A female Showtime contestant unfamiliar with COMELEC, who admitted to having little knowledge about the poll body, raised concerns among many.
However, Malacañang remains untroubled by the incident, stating that one individual’s lack of awareness does not necessarily reflect the overall state of the education system.
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Unfamiliar with COMELEC
Heart Aquino, a participant in the “Sexy Babe” segment of ABS-CBN’s “It’s Showtime,” went viral after struggling to answer a question about her message for the Comelec regarding the upcoming midterm elections in May.
Aquino explained that she was unfamiliar with the poll body since it rarely appeared on her social media news feed.
Her response sparked discussions about a perceived crisis in Philippine education.
PCO Castro downplays issue
Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro, however, downplayed the issue, emphasizing that initiatives are in place to enhance the quality of education.
“The President is not worried because we are doing everything to raise the level of our education,” Castro said.
Tour to the poll body’s office
On March 4, Heart visited the Comelec office and was accompanied by Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia and other commission officials as they toured the premises.
The media interviewed Heart after the tour of the Comelec office to ask about her experience.
“Mas naunawaan ko po ‘yong meaning din po talaga ng Comelec at kung ano pa po talaga ‘yong ginagawa nila,” she said.
“Ineencourage ko po na mas alamin pa po rin talaga natin ‘yong trabaho po ng Comelec,” she added.
“Na-mental block lang din po ako”
Additionally, Heart also explained the reason why she was unable to answer the question.
“Gaya po ng sinabi ko, hindi lang po ako knowledgeable po, pero meron naman po akong kaalaman, na-mental block lang din po ako since first appearance ko sa TV, and medyo nakakakaba po talaga kapag po nasa telebisyon,” she said.
When asked if she’s willing to become an ambassador for Comelec, “Actually po, kung titingnan ko po siya, it’s an opportunity din po, so yes po, willing naman po ako, and to inspire sa youth na rin po.”
A “systemic educational crisis”
Meanwhile, It’s Showtime host Vice Ganda believes that the country is facing a “systemic educational crisis.”
“Napakarami talagang magagandang nilalang sa Pilipinas. At ‘yong pangalawa, may systemic educational problem ang Pilipinas, iyon ang na-realize ko,” the host said.
“May educational problem, may educational crisis sa Pilipinas na dapat nating i-address.”
