Romnick Sarmenta says he won’t support fellow actors in elections
Romnick Sarmenta | Image: Facebook/@theRealRomnickSarmenta
Actor Romnick Sarmenta is taking a firm stand against showbiz personalities entering politics, stressing that fame is not a basis for good governance.
Sarmenta took to X (formerly Twitter) to reflect on his long career in the industry, crediting the people he met who taught him not to be swayed by fame or public clamor.
“Oo. Artista ako. Ito ang aking kinamulatan… Apat na gulang ako ng magsimula. Hindi. Hindi ako ginamit ng kahit na sino… Natutunan kong mahalin ang sining na nagpalaki, at sa isang banda’y tumulong sa paghubog ng aking pagkatao,” he began his post.
(Yes. I am an actor. This is my upbringing. I was four years old when I started acting. Nope. Nobody used me for anything. I learned to love the art that raised me, and in a way helped shape my personality.)
“Marami akong nakasama at nakasalamuha. Maraming taong nakilala at nakalapitan ng loob… Ang mabubuting taong nag-paalala sa akin na hindi ko kailangan magpadala sa agos ng mga hiyaw at sa kasikatan. Mga thong nag-malasakit na lumaki ako ng tama,” he continued.
(I have been with and interacted with a lot of people. Many people I met and became close to. The good people who reminded me that I don’t have to give in to the flow of clamor and popularity. People who cared that I grew up right.)
Image: X/@Relampago1972
The 52-year-old actor then said he will not endorse any celebrity candidates in the upcoming elections, considering that, to begin with, the playing field is not even since they have an unfair advantage of being known personalities.
“At dahil din sa kanila, di ako naniniwalang dapat tumakbo ang mga sikat. Hindi patas ang laban… lalo na’t pondo ang pangalan. Kilala sila… hindi alam ang pangalan ng kalaban,” he explained.
(And because of them, I don’t believe that celebrities should run for public office. The fight is not fair… especially when the name is popular. They are known while the opponent’s name is not.)
“Kilala sila… oo. Pero hindi ito batayan ng kagalingan sa pagpapaunlad ng bayan. Hindi rin ako mag-eendorso ng kahit na sino. Alam ko kung sino ang mga pinili ko. Wala. Walang artista sa kanila,” the actor concluded his statement.
(They are popular, yes. But this should not be the basis for the country’s development. Nor will I endorse anyone. I know who my choices are. None. There are no actors among them.)
Prior to Sarmenta’s sentiments, seasoned actor John Arcilla has already aired his disapproval for celebrities seeking political seats, stressing that actors should be guided by their intention because “if one public official gets rich while he is in politics, it means he is not doing his job right.”
Among the celebrities who are running for the 2025 mid-term elections this May are Willie Revillame, Phillip Salvador, Nora Aunor, Marjorie Barretto, and Ara Mina, sparking debate on whether showbiz personalities should cross the line of fame to try their hand in politics.
