AS THE MAY 10 polls near, some artists are bothered by the political campaign?s relative lack of focus on the arts and culture as key tools for nation-building. So, they?re boosting the prospects of the few candidates out there who have gone out of their way to support artistic activities and productions through the years.

The hope is that, should they garner enough votes to win, they can more officially initiate programs to make the arts a more dynamic and transformative part of our daily lives.

Among the candidates for national posts, VP bet Loren Legarda has consistently boosted artistic endeavors, both as an individual and as a public official.

Among the senatorial bets, Sonia Roco is an educator and theater buff.

Like her father, senior senator Nene Pimentel, Gwen Pimentel has supported initiatives in the visual arts and theater through the years, inspired in part by the many musical pieces composed by her mother, Bing.

Risa Hontiveros boosts the more enlightened use of the arts and media for genuine values formation, and comes from one of the country?s most acclaimed families of artists, which includes no less than two National Artists, Lamberto Avellana and Daisy Hontiveros Avellana.

On the provincial campaign trail, the leading artistic light is reelectionist Batangas Governor Vilma Santos, a major screen icon and one of the country?s best and most-awarded screen thespians.

Vilma now devotes most of her time to her work as governor, but every few years or so, she takes time out to act in a film, as she did last year, to great acclaim, with her latest starrer, ?In My Life.?

In Bohol, gubernatorial candidate Cesar Montano is a visual artist and actor, scriptwriter and director of note.

For his part, being a former Bayanihan dancer, ex-Manila City Mayor Lito Atienza continues to hold the arts in high regard, and some of his children have been similarly active and creative in theater and on TV.

Reelectionist Manila City councilor Lou Veloso has founded the Sta. Ana Arts Center and the Manila Mobile Theater Foundation, which make it a point to bring the arts to the masses ? an important initiative that other communities should emulate.

Indeed, there is a great need for many more of our current and future political leaders to make the arts a more dynamic part of our national and communal lives. Many politicians pooh-pooh the value of the arts, because they?re deemed to be ephemeral, chi-chi and irrelevant to the ?real? needs and issues that affect and consume us.

But, more enlightened boosters of the arts point out that man is made of body and soul, and the second key element is every bit as important as the first.

The fact that many can?t see its significance could explain why, when it comes to values and psychological and psychic self-knowledge, we keep running around in circles, and have yet to discover our true identity and strengths. It really is time for our elected leaders to give the arts their due.