In my previous post wherein I urged Efren not to endorse any candidate, a couple of readers left comments that I found quite amusing. Apparently some people feel it would be a big loss for the CNN Hero if he didn’t endorse a candidate. Here’s an excerpt from one of the comments (bold highlight is mine).

Efren then is in a bind now. Kawawa naman. Pati pag-endorse ng kandidato, inuupakan na.

Kawawa naman?!? How so?

Anyway, I hope other celebrities would follow Efren’s lead and refrain from endorsing ANY candidate. I emphasized the word “any” because the same reader who posted the comment above also had this to say to me.

I bet if he endorsed your preferred candidates, hindi kayo magre-react ng ganito.

I hope he or she gets it now that what I wrote  wasn’t an appeal against endorsing a specific candidate but an appeal against endorsing ANY candidate.

Now some people may argue that this is a free country and it is well within the celebrities’ rights to endorse or publicly campaign for the candidates. I agree 100%. I’m not questioning their right to do as they please. As I clearly stated before I am just making an appeal. If they heed my appeal then that would be great. If they don’t then that’s okay too. However, if they do proceed with endorsing someone my hope is that they’ll choose wisely.

Celebrity endorsers should remember the quote “With great power comes great responsibility.” Indeed, since they can influence a lot of people celebrities should at least make sure that their endorsement will not lead others to choose the wrong person. Maawa naman sana sila sa bayan.

Of course, I still prefer that they not endorse anyone at all. The way I see it celebrity endorsements are not at all helpful in raising the bar for Filipino voters. They just distract people from the crucial task of seriously evaluating the candidates.

Another reader left me this comment.

I hope in our democracy, we allow any one including celebrities to endorse and campaign for their candidates…

I really can’t say I share his hope. If it were up to me I’d even ban the practice. Seriously.

I’m guessing you’re familiar with the 3 Gs of traditional politics. These are Guns, Goons and Gold. I’d like to expand that list by including Glitter, which is essentially the only thing celebrity endorsements add to the whole electoral process.

You want change? Change the system. Reject traditional politics and everything that perpetuates it.

I won’t be holding my breath for that though.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed that many people have taken to trivializing the whole concept of heroism and patriotism. What’s worse is they’ve turned it into a fashion statement, a trend, a passing fancy. I can only hope that those who professed to have been inspired by your “heroism” will back up their words with real actions.

Clearly, all this heroism bandwagon does is trivialize the whole concept and take away from the value of real heroic deeds and remarkable works such as your very own education advocacy. I’m certain though that you do not live for the recognition so this will hardly matter to you. My impression is you do what you do because you sincerely want to help others.

Now it has come to my attention that some politicians are trying to ride on your popularity. Obviously they want to get your endorsement.One of them is Senator Noynoy Aquino, whose camp even announced online that you had lunch with his family over the weekend. One of Noynoy’s supporters couldn’t contain herself/himself and wrote a comment not unlike this one: “Wow, 2 heroes together. Go Noy!” Imagine that they even managed to use that piece of information to add “value” to Noynoy’s campaign.

I must admit when I heard about that lunch I doubted your ability to resist their advances. All that were erased though after I heard you say on a local newscast that you do not wish to be involved in politics and that your group of volunteers will remain apolitical.

But what’s this I heard today? Word is you will be gracing a public gathering for a certain politician sometime next week. One prominent personality even sent out the misleading message that the event would be a tribute to you. Of course we all know this is just spin centered around you. Imagine that.

I am appealing to you to boycott that event. Please don’t allow yourself to be used by a candidate who instead of providing the voting public with substance has resorted to mesmerizing the people with fairy tales, motherhood statements, and all other dramatic devices.

You should realize by now that you’re no longer just an ordinary person. With your popularity you now have the power to influence others. In a country where many people would still rather just take the word of a famous person than use their own good judgment, that power can prove very potent. I urge you to use this power properly. Better yet, don’t use it at all to help any politician.

I hope you’re a man of your word. Don’t be a hero. Just do the right thing.

