JUST A THOUGHT: Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping him up. – Jesse Jackson

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TEMPTING GOV. VI: Batangas’ first woman governor may have said earlier that she’ll keep off acting for sometime to focus on her governance work, but it looks like she’s ready to be seduced by a good offer any old time.

The producer of the internationally acclaimed film, “Kubrador,” Atty. Joji Alonzo, has sent word for the actress for all seasons if she’d be interested to play the lead in a new digital film she’s producing next. The role, according to Alonzo, was a role of a lifetime and was certain to win for the “acting governor” awards from international acting derbies.

Such a promise, a bait, really, seems enough to jolt the actress within the governor to reconsider her earlier option. Told that 10 days, more or less, were all it took for her to do the film, Gov. Vi doubled up her excitement at the possibility of making another landmark film following her series of best actress-wins in “In My Life.”

She said she loved “Kubrador,” which won for Gina Pareño best actress honors overseas, and adored Jeffrey Jeturian as a director. She also recalled having worked with Jeturian, who was then an assistant director to Eddie Garcia in a film she did with Christopher de Leon, “Imortal.”

“It has been my dream to make a movie in the tradition of ‘Kubrador,’” she told select media at the July 21 opening of Philippine Veterans Bank in Lipa City where she was the special guest.

The governor recalled explaining to Batangueños her stand on acting. “You all knew me as an actress. I have been acting since I was nine years old. You can no longer take out the artista in me,” she said.

She added that it is precisely for this reason, being an artista, that many of her constituents, especially those coming from abroad, drop in on her office at the Provincial Capitol in droves for either an autograph session or picture-taking or both.

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THE GOVERNOR IN ACTION: It was a delight to witness the Batangas governor in action, addressing a gathering of war veterans, bankers and their clients at the PVB branch located at the JP Laurel Highway in Lipa, right next to the City Hall.

The Lipa branch is one of 10 new branches the bank is opening in 2010 as part of its expansion program. It is the second PVB branch in the province, the first being in Batangas City.

Gov. Vi announced that the provincial government under her administration has entered into a partnership with PVB, which has 60 branches nationwide. The province’s volunteer workers take advantage of the bank’s ATM service to receive their honoraria, she said.

Vi has improved tremendously as a public speaker, imparting nuggets of information in her brief speech. She radiated warmth, compassion, understanding, and confidence all at the same time.

Our small group of Manila media marveled at Gov. Vi’s dynamics with different audiences. She knows exactly how to endear herself to the people, who in turn rushed to her side after the ceremony to seek her autograph and pose with her in pictures.

“Vi is really a people person,” remarked veteran entertainment journalist Ronald Constantino. She has people power, I added.

That afternoon, the Governor had just come from a meeting with the provincial mayors at the Capitol, where she stressed the implementation of her various projects. Vi said that unlike other newly elected local officials, she believes in continuing whatever good projects had been established by her predecessors instead of dismantling them altogether.

In Lipa, for instance, she enhanced the Lipa City Public College put up by former Mayor Ruben Umali by adding at least four new wings to the original structure. The free college now benefits more than 4,000 poor students in the city.

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ON CHRISTOPHER, LUIS: And how is Christopher de Leon taking to his new role as board member of Batangas?

Gov. Vi said Boyet is coping well, he’s been sharing, he’s very excited with his new post. Boyet got the committee he wanted, the one for culture, tourism and arts. The actor has also been religiously attending the Monday flag ceremony at the Capitol. She sees a welcome extension, on a different level, of their working relationship on screen.

On her son Luis Manzano, Gov. Vi said she believes her son and ex-girlfriend have been talking again. There has not been a new girl in his life, she said. “Usually, if Luis has a girlfriend, he brings her to the house so we can meet her,” she said.

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BY THE WAY: The new season, its 33rd, of Gantimpala Theater’s “Florante at Laura” is directed by Roeder Camanag. The season opens Aug. 1 at the Open-Air Auditorium at Rizal Park. Check out www.facebook.com/gantimpala. “Florante” is one of the longest-running local plays in history, catering as it does to a captive audience composed of elementary and high school students.

(nescuar@yahoo.com)