John Arcilla Speaks Out: What Every Actor Considering Politics Needs to Hear
JOHN ARCILLA – Actor John Arcilla offers valuable insights into the growing trend of actors entering the political arena.
John Arcilla shared his thoughts on actors entering politics during an interview with Boy Abunda. He stated that everyone has the right to run for public office, whether they’re an actor or not. However, he emphasized that the true motivation behind entering politics is what matters most.
He asked “Ang tanong, bakit ka nandyan at pupunta sa politika? Para ba talaga maglingkod o para yumaman dahil wala kang pinagkakakitaan?” John made it clear that if money is the primary motivation, that is wrong from the start. He advised, “Ke artista ka o hindi tanungin mo ang sarili mo, huwag kang magsinungaling. Kasi kung para lang ‘yan sa pera, mali ka agad.”
John Arcilla reminded that public office should be about service. “Kasi ang politika o pagiging opisyal ng bayan ay para maglingkod. ‘Pag yumaman ka daw na nasa politika ka o gobyerno, hindi ka naglilingkod. Dapat malinaw sa ‘yo ‘yan,” he said.
He continued, “So ke artista ka o hindi ka artista, lalo na artista ka na ganoon nga ang sinasabi sa ‘yo, mas i-define mo sa sarili mo kung totoo bang paglilingkod ang iyong gustong mangyari, kung bakit ka nandiyan. Kung hindi rin lang, huwag mo nang ituloy.”
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John also shared that he had previously been invited to run for office but declined every time. “I’ve reached this point in my life where I’ve turned down all the invitations,” he said. He recalled one invitation to run for councilor in Parañaque from a congressman, but a TV project saved him from accepting the offer.
He explained, “Nakatanggap ako at tatakbo pa nga dapat ako [bilang] konsehal sa Parañaque, na-save ako dun sa crisis na desiyon na ‘yun dahil naawa lang ako dun sa nagpipilit sa akin na congressman na sumama ako.”
“Buti na lang na meron akong program nun sa TV na hindi pala ako pwedeng mag-campaign na habang ako ay nasa telebsiyon. Eh na-tape na ‘yun, hindi na pwedeng burahin ‘yung mga eksena ko at pagbinura ‘yun sira ‘yung buong kwento so I was saved by that particular incident in my life.”
John expressed gratitude for being spared from that decision, stating, “So I was so thankful kasi talagang ayoko, ayoko ng politika. Nakarating ako sa edad na ito na napanindigan ko ‘yan at kung ako man ay magkaka-intires sa politika ngayon, wala na akong stamina sa edad kong ito.”