EVERYTHING BECOMES TINGED WITH POLITICS during election season, that?s a given. But even a spat between TV personalities?
The top showbiz news over the weekend was the alleged ?walk-out? staged by Ruffa Gutierrez from the TV showbiz talk show ?The Buzz,? over hurtful remarks uttered by her co-host, Kris Aquino.
Ruffa recently confirmed that she was leaving ABS-CBN, the home studio of ?The Buzz,? to take up hosting chores in another talk show over the ?revived? ABC-5, which would supposedly air on the same time slot as ?The Buzz.? Last Sunday?s appearance was going to be one of the last for Ruffa, and Kris supposedly needled her about her decision to leave, at one time teasing her about how ?nice? they were all getting along in the show. As the entertainment columns tell it, Ruffa rushed to her dressing room in tears and her mother Annabelle Rama, who is also her manager, ordered her in a phone call to walk out of the show. The supposed walk-out took place during a commercial break so viewers, including this columnist, had no idea about the dramatic events unfolding behind the scenes.
It would have ended there had not Rama, appearing in a rival talk show, disclosed Ruffa?s exit from ?The Buzz,? and urged voters not to vote for Noynoy Aquino, the brother of Kris, who is running for president. Rama reasoned that should Noynoy win as president, Kris might get an even more inflated ego and supposedly start pushing her way around not just in show biz but perhaps in affairs of state.
In a statement in which she apologized to Ruffa and her family for causing them hurt, Kris responded that, should her brother in fact win the elections, she and her family would live in the United States and she would work with The Filipino Channel, ABS-CBN?s affiliate for overseas Filipinos.
Indeed, as Noynoy supposedly remarked to his sister in the wake of this little tempest: ?Please don?t involve me in this telenovela of yours.?
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IN FAIRNESS, dragging in Noynoy?s name in what essentially is a spat between two TV personalities (and two TV networks) is grossly unfair. Noynoy had as much to do with Kris? supposed cattiness and tactlessness as Manny Villar may have had to do with Willie Revillame?s crassness and arrogance, or Dolphy?s way with women.
Before this latest imbroglio, political circles were abuzz with how Kris? influence would increase exponentially should her brother top the elections. I even heard apprehensions about how Kris and her ?best buddy,? co-host Boy Abunda, would end up dictating policy in Malacańang, which is absurd not because Kris and Boy are incompetent or ?pang-showbiz lamang,? but because I doubt if Noynoy and his advisers would allow them any leeway.
But the link made between Kris and Noynoy, even in incidents which only tangentially involve the candidate, only demonstrates the perils of celebrity endorsement, especially if the celebrity is one?s sister. It is only to be expected that any public incident involving the public figure would cast a shadow over the candidate, if only because their names and images are joined in the public mind.
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THIS is not the first time, after all, that Noynoy?s presidential bid was brought up in connection with an incident involving Kris. Recall the encounter between Kris and the woman she suspected of having ?inappropriate? interest in her husband, James Yap. A relative of the woman declared to reporters that he and his relatives were precisely not voting for Noynoy because of the behavior exhibited by Kris.
The logic may be faulty, the decision-making unfair and indeed tinged with malice, but people have chosen?or rejected?candidates for flimsier reasons.
Noynoy is lucky in that, despite being single at the moment, he has four sisters to count on to represent him and work on his campaign. But, being family members, they inevitably assume the identity of an ?Aquino,? and any stumble on their part, even if accidental or unplanned, can be construed as reflecting perhaps a family trait, a common pattern of behavior, or the risk of undue influence.
Kris, being a popular TV host and personality, is especially vulnerable. While she is undoubtedly well-known and draws public curiosity and interest, she also has a large number of critics simply waiting for her to fumble before they jump on her case. And her brother?s candidacy is easily wielded as a weapon with which to hit back at her or make her vulnerable. It isn?t easy being Kris or Noynoy these days.
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RECENTLY, US First Lady Michelle Obama came under fire for disclosing to a TV interviewer that her older daughter Sasha had some ?eating problems.? Critics at once got on Ms Obama?s case for violating her ?tween? daughter?s privacy.
When it comes to politics and the family, both the politician and the members of the family have a very narrow ledge to tread. In the Obamas? case, the family picture?the very attractive and charismatic Michelle and their two cute daughters?makes for a very tempting prop to win public sympathy and favor for the beleaguered Barack.
Villar has not been loath to display his wife, Representative Cynthia, their sons and especially their daughter Camille if only to create a warmer, more personal image. Gibo Teodoro?s wife Nikki is very much a presence in his campaign, but their son has so far retained his privacy. Family members of other candidates have so far not figured so prominently in their campaigns.
Perhaps we can all arrive at a compromise here: a politician?s kin can be brought up only if a particular incident is shown to have an impact on the politician?s policies, attitudes, style of governance or character. All the rest is just chismis.
