I THINK the most trenchant commentary on the “defection” of former Neda Director-General Ralph Recto and Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto was that it was our entertainment writer Bayani San Diego Jr. who by-lined the article. The pair had left the administration party Lakas-Kampi for the Liberal Party, joining presidential candidate Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and his running mate, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

Indeed, it seems that the links between politics and show business are getting ever stronger, with show business personalities multiplying and carving ever stronger profiles in the lineups of political parties.

In the LP alone, Aquino has sturdy showbiz ties by way of his sister Kris, who has parlayed her not inconsiderable influence in the biz to promote her brother’s candidacy. The most obvious manifestation of this is the cast of personalities appearing in Noynoy’s TVC, with the stars of both Kapuso and Kapamilya networks joined by professional basketball players, courtesy of course of Kris’ husband, James Yap.

Mar Roxas has showbiz connections of his own, although his new bride Korina Sanchez is more a media personality than a performer. But Korina makes no bones about her commitment to pushing Mar’s candidacy, including airing a TV special on their recent wedding tailored to increase her husband’s public profile.

So, in a way, the entry of Ralph and Vilma is simply par for the course. Ms Santos-Recto, it must be noted, had been loudly touted as a possible running-mate for Gilbert Teodoro, a possibility she dismissed repeatedly, and then with finality when she bolted the administration party. Ralph Recto adds a voice of experience and credibility to the LP senatorial line-up, while Vilma will undoubtedly add luster to an already lustrous LP “bench” which includes not just Kris but also Sharon Cuneta, whose husband Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is a stalwart of the Liberals.

* * *

NOT to be outdone, Teodoro has found himself a running-mate with solid showbiz pedigree—former Optical Media Board chairman Edu Manzano, a TV host and actor who is also, incidentally, the father of Luis, son of Vilma Santos. (We can play this game of “six degrees of separation” ad nauseam.)

Manzano is likeable enough and has already racked up political experience as Makati vice mayor (he lost a subsequent bid for mayor) and then in his post at the OMB. Here, he took on video pirates and even mall owners, trying to shut down the sales of DVDs of child pornography.

Before joining Teodoro, Manzano was said to be talking to LP leaders about joining their senatorial ticket. In fact, LP officials confessed to being taken by surprise by Manzano’s decision, which shows, at least, that despite the many loose lips proliferating in the entertainment and political beats, Manzano’s camp knows how to keep their lips sewn shut.

In taking Teodoro’s offer, Manzano prevailed over other entertainment figures, not just his ex-wife, but also Sen. Bong Revilla, not to mention Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno (who reminds me uncannily of former US Vice President Dick Cheney) and MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando. Obviously, “Gibo” Teodoro and his handlers are banking on Manzano’s well-known persona and show biz appeal, an attempt to offset the glitzy image of the Noynoy-Mar tandem.

* * *

NOT quite a “showbiz” choice but marked by similar logic is the new pairing of Sen. Manny Villar and Sen. Loren Legarda. The pairing not only brings the two powerful personalities together, but also marks the marriage (of convenience?) of their two respective political parties, the Nacionalista Party and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

Villar is a former Senate president and is conceded to have a mighty political war chest. In fact, he was the first to have proclaimed his presidential ambition, in a string of TV commercials that preceded those of his opponents. But it took him some time to find a running-mate.

Legarda early on was quoted as saying it was the presidency or bust, but some weeks back she publicly proclaimed her intention to run for vice president. The NPC was shaken soon after when Sen. Chiz Escudero, who was seen as contesting the party’s presidential nomination against Legarda, publicly left the party, saying he wanted to get away from “politics as usual.”

While Villar has been making quite a splash in the media not just with his ads but also with a string of feature articles on his family and even his magnificent home, Legarda has deep roots in the media. Not only is she a former news anchor and host of a prize-winning public affairs show, her media appeal remains strong, showing her adeptness at projection and timing. Certainly, her interest and involvement in environmental issues, especially global warming long before “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” have sharpened her national profile and appeal.

Of course, there is also former President Erap Estrada and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay. No one can doubt Erap’s showbiz lineage and his lingering appeal among the masa. But one gets the feeling that he is increasingly being marginalized, his political relevance fading. The message seems to be that he’s had his time, and today is not the day for a comeback.

* * *

SO at the very least, it promises to be an entertaining campaign. By now, the major contenders have more or less carved out their niches, even if candidates like former Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane persist in buzzing about the periphery.

We’re now surer about the shape of the political landscape, and given the strong show biz element in the lineups (there are actors as well in the senatorial tickets), we can anticipate to be entertained and, it is hoped, enlightened as well.