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COMMUNICATION - Celebrification in Politics - A Dramatistic Analysis of Celebrity-Featuring Political Campaigns in The 2016 Philippine Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections
COMMUNICATION - Celebrification in Politics - A Dramatistic Analysis of Celebrity-Featuring Political Campaigns in The 2016 Philippine Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections
Elections
An Undergraduate Thesis
presented to the
Department of Communication,
by
Chua, Nicole S.
2020
Celebrification in Politics 2
Acknowledgements
We would like to extend our gratitude to the people who were with us on our
Thank you to our families who have given their unconditional support every
step of the way. We extend our sincerest thanks to our friends who were with us
through the ups and downs of the most trying year of our lives (yet). Here’s to all the
missed hangouts, and here’s to hoping that someday we’ll be able to work together
We would like to thank our wonderful thesis adviser Ma’am Inez Ponce de
Leon for her constant guidance, unending patience, and her heartfelt concern for our
wellbeing. We are also very grateful to our panelists Doctor Severino Sarmienta and
Sir Gershom Chua for extending their time and energy to help our thesis reach greater
heights.
And finally, to Ajax, Li, and Albedo: We have nothing but love and gratitude
You motivated us to get up at 4 AM in the morning every single day to get the job
done.
Celebrification in Politics 3
Abstract
propaganda publicized during election seasons. This research explored the use of
Theory, Jungian Archetypes, Booker’s Seven Basic Plots, and Hatch’s Typological
archetypes of the ‘Hero’, ‘Caregiver’, ‘Everyman’, and ‘Ruler’, and the story
archetypes ‘Phoenix from the Ashes’, ‘Superhero Story’, and ‘Simple Man’s Tale’.
narrative in order to garner the audience’s votes. The narratives are a diorama of
society, reflective of the existing themes revolving around gender, family, class
Table of Contents
List of Tables.................................................................................................................4
List of Figures…...........................................................................................................5
Chapter 1: Introduction
Background of the Study..............................................................................8
Statement of the Problem...........................................................................10
Research Questions & Objectives..............................................................11
Significance of the Study...........................................................................12
Scope and Limitations................................................................................14
Ethical Implications....................................................................................14
Chapter 4: Method
Sampling.....................................................................................................30
Data Gathering...........................................................................................31
Data Analysis.............................................................................................32
List of Tables
campaign...................................................33
analysis...........................................33
Roxas.......................................42
Digong!.....................................................................43
Pangarap.........................................................................46
List of Figures
he Dramatistic Pentad................................................................................25
Figure 2. T
Pilipinas. ......................................................58
hopeful scene in
Figure 7. A
Pilipinas. ........................................................................59
Forward..........................................62
Roxas.. ............................64
Celebrification in Politics 7
Chapter 1: Introduction
television, widely accessible movies, and the boost of internet access in recent years
Even in the world of politics, the integration of celebrities is evident through the
exhibiting celebrity behavior (Atun & David, 2015). With this phenomenon of
celebrities in political affairs has become integral in defining the future of governance
The Philippines consistently having a high voter turnout level could be linked
to its low performing economy. Schraufnagel and colleagues (2014) suggest that
economic hardships may be the main force that drives people towards the polls.
However, these hardships may also be what hinders citizens from casting their most
well-informed vote. Studies have shown that a large lower class voting block is
susceptible to simple political ploys (Atun & David, 2015), which can be attributed to
Celebrification in Politics 9
several factors such as limited access to critical information about politicians, poor
Television content may also hinder voters from making well-informed votes due to
in Southeast Asia despite its high voter turnout. It is noticeable how politicians
(Schraufnagel et al., 2014). In place of this, a variety of political ploys are utilized for
their campaigns. Due to these political ploys executed in conjunction with the boost in
media and internet access, the country’s political landscape has developed a very
country’s first “social media” election. In the same year, there were 41 million active
Facebook users between the ages of 18 and 65. Millennials and Gen Z (aged 18-29)
made up 31%, Gen X (aged 30-44) 32%, and Baby Boomers (aged 45-64) 28% of the
voters could have possibly been exposed to content shown on social media. This is
without taking into account other news and information sources available on the
internet. These are important factors because the addition of social media into the
picture changes the political playing field. Televised political campaigns are now
being uploaded on the internet, and it is foreseeable that these uploads will only rise in
usually have a higher turnout in comparison to the midterm elections. Once again,
several factors may contribute to this, such as the smaller number of national
Celebrification in Politics 10
candidates to choose from for the midterm elections, and the higher national stakes in
Hansley Juliano points out that senators are usually considered as having less “star
a common trend for politicians to utilize star power and include celebrities in their
campaigns. Celebrities possess a certain ability to connect with people, and because
they are constantly seen in the media, they are well-known by audiences. News
endorsement in the United States. When asked about her opinion, actress Susan
Sarandon answered, “Sometimes what a celebrity can do is just shine a light and get
some space in the media, when the media hasn’t been covering…”. Show business
and politics in the Philippines are rather similar as the fields are generally dominated
by the rich, powerful, and famous, and political rivalries continue to be based largely
on personality and faction rather than on ideology or political identity (Kenny, 2020).
politicians and their endorsers, rather than to prioritize their competence and
literature, films and other forms of media. Due to this, it is common for audiences to
feel a strong sense of attachment towards these celebrities, which is the result of both
the media’s portrayal of these big personalities and archetypes they represent (Atun &
regularly examine the social systems upon which campaign culture stands, as these
are big factors in determining the outcome of political affairs that require citizen
attitudes towards celebrity endorsers and election outcomes (Atun & David, 2015;
Centeno, 2015), there is an evident lack of research that focuses primarily on the
become increasingly evident that social media and television advertisements will most
likely be the main platforms for political campaigns and may replace most on-site
political events due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic. As citizens are
encouraged to stay home as much as possible, their primary source of knowledge for
the upcoming elections would then rely on these platforms. If voters are unable to
discern and understand the underlying motives of these political campaigns, they may
geography, and most importantly, its history. With this, the researchers will be
focusing on the most recent large-scale event concerning the practice of politics in the
how politicians use celebrities to further the agenda of their political narratives, the
voting population will be more aware of these devices that serve to persuade, and
The study focuses on the use of celebrities in campaign videos as tools for
politicians to fulfill their political agenda. Hence, the researchers ask: How did the
celebrity endorsers in their video campaigns to drive their narratives forward in order
to appeal to the voters? In order to fully answer this research question, the following
videos.
2. To identify the roles that celebrities play as agents who drive the
narrative forward.
videos.
political campaigns.
video.
audience attitudes (Atun & David, 2015), and would use surveys and experiments as
their primary method of data collection (Centeno, 2010). Previous studies also
centered on the implications behind the linguistic patterns and rhetorical devices used
by politicians in their speeches (Dunn, 2018; Alico & Rivera, 2017). Textual analyses
Celebrification in Politics 13
uncover the underlying message of the politicians (Canel & García, 2016). There were
also studies that looked into the correlation between voter statistics, election results,
between the persons directly involved in political campaigns; the politicians and
endorsers themselves. The researchers find it imperative to address and examine the
possible motives and agendas that exist in these partnerships. Veering away from
studies on campaign effectiveness, this research leans towards studying the nature of
the relationships between the politicians, celebrities, and the narratives formed out of
these interactions. In addition to this, the research will contribute to the field of
beyond entertainment purposes. The study will also aid future researchers in
On another note, the recent ABS-CBN shutdown last July 2020 may
significantly impact the airing of political campaigns for the upcoming elections as
the masses tend to rely mainly on television in order to update themselves with
current events (Atun & David, 2015). Considering the fact that ABS-CBN was
previously the top broadcasting network in the Philippines (Brillon, 2015), its recent
closure may deprive the vast majority of the voting population of a major source of
Access to a wide range of information from reliable sources will help develop
an individual’s political awareness, which would improve the overall quality of their
regards to the COVID-19 pandemic and limitation of mass gatherings, the majority of
campaigns and other political information for the 2022 elections will most likely be
centered on digital platforms. This further supports the pressing need for studies
information.
The study may help the voting population be more aware of how politicians
would use celebrities as tools to further their political agenda. As a result, they may be
able to think more critically in order to cast a well-informed vote in the upcoming
elections.
The primary focus of this research was on the content and narratives of the
political video campaigns themselves, and did not tackle the effect of these campaigns
on the results of the 2016 Philippine presidential and vice-presidential elections. The
researchers were limited to the concepts found in Burke’s Dramatism Theory and
archetypes under Jung and Booker. The data collected was analyzed with Hatch’s
political candidate, the celebrity, and the narrative within the campaign video. The
Consequently, voter attitudes and behavior were not explored in this research.
The research did not include the voters’ response to political campaigns, and was
unable to cover the external factors that influence the audience’s perception of the
celebrities and politicians in the campaign videos. The relationship between the vote
turnout and voter attitudes towards political campaigns was not explored as well.
Celebrification in Politics 15
The sample only consisted of video campaigns and did not explore other
media such as posters, tarpaulins, and in-person campaigns. A total of 12 videos were
selected for further analysis, and these were limited to videos that were released
within the campaign period, or within 90 days before election day was held.
Ethical Implications
The sample was limited to video campaigns that were available to the
researchers and could be found in the online sphere. This refers to political campaign
videos that are accessible to the general public, and it was important for these to be
legally published on the internet. Political advertisements were obtained through legal
means such as the verified social media pages of political candidates and other official
channels such as the production houses that produced these campaigns. The
researchers also ensured that these videos were published during the official campaign
period.
Celebrification in Politics 16
attitudes (Centeno, 2010), to specific topics that focus on individual politicians, such
as Donald Trump (Street, 2019) and Grace Poe (Alico & Rivera, 2017). The
celebrity culture in the Philippines, the way political narratives are constructed, the
that relay information about characters engaged in actions (Bruner, 1991). These are
defined as the processes or techniques of telling stories through various means, may it
be written, verbal, audio-visual, or with other media. Hamby and colleagues (2017)
have discovered through their findings that narratives are able to persuade by using
Celebrification in Politics 17
integrates attention, imagery, feelings, and the events in the story themselves.
Stories play a key role in human life as Krause and Rucker (2019) state that
narratives often bypass our natural resistance mechanisms towards new information.
