Heart Aquino, the “It’s Showtime” Sexy Babe contestant who trended online after admitting she wasn’t well-versed about the Commission on Elections (Comelec), visited the poll body’s main office in Intramuros, Manila on Tuesday.
Aquino was invited by Comelec for a guided tour of the Palacio del Gobernador and met with chairman George Erwin Garcia to learn more about the agency’s role.
“Mas naunawaan ko po yung meaning din po talaga ng Comelec and kung ano po yung ginagawa nila,” Aquino said in an ABS-CBN News report.
She clarified that she had actually voted in past Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, but her viral moment was simply due to nerves during her first TV appearance.
“Hindi lang po ako masyadong knowledgeable po, pero meron naman po akong kaalaman and na-mental block lang din po ako since first appearance ko sa TV and medyo nakakakaba po talaga,” she explained.
Comelec officials are now eyeing Aquino as a potential youth ambassador to encourage young voters to participate in the elections.
“Si Heart kasi nakikita namin na puwede siyang maging influence sa youth… Si Heart can be that person,” said Atty. Frances Arabe of Comelec’s Standards and Innovation Office.
Aquino said she is open to the idea of helping the agency promote voter education, especially among the youth.
“Actually kung titingnan ko po siya, it’s an opportunity po siya and yes po, willing naman po ako and to inspire the youth,” she said.
According to Comelec, around 31.64 percent of the country’s 68.4 million registered voters are aged 18 to 30.
Aquino also took the chance to address the online criticisms she received following her viral response.
“Stop na po kasi hindi din po nila alam kung ano yung effect sa mga tao na bina-bash, hindi lang po sakin maski sa ibang tao po,” she appealed.
