Mayor Herbert Bautista: Good comedian, effective leader

Mayor Herbert Bautista is glad to note that comedic or comical  movies continue to be produced by local filmmakers, shown and patronized by moviegoers. That's why he is more happy to be part of Raketeros, a comedy-adventure movie starring Ogie Alcasid, Andrew E, Dennis ­Padilla,  Joey Marquez and Mayor Herbert himself.

Bautista is one of the this business' most effective comedians. In fact, he earned his monicker Bistek from one of his earlier comedy shows on television entitled 2+2. It was such a hit and it has ran for quite a long time that people have become used to calling him Bistek, his character in the show, until today that he's a politician.

I believe the name recall of Bistek has helped him a lot in his political career. One of the younger officials of the country, Bautista took oath into office on July 1, 2010,  as Mayor of Quezon City after his landslide victory in the 2010 local elections. Prior to that, he was  the youngest and first bachelor Vice Mayor of Quezon City elected in May 1995. After a brief hiatus from his first term,  he was again elected as the City Vice Mayor thrice in 2001, 2004, and 2007.

PERSONAL ENCOUNTER
I personally believe that Bautista is one of the most effective, if not the best, leaders in the country. He  has had a long and fruitful experience in the youth movement before joining the government service. Unlike politicians who make good promises, Bautista delivers. For instance, in my place of residence at Gulod, Novaliches, Quezon City, Bautista who was then QC  vice mayor, together with then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, personally brought tanks of household water for the community. Then sooner than we expected, new lines of water by Maynilad became available in our place by 2007.

I transferred residence from Sta. Mesa to Novaliches in 2000. Just imagine we only had deep-well water for seven years. Several politicians had promised to give us water from NAWASA but it was only Vice Mayor Bautista who brought it right in our doorsteps.

COMEBACK, REUNION MOVIE
Bautista has not done movies in the past six years owing to his job as public servant, the latest of which is as mayor of the largest city in Metro Manila. He admits missing the good old days that's why he agreed to be part of Shake, Rattle & Roll 14 (2012) as  Donald in Pamana episode. And now he's shooting a full-length movie with fellow comedians.

Bautista said it's some sort of  reunion movie with his friends in Pitong Gamol shown in 1991. Shooting was in full swing when some entertainment press, including myself as member of the Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC), visited its 5th shooting day. On the scene is Ogie Alcasid as funeral singer (his "raket" or profession/source of income in the movie). Dramatic actresses Cherry Pie Picache and Janice de Belen took the guest roles of wife to the dead man.

Actresses Cherry Pie and Janice at the funeral scene

According to Dennis Padilla, who was on the set during the press visit,  this scene alone already costs half a million. With the white- motif mourning group of Cherry Pie against the black-motif mourning group of  Janice coupled with the black and white Lexus cars used in this particular scene, no doubt Raketeros is a big-budgeted movie!

Bautista is confident that seasonal projects will not affect his performance in government. He also believes that for a public servant like him whose roots are firmly planted in show business—his late father was movie director while his siblings are all performers—it is only reasonable and understandable for him to make a movie every now and then.

An uncontested candidate for the top post in Quezon City, Bautista said he  "is still working doubly hard" to ensure his winning streak.  He said he should get a bigger percentage of votes compared to the last election in order for him to gauge the voting success of his second term.

"My programs and policies for Quezon City have always been for the greatest good for the greatest number but without displacing the least of the population," said Bautista. "Kaya bago ako magdesisyon kinukunsidera ko ang kabutihan para sa nakararami habang pinakikinggan din naman ang mas kakaunti na nasa disadvanteged side. And I see to it that I offer something of benefit for them," he added.
Campaign period for the local polls starts on March 29 that's why the good mayor still has time to shoot the movie which will be shown after election. "Kaya hindi ito campaign material for me dahil after election or early June ang playdate nito," he said.

Raketeros is the directorial debut of singer-actor Randy Santiago. According to Bautista, the  title  Rake­teros is Direc Randy's idea. "Pinagtulungan nilang mabuo ang kuwento nina Dennis Padilla at beterano at bagong mga writer. Hiningan nila ng idea si Ogie at tumulong din si Andrew E," the mayor narrated.

Watch for a new brand of situational comedy  in Raketeros. Aside from funeral singer (Ogie) other racketters include a cableman (Herbert), a billard hustler (Dennis), a fake pastor (Andrew E.) and their team leader (Joey Marquez).