AFTER HIS three terms as Quezon City mayor ended, Herbert Bautista returned to acting in such shows as “Puto” on TV5 and “The House Arrest of Us” in iWant.
He is now making his first bid for a national position, running as a senator under the National People’s Coalition of Panfilo Lacson and Tito Sotto.
Herbert, popularly known as Bistek, his memorable nickname in a hit sitcom, started his political career in 1986 as president of the Kabataang Barangay National Federation.
He then ran for councilor, vice mayor and later became QC Mayor.
When his term ended in 2019, he decided to take a rest for a while.
“My kids have grown up and I want to spend more time with them,” he says. “When I talk to them, adult topics na ang pinag-uusapan namin.
"We were planning to do a family vlog showing us traveling around the country, but the pandemic came, so hindi natuloy. Sayang. Balak ko rin sanang ituloy ang doctorate degree ko.”
He has a bachelor’s and master’s degree from UP.
“One year na lang, matatapos na yung Ph. D. ko but hindi ko naituloy, so nawalang bisa na and dapat daw ulitin ko lahat.
"I tried to enroll sana sa La Salle, but di na rin natuloy at ngayon, nasa campaign period na tayo.”
Two of his sons are joining showbiz. Race is with Viva while Harvey is with ABS-CBN.
“Sabi, si Race daw, isasama sa movie nina Alden Richards and Bea Alonzo na malapit na mag-shoot. Si Harvey naman daw, kasama sa show na gagawin nina Piolo Pascual and Lovi Poe, so sana, matuloy.”
His son in the TV show “Puto”, McCoy de Leon, is now a father and has just admitted his partner Elisse Joson has given birth to a baby girl. Is she aware of this?
“No, sa taping namin,itinutukso ko pa nga siya kay Miles de Leon, not knowing na pregnant na pala yung girlfriend niya.”
What can he say about Kris Aquino, who was linked to him before, now officially engaged to Senen Sarmiento?
“Honestly, I didn’t know na ikakasal na siya. Hindi ko naman mino-monitor ang activities niya.
"Well, I’m very happy for her. Lagi niyang sinasabing she wants peace and quiet so hopefully, that’s what she will get now that she is settling down.”
What can he say now that local theaters will open again on November 10?
“I’m very happy about it, kaya lang, they give more priority to foreign films. Sana, inuna naman nila ang local films kasi down na down ang local film industry.
"Andaming workers nating umaasa diyan so I hope they will also push local films to encourage producers to make more movies again.
"Sana, yung theatre owners, bawasan ang share nila sa bawat ticket. Kasi sa ngayon, they get 50 percent of ticket sales.
"All these years, the mall theaters have already recovered their investment in building yung mga sinehan nila, kaya sana, gawin na lang nilang 20% for local films para kumita naman ang mga taga-movie industry natin.”
As a senator, he will not only focus on the entertainment industry but also push for bills and programs that will benefit locally produced product like good, fabrics and other items that will help local businessmen and strengthen overall national pride.
No doubt, he is well known in Metro-Manila and the NCR, but how about the remote rural areas?
“Yes, we have planned to campaign extensively in the provinces kaya lang the health protocols for each province can be onerous. Bawat lugar na pupuntahan mo, kailangan sundutin ang ilong mo for the usual covid test.
"So we’ll have to resort to fostering awareness through social media. We’ll come up with infotainment vlogs that will show oft-neglected aspects of Pinoy culture and everyday life that will cater to viewers and voters of all generations.”
