Talent manager Annabelle Rama talks to reporters after filing her application for registration before lawyer Marchel Sarno, election registrar of Cebu City north district on Friday morning. Photo by Edison delos Angeles
CEBU CITY, Philippines—The feisty talent manager Annabelle Rama may run for the congressional seat of this city’s north district in the 2013 elections.
She filed an application for registration at the Commission on Elections office on Friday to be able to vote in the city’s north district.
She listed as her address 131 Rhaman Street, Barangay Zapatera. She was registered in Precinct No. 1137-A.
Annabelle filled up the Comelec application form and had her photograph and thumb marks taken at the Comelec office shortly after 10 a.m.
The move was perceived as a preparation for her plan to run for representative on the slate of her cousin, Mayor Mike Rama, who is seeking reelection.
Mike Rama had asked Annabelle to run under Team Rama. If she accepts the challenge, the talent manager will either face Representative Rachel Marguerite “Cutie” Del Mar should she seek reelection or former congressman Raul del Mar.
The north district has been the stronghold of the Del Mars since 1988.
When Raul del Mar was barred from reelection right after completing three successive terms, he was succeeded by his son, Raoul, in the 1998 elections. Raul returned to his old congressional seat in 2001 and went on to serve another three straight terms.
He was succeeded by daughter Rachel in the 2010 elections.
Raul and Rachel have yet to decide who between them would run in the 2013 elections under the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK).
Mike was with BOPK for 19 years until he left it last year following his public spat with party head, Representative Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district.
Annabelle told reporters at the Comelec that she was ready “to fight” although she had yet to finalize her plans to enter politics.
“As of now, I have not decided if I would run for Congress because I still have to convince my family. As of now, half of my family have not agreed but the other half have approved of my plans,” she said.
She said her husband, actor Eddie Gutierrez was supportive of the plan to field her as congressional candidate.
But her three children—Ruffa, Raymond and Elvis—were against it.
Annabelle said Ruffa told her that she didn’t want her to run because “nakakahiya daw (it was embarrassing).”
“Anong gagawin mo sa Congress? Wala ka namang alam dyan (What are you going to do in Congress? You don’t know anything about it),” Annabelle quoted Ruffa as saying.
Annabelle said she told her daughter, “Hindi naman importanteng may alam ka, Ruffa. Madali namang mag-aral para matuto ka.”
She then noted that some politicians did not finish high school or earn a college degree.
Annabelle’s son Richard was supportive of her political plans. She said though she would still consult the rest of her family to get a consensus.
Another cousin, Barangay Captain George Rama of Basak San Nicolas, said he was wary of Anabelle’s congressional plans.
“I don’t want her to run because she is busy in her business, in showbiz and her family. Her time would be divided if she would enter politics,” said the barangay captain, who was with Annabelle when she handed in her filled up registration form.
She admitted it would be a challenge to face the Del Mar family, who have dominated the district for over 20 years.
But Mike Rama was optimistic.
He said it was about time that someone else took over the north district.
Osmeña, an ally of Del Mar, belittled the possibility that Annabelle would run against a Del Mar.
“Di na magsilbi ang showbiz sa Cebu. (Showbiz does not work in Cebu),” he said.
When asked through a text message for his reaction to Annabelle’s political plan, Senator Serge Osmeña just responded, “That’s exciting news.”
With a report from Jhunnex Napallacan, Inquirer Visayas