TV host and comedian Vice Ganda expressed his concern after a contestant on ‘It’s Showtime’ admitted that she had little to no knowledge about the Commission on Elections (Comelec), highlighting a deeper issue regarding voter awareness in the country.
During the ‘Sexy Babe’ segment of the noontime show on Friday, March 1, Vice Ganda and his co-hosts asked contestant Heart Aquino about her message to Comelec. However, her response shocked the hosts.
“Sorry po, hindi po ako masyado knowledgeable about sa Comelec,” Aquino said, laughing.
Her admission prompted surprised reactions from the hosts, with Vice Ganda visibly stunned and disappointed.
“Oh my gosh, that is bothersome,” the comedian said upon learning that the contestant is already 20 years old yet unfamiliar with the role of the country’s elections commission.
Co-host Kim Chiu then asked if the contestant was already a registered voter, to which she replied: “Not yet.”
Chiu reminded her of the importance of voting in the next elections, while Vice Ganda added: “So paano wala kang sagot?”
Still baffled, Vice Ganda questioned Aquino further, asking if she had never come across information about Comelec through television, newspapers, or the internet.
“Wala ka bang naririnig? Hindi ka ba nanonood ng telebisyon? Nagbabasa ng dyaryo? Internet?”
Aquino responded that Comelec-related information does not usually appear on her social media feed.
Chiu then asked whether she had learned about the elections commission in school.
“Sino ang may kasalanan na hindi ka informed?” Vice Ganda asked, as the contestant tried to laugh off the situation.
Realizing the contestant’s lack of knowledge, Jhong Hilario and Vice Ganda took the opportunity to briefly explain the function of Comelec.
“Yung Comelec, sila ‘yung nag-aayos bago mag-elections, mga kandidato,” Hilario explained.
“Sila ang may kinalaman sa lahat ng kaganapan tungkol sa election sa Pilipinas,” Vice Ganda added.
Finally, after understanding its role, Aquino gave her message to Comelec: “Siguro ang message ko sa kanila, let’s be fair po. Kasi meron tayo kahit sa barangay lang ‘yan, ‘yung mga bayad, bayad ng votes. So let’s be fair po siguro kasi deserve natin ‘yung uupo na talagang may mabibigay sa atin, lahat tayo sa community na may pakikinabangan.”
Celebrity judge JC de Vera reminded the contestant about the importance of staying informed, especially when it comes to national matters like elections.
Following the episode, the segment went viral on social media, with many netizens expressing their dismay over the contestant’s lack of awareness.
Heart Aquino, 20yrs old. Hindi botante at hindi alam ang comelec. Ngayon niyo sabihin na walang education crisis sa pilipinas. #FebShowtime pic.twitter.com/zwOnxhwL7w
— #AtinAngWestPhSea️ (@blopdump) February 28, 2025
I feel bad for Heart Aquino na naging mascot ng educ crisis sa bansa.
Hindi naman niya fault.
Mas malala pa din yung Lasalista na tibak na akala may connection si Bam sa Hacienda Luisita in spite of all the resources available to her. Idk.
— Nico Quejano (@nicoquejano) February 28, 2025
not gonna direct this to heart aquino pero potangina ang comfortable nyo naman to not care about politics… wala sa newsfeed mo? who r your friends bakit gamyan algorithm mo? https://t.co/kzIfBLnbUj
— regi (@arichanie) February 28, 2025
Now na may nakahanap nung fb nung heart aquino, gets ko na bat sinabi nya na lang na di nya alam comelec hahahahaha di pala uninformed si teh, apologist pala. Hahahahahahaha bwiset
— Noelle Capili-Ruiz (@MxNoelle) March 1, 2025
That Heart Aquino was clearly feigning knowledge about COMELEC ‘coz she was trying to dodge a bullet on national TV. LBM/DDS si inday kaya nagkunwaring walang alam. Akala niya makakalusot siya by pretending to be stoophid. E stoophid naman pala talaga. DASURV ng quingina.
— supernegatrona AKA pink 5 (@supernegatrona) March 2, 2025
Dapat kasi naging loud and proud na lang si Ms. Heart Aquino kung sino ang sinuportahan at binoto nya noong 2022 kesa mgplay safe na di nya alam ang COMELEC sa edad na 20. Wag din idahilan na toxic ang mga sumusuporta ke FVPLeni, hindi lang tlga kau TEACHABLE! #Halalan2025
— seBASTIanVALMONT (@_OwbeeJUAN) March 2, 2025
Nanawagan ako kila atty. kiko, bam and heidi na samahan niyo na sa Comelec si Heart Aquino viral si ghagha ngayon take the initiative para mas madaming kabataan ang mainspire magparehistro. Go na! Good Move yan!
— Enchanting Star Mother Lily-Yoo (@lilyganados) February 28, 2025
In the next days, maglalabas na yan ng mental health card and “be kind” keneso yung Heart Aquino. Pero yun lang, that’s how it is.
— GentriSenyo ☀️️ (@GentriSenyo) March 2, 2025
Some users pointed out that this incident highlights the education crisis in the country and the need for better voter education.