This results in audiences either responding more positively to speakers that utilize
(2019) add that narratives also work towards changing people’s inherent attitudes,
behaviors, and perception towards certain things as they are transported into the
narrative and identify themselves with the protagonist. This identification allows the
audience to transcend their own self-awareness and replace it with both the emotional
industry has constantly utilized these to persuade potential consumers into purchasing
their products. Lien and Chen (2011) concluded in their research that while the
diminishes and has less impact in narrative advertising. Advertisers then opt to utilize
a narrative approach instead as they sway their target market not just with facts, but
also through the emotional investment that the narrative elicits. A study conducted by
Kim and colleagues (2017) compared the persuasive ability of advertisements and
concluded that narrative advertising fared far better than non-narrative advertising in
terms of emotive response, hedonic value, credibility, and perceived goal facilitation,
brand attitudes and responses. Narrative then proves itself to be a powerful tool of
persuasion.
Political Narratives
Celebrification in Politics 18
(Dewan, Humphreys, & Rubenson, 2013). There have been several studies that
strategies in their campaigns (Alico & Rivera, 2017). Dewan and colleagues (2013)
well as the success rate of such methods. An analysis of political campaigns may also
provide insight about the possible motives of candidates (Alico & Rivera, 2017).
Researchers have studied the interactions between politicians and their audience in an
oratorical setting, and how the established contexts within the political speeches play
contexts in order to gain deeper insight into the different aspects of political
persuasion and audience response. Other researchers focused mainly on the speeches
themselves, without including the audience attitudes. Alico and Rivera (2017)
dissected Senator Grace Poe’s campaign speech through rhetorical discourse analysis,
and were able to identify specific elements that revealed her hidden agenda. Poe’s
emphasis on her late father’s political endeavors and on the positive qualities of
was attributed to the use of compelling narratives in his campaign. Teehankee (2016)
divulged on how the recurrent theme of Para sa Masa ( For the Masses) and the
promise of a great nation were crucial points in the underlying narrative of Duterte’s
campaign. Researchers have also identified the linguistic strategies that were
employed by the politicians in their speeches, and how the effective usage of such
Celebrification in Politics 19
techniques may be beneficial to their political image. Canel and Garcia (2016) found
that several factors come to play when politicians address a public concern, and an
maximize their potential have higher chances of dominating the election polls (Perron,
manipulate and enhance their public image accordingly to appeal to their potential
Archetypes in Media
seen in various forms of media. These are universally understood concepts that
writers would tend to use when introducing their characters and plot to their audience.
These archetypes follow a pattern that is usually deemed familiar to the audience, and
in effect, this enhances audience recall (Bradshaw & Storm, 2013). A particular set of
archetypes that have been commonly used would be the 12 Jungian archetypes,
seen as universal motifs that have been brought about by constant repetition across all
It was also found that the utility of archetypes is not only limited to literature,
as they have the potential to extend their reach beyond this. Djakeli (2013) utilized
Jungian archetypes in his research on political marketing. It was found that effective
usage of Jungian archetypes in marketing has the potential to bear positive results
Celebrification in Politics 20
image, and has boosted consumer recall. These political candidates had aimed to
connect with the audience through their respective campaigns. A particular archetype
may emerge from each publicly perceived action, and these political candidates took
the opportunity to utilize these tropes in order to embody their desired image.
Archetypes are not only limited to common character tropes, as they can also
be in the form of popular story tropes. Booker (2014) introduced the Seven Basic
Plots, and these were influenced by Jung’s own archetypes. Booker claimed that all
stories come in the form of established archetypes, especially since plots have the
tendency to follow certain formulas. In Booker’s perspective, these Seven Basic Plots
have the capability to shape a narrative, and this may also be possible even in
advertising. The mere recognition of these plots and archetypes prove the existence of
plots can prove to be effective in advertising as these tropes can be easily grasped by
the audience.
Celebrity Culture
awareness from large groups of people (Schlect, 2013). They are often defined by
their heightened popularity and mass following which equip them with a significant
ability to influence. Celebrities may take on a wide variety of roles, ranging from
queens among others. While not always the case, most of them have extraordinary
skills or lifestyles that set them apart from common citizens (Ahmed, 2015) as their
Fame then becomes one of the most prominent conditions of the celebrity
status and is defined as the condition of being glorified through the processes of
media exposure (Rockwell & Giles, 2009). This fame cannot exist without one of the
key stakeholders, which are the fans or the following population of these certain
celebrities. In order to keep up with these celebrities, followers may turn to social
personal lives.
While celebrities primarily keep their audiences entertained, they also serve
services. A comparative study (Blanco, Frando, & Agulto, 2016) concluded that
items. An analysis of celebrity endorsement and brand loyalty claimed that celebrities
build brand awareness, establish emotional connections with customers, and become
popular culture that goes beyond their usual television features as they double as
brand advertisers, political endorsers, and some would even run as politicians
themselves (Atun & David, 2015). Centeno (2010) notes that as a consequence of this
Celebrification in Politics
The result of linking a politician with a specific agenda, and a celebrity with a large
following that feels an intimate connection with them, equals a powerful tool of
Celebrification in Politics 22
persuasion. The specific agenda or goal in mind may differ between politicians,
useful to look at the power of persuasion that this combination can bring. Atun and
David (2015) found that people who watched television often were more likely to
vote for celebrity politicians such as action star Joseph Estrada and newscaster Noli
to obtain.
encompasses not only the celebrity-politician dynamic, but extends to journalism and
news coverage, and runs in the culture of the country itself. The researcher elaborated
that the spread of the superstar politician narrative is not only a one-sided movement,
but is pushed further by their publicity teams, media coverage, and their supporters,
Prior research on celebrity politics relied mostly on the use of either surveys or
focus group discussions. Research that utilized surveys covered the attitudes of
audiences and voters towards political campaigns, showing how the use of celebrities
study by Atun and David (2015). On the other hand, the use of focus group
look for in a political campaign and how celebrities aid this cause. However, the lack
the researchers as they gathered data and analyzed their findings. The conceptual
framework begins with the discussion of the main concepts in this research which
include the theoretical and archetypal concepts, and the combination of the two as a
unified concept. As for the operational framework, the concepts mentioned were
contextualized to the research and indicators of measure were created. These provided
a criteria for the researchers to follow when it comes to extracting and dissecting data
Conceptual Framework
which were derived from Burke’s Dramatism, and subsequently discusses Jung’s
Archetypes and Booker’s Seven Basic Plots which were utilized in analyzing the
Agent. Jung and Booker’s archetypes were utilized under the subcategory of Agent as
Celebrification in Politics 24
this concept further delves into the embodied character tropes of the politicians and
celebrities in the campaign. Identifying, and then adapting these archetypes allowed
the researchers to determine recurring patterns utilized within the narratives. Figure 1
shows the graphical representation of all of the concepts that were looked into for this
research.
onceptual Framework
Figure 1. C
common ground between two parties. Identification is anything relatable, similar, and
analogous between one person and another. Identification plays an important part as
there are plenty of methods utilized as identifiers to influence the public’s preference.
For instance, politicians would alter their messages and means of communication to
On the other hand, Burke defines guilt-redemption as the ultimate factor that
pointing out a common enemy to blame for adversities, and mortification, which is
pentad is made up of the Act, Scene, Agent, Agency, and Purpose; these concepts are
defined in Table 1. As seen in Figure 2, the Pentad’s elements are linked to form a
strategic method for analyzing motivation and human action, which can be found in
analyze the narratives of public relations crisis statements (Canel & Garcia, 2016),
presidential addresses (Dunn, 2018), and the portrayal of disabilities in film (Rutten,
Roets, Soetaert, & Roose, 2012). The aforementioned studies, similar to this research,
also approached the study by using a qualitative content analysis as their primary
method.
By using Burke’s Dramatism Theory as a lens, the researchers analyzed the
campaigns by breaking them down into individual elements in order to determine the
Archetypes
Carl Jung’s archetypes were derived from commonly used tropes that can be
found in various forms of media. There are a total of 12 Jungian archetypes, and each
have their respective goals to be achieved throughout the course of the narrative (see
Table 2). The researchers identified which specific archetypes were embodied by the
agents in the political campaigns. Various attributes of the celebrities were taken into
account such as their typecasting, roles they have previously taken up in their career,
or the image that they have projected as showbiz personalities. As for the politicians,
the researchers looked into the archetypes that they embodied in the duration of their
respective campaigns, and in what can be inferred from the advertisement in itself.
Lastly, possible similarities and differences between the personalities of the celebrity
For the narrative archetypes, Christopher Booker’s Seven Basic Plots (see
Table 3) were utilized in order to identify and then derive emerging narrative patterns
within the campaign videos. Booker’s (2014) Seven Basic Plots were actually
influenced by Jung’s own archetypes. Booker claimed that all stories come in the
form of established archetypes, especially since plots have the tendency to follow
certain formulas. In Booker’s perspective, these Seven Basic Plots have the capability
to shape a narrative, and this may also be possible even in advertising. The mere
recognition of these plots and archetypes prove the existence of a universal language.
Therefore, if utilized to its fullest potential, these archetypal plots can prove to be
ending
Rebirth Main character almost falls from grace but repents at the last
minute
Operational Framework
framework was constructed to serve as a guide for the data analysis. The selected
broken down into applicable indicators and measures (see Table 4).
objectives of the research, allowing the researchers to delve deeper into the narrative.
Using the variables stated, the researchers were able to identify the indicators for
measure, which provided a criteria that allowed them to extract the data needed from
the video campaigns. The measures served as more specific criteria already applied in
the context of the research. The data was then analyzed through a typological method,
Theory.
for the celebrities and politicians in the political campaigns. At the end of the analysis,
an overall assessment was conducted using Booker’s Seven Basic Plots in order to
Chapter 4: Method
This section shows the step-by-step process behind the retrieval of the sample,
and the qualitative techniques used in order to analyze the political campaigns. The
the elements found within the sample, and analyze these elements both individually
and as a whole. The subheadings were then derived from the patterns, relationships,
Sampling
elections. This sample was gathered by searching the internet for political
advertisements that were shown either on television or social media during the
campaign period. The researchers created a criteria for the selection of the political
campaign videos with celebrity endorsers. The celebrity endorser must have either:
The celebrities must have had significant exposure in the video for it to be
Celebrification in Politics 31
considered a valid celebrity appearance. It was essential for the focus to be directly on
the celebrities at any point in the campaign. It was also preferable if the celebrities
heavily contributed to the dialogue portion of the videos. Lastly, any form of
interaction between the celebrities and the politicians, whether direct or indirect, were
noted for further analysis. All things considered, if the video campaign satisfied at
Data Gathering
from the 2016 Philippine elections that featured celebrity endorsers. These videos
were gathered from different social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and
Twitter. The researchers verified and ensured that these campaigns were publicly
published and are official campaign materials of said candidates. After collation, the
researchers selected the videos that best fit the criteria. At the end of the data
gathering process, the following 12 videos were selected (see Table 5).
