‘Presidentita’ in love

CHRISTIAN Vasquez and Eula Valdes

For a couple of weeks now, we’ve noticed that the storytelling on the “presidential teleserye,” “Princess in the Palace,” has taken a distinctly personal and even romantic turn:

The country’s female chief executive, played by Eula Valdes, fell in love for a time with her chief of security, portrayed by Christian Vasquez—but, they broke up, and her first love, played by Allen Dizon, has made an unexpected reappearance, confusing and distracting her no end.

On the plus side, these personal developments have enabled the “presidential protagonist” to be “humanized” and made more accessible and empathetic for viewers.

On the other hand, it tends to dilute and even trivialize her official position, making some people fret that, if she devotes so much time to her personal and romantic highs and hurts, she won’t devote enough time and thought to running our country well!

Of course, we know darned well that this is “just” a fictive TV drama, so it shouldn’t be taken “seriously.” Still, the “official” nature of the series’ subject matter and setting makes it not all that simple and easy to assimilate and react to!

It’s no wonder, then, that President Leona’s romantic conflict and conundrum have made viewers “take sides,” with some favoring her “first love,” and others hoping that the “winning swain” will be Christian’s character. In any case, ang haba ng hair ni Presidentita!

Even more interestingly, President Leona’s eventual choice between her two suitors have made the characters in the series similarly take sides—with “Princess” Ryzza Mae Dizon and Aiza Seguerra’s characters supporting Christian, while Ces Quesada favors Allen!

As of this writing, Christian seems to be the dehado one in the competition, since he broke Leona’s heart. But, our hopefully educated guess is that she will eventually forgive him and opt to spend her “post- presidential” life with him—“forever.”

Why so? First off, “Princess” Ryzza Mae favors his suit, and her Mama Leona values her adopted daughter’s opinion more than anybody else’s!

And second, because Christian beats Allen in the looks and appeal departments—and we all know how important those factors are on local TV!

A third “telling” indication is the fact that Christian’s character’s substory was more fully developed, with his parents, played by Lollie Mara and Lito Legaspi, being given more to do and say to influence their beloved son to do the “right” thing.

Abangan ang susunod na—kasalan? That would be a presidential first!