The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has invited a contestant from ‘It’s Showtime’ for a guided tour on Tuesday, March 4, after her viral admission that she had little knowledge about the poll body and was not a registered voter.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia confirmed the invitation on Monday, emphasizing the importance of educating young Filipinos about the country’s electoral system.
“We fully understand her situation,” Garcia said. “There may be many young Filipinos like her. It is our solemn duty to explain who we are and what we do.”
The contestant, Heart Aquino, sparked an online discussion when she admitted during the show’s “Sexy Babe” segment that she was unfamiliar with Comelec and its responsibilities.
Aquino’s response caught the attention of host Vice Ganda, who expressed concern about the lack of awareness regarding the electoral body.
“Oh my gosh, that’s bothersome!” Vice reacted upon learning that Aquino, who is already 20 years old, was neither familiar with Comelec nor a registered voter.
Co-host Kim Chiu followed up by asking if she had registered to vote, to which Aquino replied, “Hindi pa.”
Vice further probed, asking, “Wala kang sagot?” and questioning whether she had ever encountered information about Comelec through television, newspapers, or social media.
Aquino responded, “Wala po kaming TV.” She added that Comelec-related news rarely appeared in her online feed.
After the hosts briefly explained Comelec’s role, Aquino finally gave a response: “Siguro ang message ko sa kanila, let’s be fair po. Kasi meron tayo ano 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.”
The moment quickly trended on social media, drawing mixed reactions. Some netizens were shocked by her lack of awareness, while others pointed out the need for stronger voter education efforts.
Garcia acknowledged that Aquino’s case highlights a broader challenge in voter education.
“I was saddened by what she said. It felt like a failure on the part of Comelec,” Garcia admitted. “It seems that we haven’t effectively communicated our role, our responsibilities, and the importance of elections.”
However, instead of criticism, Garcia sees this as an opportunity to improve awareness and engagement, particularly among younger Filipinos.
“She may represent many others who are not fully informed. That’s why we reached out to her,” he added.
The Comelec chairman also revealed that the agency is considering inviting Aquino to participate in voter education campaigns targeting the youth.
“We asked her to come in because she might be able to help us encourage young people to register and vote,” Garcia explained.
With the 2025 midterm elections approaching, Comelec is intensifying its efforts to increase voter registration and participation, particularly among first-time voters.
