PARTIDO Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson on Tuesday said that the public should not allow themselves to get too caught up with what is going on in social media as real-life problems require tough solutions.

Lacson acknowledged that his campaign team faces challenges in getting their messages across in social media, which has been penetrated by his opponents.

Pressed on what kind of adjustments he and his political party are planning to make barely three and a half months before the elections, the senator said he was advised to try and follow some trends to appeal to a wider audience despite his resistance.

“Nung kinausap ako nung aking — especially nung aking communications team, ano — sinabi nilang kailangang sumama tayo doon, makisama tayo kasi ‘yon talaga ‘yung trend, ‘yon ang takbo ng kampanya e,” Lacson said.

He was referring to video blogs and tapping the services of vloggers, who amassed huge following on social media. Lacson was not open to the idea because he said that this particular section of new media hardly talks about serious subject matters such as politics and governance.

“Ang tanong ko nga sa kanila: ‘Bakit? Kailan pa ba naging dreamless, hopeless, and helpless ang mga Pilipino na hindi na iniisip ‘yung malalalang problema, mga seryosong mga bagay, at nagkakasya na lamang doon sa parang, sabihin na natin entertainment, ano — more on the entertainment side?” the senator said.

Despite his reservations, Lacson clarified that he is open to new ideas that would help introduce himself and his programs provided his “authentic self” would still be allowed to shine.

“Sa akin naman, as long as hindi mawala ‘yung authenticity, ano, ‘yung aming — kung ano ‘yung ginagawa namin ay okay lang. Tingnan natin how far we can make adjustments. But sa akin, meron akong sinasabi sa kanila na laging may threshold. Huwag nating kalimutan na ang hinaharap ng bansa natin napakaseryoso, napakalalang problema, so huwag tayong mag-deviate completely from that narrative,” he said.