(From left) Luis Manzano and Edu Manzano. Image: Instagram/@luckymanzano
Edu Manzano is aware that his son, Luis Manzano, has been on the receiving end of offers to enter politics. And while the decision is up to Luis, Edu knows that his son will be a “natural” when the time comes.
“It will always be there. He has a popular mother who has been a public servant for many years, and I also had my share of public service,” Edu told reporters during a media junket for the drama “Lavender Fields,” when asked about the possibility of entering politics someday.
The screen veteran, however, believes that while Luis has a “natural charisma,” he pointed out the importance of “sacrificing” one thing.
“At the end of the day, you have to sacrifice one. Ako rin, naniniwala ako diyan. Hindi mo pwedeng sabihin na public servant ka pero gagawa ka ng pelikula (Me too, I believe in that. You can’t say you’re a public servant but you’ll do a film at the same time). I think it’s unfair. When I was in public service, I would only work on TV and film sa gabi,” he said.
“Luis has a natural charisma. He’s not very stable mentally pero sana (but hopefully) in time,” Edu added in jest.
Touching on his son’s charm, Edu said he would be a “natural” should he pursue politics, but according to him, it seemed that it would be a decision that Luis wouldn’t take lightly.
“Many people gravitate to him… And I think, if ever my son decides to [pursue politics], he’ll be a natural,” he said.
“Maybe eventually. Ayokong sabihin na nagsawa pero medyo nag-dim ang kanyang interest. It’s something na pagi-isipan niya (I don’t want to think that he’s tired of the possibility, but it seems that his interest in it has dimmed. It’s something that he would think about carefully)… if in the event he decides, he’ll be a natural fit,” he said.
Edu also pointed out that there are many ways to help their fellow countrymen without entering politics.
“It’s also been proven na marami siyang natutulungan (that he helped a lot of people). [He] doesn’t necessarily have to be in politics — like Dolphy, Fernando Poe Jr., [look at] how many Filipinos they helped — and they do not have to be in politics,” he said.
In a media gathering last July, Luis addressed the possibility of pursuing politics, and said he “received a lot of offers for different government positions.” He also shared that should he decide to be a politician, he would rather choose to enter as a “public servant.”
Luis is the son of Edu with screen veteran and former Batangas governor Vilma Santos. Edu served as the vice mayor of Makati from 1998 to 2001, and was the chairman of the Optical Media Board under the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The veteran actor-TV host is set to make his small screen comeback in “Lavender Fields” which stars Jodi Sta. Maria, Jericho Rosales, Janine Gutierrez, Jolina Magdangal, Maricel Soriano, and Albert Martinez.