Win or lose, Edu will quit showbiz

When vice-presidentiable Edu Manzano met the movie press the other day at Annabel’s, he begged off from answering questions about his ex-girlfriend Pinky Webb. They broke up late last year when Edu decided to run in the May 10 elections, initially for senator and finally as the running mate of Gibo Teodoro.

“Anyway,” said Edu, “it won’t help in my campaign.”

So far, Edu has already lost more than 11 pounds campaigning in the scorching summer heat around the country. He said that his and Gibo’s schedule is so airtight that he hasn’t been showing up in debates sponsored by various sectors, the last having been last Sunday, sponsored by ABS-CBN, at the La Consolacion College (LCC) where his fellow vice-presidentiables, Senators Loren Legarda and Mar Roxas, took potshots at each other.

“They are not debates per se,” said Edu. “They don’t really improve the chances of the candidates. ‘Yung mga networks lang ang kumikita d’yan.”

In the same presscon, Edu said, “win or lose,” he would quit showbiz.

“I actually started slowly but surely staying away from showbiz in 2003 pa. Remember, my last movie was Tanging Yaman and I’ve been turning down (movie) offers. In 2004, I stopped doing teleseryes because I became busy withy my work as chairman of the Optical Media Board (OMB). I accepted the hosting job for Pilipinas, Game KNB? because the shoot was done after office hours.”

But, and that’s the BIG BUT, if ever he’s offered a non-”showbiz” show, something like those on Discovery Channel, National Geographic and History Channel, Edu might reconsider.

At 55 (Gibo is 10 years younger), Edu said he’s too old to be doing the Papaya Dance and yelling, Pilipinas, game ka na ba?

But for Cesar, show must go on!

Meanwhile, Cesar Montano, who’s running for governor in his native Bohol, said that, win or lose, he’ll continue with his showbiz career.

In fact, he’s determined to push through with his plan to produce and star in a movie about Ninoy Aquino, the late father of Noynoy Aquino, standard bearer of the Liberal Party under which Cesar is running. Marilou Diaz-Abaya, who was behind such Cesar starrers as Muro-Ami, Bagong Buwan and Rizal, will direct the Ninoy flick.

Cesar said he has sounded off Noynoy about it.

Now five pounds lighter, Cesar said that campaigning for senator (as he did in 2007 under the administration party) is easier than campaigning for governor.

“Sa senatorial race, you can just ride on a float and wave. But in this campaign, it’s hands-on. You have not only to shake hands but also talk to the people and ask them about their concerns.”

Campaigning beside him is his wife Sunshine Cruz who has learned how to speak Boholano and to sing some native songs.

Like Edu who quit as host of the game show Pilipinas, Game KNB, Cesar also bade the ABS-CBN talent show Singing Bee when he filed his certificate of candidacy.

Despite the hectic campaign, however, Cesar managed to finish shooting an indie titled Biktima in one week, directed by RD Alba and starring Angel Aquino, Ricky Davao, Lloyd Samartino and Mercedes Cabral.

For Cesar, politics and showbiz do beautifully mix.

Tiangco brothers running unopposed

Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco (whose showbiz connection is his being related to Mel Tiangco) is running unopposed for congress and so is his younger brother John Rey who’s running for mayor in the same city.

The brothers are running under the local party, Partido Navoteño, which is allied with Pres. Joseph “Erap” Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino. Toby is PMP’s Vice President for the National Capital Region and is presently the deputy campaign manager for NCR. “I have supported Erap’s candidates in every election since 2001,” he explains.

In 2004, FPJ’s biggest winning margin in NCR, percentage wise, was in Navotas. In 2007, all 10 Genuine Opposition candidates for senator and two independent bets won in Navotas. No Administration Team Unity candidate was in the top 12.   

Under Toby, Navotas has grown from a backwater fishing town into a dynamic urban community. He was at the helm of a vigorous campaign to shape up Navotas’ bureaucracy and make it more responsive to the needs of the residents.

A new, imposing City Hall was built to symbolize Navotas’ bold thrust towards development. It also suggests a “rising from the ashes,” since the town hall was burned to the ground during the 1998 elections.

John Rey admits that his Kuya Toby is a tough act to follow. But he has his own achievements, too.

John Rey is managing director of Trans Pacific Journey (TPJ) Fishing Corporation and the R & LT Shipyard and Realty Development Corporation. He is also president of Admiral Marine Construction, Admiral Aqua Farm Inc., Admiral Koi Food Specialties and the Metro Manila Shipyard Association. He has started unloading his responsibilities in these entities, since he will give up being actively involved starting June 30 when he assumes the post as mayor.

John Rey has honed his skills in governance through his involvement in several civic organizations. He is president of several school governing councils in Navotas and is vice chairman of the Navotas City Scouting Committee, and advises a host of other civic groups.

Toby is confident that John will do well, if not better. “When I became mayor, I also had no political background. Coming from the private sector was an advantage, because for government to be efficient, it must be run like a private enterprise”