Noynoy Aquino
(Mel Tiangco) What have you accomplished?
(Malou Mangahas) What three things do you plan to accomplish?
(submitted question) If elected to the presidency would you be willing to give up your position should you be implicated in allegations of corruption?

John Carlos “JC” de los Reyes
(Mel Tiangco) A candidate runs because he knows he has a chance of winning. Do you think you have the resources to win?
(student representative) You are against the Reproductive Health Bill because you say it tramples on the rights of women. How will you balance protecting women’s rights and addressing the country’s population problem?
(submitted question) How will you prove to the nation that you’re running for the good of the country and not for your own interest?

Joseph Estrada
(Jessica Soho) Why are you running? For public service or for vengeance?
(student representative) What mistakes did you commit during your previous term that you will no longer commit should you be elected again?
(submitted question) Can you rid the government of corruption?

Bayani Fernando
(Jessica Soho) We’ve been through a dictatorship. Why should you be elected considering that you’ve been characterized as a dictator and executioner?
(Atty. Victor Lazatin) You’re not ranking well in the surveys despite the fact that you’ve already gone around the country. You’ve also lost support from Lakas. Will you still push through with your presidential bid.
(submitted question) Do you have any other motive for running?

Nicanor Perlas
(Arnold Clavio) You are in favor of divorce. How do you expect to get the support of Catholic voters?
(John Nery) How do you differentiate yourself from Senator Loren Legarda who is also a high profile green (environment advocate) candidate?
(submitted question) What is your platform with regard to national security, corruption education and the millenium development goals?

Gilbert Teodoro
(Arnold Clavio) You’re not ranking well in the surveys. Would you admit that President Arroyo is like heavy baggage?
(Mon Casiple) What is your final solution to insurgency?
(submitted question) Would you be amenable to having your assets frozen while you’re in office?

Bro. Eddie Villanueva
(Vicky Morales) You didn’t fare well in the 2004 presiential elections. What will you change in your present strategy to do better this time around?
(Howie Severino) Can you promise you won’t use the bible as basis for your policies and decisions in case you get elected?
(submitted question) What will you do to help the middle class?

Manny Villar
(Vicky Morales) You are rumored to be PGMA’s secret candidate because you’re the least hostile. What is your stand on “Hello Garci” and the other issues involving the First Family?
(Winnie Monsod) You were part of the impeachment of Former President Estrada as Speaker of the House. Now, you’re being accused of using your office to enrich yourself. What makes your case different from that of Estrada?
(submitted question) what steps will you take to destroy the network or machinery of discrimination against workers?

While not a complete waste of time, the program did very little to provide the public with a clearer picture of what the candidates have to offer. It really didn’t help that none of the questions delved into the “How” as in “How do you plan to rid the government of corruption?” or “How will you improve the economy?”

The word “platform” was also mentioned a couple of times but no additional detail was provided. I expected GMA7′s award winning line-up of broadcast journalists to dig deeper but apparently the forum rules limited them to asking just one question. I guess they had to stay true to the program’s title ‘Isang Tanong’ or ‘One Question.’

The final round of questioning was supposedly a main highlight of the program. None other than  CNN Hero of the Year awardee Efren Peñaflorida was tapped to ask the question. I have nothing but respect for Peñaflorida. What he has done to help poor children in Cavite get their basic education is truly commendable. However, I just can’t understand why, of all the possible questions, he had to ask this one: How can one be a hero?

All in all, I would say that the forum could have been done better. For one, I think the economist Winnie Monsod should have been designated as the lone interviewer. The question she asked of Senator Manny Villar was the only one that had a bit of a bite. As a viewer I would love to see Monsod taking the lead in future programs of this type.

Now, about the candidates. In general, none of them impressed me. Definitely not Bayani Fernando who was applauded by the students among the audience  for his reply to Peñaflorida’s “hero” question. To me, the fact that they applauded him for his inane response is truly troubling.

You can watch the forum through this link.

I will try to write more about this later.