The life of the beauty-queen-turned-actress offers some sort of explanation for the conundrum borne out of relationships between celebrities and politicians.
Showbiz and politics seem to be perpetually overlapping worlds. At least in the Philippines’ case, the point of convergence between the two universes has long been made distinct, by the inordinately big numbers of celebrities who easily penetrated politics, solely because of the popularity bestowed on them by showbiz. However, there is another facet of such a convergence, that makes it even more fascinating: celebrities and politicians in a romantic relationship. Take, for example, Bianca Manalo.
Beauty queen-turned-actress, Manalo, has been a topic of public interest due to her link to several names in politics. Known for her romantic relationships with the likes of Antique Mayor Jonathan Tan and Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, she inadvertently earned the title, “Politician Hunter.”
Fascinate with her personal life, she somewhat prompted the public to wonder about her motivations with some seeing her connections as a lighthearted joke, while others viewing it as a symbol of opportunism or a desire for power through political connections.
Crowned Binibining Pilipinas-Universe in 2009 and represented the country in the Miss Universe pageant, she conveniently slipped into the world of showbiz, landing roles in movies and television. In 2010, she had her first title role, via ABS-CBN’s Juanita Banana. Despite the swift advancements in her career, however, it is her personal life that has caught the attention of the public, particularly her relationships with politicians.
Her relationship with Mayor Tan was brought to the public’s attention after they were involved in a boat accident with actress Ehra Madrigal, leading to widespread media coverage and speculation about their relationship. After their breakup, photos of Manalo with Senator Gatchalian began to circulate on social media, reigniting interest in her personal life and connections to the political world.
Gatchalian, himself, had been in the showbiz limelight, through his relationships with several notable personalities in the local entertainment scene. This highlights the extent to which the personal lives and relationships of public figures are subject to public scrutiny and speculation.
Manalo and Gatchalian first caught the attention of the ‘Mariteses.’ when rumors of their relationship exploded online. A photo of them shopping together in Hong Kong, surfaced on social media, prompting netizens to speculate. People took to social media and traditional media outlets to discuss the rumors and try to determine if they were indeed in a romantic relationship or if there was another explanation for their interaction.
The speculation surrounding Manalo and Senator Gatchalian’s relationship continued to grab the public’s attention, and by November of the same year, they reportedly celebrated their first anniversary.
Manalo’s reputation as a “Politician Hunter” presents a curious case about the relationship between the entertainment industry and politics, and the public’s interest in the personal lives of public figures. While this may be seen as either a lighthearted joke or merely a symbol of opportunism, Manalo’s reputation highlights the importance of understanding the motivations behind relationships between celebrities and politicians.
It is not an answer, but somewhere, a piece of a puzzle is just there that needs to be solved. But it’s a discussion opener, a trigger. It may answer the question that got raised.
