She is no mere ‘matinee material’

In the era of political matinee, where a woman like Mayor Nathalie Ann Debuque of Anilao, Iloilo can’t just be a politician without being reduced to the fantasy of male wish-fulfillment, we’ve somehow stumbled upon a peculiar plot twist. Instead of being recognized for her political acumen, dynamism, and rise as a formidable force in Iloilo’s political landscape, some would prefer to cast Ms. Debuque as the newest heartthrob in a soap opera fit for prime time.

No matter that she’s been a mayor since 2016, that she carries the weight of public service on her shoulders, or that she’s poised to possibly become the province’s vice governor, the chit-chat of a few on the street seems to be more interested in who will win Ms. Debuque’s heart rather than her political battle ahead of her. Who cares about platforms, right? What’s important kilig notes about her romantic life—because, obviously, that’s the stuff real politics is made of!

The fact that a woman in power still finds herself in the crosshairs of this sort of ridiculous reductionism is a sad reminder that we’ve still got a long way to go. Political rivals? What political rivals? For some spectators, the real battle is figuring out which “lucky guy” is going to stand beside her at the altar, not on the platform of public service.

But here’s a newsflash: Mayor Nathalie Ann Debuque is not here for a romantic comedy. She’s here for progress, policies, and the future of Iloilo. So to the dreamers hoping for a love story, perhaps it’s time to switch the channel and get back to the real plot—one where women are leaders, not starlets.