RICHARD GOMEZ:  DISAPPOINTED  BUT  NOT  DEFEATED

MANILA, AUGUST 11, 2007 (STAR) PEOPLE ASIA -By Gabby Libarios - Richard Gomez tries to make himself comfortable in his seat. As soon he gets comfortably seated, he lets out an audible sigh and closes his eyes. It’s been a busy week for Goma. A few minutes of shut-eye is a welcome respite.

As the makeup artist runs his fingers over the actor’s tousled hair, trying to decide on the perfect look, Richard extends his right arm and reaches for the seat beside him. His daughter Juliana, who has been quiet and a little bit nervous the whole time, curiously looks on.

Without saying a word, the young girl reaches out to meet her father’s waiting hand. The second Richard feels his daughter’s hand, he holds it tight and interlaces his fingers with hers. It was a perfect moment, worthy of being captured by an assiduous photographer or be immortalized by the masterful strokes of an inspired artist: a father and daughter taking comfort and security in each other’s touch. “Just hold my hand,” Richard whispers, without looking up. As though Juliana would bolt out of her seat and go elsewhere, Richard tightens his grip. These days, it’s family that gives Richard Gomez strength and inspiration. It’s family that keeps him together.

Take It Like A Man

The May 14 senatorial elections had been a difficult one for showbiz’s former matinee idol. Richard Gomez had high hopes of making the “Magic 12” list of legislators, who will serve the country in the next six years. But alas, it seemed that fate had a different plan for him. His bid for a seat in the Senate was unsuccessful.

Although the actor knew how to accept defeat, the news was still disappointing, especially to his friends who willingly supported his campaign all the way. Gomez, who has enjoyed enormous success in the entertainment industry as an award-winning actor and sought-after product endorser, was far down the list of senatorial hopefuls.

At the onset of the campaign season, momentum seemed to favor Richard Gomez, thanks to his active involvement in uplifting the quality of Philippine sports and anti-drug campaigns.

Since 2004, celebrities have been crossing over to politics. Of course, not all of them were successful. But for some who aspired for positions like governor, vice governor, mayor, or city councilor, their efforts did not go in vain. The outcome was so promising, prompting other celebrities to join the political bandwagon. According to The Institute for Popular Democracy (IPD), a non-profit research and advocacy institute, the recent elections drew 57 celebrity candidates, 14 more than those who ran for public office in 2004.

Richard’s popularity as a senatorial candidate ballooned when the media got wind of his intentions to join the Team Unity slate, the administration-backed political party. Unfortunately, it was Richard’s fellow actor Cesar Montano who got the slot.

“I admit that if I ran under Team Unity, it would have been a different story,” he admits. “From then on, I knew that it was going to be difficult. It’s no joke being an independent candidate.”

Unshaken by the sudden turn of events, Richard chose to carry on his mission. He knew that if his intentions were good and his political platform strong, people would listen. With the support of his family and friends, Richard went ahead and ran as an independent candidate.

The result, unfortunately, was far from Richard’s expectations. Yes, he was a bit disappointed, but he didn’t let it ruin his day. “During the first six hours of the counting, we already knew that I would not make the cut. Early in the evening, I knew that I wasn’t going to make it,” he says.

“I was playing badminton at the time. I was relaxed already. Actually, the day after I cast my vote, I was already relaxed. I told myself that it would not matter if I win or not. What’s important was that I ran a good campaign and that I made my hopes for the country known.”

It was his wife Lucy Torres Gomez who got affected by his loss the most.

“After she learned about the news, I told her, ‘Don’t be sad. That’s the way it is’,” Richard recalls. “Even before the campaign began, I would always tell my family to work hard and make the campaign (go) well. So whatever the result would be, we can take pride in the fact that we did our best and we did it together.”

Lost Cause?

Reflecting on his experience at the previous elections, Richard laments that not many people share his enthusiasm to change the way things are being run in the country.

“It was kind of disheartening for me to realize that people didn’t share my advocacy, that they would rather focus their attention more on who’s for or against GMA,” he admits.

“I guess my advocacy was overshadowed by the anti-GMA pro-GMA trend. Much attention was given to candidates who have taken sides. Only the ones who covertly expressed their alliance with, or opposition against, the administration got easily noticed by the public.”

Everything had been mapped out right from the very beginning. If he were elected, Richard would push for a legislative measure that would benefit Filipino athletes. He would develop a program that would allow them to earn special education degrees while training and representing the country in international competitions.

Anti-drugs campaigns would be in full swing, as Richard had always been a staunch anti-drug advocate. It was not too long ago when he, with the help of Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, organized Mamamayan Ayaw sa Droga, a campaign against the use of illegal drugs.

Perhaps, the entertainment industry, too, would be given a helping hand. Together with his friends, Richard has set up a welfare program that intends to improve the plight of out-of-job movie workers.

“We founded an organization called Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng Pelikulang Pilipino,” he shares. We try to help movie workers who don’t have jobs anymore. We give them PhilHealth cards and offer them a cooperative housing program. Right now, we help in whatever way we can.”

Richard’s intentions were good, all right. So what caused him to languish in the last elections, just like Cesar Montano and former Eat Bulaga host Tito Sotto, a former Opposition senator who switched loyalty to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?

Was Richard a case of too much, too soon? Was he like a cat trying to be a tiger? Or was he really an idealistic person who was not given a chance to be heard?

Some people, especially Richard’s detractors, believe it was the actor’s fame and infamy that was his undoing.

History would tell us that Richard had been involved with a lot of things in the past that perhaps even he himself can’t be proud of. There was the tax evasion complaint filed by the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the suspension from GMA-7, the rude remarks on television, and the public spats with fellow celebrities.

But for Richard, these are all water under the bridge now. Having been in show business for more than 20 years, he has long learned to laugh in the face of his enemies. So whatever comes his way, it will just be like a deadly bullet fired on a brick wall.

Richard says fatherhood has certainly made him more mature, wiser, gentler, calmer and less impulsive. Since getting married, he’s been striving to walk the straight and narrow path.

“My family is my biggest inspiration,” he says, smiling. “We’re really a husband and wife team, Lucy and I. I may be a quiet person, but I’ve always kept our communication lines open. If there are problems, we sit down and discuss them and think of solutions. I am a man who is not afraid to share his problems with his wife.”

Moving On

Instead of sulking in the privacy of his bedroom or hiding from public eye, Richard is holding his head high. He is not going to turn around and run with his tail between his legs. Richard knows that his time will come and his ideas will be noticed. What’s important is that he is in the process of moving on.

Part of that process is returning to showbiz. He’s already taping for GMA-7’s local version of Marimar, the Mexican telenovela that made Thalia a superstar this side of the globe. Marian Rivera, Katrina Halili and Dingdong Dantes are also in the cast.

“Nothing can ever put me down, especially if I’m fighting for the truth, the people, for my family,” he shares. “If I do experience setbacks, I learn from them. They teach me to think more clearly and be stronger.”

Indeed, a loss doesn’t define a man. A victory doesn’t measure his worth, either.

Deep in his heart, Richard hopes to do something for Filipinos. But right now, he wants to enjoy the fruits of building a strong and loving family and having learned the important lessons in life through showbiz, sports, and yes, even politics.

“Nothing can ever put me down. I am full of courage. I am not afraid to face adversity,” he says. “I am an athlete. As an athlete, you should know how to accept defeat. I guess the agony of defeat teaches you to appreciate your victories all the more,” he says.

This explains why Richard is not discounting the possibility of trying again in the next elections.

Perhaps next time, people will listen.