Data Analysis
With the aid of the framework based on Burke’s Dramatism Theory, the
yield themes that show how politicians used celebrities in their campaigns to further
their political agenda. Figure 3 contains the entire process of analyzing the data from
The campaigns were broken down and dissected according to the elements
found in the dramatistic pentad. These were then listed down following the format of
Campaign #
Dramatistic Act
Pentad
Agency
Agent
Celebrification in Politics 34
Scene
Purpose
Identification
Guilt-Redemption Victimage
Mortification
(Hatch, 2002). Each of the determined concepts were assigned a code; this code was
used to house the raw data. The data under each concept were analyzed by identifying
the patterns, relationships, and themes (PRT) present. The resulting themes were then
used to code the initial data, to either confirm or disconfirm the preliminary findings.
The concepts determined were discussed using the PRT (see Table 7). The themes
served as the subheadings, with the support of the patterns and relationships. Finally,
a general discussion encompassing all the concepts was executed using the PRT.
Patterns
Relationships
Themes
relationships, and themes in the data. After analyzing these, the researchers
their study. As a subcategory for the Agent, the researchers then analyzed the possible
archetypes that the politicians and celebrities belong to. Possible similarities and
differences between the archetypes of the celebrity and politicians were also
Celebrification in Politics 35
discussed. The researchers then adapted the existing Jungian and Booker archetypes
to best fit the narratives of the research. Interpretations derived from the analysis
then allowed the researchers to determine how these celebrities and narratives were
de Manila University. While all of them took the standard theory and research classes,
the researchers all specialize in a variety of communication fields and have taken up
courses in advertising, journalism, and film production, which has granted them an
History and Literature: Survey of Dramatic Literature, and Introduction to Art and
Aesthetics. These courses have given her the ability to understand and dissect the
elements of drama, and analyze these beyond aesthetic value. She has also been a
theatre practitioner for four years, specializing in performance. Additionally, she has
worked with the Cultural Center of the Philippines for Virgin Labfest 2020. Aside
from theatre work, she has also attended the Procter & Gamble Sales Bootcamp,
where she was exposed to the variety of ways that both advertising is used to appeal
to consumers and audiences. Her experience in these fields has allowed her to analyze
narratives beyond surface level and understand how these are used as tools to
Alba was a project intern for the Asian Center for Journalism alongside The
current events; all of which provided her with capabilities for intensive research. Alba
Celebrification in Politics 36
makes sure that she is constantly informed in regards to important local issues and
developments within the country’s political landscape, which helps with identifying
and collating necessary information. In the research, Alba was the most familiar with
the celebrities featured and the politicians’ backgrounds, which aided with the process
in projects with Selecta and Atlantis Theatrical. These experiences equipped her with
the ability to recognize the actual intent behind each of the political video
advertisements, which can be seen in the editing of said videos. Additionally, her
Publishers, Inc. (FILSCAP) grants her the knowledge and experience in jingle-making
and in composing songs that are mainly for advertising purposes. She has also taken
production gives her the capability to discern the individual elements within the
political campaign videos, most especially the visual aspects that were worth noting in
the videos.
production, and journalism proves that they are well-equipped with the skillset to
handle the work that this research demands. Being able to study the concepts and
theories of these fields in an academic setting while also living these out through a
variety of work and organizational experiences has also aided the researchers in
This section contains the analysis for all twelve political campaigns. The first
portion contains summaries and analysis sheets presented as tables. This is to provide
context for the events that occurred in each of the videos. Presenting the summaries
and the tables containing the individual elements together will emphasize their
significance when it comes to analyzing the political campaigns. The second portion
discusses the themes that emerged, along with the confirming and disconfirming data.
Celebrification in Politics 38
Finally, the latter part of this section contains the general discussion across all themes
and archetypes.
The celebrity endorser, Robin Padilla, discusses the various issues faced by
the Philippines and how these problems pose as major obstacles to the development of
over a video montage containing scenes for each of the aforementioned issues.
Presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte eventually enters the frame and stands beside
Padilla at the end of the video. The two state the pressing need for discipline in order
to address these issues and stress how discipline serves as an important determinant
for development in the country. Padilla ends the campaign with the tagline “Disiplina
Robin Padilla is often dubbed as the “bad boy” of Philippine Cinema. His
tough image and intimidating demeanor is attributed to his past roles in various films.
In his showbiz prime, he usually portrayed antiheroic protagonist roles. In effect, this
masculinized image of Robin Padilla was deemed to be suitable for Duterte’s brand.
This introduced the concept of machismo and its potential when tied with political
power. This advertisement shows that both Padilla and Duterte embody the “Ruler”
archetype.
Mar Roxas and vice-presidential candidate Leni Robredo. The music video has a
such as riding public transportation, jogging, and walking their dogs. Additionally,
call-center agents. The politicians were also seen interacting with the general public in
an affable manner in several instances. The song Fast Forward promotes the idea of a
progressive future and how this would be possible under Mar Roxas and Leni
The celebrities that were given majority of the screen time would be the duo of
the loveteam, KathNiel (Valle, 2019). Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla have been
highly regarded as the role models of the younger generation. Their influence over the
youth is due to their consistent presence in various forms of media, as well as their
Celebrification in Politics 40
active participation in several films. In the music video, all the celebrities embodied
the archetypes of the “Innocent” and the “Everyman”. The Innocent archetype
involves the desire for a particular utopia, which would be achieved through sheer
optimism and in doing the right thing. This was seen in how these celebrities would
act within a setting that implies a more progressive and modern Philippines. As for
the “Everyman” archetype, this refers to the idea that all men and women are
considered equal and ordinary citizens. This is evident in how each of the celebrities
would take roles that are deemed regular to the majority, which is a far cry from their
Fast Forward
Dramatistic Act ● Dancing ● Working in a construction
Pentad ● Singing site
● Riding a motorcycle ● Playing with children
● Walking dogs ● Playing basketball
● Riding public ● Buying from a sari-sari
transportation store
● Running ● Giving gifts
● Jogging
Celebrification in Politics 41
Celebrity endorser Daniel Padilla discusses the issue of fake news in the media
and how crucial its effects can be during the campaign period. He talks about how
information can be easily manipulated in social media, and how it is important to trust
political candidates with properly established platforms. Towards the end of the
advertisement, Padilla declares that he supports presidential candidate Mar Roxas due
films, his television appearances, and his music career. Padilla would usually embody
the roles of typically charismatic and charming characters in the movies he starred in.
and the Gen Z group. Padilla exhibits the qualities seen in the “Everyman” archetype,
and this is evident in his boy-next-door roles in movies and his influence over the
archetype, as he shed light on the importance of being vigilant when it comes to fake
news.
Table 10. Analysis Sheet for Daniel Padilla Kay Mar Roxas
Agent Celebrity
● Daniel Padilla
Celebrification in Politics 43
Mortification None
to the long lines in public transportation. The inefficiency of public transportation was
emphasized by showing footage of congested trains and crowded lines in the train
station. The narrator insinuates that this was also attributed to the negligence of the
prior administrations. Towards the end of the campaign video, several celebrities hold
up Presidential candidate Duterte’s trademark fist and say the tagline “Go Digong!”,
musicians. Veering away from their respective careers, some of these celebrities have
also been quite vocal about their opinions on serious issues. For instance, Suguerra
had publicly advocated for animal rights, and he also stated his opinions issues such
as child labor and gender identity (Donnelson, n.d). As for Diño, she would usually
highlight the importance of the independent film movement in the Philippines. These
celebrities and their background all lean towards the “Creator” archetype, as they all
Celebrification in Politics 44
aim to realize a particular vision and achieve this through creative means. The variety
of the celebrities also project the “Everyman” archetype as they are all from
Go Digong
Agent Celebrities
● Aiza Seguerra
● Liza Dino
● Arnel Ignacio
● Jay Contreras
Scene ● Congested trains and stations
● Crowded public transportation waiting areas
Purpose ● To point out current pointless path of the country
● To promote Duterte as someone “na may tapang para sa
pagbabago” (who has a fearlessness for change)
Identification ● Uses the everyday problems of ordinary Filipinos to
reach the audience
● Shows celebrities as one with the masses as they line up
to board transportation
Guilt-Redemption Victimage ● The past administrations
● Politicians who do not do enough
● The opposing political party
Mortification None
Celebrification in Politics 45
Kris Aquino talks about how she sees the spirit of her mother, the late
then regards Robredo as a selfless lawyer who channels her abilities to uplift the lives
with the masses. The video ends by showing a shot of Robredo smiling while the
message “Leni Robredo for Vice President” flashes on screen (see Table 12).
The celebrity in this campaign, Kris Aquino, is a television host, actress, and
producer. While she is known for her casual talk shows, she is also commonly
recognized as the daughter of late president Cory Aquino, who rose to power after the
Martial Law era. While Cory did not have a formal background in politics, she gained
popularity after the death of her husband, Senator Benigno Jr. Opposite to the brutal
Robredo, Aquino embodied the “Caregiver” archetype, whose core desire is to love
Abogado si Leni
Dramatistic Pentad Act ● Kris Aquino talks about Leni’s
accomplishments and track record as a lawyer
● Kris Aquino compares Leni to her mother,
Cory Aquino
● Leni Robredo interacts with the masses
Agency ● Testimonial
● Photo montage
Agent Politician
● Leni Robredo
Celebrity
● Kris Aquino
Scene ● A well-lit room
Purpose ● To highlight the politician’s credibility as a
lawyer
● To shows how the politician uplifts the poor
Identification ● The celebrity likens the politician to her late
mother
● The politician is seen together with the masses
Guilt-Redemption Victimage None
Mortification None
celebrity mother, Susan Roces, as they converse about poverty. The video begins as
the pair looks through photo albums and old pictures of their family photos. Roces
talks about the continuous existence of rampant poverty and hunger in the Philippines.
Poe then responds to this by promising that she would implement regulations which
would ensure that the country’s money would benefit citizens instead of corrupt
politicians. In the end, Roces expressed how proud she was of Poe and made her
promise to continue to fight for the rights of the marginalized (see Table 13).
Celebrification in Politics 47
Roces is both a television and movie actor. She was hailed as “The Queen of
Filipino Movies” during the peak of her career in the 1960s and 1970s (Ching, 2019).
