KUNG pakikinggan, aakalain mong slogan sa pangangampanya, pero isang paraan ng pamumuhay ang “bayan higit sa lahat” na binanggit at ipinaliwanag sa amin ni Denise Laurel nang makapanayam namin siya sa Tinagba Festival 2016 sa Iriga last week.

Mula sa kilalang angkan sa pulitika si Denise. Apo siya sa tuhod ng dating presidente ng Second Republic of the Philippines at apo ng ikasampung bise-presidente ng Pilipinas na si Salvador Laurel. Ngunit tulad niya, walang sinuman sa kanila ang sumunod sa mga yapak ng kanilang lolo sa larangan ng pulitika.

“Because we don’t believe na you have to have a title to help. Like if somebody would approach me with $10 million and say if you run I’d give it to you, I’d still say no,” sabi ng actress/singer.

Dagdag pa niya, walang nag-iimpluwensiya or namumuwersa sa kanilang pumasok sa pulitika. Husto na sa kanilang mamuhay kaakibat ang paniniwalang “ang bayan higit sa lahat.”

“That’s how my great grandfather lived and that’s how my grandfather lived. It’s how we lived in a sense that you can be an outstanding citizen and you can help people without having a title. You can work with foundations, you can work with charities or you can work on your own. You can give on your own little way back. You can do whatever you want to do wherever your heart is,” may paninindigang diin ni Denise.

Aniya, wala siyang karanasan sa pulutika at ang sinumang gustong mamuno ay dapat magsanay o mag-aral bago maghangad ng posisyon.

“I didn’t go to law school. I feel like if you really want to run for office you have to be qualified. You have to know our government. It’s not just because I’m an actress, no offense to anyone, but I want to be prepared. Just like the way I prepare for work. I never show up not knowing what I want to do or not doing workshops before anything,” pahayag niya.

“You can help in your own way. It’s being said in a way that’s inspiring, that you don’t have to be a politician to help. You can help people in your own way. So maybe that’s why none of us went to politics,” dagdag pa ni Denise.

Bilang aktres at mang-aawit, hindi awars si Denise na tungkulin niyang maibigay ng inspirasyon at kasiyahan sa mga tao. At ito ang lagi niyang pinaghahandaan, tulad na lang ng kanyang all-out performance para sa mga Irigueño sa 2016 Tinagba Festival na pinangunahan ni Iriga City Mayor Ronald Alfelor at ng kapatid na si dating Mayor Madelaine Alfelor.

Tuwang-tuwa si Denise sa isinukling mainit na pagtanggap ng mga Irigueño sa kanyang munting palabas para sa kanila.

Sapat na ‘yun para mawala ang iniindang sakit ng katawan nang araw na iyon.

Huling napanood si Denise sa teleseryeng Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita at sa Your Face Sounds Familiar na siya ang naging champion, at sa “Pictures” spisode ng Maalaala Mo Kay.

“I’m waiting na to start my next soap opera for ABS-CBN. I think they are just working on the script right now. We were supposed to start last January but maybe March. So we’re just waiting on for production to get started,” saad niya.

Habang naghihintay, pinaghahandaan niya ang kanyang first album na siya rin ang producer. Balak niyang ipalabas ang music video ng kanyang first single sa Marso. (WALDEN SADIRI M. BELEN)