Ara Mina: Grilled Or Exposed?

"She just showed her unreadiness. She did allow herself to be cut down to size. She became an instant sensation."

Move over Elle Woods! This is the real deal. Must I say I'm being mean to compare this one to the iconic prejudged Dumbelina of Harvard? Or perhaps I sound too generous to align her with the notoriously pink character in Miss Woods? This Diva is a personification of polarizing superlatives revealed.

I am not a big fan of Mo Twister as I don't normally get to see his program IMO. Neither am I of the sexy actress  turned politician Ara Mina. Not until her famous one-on -one with the Mo that has gone viral on Facebook. The actress at the onset appeared rather uneasy. She must have some inclinations of the jugular she was up to. This is aptly said of one who ventures on something, yet unarmed to do battles with questions more classified as no-brainer; so simple as yes or no - or for or against.

IMO is a show tailored for intelligent discussions. The host oozes with sheer intelligence. His American accent impeccable. His mastery of issues would render you an idiot had you not studied your homework. And barbs of gentle sarcasm would follow as soon as your ignorance is detected. Though a guest may be spared from being whittled upfront, Mo has a penchant for tweeting his sharp criticisms of his guest - this time in an absolute tyranny.

First question goes. For or against private armies. "For?"-- picks Ara Mina - in a questioning tone. Mo could have collapsed from chair. He is obviously up for a ride. He demands her to expound her choice. He reminds her of it being controversial, considering with what occured in Maguindanao. Then she unwittingly justifies her being busy, engrossed with career and/or her district, not so in tuned with national events. Sensing she just fell from high grounds, she struggles to recant albeit obliquely. " I get depressed on hearing such news", she sighs. Mo will then remind her she's running for public office. A colossal OMG! Is this the kind of would-be public servant she personifies? Scary stuff , ain't it?

Her ineptness came to a wider scrutiny from a lady caller, who unhesitatingly expresses her repugnance of showbiz people like her, who seem to care less about things that don't affect them. Aware of her mishap, the booby guest did not allow the bludgeoning to flourish. She rationalizes that news like the massacre in Maguindanao, depresses her and opts not to comment on issues she is not well-versed about. Well, she must be the only adult in the country, who is not aware of little details about the worst election-related massacre in the country's history.

More questions follow. Pre-marital sex. For or against. "Against?" As if she awaits approval from Mo. Does she talk to ghosts? She would have preferred talking to them - their invisible eyelashes batting in collective disagreement. She's on edge. She knows conscientiously. She pares herself down. She self-destructs. She's just moments into the spotlight. And more agonizingly painful closet stuff she's about to draw herself.

Her take on VFA? "I must be in for a serious disgrace". She could be heard mumbling, her eyes roll, her face screams of her utter ignorance. Before she throws her reply, did it occur to her what VFA stands for? She seems not aware that VFA does not stand for your typical Very Frustrating Actress - or any appropriate description of her Vaguely Futile Attempt to redeem herself. It appears that VFA is no staple in sex-laden tabloids, and among gossip-oriented staff or friends, whom she claims to be her source of information.

She would then vote against anti-pornography bill. Is she serious? She "detests" pre-marital sex but would not support measures to clamp down on smut materials or chasing down cybersex maniacs. Is she not aware of Hayden-Katrina saga? She must be alone in her galaxy! One good timely advice - she should get out of her realm and venture in real world where she would practically beg for every single vote in her district.

The rest of the "For or Against" queries did not go unmicroscoped - very monotonous yet predictable. She just showed her unreadiness. She did allow herself to be cut down to size. She became an instant sensation. He had a great episode. He naturally tweeted his joy and pride on a prized catch. This was expected to be a sure hit. And she's been doing well in cyberspace.

If the constitution provides for the separation of the church and of the state as being inviolable, I wish there could also be a separation of showbiz and of politics. This won't be all about gratuitous cruelty. This is reality not lesser in degree to be ignored. How many actor-turned politicians have ventured into politics (as fallbacks) and failed miserably? Needless to name names, but most of them if not petty corrupt are the biggest plunderers.

I don't generalize those array of stars who may be finding their niche in politics. But the stigma clings to everyone's senses, of them purely banking on their popularity rather than the desired qualities in them. With the emergence of media as a powerful tool to educate voters, may we exercise free and pragmatic thinking, weighing in our choices a hundred times.

In this election, voters should not decide in an instant. Others might get easily swayed by flashy ads or celebrity endorsement. The process will not be easy for some. Others will agonize whom to choose till the last moment. Everyone will be armed with his basic rights to decide for his or her future leader. The beauty of democracy is that -every ballot counts as one - be it the ballot of the presumed wise or that of the unwise. For democracy does not distinguish between the right of the wise and the right of the gullible.

And if we who care, do our part and start to enlighten our brothers about the necessity of choosing the right leaders, we will be using democracy to our advantage and benefit. We will have squandered this opportune time if we remain cocooned in our comforts, not doing the least we can, to help usher ourselves into a new beginning. This is a make or break election for our country. We have already lost so much ground in over a decade. And to waste our energies in a yet senseless battle, we shall have lost it before it starts. And the rare chance to win it may never come again.