Roces often starred as the protagonist and often played the role of the lover or familial
roles such as wives, mothers, and grandmothers. She took the role of a mother in
Maligno as she saved a baby from a cult, a wealthy wife in John en Marsha, a nd Lola
Flora in the ongoing series Ang Probinsyano. Her predominantly matriarchal roles
through the years make it evident that she embodies the “Caregiver” archetype as she
similar fashion as a strong matriarch ready to fight for the well-being of her nation.
However, Poe also embodies the “Hero” archetype as she promises to save the masses
Pangarap
Dramatistic Act ● Grace Poe converses with Susan Roces about her
Pentad goals and dreams for the Philippines
● Susan Roces makes Grace Poe promise to stand in
solidarity with the poor
Agency ● Conversation/Dialogue
Agent Politician
● Grace Poe
Celebrity
● Susan Roces
Scene ● A well-lit living room
The campaign begins with a voice over of celebrity Eddie Garcia who narrates
At the same time, a photo montage is shown and follows the journey of Escudero
from childhood to adulthood. In these photos, he is seen doing ordinary tasks such as
playing, talking with friends, and doing construction work as a young adult. Garcia
appears at the end of the video declaring Escudero as his vice-presidential candidate
The late Eddie Garcia was an actor who had taken up over 600 roles in
Philippine cinema and television shows in his lifetime. With his seven decades of
experience in the acting industry, he is often regarded as “The greatest Filipino actor
of all time” (Valle, 2020). While Garcia has taken on a diverse set of roles, he was
widely known for portraying villainous characters and antagonists due to his
outwardly appearance and strong features. However, despite his fame and success,
Garcia was also known for living a simple lifestyle outside of his celebrity career.
Outside his work, he kept his personal life private and stayed out of showbiz
blend in with the people and keep a down-to-earth demeanor. He shares the same
Chiz for VP
Dramatistic Act ● Eddie Garcia narrates Chiz Escudero’s
Pentad achievements and endorses him as
vice-president
● Eddie Garcia winked and showed a hand
gesture (finger guns) at the end
Agency ● Testimony
● Photo montage
Agent Celebrity
● Eddie Garcia
Scene ● Studio
Purpose ● To highlight Escudero’s achievements
● To promote Escudero as a person for the
masses
Identification ● Francis Escudero’s ordinary background makes
him appear relatable to the masses.
○ “batang karaniwan” (regular kid)
○ “nag-aral sa pampublikong paaralan”
(studied in a public school)
● The politician is seen doing blue-collared work
and manual labor.
Guilt-Redemption Victimage N/A
Mortification N/A
presidential candidate Jejomar Binay as the politician’s supporters stand behind him.
He poses the question of how other politicians can possibly help the poor if they have
not experienced poverty themselves. Pacquiao then vouches for Binay’s capabilities
believes that Binay understands the plight of the poor. He mentions that Binay’s
personal experience with poverty makes him the best fit to address this problem. At
Celebrification in Politics 50
the end of the video, Binay walks into the frame to join Pacquiao in the last few
seconds, as Pacquiao said Binay’s slogan, “Only Binay.” (see Table 15).
one of the greatest boxers of all time. He also served two terms as a member of the
House of Representatives from 2010-2016 and has most recently been elected as a
being the only eight-division world champion and for holding several world boxing
titles, he is renowned in the Philippines for his rise from poverty to global success.
Pacquiao’s life story is often repeated in interviews and documentaries about him,
which emphasize his struggles due to poverty and having his family rely on him as
their breadwinner. As the media often focus on his journey from rags to riches,
Pacquiao embodies the “Everyman” archetype, who is known for his simple
upbringing and ability to relate with the common folk. He shares this same archetype
with Binay, who prides himself on his simple upbringing and eventual rise from
poverty.
Celebrification in Politics 51
Only Binay
Dramatistic Act ● Manny Pacquiao says that he identifies himself
Pentad with Binay
● Binay walks into frame in the end and situates
himself beside Pacquiao
● The celebrity and the politician put up a single
finger, making the number one gesture
● The celebrity says the politician’s trademark
slogan “Only Binay”
Agency ● Testimonial
Agent Politician
● Jejomar Binay
Celebrity
● Manny Pacquiao
Scene ● Usage of green screen
● In front of a crowd of the politician’s supporters
wearing his merchandise
Purpose ● To highlight that the candidate’s impoverished
background makes him the most suitable to
uplift the poor
Identification ● Pacquiao and Binay, just like many other
Filipinos, identify themselves as coming from
the impoverished sector
● Pacquiao claims that Binay understands the
plight of the poor
Guilt-Redemption Victimage N/A
Mortification N/A
Celebrity Quest performs his song Pilipinas, with candidate Chiz Escudero
gradually being introduced. Various scenarios illustrating the dismal situation of the
country accompanies Quest’s lyrics. These scenes include ordinary Filipinos like
blue-collared workers, children, students, and the rest of the masses. These also
feature scenes of common Filipino struggles such as poverty, low wages, and lack of
healthcare. The people begin to rip apart pieces of paper that had these issues printed
Escudero rips two papers as well, with the words “korupsyon” (corruption), and
Celebrification in Politics 52
“traffic”. In the end, Escudero walks forward with a diverse crowd of people (see
Table 16).
Quest (real name: Jose Villanueva III), was originally a former music director
of Victory Christian Fellowship church, who decided to pursue a career in OPM R&B
and rap (Bonifacio, 2010). He is known for his award winning single “Back to Love”
(2010), which revolves around the ails of the country, and his album “Life of a
Champion” (2016). He wrote “Sige Lang” as the theme song of the Gilas Pilipinas
basketball team. Several of Quest’s work revolves around themes of patriotism, and
he has also been vocal about his political views—in fact, this is the second time Quest
collaborates with Escudero for his campaign, the first one being Escudero’s 2013
senatorial campaign which featured Quest’s song “Ang Pagbabago” (Gutierrez et. al.,
2013). Quest embodies the “Creator” archetype, whose goal is to have his vision
candidacy through song. At the same time the both of them project the “Hero”
archetype as both attempt to defeat evils in this country using their personal methods.
Celebrification in Politics 53
Pilipinas
Dramatistic Act ● Quest singing
Pentad ● Escudero is walking with the masses.
● Escudero holds a paper that says “corruption”
● Escudero tears the paper saying “corruption”
Agency Music Video
Agent Celebrity
● Quest
Politician
● Chiz Escudero
Scene ● Factory ● Hospital
● Dark street ● Wet market
● Mountain range ● Slums
● Cityscape ● Grey, dim studio
Purpose ● To emphasize the importance of unity among
Filipinos
● To show that the politician is one with the
masses
● To show how Filipinos share the same desire
for change in the country
Identification ● The politician does the same actions as the
masses in his video
● The politician shares the masses’ desire for
change
Guilt-Redemption Victimage ● Past administration
● Corrupt politicians
Mortification N/A
The video opens with the candidate Chiz Escudero claiming that it is unlike
him to step on other people to lift up his image, nor is it like him to praise his own
deeds. The video presents a montage showing the different positions he has taken in
his political career, as well his contributions to the country. Among these are various
infrastructure projects, as well as laws that he enacted. The latter part shows footage
of a live campaign rally wherein celebrity Heart Evangelista speaks about how she
witnesses how passionate Escudero is about his job everyday. The video also
Celebrification in Politics 54
constantly shows the interactions between Escudero and his supporters. In the end, the
tagline “Say Chiz Escudero for Vice President” was flashed on screen (see Table 17).
Heart Evangelista (Love Marie Escudero) hails from a wealthy Chinese family
who initially rose to fame as an actress. Evangelista married Escudero in 2015, and
(Arcadio, 2020). She is currently a singer, influencer, visual artist, and the incumbent
First Lady of Sorsogon. Evangelista is also part of various charities and advocacies as
the Heart Can foundation which aims to help children with respiratory diseases.
Evangelista has also responded to and catered to those who approach her on social
media asking for donations and monetary help. Despite this, Evangelista frequently
suffers backlash from those who criticize her lavish lifestyle as she is married to a
and friends of candidate Alan Peter Cayetano, and they share their own experiences
with him. Mon Fernandez recalls how became friends with Cayetano, while JC Intal
and Bianca Gonzales-Intal talk about being constant recipients of Cayetano’s jokes.
Similarly, LA Tenorio discusses the lighter side of Cayetano and his fondness for
basketball. The celebrities talk about his prayerfulness and his passion for service,
which was supported by other non-celebrity endorsers in the campaign video. Shaina
Magdayao also states that he always prioritizes the people. In the end, all of the
Celebrification in Politics 56
endorsers say the tagline “Si (Kuya) Alan Peter Cayetano ang vice-president ko”
The celebrities featured are from different walks of life, with the Intals
representing family, Fernandez and Tenorio representing the sports field, Magdayao
representing the showbiz industry, among others. All of them were shown to have
enticing audiences to see his likeability and capacity to understand what different
people need. The “Everyman'' archetype explains this personality, with the character
attempts to belong to the crowd and manifest down-to-earth attributes (Booker, 2014).
Robin Padilla claims that he is absolutely honest with the viewers in saying
that he was not paid for appearing in the advertisement. He also states his belief that it
is not morally right to be paid in making decisions when it comes to the sake of the
country. Padilla emphasizes that change is something that cannot be bought, and like
presidential candidate Duterte, he too refuses to be bought or paid for his political
service. He then calls on fellow celebrities to be more vocal and to show their support
for the country without fear as well. The video ends with the campaign slogan
“Disiplina Duterte” (Duterte Discipline) flashed beside Robin (see Table 19).
Padilla himself mentions that they share the same stance regarding their values and
what they believe that the country truly needs. Again Padilla was painted in an
campaign. Padilla and Duterte both manifest the “Ruler” archetype, this time in the
need to exercise power as they call on artists to side with them and show support.
Celebrification in Politics 58
Disiplina Panawagan
Dramatistic Act ● Robin Padilla claimed that he was not paid for the
Pentad campaign
● Robin Padilla called on his fellow celebrities to
show their support for the country
● Robin Padilla used “tol” as a term of endearment to
address the target audience
Agency Call to Action
Agent Actor
● Robin Padilla
Scene A dark room
Purpose To compel fellow artists to use their platform to freely show
their support for political candidates.
