Politics and show business are two fields that are almost always overlap. Several local celebrities have tried their luck in politics and some politicians have been drawn into show business.
While there are showbiz celebrities who're even fortunate enough to get a seat in government, others who lost in the elections continue making movies and TV projects. Sometimes, successful politicians are tapped for cameo roles in movies or television.
How about politicians who are not personally involved in show business but have significant links?
PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) notes that contemporary presidents of the Philippines, past and present—Ferdinand Marcos, Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos, Joseph "Erap" Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo—have connections in local showbiz through their children.
Here's the list of the presidential children who in various degrees served as links between the highest office and local entertainment.
Imee Marcos. She is the eldest daughter of the deposed late President Ferdinand Marcos. Following the political path of her father, Imee became the representative of the second district of Ilocos Norte in the Philippine House of Representatives in 1998-2007.
Before she entered Congress, Imee's interest was in entertainment. During martial law in the ‘70s, Marcos's children were studying in England. Imee attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts Acting and Playwriting. She also took up acting at the Royal Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in London.
Although the public did not see her practicing what she learned about acting, Imee contributed to the entertainment industry by producing some of the memorable works in movies and television.
In Imee Marcos's capacity as director-general of the Experimental Cinema of the Philippines (1981-1986), she co-produced with director Marilou Diaz-Abaya the movie Brutal (1980); with director Peque Gallaga, Scorpio Nights (1985); and with director Tikoy Aguiluz, The Boatman (1984).
Also in the same period, the president's daughter produced remarkable movies like Oro, Plata, Mata (1982), Himala (1982), Misteryos sa Tuwa (1984), and Soltero (1984).
In television, she was part of the two Filipino children's shows that came even before Batibot—these were Kulit Bulilit and Kaluskos Musmos.
After her political career, Imee Marcos is now a private citizen who helps the entertainment industry by supporting the organization called CreaM, a coalition that aims to unite artists in the independent film, animation, and digital-cinema industries.
Kris Aquino. She is the youngest daughter of former President Corazon Aquino and Benigno Aquino Jr., the famous opposition senator who was assassinated during the Marcos regime in 1983.
Kris stayed with her family in the States while they were in exile during martial law. She started her career show business after Marcos was removed from power and replaced by her mother Cory Aquino.
