Lapid disappointed over bias against showbiz candidates

Sen. Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau).

TACLOBAN CITY — Senator Lito Lapid has expressed frustrations over the continued bias against showbiz personalities like him who are seeking public office.

“When actors like us enter politics, it’s as if we are poisons. People don’t want us here. But when professionals, lawyers, and wealthy individuals enter politics, it’s like food for them (critics),” said Lapid in Filipino during a media conference Thursday in Palo town, Leyte.

Lapid is seeking another Senate term in the May 12 elections under the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas.

Several actors and entertainment figures are running in the May elections.

Aside from Lapid, other showbiz personalities vying for a seat in the Senate are reelectionist Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, former Senate President Tito Sotto, actor Philip Salvador, and comedian Willie Revillame.

Salvador and Revillame are running for the Senate for the first time.

Senators Robin Padilla and Jinggoy Estrada were also actors before entering politics.

Lapid 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.

Lapid, who started his showbiz career in the 1970s as a stuntman, expressed gratitude to actor Coco Martin for casting him in his shows, admitting that his continued television 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 the television series “Batang Quiapo.”

Lapid acknowledged that his strong performance in election surveys could partly be attributed to his television appearances.

In the January survey conducted by Social Weather Stations, he ranked third to fourth among Senate candidates.

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