It’s all go for actress Ara Mina who recently filed her certificate of candidacy (CoC) for a seat in the Quezon City council second district.

Mina filed her CoC before the Commission on Elections office at the Quezon City Hall compound on Nov. 30. She was accompanied by her grandfather and long-time QC Mayor Ismael Mathay Jr. and her father Chuck Mathay, a former congressman.

The 30-year-old actress did not join a political party “to avoid conflict.”

“I have lots of friends who belong to different parties and everyone was offering to include me in their roster, but I declined to join any of them… I don’t want to offend anybody,” she tells Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online in an exclusive interview.

Politics may be dirty but Mina declares herself “ready” for it.

“I’ve heard about how politics is supposedly dirtier than showbiz…but I’m ready. I can take anything and everything [my detractors] will throw at me without me engaging in the mudslinging. I’d rather people look at my platform and decide from there.”

Mina is nonchalant over co-actors Roderick Paulate’s and Alfred Vargas’ bid for the same post.

“I see no problem in that,” she says. “They have their own platform and I have mine.”

“As I said, people should just look at my platform and decide from there. I will not force anybody to vote for me. I didn’t get into this to look for enemies… I just want to be of help,” she adds.

Mina boasts of a political platform that focuses on “livelihood.” 

“I‘ve already talked to a lot of people [from my district]…went around the area and I saw that most of them need support on this aspect -- finding a means to earn…finding work. This is very important.

“I aim to organize and strengthen educational programs that would help people enhance their natural abilities…that would help them land the job they aspire for.” 

More, she aims for “the protection of the environment.”

“I’m passionate about nature. I’m a nature lover. I will aim for the beautification of our surroundings and push for stricter measures against waste disposal.”

Even if she gets elected, Mina assures fans that she won’t close her doors on showbiz.

“I will continue doing what I do. I am not yet through with acting. It’s in my blood. I’m sure even if I try [to give up the profession]…I will still [act]. I look at Ate Vi (actress-politician Vilma Santos) and I know it can be done…it’s all about time-management.”

Mina reveals she had just wrapped up work on indie film “Marino.”

“The story is about the life of an OFW…particularly a seaman and his family. I play the role of Allen Dizon’s wife. It’s a bit on the dramatic side…I will be seen suffering as the character of Allen will be involved with the character of Krista Ranillo.”

On Ranillo being vilified by the media for her supposed liaison with boxer Manny Pacquiao, Mina says she could “relate.”

“I know how hard it is, but she should fight for the truth. If she has not done anything wrong, she should take a stand and fight,” says she, who herself was linked to the boxing champ a few years ago.