The province of Bulacan prides itself on being the home of handsome men and beautiful women.  This comes as no surprise to a province that has produced a good number of the country’s beauty kings and queens and which has made pageantry almost a way of life.  Visit the province any day of the year and, chances are, you will find competition for pulchritude happening somewhere there be it in the provincial capitol, a town plaza, a barangay hall, a school auditorium or even in some church grounds. Pageants there are so commonplace that it is no longer shocking to see young, bikini-clad bodies parading right within the walls of a Catholic Church.

Given such emphasis of Bulakenyos on physical beauty, it has also somehow become quite expected that good looks are a consideration in the people’s choices of their political leaders.  Aside from qualifications of leadership and education, as well as their willingness and sincerity to serve, political candidates are often judged on how pleasing their faces are and yes, just how proportioned their bodies are.

Take the case of the province’s incumbent and 34^th governor, Daniel Fernando.  Seeking his second term as provincial governor in next year’s political derby, Fernando was and still is a well-known actor best remembered for his breakthrough role in the 1980s classic skin flick, Scorpio Nights.  A native of Guiguinto, the 59-year old actor-politician continues to be active in showbusiness and still has the muscles to flaunt even in the more mature roles he is now portraying.

Prior to making a big splash in the movies in 1985, Fernando already started dipping his stick in the world of politics, starting out as the Kabataang Barangay Chairman of Tabang, Guiguinto from 1At 35, 980 to 1984.  Sidelined from politics by the movies, he made his move back into public service in the late 1990s, first as a member of the provincial board and then as Vice Governor from 2010 to 2019. 

Close to concluding his first term as governor, he is bent to run for a second serving of the governorship against his former mentor, Wilhemino Sy-Alvarado.

Closely following in Fernando's footsteps is Marilao’s Alex Castro.  At 35, this singer-actor first made a splash on the boobtube via GMA7’s “Are You the Next Big Star?” wherein he took a runner-up finish.  From there, he became a familiar face by taking on various TV roles across the Kapuso, Kapamilya and Kapatid channels. 

Starting with politics early as a Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman, he rose to become a member of the Marilao Municipal Council in 2013 and has now ascended to the Bulacan Provincial Board sitting as a member for the 4^th district.

Castro faces his biggest political challenge in 2022, when he seeks the Vice Gubernatorial post, partnering with Fernando.

Another Bulakenyo who has recently decided to dip his hands-on political waters is award-winning actor JM de Guzman.  No, he is not running for public office (just yet), but he has lately been very vocal in supporting partylist group “Ang Probinsyano.”

The best television drama actor nominee of the 34^th Star Awards for TV (which he is almost a shoo-in as the winner) revealed that he actually “volunteered” to be an ambassador for the party to have a different platform in reaching out and helping more people.

He is also all-praises for the partylist’s house representative, Congressman Alfred Delos Santos, whose leadership, he believes, “has developed a group that provides a voice for the marginalized in the provinces.” Noting that both the legislator and he is in their early 30s, he admitted to being “inspired to do more me and encourage everyone - especially the youth - to register and vote in this coming election."

The controversial De Guzman will be directly involved with Ang Probinsyano’s  “Alagang Probinsyano”program, which will provide free medical checkups to partner communities.

"Sasama ako sa kanila to bring public service to various communities because I want to genuinely help, he committed, adding that he will make it a point to find real time for the partylist’s activities out of his busy showbiz schedules: “Mag- iikot kami sa mga probinsya, at dito rin sa Metro Manila, para magdala ng ayuda, gamot at iba pa na pwedeng makagaan ng buhay kahit paano ngayong pandemya.”

Now, if only these male stars will deliver on their promised good intentions, then that’s what we may all call “public service” served on a sizzling hot platter.