From talent manager to congresswoman?

CEBU CITY—Fiesty talent manager Annabelle Rama may run for congressional seat in this city’s north district in the 2013 elections.

She filed an application for registration at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office on Friday to be able to vote in the city’s north district.

She listed as her address 131 Rhaman St., Barangay Zapatera. She was registered under Precinct number 1137-A.

Annabelle filled up the Comelec application form and had her biometrics taken at the Comelec office shortly after 10 a.m.

The move was perceived as a preparation for her plan to run as north district representative under the slate of her cousin, Mayor Mike Rama who is seeking reelection.

Mike had asked Annabelle to run under Team Rama. If she accepts the challenge, the talent manager will either face Rep. Rachel Marguerite “Cutie” del Mar should she seek a reelection or former congressman Raul del Mar.

The north district has been the stronghold of the Del Mars since 1988.

When Raul was barred from seeking reelection after serving three terms, he was succeeded by his son, Raoul, in the 1998 elections. Raul returned to his old congressional seat in 2001 and went on to serve another three straight terms.

He was succeeded by daughter Rachel in the 2010 elections.

Raul and Rachel had yet to decide who between them would run in the 2013 elections under the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).

Mike was with BOPK for 19 years until he bolted out last year following his public spat with party head, Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district.

Annabelle told reporters at the Comelec that she was ready “to fight” although he had yet to finalize her plans to enter politics.

“As of now, I have not decided if I would run for Congress because I still have to convince my family. As of now, half of my family have not agreed but the other half have approved of my plans,” she said.

She said her husband, actor Eddie Gutierrez was supportive of the plan to field her as congressional candidate.

But her three children—Ruffa, Raymond and Elvis—were against it.

Annabelle said Ruffa told her that she didn’t want her to run because “it is embarrassing.”

“What are you going to do in Congress? You don’t know anything about it,” Annabelle quoted Ruffa as saying.

Annabelle said she told her daughter, “It is not important that you know something, Ruffa. Anyway, it is easy to study and learn.”

She said some politicians did not finish high school or earned a degree in college.

Annabelle’s son, Richard, was supportive of her political plans. She said though she would still consult the rest of her family to get a consensus.

Another cousin, Barangay Captain George Rama of Basak San Nicolas said he was wary of Anabelle’s congressional plans.

“I don’t want her to run because she is busy in her business, in show biz and her family. Her time will be divided if she enters politics,” according to the barangay captain, who was with Rama when she handed in her filled-up registration form.

Annabelle said she wanted the support of the entire Rama and Gutierrez family if ever she would run.

If she ventures into politics, she admitted it would be a challenge to face the Del Mar family who had reigned in the district for over 20 years.

But Mike was optimistic.

He said it was about time that someone took over the north district.

Osmeña, an ally of Del Mar, belittled the possibility that Annabelle would run against a Del Mar.

“Show biz does not work in Cebu,” he said.

When asked through a text message for his reaction to Annabelle’s political plan, Sen. Serge Osmeña just responded, “That’s exciting news.” With a report from Jhunnex Napallacan, Inquirer Visayas