MANILA, Philippines—Indeed, why not field a show biz personality who can wow the crowd and bring in the votes by sheer charm?
A stalwart of the ruling administration party on Saturday defended their choice of actor-TV host Edu Manzano as the running mate for their standard-bearer, outgoing Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.
"There were many who ran for public office and won because they're connected with the mass media and show biz. Why not Edu?'' Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said in a phone interview.
After all, elections are "a matter of getting votes,'' said the outgoing interim president of the Lakas Kampi CMD.
"In our selection process, we considered who has the capability to win and gather votes. But apart from his being in the TV business, he has served as vice mayor and chair of the Optical Media Board. He has done well,'' Ermita added.
Vice President Noli de Castro and Sen. Loren Legarda parlayed their popularity as broadcast journalists into electoral victory when they ran for public office years ago.
Party officials last Friday announced their choice of Manzano as their vice presidential candidate in the May 2010 presidential elections, two weeks before the Dec. 1 deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy.
The party had courted both De Castro and Legarda to fill the No. 2 slot. De Castro balked at seeking reelection, while Legarda rejected the overtures outright.
Ermita said it won't be hard to sell Manzano, known for his quick wit and humor in his TV hosting, because he's recognizable by almost everyone.
"In terms of awareness, he will rate more than 100 percent,'' he said, pointing out that the party's job would simply be to elaborate on his qualifications. "It won't be difficult to sell him.''
Manzano's best quality is that he's a good communicator, like Teodoro, and together, they can make their audience better understand their the party's platform of government, according to Ermita.
Besides, he added: "They're both young and good-looking. They have an appeal, and they're very easy to relate to.''
Teodoro said that Manzano shared the advocacy of his wife, Tarlac Rep. Monical Prieto-Teodoro, in promoting the anti-child pornography bill.
Manzano, who hosted the game shows “1 vs 100” and “Pilipinas: Game Ka Na Ba?” on ABS-CBN Channel 2, will be ranged against Sen. Manuel "Mar'' Roxas II who is married to ABS-CBN journalist Korina Sanchez, and Legarda, a former broadcast journalist in the same network.
"You can factor that in. He's being in ABS-CBN is the reason why he has a very good exposure,'' Ermita said when asked if Manzano's hosting job at ABS-CBN was also considered in his selection.
He said, however, that he wasn't aware if party officials picked Manzano to offset the perceived closeness of Roxas and Liberal Party Sen. Benigno "Noynoy'' Aquino III to the Lopez-owned network.
"That I really have no idea. The one who knows him is Secretary Ronnie Puno. I'm sure Ronnie had his ways of convincing him,'' he said.
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