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The Presidentiables

The next Philippine elections are still more than a year away – 16 months to be exact – yet surveys of presidentiables, declarations of candidacy (or non-candidacy) and slimy exchanges of accusations already bombard the public. Whether we like it or not, the election fever is intensifying and it is best to be prepared rather than be manipulated by unscrupulous media spins and political maneuvers. Thus, Election Watch will feature articles related to the political circus called elections. This week, we are posting brief sketches of the survey topnotchers.

“Wag naman!” is the usual response of those from the middle and upper classes whenever the possibility of a Fernando Poe Jr. presidency is mentioned. “Okay!” on the other hand is the excited answer of drivers, vendors and workers complete with wide grins and thumbs-up signs.

Dubbed the King of Philippine movies or “Da King,” Poe’s name has been floated as candidate for various positions – from mayor to president – since the 80s, especially after Joseph Estrada successfully served as senator after being mayor for several years.

Indeed, if Poe, or FPJ as his fans call him, finally decides to run, he would not need to tour the regions, put up banners, shake hands or kiss babies. He only has to announce that he is running and the millions who watched Ang Panday (The Blacksmith) and his many hits would rush to vote him to Malacañang.

FPJ is Ronald Allan Kelly Poe in real life, son of actor-producer Fernando Poe Sr. who modeled for the well-known University of the Philippines’ Oblation statue. He was born on Aug. 20, 1939, the second of six children.

FPJ borrowed his screen name from his brother Andy, the real Fernando Poe Jr., and joined show business at the age of 14 after dropping out of high school. He finished his elementary studies at the San Beda College.

He worked his way up the showbiz ladder, from messenger for a film company to stuntman, actor and producer. His first movie, Anak ng Palaris (The Son of Palaris), a sequel to his father’s hit movie, flopped. He finally made it in 1957 with Lo Waist Gang and four years later, put up his own FPJ Productions. He is known for playing the role of a rapid-punching hero, slow to anger but relentless when roused, always defeating his foes in the end.

He married the beautiful and gentle Susan Roses – Jesusa Sonora in real life – in December 1968, with then President Ferdinand Marcos and wife as sponsors.

Articles on FPJ inevitably mention his close friendship with the ousted Estrada. Some call it his only sin, some admire his “through thick and thin” posture. It is said that it was FPJ who coined Estrada’s nickname Erap, which when reversed is a Filipino term which means good friend. On the other hand, a splendid log cabin in Camp John Hay was reportedly a gift from Estrada.

According to a commentator, one reason for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s withdrawal from the 2004 presidential elections was the snowballing campaign to draft FPJ as the opposition candidate either for president or vice president. For despite his avowed disinterest in politics, a signature campaign designed to convince him to run has been launched. It is called FPJ for President Movement, his initials standing for Freedom, Peace and Justice. The prospect of being defeated by FPJ must have sent a thousand Mayon volcanoes erupting in Macapagal-Arroyo’s mind, accompanied by whatever expletives her katarayan (razor-tongue) regularly spouts.

FPJ’s image is in fact a perfect contrast to the president’s snobbish image – quiet, humble and sincere. Last Christmas, he visited as requested a sick boy in a hospital sans the media circus that Macapagal-Arroyo usually has in tow.

Despite his closeness to Estrada, Poe to his credit has never been involved in any controversy and reportedly did not ask for any favor while his buddy was in Malacañang. His movies, despite having predictable storylines and being violence-prone, have also never exploited women, with Da King’s scenes with women limited to romantic, never lusty, kisses.

That the opposition is wooing him to death is no fault of Da King. Rather, it is a cheerless symptom of the state of Philippine politics, where candidates are considered for their so-called “winnability” rather than ability and sincere desire to serve the country. This is not to say that FPJ have nor does not have all or any of these qualities. The problem is, he is being enjoined to run because of the many votes his showbiz glitter could blind. Hopefully, he would show his fans the integrity that they admired in Flavio, the blacksmith in Ang Panday, and the valor of the rebel in Asedillo by refusing to run and keeping as far away as possible from politics. Bulatlat.com