'Showtime' contestant tours Comelec office

Heart Aquino, a "Showtime" contestant who recently went viral for admitting she was unaware of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), visited the poll body’s headquarters in Intramuros, Manila, on Tuesday.

Aquino arrived past noon and was given a tour by Comelec officials, according to GMA Integrated News' Sandra Aguinaldo.

"Mas naunawaan ko po kung ano ang meaning ng Comelec at kung ano pa ang ginagawa nila," Aquino said. 

(I now better understand what Comelec is and what it does.)

She encouraged others to educate themselves on Comelec’s role: "Ine-encourage ko po na mas alamin po natin ang trabaho ng Comelec." 

The 20-year-old, who competed in Showtime's beauty pageant segment, went viral after admitting she had "limited" knowledge of Comelec and was not registered to vote. 

Asked if she would register for the 2028 elections, she responded, "Yes po."

"Aaralin ko po talaga siya para maboto po natin ang tamang tao," she added. 

(I will study it so I can vote for the right candidate.)

Comelec Director Frances Abe said Aquino could serve as an influencer to educate young voters.

"Si Heart kasi nakikita namin na pwede siyang maging influencer sa youth," Abe said. 

Aquino expressed willingness to use her social media to promote voter education.

"Since nandito na rin po ako, why not use the attention na nakukuha ko to enlighten ang mga kabataan?" she said. 

(Since I have this attention, why not use it to enlighten other young people?)

Her message to the youth: "Mensahe ko po sa mga kabataan, lalo na yung mga gaya ko na hindi masyadong knowledgeable sa Comelec, is alamin natin at mag-vote ng wisely. Para rin sa atin yun eh. Yun din ang narealize ko, wag balewalain yung pangyayare sa paligid natin."

(Learn about elections and vote wisely. It’s for our future. I realized we should not ignore what’s happening around us.)

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia previously said they invited Aquino to provide her with information and explain the commission's functions. — DVM, GMA Integrated News