EDITORIAL - If you have to ask

Actor Robin Padilla now seems to be one of those showbiz personalities eyeing a career in politics.

Just recently the actor asked his fans to help him decide whether to run for office next year or just stick with showbiz.

“Alam n’yo mga kababayan, naguguluhan ako. Sobra akong naguguluhan ngayon. Pinakamabigat na desisyon na ata itong nangyayari sa buhay ko. Kasi una, itong October, filing neto ng candidacy,” he was quoted as saying in an online news report.

The options allegedly open to him are a run for the Senate, or governor of Camarines Norte, or mayor of Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte, a post his father has held numerous times.

The knee-jerk reaction of many will be to tell him to keep out. We cannot blame them. This country has had a dismal history of people from showbiz, sports, or other totally unrelated fields foraying into politics, winning, and just bumbling their way around.

And if the truth is to be told, most of them won because of their popularity, not because of their political competence.

While there are a few politicians with showbiz backgrounds who do shine, they are more like exceptions to the rule, and not the common occurrence.

But who are we to say what one can and cannot do? Like we said, there are some former showbiz people who are actually doing well as local chief executives. Like the mayor of Manila, for example.

One thing though, if Padilla has to ask whether or not people want him in politics, he has no business being there at all.

Politics, which largely involves public service, isn’t something you just get into on a whim. Or something you can pick up on immediately if you have no background in governance. Especially if you are gunning for a position as high as senator, governor, or mayor.

It’s not something you should get into just because some people are cheering you on.

If Padilla is at all serious in his political ambitions there is no need for him to ask the public to help him decide.