Noontime show contestant takes tour of Comelec, says she got mental block during Q&A
An It's Showtime contestant who said she was not knowledgeable about the Commission on Elections shared that she's now more informed about the poll body after her guided tour.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia and other officials took Heart Aquino, a 20-year-old weekly finalist in the noontime show's Sexy Babe segment, around the agency on March 4.
"Nauunawan ko po 'yung meaning din po talaga ng Comelec at kung ano po talaga yung ginagawa nila," Aquino told members of the media, according to a GMA News video.
She also encouraged others to learn more about Comelec and explained the reason behind her answer on It's Showtime.
"'Di lang po ako masyadong knowledgeable pero meron naman akong kaalaman. Na-mental block lang din po ako. First appearance ko din po kasi sa TV so medyo nakakakaba talaga 'pag nasa telebsiyon tayo," the 20-year-old said.
Aquino added that she's open to being an ambassador for Comelec. "To inspire the youth na rin," she said.
Meanwhile, Comelec education and information division director Frances Arabe said Aquino could be an "influence for the youth" who are also not as knowledgeable about the poll body.
"We'd like to show that Comelec is willing to reach out to the youth and inform all of them of what's going on also in terms of election. Si Heart can be that person to reach out sa kapwa niyang kabataan," Arabe said.
On the Feb. 28 broadcast of It's Showtime, Aquino was asked by hosts for her message to the poll body. At the time, she admitted that she didn't know a lot about Comelec.
Before the guided tour, Garcia said Aquino's lack of knowledge on Comelec was their "failure."
"Maaring madami pa na katulad niya na kabataan o mga Filipino.It is our solemn duty to explain who we are and what we are doing," he said.
As the segment featuring Aquino went viral online, It's Showtime host Vice Ganda reflected on the moment on the March 3 broadcast, saying there's an "educational crisis" in the country.
"May educational crisis sa Pilipinas na dapat nating i-address. [Kailangan] maisip, 'bakit ganun?' 'Di ba? Saan kaya nagsisimula 'yung educational crisis sa Pilipinas? Sino ang mga naapektuhan? Ano kaya ang dapat nating gawin? Paano kaya natin ito dapat harapin?" the comedian said.
The midterm elections are set to take place on May 12. Overseas Filipinos may vote from April 13 to May 12, while local absentees—AFP, the Philippine National Police, and media practitioners—may vote from April 28 to 30.
There will be a total of 18,272 national and local positions in the upcoming elections.
