HIS catchy campaign poster went viral during the election season and drew laughs as the aspiring public servant mimicked the face of NBA superstar Stephen Curry in a phone endorsement.
But Arnold “Ayot” Vivo is serious in his desire to serve his barangay.
Thanks to his winner of a campaign poster, Vivo easily won his re-election bid as kagawad in Barangay Bayanan in Muntinlupa this past May. And if he looks familiar to basketball fans, it’s because he’s a longtime member of the utility staff of the Magnolia Hotshots.
“Nakatulong sa akin yung poster kasi nag-trending siya,” Vivo told SPIN.ph before a recent PBA double-header. “Maganda nga eh. Yun na talaga yung ginamit kong campaign material.”
Vivo, 55, bared the idea to use Curry’s endorsement poster as an inspiration for his campaign materials came from his son Argel.
“Three days bago mag-election, sinabihan ako ng anak ko na bakit di namin gawin yung Vivo ni Stephen Curry tutal Vivo din naman ako. Hindi ko alam, ginawa na pala niya at binigay sa akin,” he said.
That poster soon became a hit among his ka-barangays and soon spread on social media. Vivo related that comedian Brod Pete, who was a special guest on his ticket’s miting de avance, became so enamored with the poster.
“Nung nandoon siya sa stage, hawak pala niya yung poster ko tapos tinuro niya ako,” he said. “Every time na may magpapa-picture sa kanya, dala niya yun kaya lalong nakita at naalala ako.”
Vivo garnered around 4,600 votes to easily finish in the top six of the list of kagawads. He has vowed to fulfill his mandate and more, putting focus on developing youth through sports.
“Yung mga naging kulang ng namumuno dati para sa kabataan sa larangan ng sports, yun ang pagtutuunan ko ng pansin. Ayokong nada-down yung mga kabataan kaya para sa akin, kung saan sila mage-excel, gusto ko doon sila mapunta," he said.
Serving his barangay also won’t be that much of a difference to his role with the Hotshots, Vivo said:
“Parang pareho lang kasi second family ko na ang Magnolia," said the longtime Hotshots statter. "Ito naman sa barangay, parang family na rin, mas malaki nga lang.”
As for the poster that made him famous, the jolly utility wants to embrace the whole concept and switch phones.
“Yung mga anak ko, naka-Vivo. Ako naman yung dati kong phone, Samsung. Pero papalitan ko na ng Vivo din,” he said with a hearty laugh.
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