MANILA, Philippines — Will Luis “Lucky” Manzano run for politics?
“You know what, three admins ago, they were waiting for me,” revealed Lucky at a presscon after renewing his contract with ABS-CBN last Tuesday. “Nakakatawa in the sense that every time of filing or last day of filing (of candidacy), someone would message me, ‘We’re here. What time will you arrive?’
“‘Huh? Why? Anong meron?’ We’re here, di ba mag-fi-file ka?’ I’m in my house, just wearing sando and shorts. They were waiting for me to file for candidacy for whatever position. And hindi siya nawawala every election and even up to now,” he added.
Reiterating his answer before to such calls, he shared, “This is my heartfelt answer. All of us have the obligation to serve — in whatever capacity. It depends on what God has given us.
“Did I ever say no to politics before? I said not yet. So I will no longer be surprised if they will call me for public service in the coming year. I will also not be surprised if I will focus on showbiz. Kumbaga sa October pa naman filing for candidacy.”
The “Pambansang Host” is “very much open to politics,” stressing, “If I do run, it has to be about public service.”
On the positions he was asked to consider, Lucky said, “Dami. Mas napag-uusapan pa ng ibang tao. I swear, yung mga naririnig ko before, ‘O ganito yung bati sa akin.’ I’m like, ‘Huh? Where’s that coming from? Whatever position.”
Photo from ABS-CBN
Nonetheless, Lucky considered the trust given to him by the people as a compliment in a way. “This is not a TV screen (and) it’s not a game show. It’s real life,” he said.
He just hoped that the people will not take his funny posts on social media seriously. “Kasi mamaya if I will run, they will think na yun ang platorma ko na if you have a headache, naka-wheelchair ka na. You have a toothache, cremate na. Baka matakot mga voters dun,” he quipped.
Asked if he has opened up to his mom Vilma Santos about politics, he said that they don’t usually talk about political plans.
“There’s talk about politics like what’s happening around but in terms of what will happen, if I will run, we don’t talk about that. I think politics takes a backseat in our family ‘pag magkakasama kami.”
Meanwhile, Lucky thanked the people who nominated Vilma to the Order of National Artists (ONA). “As long as she is happy in whatever recognition and if this is the right time for her to be a National Artist, congratulations. I always believe na darating at darating sa puntong yun.”
During the contract-signing with Lucky’s manager and Professional Artists Managers, Inc. president June Rufino, ABS-CBN president Carlo Katigbak, ABS-CBN chairman Mark Lopez, ABS-CBN chief operating officer Cory Vidanes, ABS-CBN chief finance officer Rick Tan, and head of entertainment production and Star Magic and ABS-CBN TV production Laurenti Dyogi, it was announced that Lucky will host the upcoming trivia game show called “Rainbow Rumble.”
Lucky’s wife Jessy Mendiola also inks an exclusive contract with ABS-CBN’s Star Magic. This marks her official showbiz comeback after a five-year hiatus.
On why is it important for him to be a “Forever Kapamilya,” Lucky stated, “I felt that we were there for each other. And the word is already there, Kapamilya. I would like to think that at the very challenging times of ABS, I was there.
“At the same time, when I went through challenging points in my life, hindi bumitaw or hindi nawala ang tiwala sa akin ng ABS-CBN. And that is why I am proud to say I’m a forever Kapamilya.”
After his contract-signing event, Lucky’s wife Jessy Mendiola also inked an exclusive contract with ABS-CBN’s Star Magic. This marked her official showbiz comeback after a five-year hiatus.
Lucky said he didn’t have any hesitation about Jessy’s return to acting. “When she said to me (her) plans of going back, I saw the excitement in her eyes,” beamed Lucky. “And who am I para ipagkait sa kahit sinong tao ang happiness? Wala naman siyang inaagrabyado. When it comes to Peanut (one-year-old daughter), kahit papano eh may edad naman na si Peanut. We have the best people also around Peanut.
“In fact, we had talked about yung isusunod namin kay Peanut. And she said something like, ‘Wait lang muna. It’s OK to me na medyo umarte ulit bago natin sundan si Peanut.’”
If ever, they will name their second baby “Brittle,” quipped Lucky.
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