Identification ● Robin Padilla addresses the target audience as a
term of endearment
○ “Mga tol” (My bros)
Guilt-Redemptio Victimage None
n Mortification None
Celebrification in Politics 59
The celebrity takes on the role of the storyteller as they embellish stories about
Celebrities serve as the storytellers who lay down the foundation and narrate
the world that the politicians inhabit. They are vital in articulating the qualities of
their respective politicians through their storytelling. In these videos, they allow
their friend or even liken them to family members. The celebrities serve as an opening
act, and afterwards are tasked to build up the audience anticipation for when the
politicians finally take center stage. In Figure 4, the singer Quest is seen alone in the
video as he begins singing. It is then seen in Figure 5 that Escudero appears only after
Quest sings the line “liwanag sa dilim” (light in the darkness) as he uses this as a
familiarize the politician with the audiences. Some utilized more direct ways such as
discussing the politician’s achievements for the audience to get to know the politician
in a short amount of time. However, some opted to use more creative means such as
songs, gestures, or slogans. The songs used in the video samples usually had no
mention of the politician’s name, with the exception of the second rendition of
politician Escudero’s campaign jingle that included the line “Kay Chiz ka na, sumama
singer-celebrity Quest used his song lyrics with the intention of conveying a linear
plot of a dark and dreary Philippines (see Figure 6) transforming into a country of
hope and vitality after the appearance of the politician (see Figure 7).
slogan or trademark hand gesture, which is sometimes repeated throughout the video
performing an act over and over again to process information and store these as
long-term memories (Sandeks, 1961). The campaign Go Digong! involves several
celebrities such as Aiza Segarra doing Duterte’s trademark fist at the end of the video
as seen in Figure 8. Only Binay also utilizes trademark gestures as Pacquiao and
Binay are seen pointing a single finger which indicates that voters should only
After the celebrities set up these ideal foundations, the politicians then take on
the role of actors as they perform and dramatize a variety of scenarios. In these
campaigns, celebrities are not seen doing grand elaborate tasks. Instead, they take up
Celebrification in Politics 62
the role of the ordinary Filipino citizen as they do a variety of mundane activities.
tasks such as doing blue-collar work, doing daily activities, and personally interacting
with the masses in order to depict them as simple and down-to-earth. In Roxas and
stood accompanied by construction workers (see Figure 10). It was observed that he
was dressed in a construction worker uniform as he was seen donning a hard hat and
vest. However, with the celebrity’s fresh appearance, clean yellow shirt, and with no
actual hard labor shown, the uniform proved to be a mere costume for the intended
act. Roxas and Robredo were also shown purchasing from sari-sari s tores and
interacting with the owners (see Figure 11). Stores like these are frequented by middle
to lower class Filipinos, as the repackaged items and small portions of essential goods
sold there fit within the budget of these citizens. The politicians were dressed in their
signature yellow campaign attires, highlighting the real intention behind the act of
visiting the store—to promote their candidacy. These clothes function as costumes,
Politicians were also shown interacting with the crowds that surrounded them
in the areas they visited. During these sequences, they were seen in close proximity to
these people as they smiled, waved, and took photos with them. In actuality, most of
these politicians are not often seen doing everyday things in public outside these
campaigns. Instead, they use private transportation services, refrain from being seen
in public spaces, and are often accompanied by personal bodyguards. This shows that
there is a certain degree of performativity in such actions, in a sense that being seen
government crises printed on them such as corruption, persistent traffic, and low
wages as seen in Figure 12. This act could be likened to a restaging of the
Katipuneros’ ripping of the cedula, which signified the beginning of the revolution
against the Spanish rule (National Historical Commission of the Philippines, 2012).
The act of tearing these papers may symbolize how Escudero would fight against
concrete solutions were mentioned in the video to directly address the problem.
Instead, it becomes evident that the intent behind these acts was to put on a
compelling performance.
Celebrification in Politics 64
repeated for the purpose of being memorable. Celebrities and politicians manage to
make a lasting impression by saying the politician’s slogan or showing their iconic
hand gesture at the end. This is the last image that the viewer sees and is used to
punctuate the image that they have been building up throughout the whole
advertisement. These are kept brief and concise, and so it becomes easier for the
Throughout the campaign, the narratives were all carefully woven by the
celebrities to appeal to audiences and gain their vote. The act is a locus for several
motives; in the context of these campaign videos, all the decisions come together to
dominant, as they have the power to bridge generations and entice audiences.
among all voting generations and the two genders, specific demographics could be
observed as the most prominent based on the data. These demographics are: male,
Celebrification in Politics 65
The male demographic dominated the data as males were present in all
possible classifications across professions and generations. Taking this into account, it
can be inferred that males are more sought after for political campaigns. Men may
appear more versatile as they are well-represented in the data because they take up a
majority of the listed occupations. In that aspect, there was an evident lack of
In the line-heavy campaign videos, male celebrities would usually address the
audience directly. In Daniel Padilla Para Kay Mar Roxas, the campaign was framed
as a message from Daniel Padilla to the audience about the prevalent issue of fake
news. As seen in Figure 13, the celebrity advocated for the politician while looking
(Prieler & Centeno, 2013). It is noticeable how these male politicians primarily used
male celebrities in their campaigns, which can be attributed to relatability and greater
The decision to use male celebrities for hard-selling campaigns implies that
males are the most optimal when it comes to straightforwardly delivering the message
of the campaign. A majority of the voiceovers in the political campaigns were also
revealed that males had more voiceovers compared to female celebrities, which can
be linked to the fact that males are still deemed as superior and more authoritative
compared to females in modern Philippine society (Prieler & Centeno, 2013). The
male celebrities were also shown speaking with an air of conviction, showing
confidence that their voices mattered and would be listened to. The decision to grant
male celebrities a direct line to the audience implies that their opinions are given more
In contrast, female celebrities with speaking lines did not address the presence
of the audience. Grace Poe’s Pangarap was a conversation between Poe and her
celebrity mother, Susan Roces, which can be seen in Figure 15. Poe had done most of
the talking regarding her advocacy, while Roces contributed with simple, sentimental
one-liners. Another example would be Escudero’s Gawa Hindi Ngawa which featured
his wife, celebrity Heart Evangelista, who gave a testimonial about witnessing
Escudero and the passion reflected in his hard work (see Figure 16.). Once again, she
does not address the viewers as she focuses on praising the work of Escudero. The
political campaigns showed that female celebrities were usually indirect in their
Celebrification in Politics 67
Figure 1 5. Grace Poe and her mother Susan Roces in Pangarap [00:03]
politician. For instance, despite Roces’ major appearance in Poe’s campaign, her main
Celebrification in Politics 68
purpose was to compel Poe to state her advocacy through the guise of a personal
anecdotes about the political candidate. In Cayetano’s campaign, Ang Vice President
Ko!, celebrity Bianca Gonzales shared her own experiences with the politician. Most
mentioning how easygoing Cayetano was because of his love for punchlines. In
Escudero’s Gawa Hindi Ngawa, Evangelista’s testimonial of the candidate was more
sentimental in nature. Evangelista claimed, “If you just see what I see every day, he
wakes up at 4:30 in the morning to make sure he gets the job done.” Rather than his
political experience and platform, she used personal experience as a basis for
The noticeable lack of female celebrities with dialogue and voiceover reveals
that they were not chosen primarily for their voice. The female celebrities who strayed
away from the usage of dialogue were just briefly shown in the campaign videos. An
political campaign video, Fast Forward. She shared the screen with her partner,
Daniel Padilla, and it was evident that they were shown as a package due to their
popular branding as the loveteam KathNiel ( see Figure 18). In another Mar Roxas
campaign video, only Daniel Padilla was present, in which he was given the
opportunity to call upon people to vote wisely (see Figure 13). That being said, this
implies that Bernardo was mainly used in the former campaign due to her physical
appeal.
Celebrification in Politics 69
Poe’s Pangarap, the role of celebrity Susan Roces as a mother was frequently
referenced. During their conversation, Roces earnestly tells Poe that she was brought
a direct reference to their mother and daughter relationship. Poe’s usage of “ma”
(mom) and Roces’ usage of “anak” (child) further emphasized the domesticity in the
utilized when Kris Aquino likened Robredo to her own mother. Although Robredo’s
profession as a lawyer was mentioned, the campaign’s focus was on her motherly
qualities and how she would be the most suitable to empower the marginalized.
Therefore, it can be said that the combination of female celebrities and female
politicians often result in campaigns that are familial in nature with the intention of
targeting the emotions of the audience, even if they are addressed indirectly.
approach in the political campaign videos, and this implies the usage of a soft-sell
method (Okazaki et al., 2010). It can be inferred that they were chosen for soft-selling
campaigns due to the common familial stereotype usually embodied by women, and
how this gives them the opportunity to play with the more emotional aspect of the
campaign.
Celebrification in Politics 70
them and the audience in order to establish a mutual connection. The act of directly
addressing the viewers and voicing out their opinions or advocacies are characteristics
of a hard-sell advertising approach (Okazaki et al., 2010). This tactic is often done in
an assertive and direct manner. The male celebrities were utilized for these
hard-selling campaigns due to the notion that they have a more commanding presence
and can more effectively plant the message of the political candidates in the
that revolve around countrywide concerns implies that they are deemed more credible
when it comes to those matters. This is the prime reason why male celebrities were
The data also revealed the actor profession to be the most prevalent compared
to the other career choices. While celebrities generally have an extensive amount of
media exposure, telenovelas have played a major role in boosting the popularity of
actors. Television is one of the most consumed forms of media in the Philippines.
Therefore, it is not surprising to see that the majority of the most successful celebrities
lower class, which constitutes a large percentage of the eligible voting population
(Brillon, 2015). Therefore, it is possible that the political campaign teams take this
into account and choose well-known actors who have starred in telenovelas and films.
