By Jeanne Michael Penaranda

Popular television host, singer and actor Willie Revillame had planned to run for senator in the May 2022 polls and was encouraged by his being included among the possible 12 winners in independent surveys.

But seeing political bickering escalate day by day reportedly made him change his mind.

Two other popular celebrities set aside their plans to run for the Senate. They are Deputy Speaker and Batangas Representative Rosa Vilma Santos-Recto and Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez.

While Revillame and Congresswomen Recto and Gomez are no longer senatoriables, superstar Nora Aunor is seeking a House of Representatives seat by the party-list group NORA-A, the acronym for National Organization for Responsive Advocacies for the Arts and so with actress Karla Estrada through Tingog Sinirangan party list and beauty queen Shamsey Supsup via the Advocates for Retail and Fashion, Textile and Trade, Events and Entertainment and Creative Sector or ARTE party-list.

In the Senate race, actor Robinhood Padilla has joined the race together with broadcasters Raffy Tulfo and Rey Langit.

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Congresswoman Vilma opted to retire temporarily from politics as she gave way for Senator Ralph Recto, her husband, for a run in her congressional seat.

Congresswoman Lucy will also give way for her husband, actor and Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez, to seek her post in Congress representing Ormoc City and Leyte. The lady lawmaker, meanwhile, will run for mayor of her hometown, Ormoc City.

In the October 7 episode of his show “Wowowin” on the GMA Network, Revillame gave his insights on the current political scene.

“Sa napapanood ko ho ngayon, parang nalulungkot ako dahil awayan ng awayan. Binoto kayo ng sambayanan pero iyan ang napapanood ng lahat ng Pilipino (As I’ve seen today, I feel sad about these bickerings. People voted for you, but that is what all Filipinos are seeing),” he said as quoted by PNA’s Lade Jean Kabagani.

Revillame said taxpayers do not deserve to witness dirty politics.

“Nasasaktan ako eh dahil bumoto po ako sa mga taong ito tapos iyan ang nakikita ko. Papaano na ‘yung mga bata? Papaano na ang kinabukasan natin kung ganyan ang nakikita natin lagi (I feel hurt because I voted for these people, but this is what I see. How about the children? How about our future if that’s what we always see)?” he said.

He also expressed dismay on how issues are blown out of proportion amid the distressing situation brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Tapos ang nakikita pa namin sa telebisyon, sa news puro away niyo. Nakakalungkot po. Isa po ‘ya sa mga dahilan. Papasukin ko ba ito? Pupunta ba ako sa ganitong klaseng institusyon (And then that’s what we see on television, in the news. You’re always fighting. It’s sad. That’s one of the reasons. Will I join this? Will I go to this kind of institution)?” he said.

He eventually announced he would not seek any political position despite the clamor for him to do so.

“Hindi ko po kayo ipagpapalit kahit anong posisyon sa gobyerno (I will not trade you for any position in the government),” he told his viewers and showed a signed contract for the continuity of his show.

He also admitted he is not fluent in the English language and knows little or nothing about the law, legislation, and government policies.

He said he prayed a lot and consulted officials, friends, and family on whether he will run for senator or not.

“Hindi ko ho kakayanin na pumasok sa isang bagay na wala akong kakayahan (I can’t do something which I know I’m not capable of),” he said. “Dapat kung maglilingkod tayo, tanggalin ninyo ‘yung galit sa puso ninyo (If you want to serve, remove hatred from your heart).”