because my anger comes from the heart of a mother who has been unnecessarily stepped on by someone who has been blessed w/ a loving & devoted husband & does not know the hardship of having to go it alone.”
Kris and her family are far from being the only political clan with connections to the entertainment industry.
In the Philippines, actors and star athletes routinely run for public office.
Boxer Manny Pacquiao is currently a senator after becoming a congressman in 2010.
In 1998, actor Joseph Ejercito “Erap” Estrada became president, only to be impeached for plunder less than three years later.
This is common in the country where political parties are, for the most part, arbitrary, and “personality politics” reigns supreme.
This will be more apparent once again in the coming months as aspiring candidates gear up for next year’s midterm elections.
Last week, Duterte’s party, PDP-Laban, released an initial list of people they are considering for their senatorial slate which, unsurprisingly, consists of buzzed-about personalities regardless of political experience (or lack thereof) like former sexy dancer/blogger/Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson and musician Freddie Aguilar.
Just as common are members of political families aspiring to be in showbiz.
All of the last seven Philippine presidents had at least one family member who tried to make it in the entertainment industry.
And it doesn’t look like the trend will die anytime soon.
Duterte’s very own granddaughter Isabelle Duterte, infamous for her lavish 18th birthday party in January, is an aspiring actress who signed with a talent manager just six months after her grandfather won the presidency.
