TV host and actor Luis Manzano has expressed his all-out support to his mother, actress-turned-politician, Vilma Santos who is making headlines of late.
The Lipa City Representative and head of the committee on civil service and professional regulation was among those who voted against the widely debated re-imposition of the death penalty in the country’s justice system.
According to the 36-year-old Minute To Win It host, they had a serious talk about it and her mother’s decision to oppose the revival of the death penalty was based on the general consensus of the people in Lipa.
“Even before the members of the House [of Representatives] made their vote a few days ago, she said she’s not going to sell out for any certain position. She told me that with her vote she may lose her position as a chairperson but at least she listened to her conscience,” Luis told Manila Standard in an exclusive interview on Thursday when he was launched as the newest endorser of Century Tuna Chilli Corned Tuna.
The young Manzano furthered that he can only be proud of her mom amid her choice not being the popular one. And even if her mother made a different choice, he would have supported her nonetheless.
“I try to see my mom at least once a week, normally on a Sunday night. So, yes, we’ve talked about it and we have the same position. I can only be proud as his son,” he exclaimed.
The social media savvy Luis, who is known for his funny-bordering-on-sarcastic posts, is fervent when it comes to voicing out his own opinion on almost anything be it a small or a national issue. And since he’s opened himself using digital platforms like Instagram and Twitter, it’s also inevitable that he encounters trolls and bashers that only live to ruin someone’s day online.
Luis admitted that he takes the matters into his own hands, calling out cyber bullies — in 140 characters or less – because he doesn’t want to tolerate the way they use and abuse social media.
“Mapag-patol ako sa social media. Sa Twitter patola ako sa mga basher, we have to stop living in a society of victims. Some people would say na ‘wag mo nang patulan, but for me they have to learn their lesson,” Luis explained adding that he’s ready to defend his mother for her decision if he’d encounter one bashing her for her unpopular decision.
He furthered that he lives by the quote: “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
It’s his guiding principle lifted from the speech of Romanian-born American Jewish writer and political activist Elie Wiesel when he accepted his Nobel Peace Prize in 1986.