Additionally, the decision to use popular actors may be attributed to the fact
that these people are considered professional performers. These actors have been
trained to portray a variety of roles, and it would be easy for them to adjust to any
scenario. Actors also have the ability to make scenes and dialogues seem more
Celebrification in Politics 71
organic due to their acting skills. The usage of actors to take on particular roles gives
political campaigns. The celebrities were within the ages 30 to 44 at the time these
campaigns were created. On the other hand, the political candidates belong to the
older generations, namely the Baby Boomers (ages 45-64) and the Silent Generation
(ages 65-88).
linked to the fact that Gen X comprised a vast majority of the eligible voting
population in the 2016 elections (Paris, 2019). Gen X-ers have been involved in more
elections than the Millennials, which implies that Gen X-ers have more experience in
matters concerning politics. This may contribute to the political campaign team’s
Seeing that they are considered the middle ground between the older and
some tension as the older generation has the tendency to treat the youth with
politics (Fabonan, 2019). To counter that, the youth becomes more inclined to view
the opinions and values of the older generation as outdated (Fabonan, 2019). In effect,
celebrities representing this middle ground can alleviate the potential skepticism that
situations (Williams et al., 2010). Therefore, they consider hard work to be a necessity
in their career and other aspects of life. This particular mindset can be seen in the
Celebrification in Politics 72
political campaign videos that highlight how hard-working the political candidates
are. In the campaign video Only Binay, celebrity Manny Pacquiao identified himself
with Binay and insinuated that their perseverance and hard work brought them out of
poverty. The constant use of hard work reflects the values and beliefs of the Gen
the Philippines. Upon seeing both Gen X representation and the visual exhibition of
their values, the Gen X viewers may be compelled to agree with the advocacies being
As seen from all the celebrity endorsed political campaigns, these specific
celebrities served as the storyteller for the candidates. The male celebrities emerged as
the most dominant voice when relaying the politician’s advocacy to the audience, and
“authority” in society. Actors were the most prominent profession due to their
popularity in television and their capability to give the narrative more authenticity.
through the reiteration of their shared values and through acting as the visual
The age and political experience of the candidates equips them with the
these narratives. All of the candidates were former politicians before their candidacy
in 2016. They are also part of the two oldest living generations, namely the Silent
Generation and the Baby Boomers. The most apparent reason as to why the
Celebrification in Politics 73
candidates belong to either the Baby Boomer or the Silent Generation age groups is
due to the existing prerequisite in the Philippine Constitution. Article VII, Section 1
ust be forty
states that anyone who wishes to run for president or vice-president m
years of age on the day of the election, which effectively limits who is eligible to run.
Besides age, there are only four other qualifications for aspiring presidential and
to read and write, and to have resided in the Philippines ten years before the election
is held. This shows that the most restrictive among these qualifications would be the
rigid forty years of age rule and would explain the demographic turnout.
All the candidates were witnesses to the developments in television and media
over the decades. Following the end of military control over media during the Martial
Law era, freedom and the expansion of television media were restored in the
succeeding years, leading to its current popularity and accessibility. From 2010 to
present, the shift to digital television has been well underway (Tuazon, n.d.). These
politicians developed their political careers alongside the progression of these major
eras in television broadcasting. In fact, almost all of these candidates had high
positions in politics even before this digital shift; all except Poe, who first assumed
and developed this avenue. This explains why politicians prioritize their media
The second commonality for all of the candidates would be their prior
politicians who are well-versed with the political landscape in the Philippines. They
are not only familiar with the public service that is expected of politicians, but the
marketing and advertising that goes with it as well. With this experience comes
knowledge; knowing the Filipino voters’ preferences and attitudes can provide
candidates with an advantage. Identifying and employing the ideal celebrity endorsers
that complement their own branding will be extremely beneficial to their popularity
and the reception of the masses. The political dynasties and re-elected politicians who
politics (Perron, 2012). Assessing the political landscape of the Philippines now, it is
popularity. This goes to show that celebrities truly offer leverage and utility, and their
fame and reputation may be the most prominent benefit to a politician. No matter how
elaborate a candidate’s platform is, the road to acquiring a position in the executive
office seems to be more of a popularity race rather than a nationwide selection for
people with concrete plans of development for the country. It can be acknowledged
that beyond these candidates being seasoned politicians, these are the people who
have shaped how the political landscape functions today; as they are in fact some of
The use of emotionally engaging forms of media gives the audience the illusion
media were utilized as a strategy to appeal to the emotions of the viewers. The
the videos were more narrative-driven and creative in nature. This is evident in the
usage of music videos, jingles, skits, and testimonials in the political campaigns.
There was a noticeable number of music videos and jingles in the selection of
campaign videos. This is because the use of visual imagery has the potential to
data (Kim et al., 2017). Moreover, the creative use of music may help with audience
names. Jingles are also considered an effective tool in brand awareness through the
usage of positive reinforcement in lyrics and repetition (Shakil & Siddiqui, 2018).
successful jingle does not rely on positive response, but on traction. Escudero’s
campaign jingle, Pilipinas, featured its own music video with a full-blown production
(see Figure 5). In Gawa Hindi Ngawa, the song was used again as background music
alongside a montage of Escudero interacting with the masses. The repeated use of the
song was done in order to establish both brand awareness and rehearsal recall. Having
Quest sing this song expands the audience reach as well due to his celebrity status and
celebrities would talk about their relationship with the politician. In these videos, the
celebrities did not discuss actual political matters or the candidate’s platforms.
Instead, celebrities would often talk about their own personal experience with the
candidate and their good qualities even though this had no bearing on the candidate’s
Celebrification in Politics 76
competency as a politician. In Cayetano’s Ang Vice President Ko!, the majority of the
testimonies consisted of anecdotes and personal experiences of the celebrities with the
politician (see Figure 19). Furthermore, these celebrities’ reasoning for Cayetano’s
capability as a Vice President were merely based on their personal views rather than
The use of creative means and testimonies allowed the narrative to focus on
the humanity of the candidate, rather than on his facets as a politician. It then becomes
evident that the objective behind these types of campaigns is to give the audience a
glimpse into the personal life of the politician. Emotional appeal has a higher success
advertisement (Kim et al., 2017). These political campaigns focused more on the
campaigns such as Disiplina Duterte, Daniel Padilla Para Kay Mar Roxas, Only
furthers the intentions of the politicians and their campaigns. The audiences are
inclined to be persuaded due to the visual imagery, flowery words, and emphasis on
Celebrification in Politics 77
the human aspect of politicians. Veering away from a more straightforward and
aggressive approach gives the audience the illusion that they are not being
The campaigns give the politicians a platform for world-building to create the
ideal environment for their narrative which strengthens their desired image and
branding.
Burke’s scene refers to the stage—the location, the time, ambiance, and
everything else within it. It is the world-building that is necessary for stories to
unfold. In examining these political campaigns, this can be taken almost literally, as
even the most mundane settings have been well-planned and carefully staged. Even
scenes that can be likened to b-rolls and stock footage can be inserted into videos to
further the narrative despite often being viewed as fillers. This shows that there is
intent behind every scene, and that each scene drives the narrative forward.
night,dimly lit and deserted, or in hectic, unorganized locations, such as the local
trains (see Figure 20). In Disiplina Mayor Duterte, celebrity Robin Padilla walks
alone in a dark street as he delivers his message (see Figure 21). The scene of this
and providing safety, two of the major key points in his platform. Padilla insinuates
that under Duterte’s leadership, streets at night would be peaceful and free from
crime, which can be achieved by instilling discipline within the citizens. Besides this,
the scene pushes forward machismo and a sort of brutality, which matches Duterte’s
action star known for playing roles that require him to defend people on screen.
Celebrification in Politics 78
In contrast, the campaigns of the Liberal Party are bright and colorful (see
Figure 24). Among all the advertisements, Roxas and Robredo’s Fast Forward has
the greatest number of scene changes—all of which were set within the confines of a
progressive, urban area. Besides the background of a cityscape, there is an attempt for
social class inclusivity with the different workplaces and public places featured such
as the sari-sari store, construction site, and the basketball court (see Figure 22). The
color yellow was dominant in the video’s overall aesthetic, pulling from the party’s
branding that has existed since Cory Aquino took over the Marcos administration in
1981 (see Figure 23), which was passed on to all the politicians under the Liberal
party (“A History of the Philippine Political Protest”, n.d.). This color is repeatedly
utilized to sustain the political identity and to assert credibility. This affirms that
Roxas and Robredo hail from the same power and stand for the same things, even
Celebrification in Politics 79
though they are not Aquinos by blood. The city’s urbanity also serves to contrast the
traditionality of the liberal party’s yellow and paints a picture of progressiveness and
change.
Figure 23. 1 986 People Power Revolution ( LIFE photo collection, 1986)
Similar well-lit environments were used for videos that utilized testimonials.
In Cayetano’s Ang Vice President Ko, all of the featured celebrities were filmed in
daylight and in homey locations. Bright environments were also used in scenes that
Celebrification in Politics 80
revolved around the topic of family, such as Poe’s Pangarap, and Robredo’s Abogado
si Leni. In Pangarap, Poe and celebrity Susan Roces are situated in a living room
surrounded by framed photos of family, as they converse as mother and daughter (see
Figure 15). In Abogado si Leni, celebrity Kris Aquino also appears to be in a well-lit
living room as she brings up Robredo’s resemblance to her late mother Cory Aquino
(see Figure 17). These scenes evoke truth, comfort and trust, which complement the
narratives of the testifiers. The motherly themes and the familial comfort are
Opposite such scenes are the darker Duterte campaigns that revolve around the
dire situation of the Philippines. This is also a common setting for campaign videos;
scenes of poverty and suffering accompany narrations regarding the state of the
country, and how the politicians intend to resolve such issues. There is also an attempt
to bring up truth in these darker campaigns. Unlike campaigns that are bright and
optimistic about the future, darker campaigns are more pragmatic as they focus on the
present-day issues.
manner. The scenes were carefully constructed to illustrate the major problems in the
country that Escudero claims he would address, which were all in coordination with
the smaller narratives in the music video. Most of the video was set in a gray, dim
studio. Through the use of artistic projections, the video was also able to show other
settings such as a hospital, a slum area, a factory, a wet market, a cityscape—all the
scenes were darkened to emphasize the hardships of the Filipinos that transpire in
A few campaigns were studio-shot endorsements, such as Chiz for VP which
featured celebrity Eddie Garcia, and Only Binay which featured Manny Pacquiao. In
Celebrification in Politics 81
Chiz for VP, there was not much screen time for Garcia, who was filmed in a studio.
Instead, the use of the photo montage was the most prevalent content. In these photos,
Escudero was shown in settings like the slum areas, public gatherings, and campaign
rallies. Although the settings were just introduced through photos, Escudero was
actually situated in those areas, which gives a degree of genuineness to his character
(see Figure 25). However, Binay’s campaign video had to utilize a green screen to
doctor a crowd of supporters behind him and Pacquiao as seen in Figure 9. The very
need to edit a crowd behind a politician for a campaign video says a lot about the
power of setting. In this situation, people other than the politician and the celebrity
cease to function as agents in the narratives of these videos, and quite literally,
become mere backgrounds to serve the purpose of the campaign. The need to
manufacture certain scenes proves that politicians conform to keep up with the
competition.
and in keeping the video unified. Politicians’ identities remain memorable and
impactful to the audiences with a well-established branding. With darker settings that
are different from the classic-style endorsements, the audience’s association between
Celebrification in Politics 82
truth and setting can change as well. The bold decision to deviate from conventional
settings proved to be an effective move for Duterte as it came off as a shift towards a
new style of governance. This allowed him to stand out from the rest of the candidates
and ultimately won him the presidency, which goes to show that scene plays a pivotal
Burke (1945) argues that persuasion can only take effect when there are
similarities between the speaker and the audiences. In these political campaigns, both
celebrities and politicians try their hand at forging personal relationships with the
family. They continue to develop this by empathizing with their hardships and
validating their class struggles in order to seem like people from and with the masses.
