Janice de Belen on why she will not join politics: I’m too snobbish
(From left) Janice de Belen, Carmina Villarroel, Gelli de Belen, and Candy Pangilinan. Image: Screengrab from YouTube/Gelli
Given the number of celebrities joining politics, Janice de Belen and her sister Gelli de Belen and their friends Carmina Villarroel and Candy Pangilinan said they could be counted not to aspire for a government office.
In the latest episode of their podcast, the four actresses-friends exchanged thoughts about leadership and how important it is for the public to vote wisely following the recently-concluded elections.
Janice said that she never thought about becoming a public servant since it is not in her nature to be overly friendly.
“I never thought about that. First of all, I’m snobbish; I can’t do that,” Janice said.
Janice was also candid enough to admit that she is not equipped to undertake the role of a government official. “I don’t really feel it. I’m not educated enough for that. I don’t want to go out there and appear like an idiot. What if my brain can’t handle it anymore? What if I forget all the information?” she said.
Pangilinan also said that politics, it is not her cup of tea. Incidentally, her cousin is newly-reelected Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.
“I really don’t want to. I’ve received offers already. I already have so much on my plate, I don’t want to add to it anymore. Number two, I don’t know if I can handle the responsibility if I’m there,” she said.
Gelli simply said she’s not qualified for public service. “I am not qualified, so I will not. I may be concerned; I am concerned, but I am not qualified. I do not know how to implement all the concerns I have, so it is useless as well,” she explained.
On the other hand, Villarroel said she may not be able to handle politics because she tends to worry about every single thing. “I don’t want [join politics] to because I worry a lot, right? I can’t handle it because I’ll cause all the problems of others. I can’t set them aside when I go home,” she said.
She also said that being in public service and might make her lose all her money because of her giving nature. “I am compassionate. It’s not a bad thing, but I might run out of money helping other people,” she said.
Job to die or kill for
The actresses also discussed the salary range for certain positions in government. Gelli posed the question, prompting her to check the internet for data.
“In the Philippines, a senator’s base monthly salary is around P90,000, but their total income can be significantly higher, potentially reaching P600,000 to P5 million a month due to additional income streams and responsibilities,” she read from her phone.
Pangilinan added that it can “potentially reach P37 million annually while chairing the oversight committee. For a full term of 6 years, a senator is expected to receive P1.2 billion.”
The group also inquired on the internet about the salary of mayors and congressmen, which revealed ranges from P185,000 to P205,000 monthly for the former, while the latter is “expected to receive P210 million for each three-year term.”
“Right? That’s why people overdo themselves or kill each other just for a position because…,” said Villarroel, with Gelli and Janice completing her sentence, “they really earn well.”
“That’s why. I didn’t know that it was that high. We are talking about billions here,” continued Gelli.
Villarroel underscored that, for her, no amount of money can substitute peace of mind when you are not part of politics. “But you know what? You can’t buy peace of mind with that; you can’t buy peace for your family,” she said.
Villarroel also noted that having a good heart is not enough to serve the public effectively.
“It’s not enough that you care, that you are considerate, that you are kind, and that you will not be corrupt. You really need to have the knowledge and skills in public service,” she explained. The de Belen sisters agreed, saying it’s also not enough for officials to bark orders for their staff to implement. /edv
