“It’s a combination of both,” Maria Ela L. Atienza, a political science professor from the University of the Philippines , said in a Viber message. “In this country, where personality politics trumps party platforms and loyalty, celebrities can have an advantage.”
His work in Manila has made an impact and his supporters are not just drawn to his looks, said Herman S. Kraft, a political science professor from UP. Robin Michael Garcia, chief executive at WR Numero Research, said Mr. Domagoso is a formidable presidential candidate. “He represents a serious electoral threat to other presidential candidates,” he said via Viber.