Oom s and colleagues (2019) state that the act of identifying allows the audience to
f
transcend their own self-awareness and connect emotionally with the characters
present in narratives, effectively changing their own perception and attitudes towards
certain ideas. It is through this common ground that politicians and celebrities find
ways to entice audiences to more willingly accept what they have to offer.
Politicians and celebrities used several methods in order to act like ordinary
citizens such as doing mundane tasks, using public transportation, and empathizing
with the struggles of the masses. They declared that they shared the same sentiments
corruption, and lack of government action. In this way, politicians were able to
temporarily step down as officials in the government as they appear to experience the
preside—the government. By showing the masses that they stand with them, the
politicians are able to gain their trust easily. In an attempt to prove this, some
politicians and celebrities would show that they too struggle with the public
transportation and daily traffic congestions. In Go Digong, the celebrities were shown
to be uncomfortable in the crowded train stations because of the heat as seen in Figure
20.
Celebrities eventually take the backseat and allow the spotlight to shine on
politicians. Political campaigns such as Chiz for VP and Abogado si Leni would show
the politicians being showered with praise as they weave their way through crowds as
seen in Figure 25 and Figure 26. Sharing the same space as the public and being in
close proximity are also ways politicians and celebrities have utilized to prove their
have come from impoverished backgrounds. They would emphasize this by narrating
how they grew up in poverty and managed to overcome the hardships of their
situation through their own efforts. Celebrities then would spend a substantial amount
of time introducing the stories of these politicians even though these are not directly
related to their campaign or platforms. These would be emphasized through the use of
Celebrification in Politics 84
photos or old videos of the politician’s childhood as seen in Chiz for VP in Figure 27.
None of the campaigns discussed the policies that the politicians intend to
enact once they are elected. Instead, the campaigns just dwelled on their impoverished
background and focused on glorifying the politician’s struggles. In this way, they also
proved their capabilities as someone who rose up in the ranks without relying on
wealth or political dynasties to get to where they currently are. Celebrities would then
support these with their own stories of experiencing poverty to make the audiences
These celebrities would then declare that their respective politician is best fit
to win because their impoverished background makes them understand what it takes
to eradicate poverty. Their own experiences give them a certain ‘free pass’ to
capitalize on the concept of poverty because they have endured it, whereas politicians
from wealthier backgrounds may be criticized for being ‘out of touch’ or incapable of
understanding what living in poverty truly entails. While the usage of poverty tends to
to the Philippine Statistics Authority (2016), the lower class makes up the biggest
socioeconomic class in the country, with 26.3% of Filipinos living below the poverty
line. By winning these people over through sob stories and emotional appeal, the
Celebrification in Politics 85
politicians could easily gain millions of votes at their disposal. Despite their status of
popularity and power, celebrities and politicians make conscious efforts to avoid
them relatable and familiar to the audiences. As family is the primary societal group
one belongs to, it is almost guaranteed that people will find relatability in this.
Celebrities talk about their respective politicians as if they were close friends or even
family. In Poe’s Pangarap, Poe takes on the role of a diligent daughter who actively
listens to her mother’s plea of changing the country for the better. Similarly, Kris
Aquino draws comparisons between Robredo and her late mother, former president
mother who will take care of the nation. Additionally, Robredo and Cory Aquino
share similar storylines of their husbands having tragic deaths. The archetypes of “the
mother” and “the widow” have been used before, and these archetypes led Cory
Aquino to presidential victory despite not having political experience (Briscoe, 1986).
In the same way, this campaign channels a similar narrative of the late Aquino, as
Robredo is portrayed by the same archetypes. Politicians and celebrities have been
Some celebrities would also directly include the audiences in their narratives
by establishing a connection through the screen to bridge the gap between the
politicians and the viewers. In two different political campaigns, the respective
celebrity endorsers used “tol” (bro) to address the audience. The celebrity endorsers
who used this term of endearment were Robin Padilla for Disiplina Duterte and
Disiplina Panawagan, and Daniel Padilla for Daniel Padilla Para Kay Mar Roxas.
Celebrification in Politics 86
The term “tol” is a casual way to address a person with whom one is on equal footing
with.
By making viewers believe that they are on the same level with these
feeling like devices to further the politician’s agenda. Relatability shown through the
campaigns bring the audiences closer to the politicians and celebrities as they are able
Villainizing the past administration and the opposing parties glorifies the
A trend among the political campaigns was the usage of a common enemy,
specifically the past administrations and the oppositional parties. The act of
condemning these groups is another political strategy used to influence the audience
to favor the politician. This method unites the audience through emphasizing the
for the various problems in the Philippines. In the video Disiplina Duterte, Robin
Padilla goes over different issues in the country such as traffic congestion and
inefficient public transportation. Padilla implies that these persistent problems can be
rooted back to the incompetence of the previous government officials and their poor
president who does not hide, and instead leads. A government that is not corrupt, and
citizens who do not live in fear). These lines directly chastised the past president and
mentioned. This was evident in Poe’s line, “Dapat ang yaman ng bayan para sa lahat,
at hindi para sa bulsa ng iilan” (The riches of the nation are for all, and not just the
pockets of a select few). Towards the end of the video, Susan Roces stresses the line
“Ipaglaban mo sila” (Fight for them). This further implies the existence of a specific
enemy, which is assumed to be the corrupt politicians that remain in the government.
As seen from this, the celebrity takes the role of the politician’s enabler. Similar to a
messenger, the celebrity would relay the villainization of the past administration to
the audience.
The very mention of these ‘enemies’ shows that the strategy of political
campaigns is to zero in on certain groups and overemphasize their failures in order for
the candidate to appear as the supposed savior of the nation. The politicians do this to
compensate for their own shortcomings. In doing so, they appear as the lesser evil in
the political landscape. Therefore, the past administration and the opposition are used
as plot devices to drive the candidate’s story forward. With the combined hostility of
the masses towards a specific group, politicians are able to cultivate their own image
themselves as part of the nation’s problem or dealt with the aftermath of their
and prepared to assume the role of savior once they have been elected. None of them
used guilt as a means of appealing to the emotions of the audience. Subsequently, this
showed that they are incapable of being held accountable. Showing remorse for their
Celebrification in Politics 88
shortcomings has the potential to reinforce their integrity as public servants. The act
guilt-purging implies that politicians would only put their best foot forward in an
who fulfill their duties to the nation. In Disiplina Panawagan, celebrity Robin Padilla
proudly mentions how he was not paid for his appearance in the advertisement as he
was doing it solely for the sake of the country. He then called on his fellow artists to
use their influence to support the politicians that they believed in because this was
their duty. Through this, it is seen that Padilla firmly believed he was on high moral
ground for using his platform for fulfilling his duties both as a celebrity and a
responsible citizen.
Politicians are portrayed as self-made heroes who will save the masses from the
successes during their term, as if they are an all-powerful one-man team. These
politicians usually have teams working under them who play a part in bringing their
assistance makes the politician seem more capable than they really are. In this way,
the politicians are depicted as self-made heroes who seem like they can resolve
believe that these candidates are best suited for the job. Roxas and Robredo were
described as having clean track records in Daniel Padilla Para Kay Mar Roxas and
Abogado si Leni. Having a clean track record is not a feat in itself because it is
Celebrification in Politics 89
supposedly the bare minimum for a public servant. However, because of past
further their self-made narrative. In Gawa Hindi Ngawa, Escudero’s past positions as
District Representative, House Minority Floor Leader, and Senator were enumerated.
The campaign followed his journey of rising up the ranks and making a name for
himself in politics. Similarly, the campaign Only Binay emphasized the politician and
order to appear self-made. Pacquiao says, “Kaya sigurado ako, alam niya kung paano
iaangat sa ginhawa ang mga naghihirap” (That’s why I’m sure, he [Binay] knows how
These promises of solving the country’s problems once they are elected makes
these politicians appear like a hero to the people. Viewing it in this light, their purpose
then is not to empower the masses, but instead to ‘save’ them. Instead of being
to eradicate the ‘evils' in the country. This implies the existence of a messianic
complex. This results in people being persuaded to believe that these ‘heroes’ are
General Discussion
the duties of certain characters and utilizing other narrative elements as tools to
Celebrification in Politics 90
achieve their ends. It is likely that these archetypes were selected given that these
have been used as campaign strategies in the past. All campaigns used character and
story archetypes that people are fairly familiar with, so it becomes easier for
audiences to associate the politician, celebrity, and narrative with these tropes.
analyze the brand and image of political candidates. It was found that these archetypes
were crucial in sustaining a candidate’s political image. Similar to the previous study,
the archetypes in this research were chosen from the Jungian archetypes. The
researchers noted four recurring archetypes that emerged from the data for both the
celebrity and the politician. These archetypes include the “Hero”, “Caregiver”,
“Everyman”, and the “Ruler”. For the politician, the celebrity also served as their
partner whose power and influence was beneficial to the campaign. The archetypes
and the celebrity-politician partnership served to strengthen the narrative to make the
The main objective of the “Hero” is to save the oppressed from an existing
force of evil. In this archetype, the politician embodies the hero as they promise to
defeat the villainized past administrations in order to uplift the masses. This was
evident in Pilipinas, wherein Escudero figuratively defeats the ‘evil’ by ripping apart
pieces of paper that held the sins of the past administration. This was also seen in
Pangarap, wherein Poe implies the existence of a specific ‘enemy’ to blame for the
prevalent issues in the country, specifically the corrupt politicians from the previous
administrations.
The “Caregiver” is responsible for the growth and well-being of her children.
In this archetype, the female candidates have familial themes tied to their campaign.
This was evident in Abogado si Leni, wherein emphasis on Robredo’s qualities as a
Celebrification in Politics 91
mother made her a suitable candidate to nurture and cultivate the nation. Evangelista
also exhibited qualities of this archetype in the video Gawa Hindi Ngawa through
using a personal and familial anecdote to convince audiences that Escudero is best fit
As for the “Everyman”, like many others, he struggles with poverty in the
earlier stages of his life but overcomes his situation through hard work. In this
archetype, politicians with impoverished backgrounds were deemed the most worthy
to lead the marginalized out of poverty because they were able to conquer it. In Only
Binay, the celebrity vouched for Binay because he understood the plight of the poor.
