Seasoned actor Raymond Bagatsing knows he’s facing giants in the Manila mayoral race, but he remains undeterred.
Currently seen in Net25’s Sunday sitcom “GoodWill,” Raymond shares that running wasn’t part of his original plan. However, he was approached by the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.
“Sabi nila, ‘Pwede ka bang tumakbo?’ I said, ‘Bakit ako?’ Eh, okay na ako nung pinatakbo ako for vice mayor,” he recalls.
At first, Raymond didn’t feel prepared for such a major role. “Sabi nila, walang magre-represent ng Partido Federal sa Maynila,” he remembers. “Hindi naman ako handa dyan,” he admits. But despite his hesitation, he felt compelled to take the opportunity. “Ah wow, David and Goliath ang laban natin,” he laughs, acknowledging the odds stacked against him in a race dominated by Isco Moreno and Honey Lacuna.
“Hindi ko inambisyon yan, but they needed somebody to represent the party,” he says. “So I said, ‘Alright, if it’s for the party, I’ll do it.’”
His family’s political legacy has always loomed large. His uncle, Amado Bagatsing, served as mayor of Manila, placing Raymond in the public eye from a young age. “Akala ko maiiwasan ko siya,” he says, reflecting on his decision to stay away from politics. “I didn’t want to be part of it. I was so focused on my love for acting, the film industry, and being an artist.”
Though Raymond may not have the campaign funds of some of his competitors, he believes the real strength lies in “ang meron kami, ‘yung mga tao.” When he ran for vice mayor in 2022, Raymond made sure to engage with the public every day, listening to their concerns.
“We had good numbers noong 2022,” he recalls, reflecting on his popularity. “We believe na we have the people dahil everyday kaming bumababa sa mga tao for eight months.”
Yet, Raymond remains humble about his political inexperience. “Hindi ko naman alam talaga ‘yung mga takbo-takbuhan dyan,” he admits. “What I have is good intention, so we’ll see.”
As the election approaches, Raymond stays optimistic. “If others can do it, why can’t we? We should serve with our capacity.”
While politics was never his dream, Raymond has come to accept the challenge. “Let’s see what we can do,” he says with a smile. “The challenge is big, but I’m ready for it. Kung para sa atin, para sa mga tao, magiging totoo ito.”
