Vice Ganda for President?
Award-winning filmmaker Lav Diaz broached this idea during a recent podcast appearance.
Talking to fellow directors Antoinette Jadaone and JP Habac, hosts of Ang Walang Kwentang Podcast, Lav discussed why he believes Vice Ganda possesses the qualities of a potential presidential contender.
“Seryoso yan, seryoso,” said Lav, whose latest historical drama, Magellan, is set to compete for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming 98th Academy Awards.
Read: Magellan, napiling official entry ng Pilipinas sa Oscars
"Kasi napaka-bleak ng future pag di natin mawasak yung wall na yon, yung Sara Duterte wall, which is coming, which is coming.
"The nightmare is coming. So it's only two years away, so we need to act," Lav added.
Sara Duterte is currently the country's vice-president and, according to surveys, is the frontrunner for the upcoming presidential election in 2028.
A survey released in January 2024 by Social Weather Stations showed Sara, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, as the top choice for the presidency, with 36 percent of respondents supporting her bid should she run.
In June, a survey conducted by research firm Tangere revealed that Sara was favored by the majority of its respondents to become president.
Read: Vice Ganda slams corrupt government officials anew
TAKING A PAGE FROM THE DUTERTE PLAYBOOK
Critics have expressed concern that Sara continues to enjoy strong public support despite the serious allegations that hounded the vice-president in recent months.
Sara has faced allegations of corruption over the use of confidential funds in her office, with critics pointing to questionable transactions and claiming that fictitious names were used to make it appear that the money had been distributed as aid.
Sara has also drawn criticism for conduct seen as unbecoming of a public official, including her use of foul language; open disregard for lawmakers and government processes; and even issuing a death threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Lav sees Vice Ganda as a viable contender to challenge a potential Sara Duterte presidency, citing Filipino voters’ tendency to favor candidates based on popularity and name recognition.
"Gamitin natin ang pop culture to destroy that [the prospect of a Sara Duterte presidency].
"Sino ba ang pinaka-icon sa pop culture ngayon? Vice Ganda.
"At maganda rin ang pananaw ni Vice, gamitin natin — let's use that," explained Lav.
Read: Vice Ganda hits corrupt officials living off his taxes
He elaborated further: "Kasi yun na ang labanan, e, mythologizing, myth-making. E, ganun ang mga populist leaders, e, mga Dutertes."
A populist leader is generally defined as someone who charismatically presents themselves as a representative of the common people, often portraying elites or specific groups as opponents to rally public support.
Lav continued: "They use that, yung ignorance ng masses ginagamit nila, that's why it's so popular.
"Walang prejudice sa masses, mahal natin ang masa, kailangan natin silang i-educate lang.
"So part of educating them is put Vice Ganda there at the forefront.
"Kaya mag-campaign na tayo — Vice, go!
"Hindi, totoo, gawin na siyang kilusan. A movement — Vice Ganda for president — gawing kilusan na."
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