The Everyman also desires to connect with others through appearing relatable. This
was seen in Fast Forward wherein Roxas and Robredo interacted with a variety of
afraid to get his hands dirty. This archetype is manifested in the sheer willpower of
the politician, which has the potential to be borderline oppressive in order to achieve
his desired outcome. This is seen in Disiplina Duterte and Disiplina Panawagan
wherein the idea of discipline was heavily enforced as a means to assert dominance
Celebrities have taken up several roles within the campaigns as they acted as
partners of the politicians, the celebrities took on a role of equal importance with the
politician. They served as the light in the campaigns where they used their popularity
and perceived image to give emphasis to the politician in order to move their
advocacies forward. They also served as their counterpart in building up the hero’s
Celebrification in Politics 92
achievements and supporting their advocacies. These are all done to ensure that these
Furthermore, in some cases, the celebrity and politician shared the same
archetype which further builds up the strength of their image and reinforces their ideal
Padilla served as a compatible partner for Duterte due to their shared archetype, the
“Ruler”. Both have similar values and outlooks on ideal governance; that being ruling
with an iron fist and enforcing strict discipline. Their compatibility is also attributed
to their association with the image of machismo. In the same way, Kris Aquino was
an ideal partner for Leni Robredo in Abogado si Leni as they embodied the
from that, the comparisons drawn between Robredo and former president Cory
Aquino further enforced the “Caregiver” archetype as the late president was known
for being a kind and motherly leader who prioritized the wellbeing of the nation.
Using celebrities that matched the archetypes of the politicians can be deemed a
strategic move to further reinforce the brand of the politician, and consequently, the
campaign identity.
themselves with the protagonist, or see characteristics in them that they would want to
emulate for themselves as well (Ooms et al., 2019). Identification is a less explicit
makes politicians appear less manipulative. Thus, the usage of the right character
For the narratives as a whole, certain story archetypes also emerged. The
Celebrification in Politics 93
researchers opted to use Christopher Booker’s Seven Basic Plots as a guide for
analyzing the narratives of the political campaigns. Booker (2014) claimed that these
seven narrative plots are based on the common story patterns that may be discerned
across all forms of literature. Therefore, the researchers found it ideal to use these
basic plots and adapt it to fit the context of the political campaigns. The specific story
archetypes are as follows: ‘Phoenix from the Ashes’, ‘The Superhero Story’, and ‘The
The Phoenix from the Ashes was derived from the “Rebirth” story archetype,
which mainly involves renewal and transformation. A strong leader is forged from
trials of hardship as they emerge victorious from their previous oppression. The initial
introduction of the ‘phoenix’ would often be framed to elicit sympathy from the
audience because of the suffering they had to endure. This is seen when the political
campaigns dwell on the impoverished background of the politician and their grueling
journey. At the end of the difficult journey, the rebirth of the politician is shown
through their political achievement and comfortable lifestyle. The celebrities pose as
hich involves the forces of good and evil as the hero is thrown into
Monster”, w
challenging circumstances as they triumph in the face of adversity. The tale evokes a
sense of heroism as the citizens applaud the heroes for defeating the villains. In
political campaigns, the politician as the hero takes on the responsibility of saving the
masses and watching over the country in order to ensure its safety. Similar to a hero,
the politician possesses special abilities which give them the leverage to exercise their
power to its fullest potential. The celebrity serves as the sidekick who never leaves the
Lastly, ‘The Simple Man’s Tale’ was derived from the story archetype “Rags
to Riches” e vokes inspiration among ordinary citizens due to the protagonist’s rise
from poverty. It also serves to highlight the mundanity and the daily struggles in the
developed in sharing the same struggles. In the political campaigns, the candidate is a
‘Simple Man’ with the desire to help and uplift his fellow people as he sees himself as
one of them. The celebrity serves as an equal to the politician who fosters the same
while employing the use of narratives, people are more likely to believe them (Krause
& Rucker, 2019). From the research of Hamby and colleagues (2017), the integration
of attention to detail, imagery, and the events in the story themselves set narratives
apart from other modes of persuasion; narratives appeal not only to the logos but also
to the pathos. The narrative archetypes of the ‘Phoenix from the Ashes’, the
‘Superhero Story’ and the ’Simple Man’s Tale’ are all narratives of hardships to
victory and of happy endings. It is expected for people to have experienced, or to wish
The more people are divided in ideas, the more they continue to find reasons
reasons to integrate themselves into these stories and to believe in the campaign. This
is the reason behind why these story and narrative archetypes were present in all of
the campaigns, which were all strongly aided by the power of the celebrity. While it is
possible for narratives to exist without the star, and for campaign videos without
Summary
With the current political landscape and the celebrity culture in the
celebrities, and the narratives in their campaign videos. The research aims to identify
emerging narrative patterns and archetypes to analyze the roles celebrities play in
driving the narrative forward, and to reveal the underlying agenda of politicians in
these videos. The research focuses on the candidates of the 2016 presidential and
vice-presidential elections, and how celebrities were used in the video campaigns to
the data, Burke’s Dramatism Theory, Jungian Archetypes, Booker’s Seven Basic
for the politicians as they orchestrated stories that forged relatability between the
agents and the audience. In their makeshift stage, emotional appeal was used to
capitalize on the vulnerability of the audience to gain their vote. In the narratives, the
politicians are portrayed as self-made heroes who will save the masses from the
This brought about the emergence of certain character and story archetypes,
which varied among the different politicians and celebrities, depending on their
desired image. These archetypes and narrative tools are then utilized to further their
political agenda. Thus, the politician and celebrity prove to be equals in these
Celebrification in Politics 97
narratives, as the celebrity sheds light on the politician and amplifies their power and
influence.
Conclusion
stage with the people as its actors. Life is dramatically realized, and every action done
is performative in nature. In this research, it was seen that the performed acts of the
politicians and celebrities were dramatized to further drive their narratives forward.
These acts were done with the intention of performing certain archetypal roles that
were deemed suitable for the narrative of the politician. These archetypes were the
“Hero”, “Caregiver”, “Everyman”, and the “Ruler”. The synergy between the
archetypes of the celebrity and the politician proved to be crucial in building the
political brand and identity of the politician. Despite the varying archetypes across all
the campaigns, a specific formula remained the same: the politician consistently takes
on the role of the protagonist, while the celebrity serves as their equal who shares the
same values. Across all campaigns, the politician played the role of the hero who
Story archetypes have also emerged upon dissecting the campaign videos,
namely ‘The Phoenix from the Ashes’, ‘The Superhero Story’, and ‘The Simple
Man’s Tale’. These archetypes point towards the existence of a formula when it
comes to creating the structure of these political campaigns. Given their established
target audience, these politicians knew the perfect archetypes to employ and the most
Therefore, all the elements were deliberately used to aid the politicians in
appear as mere spectacles, the elements within the campaigns have a specific agenda
Celebrification in Politics 98
behind them. This implies that the elements are not to be taken and interpreted
individually, but they are to be understood as a collective effort working to bring the
show to life. These campaigns transcend the barrier of politics as they utilized the
impact of performance and the power of celebrities, exploiting the Filipino audience’s
Implications
With the sampling method that was utilized, the sample found was heavily
reliant on what was accessible to the public and was limited to what the researchers
were able to come across. Options turned out to be more limited than expected, as the
the researchers opted to use a typological analysis, they focused on the preexisting
concepts that were provided by the theory. The research findings paralleled the main
focus of the theory, which states that the world is a stage and the people are actors
taking on a variety of roles. The political campaigns reflect the roles that are prevalent
in the Philippine society. These would capitalize on the values that the Filipinos deem
politicians capitalize on the exposure of celebrities. This was evident in the results of
the 2016 presidential and vice-presidential elections, with the winners being Rodrigo
Duterte for president and Leni Robredo for vice-president (Rappler, 2016). Looking
back on their respective campaigns, both had very distinct and consistent brandings,
strengthened by their effective use of archetypes that were shared by both the
politicians and their celebrity endorsers. On the other hand, the candidates whose
political brand and use of archetypes were inconsistent failed to secure positions. This
Celebrification in Politics 99
shows that voters may tend to gravitate towards candidates with a consistent and
impactful image.
its current state, with its male-dominated systems, generational gap issues, and the
of how the motivations behind certain acts are based on social origins. Going beyond
what is implicit in the campaign videos, the themes that were determined are echoes
of the politicians’ characteristics, past occupations, talents, beliefs and attitudes. The
experiences that these politicians and celebrities have gone through now constitute
their identities. In a way, these agents have been shaped by society, and are presently
shaping society themselves because of the power and influence they now hold. This
allows for the archetypes they represent to continue to prevail in the narratives
politicians have promised change, and yet cycles and systems repeat. Agents are
influenced by scenes, and vice versa. Agents influence other agents and purposes are
the outcomes of collective desires. In the context of political narratives, politicians are
cycle allows for self-development, and even cultural shifts on a grander scale.
mistakes upon. Burke believed that ridding oneself of guilt is the basic plot for human
drama. The politicians then are faced with two choices; the first one being the
intrinsic option to purge one’s guilt with self-blame. However, taking societal systems
into consideration, it will be not an easy task for public figures like politicians and
Celebrification in Politics 100
forgiveness. Since it is much easier on one’s pride to blame someone else, they often
choose this as their second option. The absence of mortification in this research shows
defiance of this natural guilt-redemption cycle. The absence of this cycle perpetuates
Recommendations
different media of political advertisements that may be in the form of traditional and
interviews, posters and tarpaulins, or social media posts. The researchers also
other positions such as positions in the legislative branch, or local government unit
positions.
Other than this, the researchers also recommend researching on how political
celebrities' roles in these. Since the researchers focused on the interactions between
the politicians and celebrities, the scope did not include the audience aspect. In
conjunction with this, future researchers may further explore the audience’s attitudes
researchers may continue studying the possible developments in the use of celebrity
Further research on this topic through the use of different methods of data
Philippine society and how crucial their star power is in political campaigns, these
campaigns have always been created with the intention of promoting their respective
the nation. Therefore, understanding how these campaigns work and the role that
celebrities play in these are crucial to breaking these oppressive cycles by amplifying
LEASE!!!!!!
XIAO COME HOME P
Celebrification in Politics 102
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