Award-winning actor John Arcilla took to Facebook on Wednesday, May 7, to address criticism he received for endorsing former senators Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.
In a strongly worded post, Arcilla asserted that people who endorse principled candidates are often those who live honest lives and pay high taxes — not for personal gain, but out of a genuine desire to uplift the marginalized.
“Hindi nila ito ginagawa para sa SARILI NILA KUNDI PARA SA MGA MAHIHIRAP NA MAMAMAYAN dahil ayaw nila na ang kanilang TAX ay NAPUPUNTA SA BULSA NG MGA PAYASO, TRAPO, BALIMBING AT DYNASTY,” he wrote.
The ‘On the Job’ actor stressed that real change can only happen if Filipinos stop electing officials who serve their own interests instead of the people’s. In a follow-up post, he emphasized that voting should not enrich public officials, but instead improve the lives of ordinary citizens.
“BUMOBOTO TAYO hindi para umunlad ang buhay ng mga OPISYAL kundi para umunlad ang ating bayan at UMUNLAD ANG BUHAY ng mamamayang Pilipino,” Arcilla said. He called for government services such as affordable goods, quality public hospitals, and free education with proper facilities — a standard he reminded is not impossible, but a duty funded by taxpayers.
BUMOBOTO TAYO hindi para umunlad ang buhay ng mga OPISYAL kundi para umunlad ang ating bayan at UMUNLAD ANG BUHAY ng mamamayang Pilipino: May MURANG BILIHIN, trabaho, libreng ESKWELAHAN na MAAYOS ANG PASILIDAD at LIBRENG HOSPITAL na MATAAS ANG KALIDAD. Hindi yun imposible, dahil… pic.twitter.com/5rTrK4DKJ8
— John Arcilla official (@JohnArcilla) April 30, 2025
He also shared the results of the University of the East (UE) Dawn Pre-Election Survey released last April, showing Pangilinan and Aquino leading among student voters — a choice Arcilla urged others to follow: “Gayahin natin sila.”
Both Pangilinan and Aquino are seasoned lawmakers known for their advocacy in agriculture and education, respectively — platforms that resonate with Arcilla’s call for real, people-centered public service.
Arcilla ended his post with a simple reminder: “Para sigurado, dun tayo sa hindi corrupt.”
