Bad year for showbiz

... in politics. Except for Vilma Santos, who is all set to replace Armand Sanchez as Batangas governor, 2007 was bad for aspiring public servants from showbiz. The Vilma Santos-Christopher de Leon love team reunion has been thwarted with Christopher taking a beating in the vice-governor race (what was he thinking?)

Apparently, showbiz stars continue to bet on politics with popularity and name recall as their currency when numerous times in the past, hugely popular stars have been beaten in local races. Running in a local election where it's easier to campaign (unlike in a national election) and there are fewer voters (in the context of a local vs. national position) plus popularity doesn't necessarily translate to victory. Action star Rudy Fernandez attempted to become mayor of Quezon City in 2001 and lost badly.

Here is the roster of showbiz people who thought voters were stupid enough to vote them into office based on sheer popularity. Some were stupid enough to have been convinced by President Gloria Arroyo or her minions that they had a chance (or was it the other way around?):

Christopher de Leon for Batangas vice-governor - Batangas people seem to have remembered him as Don Fidel, the villain of the Maging Sino Ka Man soap. Don Fidel owned a bank that got bankrupt. He became a paraplegic after one of his ex-goons forced him to fall down the concrete steps of a building. Who would vote for a loser?

Cesar Montano for senator - hastily put together a platform that essentially said people should take vocational courses in this country where everybody must get to college (was this to negate his lack of academic credentials?). Highlighted the fact that he is a Unesco commissioner. Which backfired because people didn't know what the heck is Unesco.

Richard Gomez for senator - lost credibility when he tried to get into both Team Unity and GO but got rejected twice. Check out campaign ad in newspapers. He spells "amend" as "ammend."

Victor Wood (for senator?!?) - Would you vote for Madam Auring's ex?

Tito Sotto for senator - money from his "dabarkads" not enough to push him up comfortably within the magic 12. Even TV ads in Wowowee noontime show which has overtaken his own show Eat Bulaga didn't work.

Lito Lapid for Makati mayor - Leon Guerrero no match for Rambotito even with free fish given away at rallies. Remember Edu Manzano got defeated in the same race three or four elections ago. Sorry, try again...

Manny Pacquiao for representative of General Santos - promised to shower tuna capital with funds and projects from the national government (or Gloria's graces). Ended up without a political party because of mistake in joining Liberal Party-Atienza wing whose rump session to take over the party was declared illegal by the Supreme Court. He also ended up complaining that election returns did not have watermarks (really? Define watermark.)

DISCLAIMER: This list is partial and unofficial because results in other races have yet to come in, like that of Marco Sison for Laguna vice-governor, Dan Fernandez for Laguna congressman, Cita Astals, Isko Moreno, and Robert Ortega for Manila vice-mayor, and Anjo Yllana for Parañaque vice-mayor. Oh, and I forgot Aiko Melendez(-Jickaine) for councilor of Quezon City.

Coming soon: Mahal and Mura for mayor and vice-mayor of Kalayaan group of islands...