Star-studded gov’t: More celebs win in 2013 polls

MANILA, Philippines – Expect to see more TV personalities and celebrities in politics this year.

Rappler estimates that a total of 51 celebrity candidates – including actors, singers, sports and news personalities – won various elective positions in the 2013 midterm elections in May. We counted a total of 84 celebrities and TV personalities who joined this year’s races.

That’s more than the 49 celebrity candidates, based on Rappler estimates, who won in the 2010 elections.

Dominating the list of celebrity winners this year are 32 candidates who are all reelectionists.

CANDIDATE	OCCUPATION	POSITION RAN FOR IN 2013
Lucy Torres	actress/model	Leyte representative
Alma Moreno	actress	Parañaque City councilor
Angelica Jones	former actress	Laguna board member
Bob dela Cruz	former PBB housemate	Marilao (Bulacan) councilor
Bok Inciong	former singer	Parañaque City councilor
Charmie Benavides	actress	Pasig City councilor
Christina Gonzalez	actress	Tacloban (Leyte) councilor
Daisy Reyes	actress	Pateros councilor
Dan Fernandez	actor	Laguna representative
Daniel Fernando	actor	Bulacan vice governor
ER Ejercito	actor	Laguna governor
Gary Estrada	actor	Quezon board member
Gian Sotto	actor	Quezon City councilor
Guia Gomez	former actress	San Juan City mayor
Herbert Bautista	actor	QC mayor
Isko Moreno	actor	Manila vice mayor
Jason Webb	former basketball player	Parañaque City councilor
Kaka Balagtas	director	San Antonio (Nueva Ecija) vice mayor
Lani Mercado	actress	Bacoord, Cavite, representative
Maita Sanchez	former actress	Pagsanjan (Laguna) mayor
Manny Pacquiao	boxer	Sarangani rep
Maricel Morales	actress	Angeles City (Pampanga) councilor
Maybelyn dela Cruz	actress	Dagupan City (Pangasinan) councilor
Monsour del Rosario	actor	Makati City councilor
Precious Hipolito	former actress	Quezon City councilor
Robert Ortega	actor	Manila councilor
Roderick Paulate	actor	Quezon City councilor
Roselle Nava	actress/singer	Parañaque City councilor
Teri Onor	comedian	Bataan board member
Vilma Santos	actress	Batangas governor
Yul Servo	actor	Manila councilor
Mark Leviste	actor	Batangas vice governor

Sixteen of them, mostly incumbent councilors, ran in various localities in the National Capital Region.

As for incumbents who sought other posts, most didn’t fair well in the recently-concluded polls. In the case of 10 incumbent celebrity politicians who aimed for either a higher or lower elective position, only 5 are successful in their bid.

CANDIDATE	OCCUPATION	POSITION WON IN 2010	POSITION RAN FOR IN 2013	WON IN 2013?
Alfred Vargas	actor	Quezon City councilor	Quezon City representative	YES
Yeng Guiao	PBA coach	Pampanga vice gov	Pampanga representative	YES
Lino Cayetano	director	Fort Boni (Taguig) brgy captain	Taguig representative	YES
Jolo Revilla	actor	Bacoor (Cavite) brgy captain	Cavite vice governor	YES
Yoyong Martirez	former PBA player/comedian	Pasig City vice mayor	Pasig City councilor	YES
Christopher de Leon	actor	Batangas board member	Batangas representative	NO
Shalani Soledad	TV host	Valenzuela councilor	Valenzuela representative	NO
Lou Veloso	comedian	Manila councilor	Manila vice mayor	NO
Alex Castro	actor/model	Marilao (Bulacan) councilor	Marilao (Bulacan) vice mayor	NO
Patrick dela Rosa	former actor	Oriental Mindoro board member	Baco (Oriental Mindoro) mayor	NO

Also among the celebrity candidates who tried their luck this year are 17 who either lost in the 2010 elections or who had run in earlier elections but not in 2010. Only 7 of them won.

CANDIDATE	OCCUPATION	POSITION RAN FOR IN 2010	POSITION RAN FOR IN 2013	WON IN 2013?
Joseph Estrada	former actor	president	Manila mayor	YES
Jestoni Alarcon	actor	Rizal rep.	Rizal board member	YES
Dingdong Avanzado	singer	Siquijor rep	Siquijor vice governor	YES
Anjo Yllana	actor/host	Parañaque City vice mayor	Quezon City councilor	YES
Ryan Yllana	actor	Parañaque City councilor	Parañaque City councilor	YES
Binky Favis	former basketball coach	Parañaque City councilor	Parañaque City councilor	YES
Franz Pumaren	basketball coach	Quezon City rep	Quezon City councilor	YES
Imelda Papin	singer	Senator	San Jose del Monte City rep.	NO
Joey Marquez	actor/host	Parañaque rep.	Parañaque representative	NO
Rey Malonzo	former actor	Caloocan City vice mayor	Caloocan City vice mayor	NO
Arvin “Tado” Jimenez	comedian	Marikina City councilor	Marikina City councilor	NO
Jobelle Salvador	former actress	Makati City vice mayor	Parañaque City councilor	NO
Bobby Guanzon	former broadcaster	Caloocan city rep	Caloocan city representative	NO
Tito Valera	former PBA player/referee	Caloocan city rep	Caloocan City vice mayor	NO
Dan Alvaro	actor	Novaliches (QC) councilor	Quezon City councilor	NO
Anthony Castelo	singer	senator (disqualified)	Quezon City councilor	NO
Dennis Padilla	actor	didn’t run (Caloocan City councilor, 2001-2007)	Laguna board member	NO

As for the 25 newcomers, only 8 won in this year’s elections.

CANDIDATE	OCCUPATION	POSITION RAN FOR IN 2013	WON IN 2013?
Sol Aragones	broadcaster	Laguna representative	YES
Jinkee Pacquiao	product endorser	Sarangani vice governor	YES
Lito Camo	singer/composer	Oriental Mindoro board member	YES
Charee Pineda	actress	Valenzuela City councilor	YES
Lala Sotto	actress	Quezon City councilor	YES
Matthew Mendoza	actor	Puerto Princesa (Palawan) councilor	YES
Maynard Lapid	actor	Pampanga board member	YES
Wahoo Sotto	actor	Parañaque City councilor	YES
Aga Muhlach	actor	Camarines Sur representative	NO
Annabelle Rama	talent manager	Cebu City representative	NO
Rez Cortez	actor	Camarines Sur representative	NO
Gani Oro	former broadcaster	Quezon City representative	NO
Amay Bisaya	comedian	Bohol governor	NO
Richard Gomez	actor	Ormoc (Leyte) mayor	NO
Rey Valera	singer/composer	Meycauayan (Bulacan) vice mayor	NO
Heber Bartolome	former singer/composer	Quezon City councilor	NO
Allan Paule	actor	Muntinlupa City councilor	NO
TJ Trinidad	actor	Pasay City councilor	NO
Ervic Vijandre	actor/model	Taguig City councilor	NO
Joko Diaz	actor	Batangas board member	NO
Emilio Garcia	actor	Laguna board member	NO
Gerald Ejercito	actor	Laguna board member	NO
Gerome Ejercito	basketball player	Laguna board member	NO
Long Mejia	comedian	Calumpit (Bulacan) councilor	NO
Jograd dela Torre	former singer/composer	Manila councilor	NO

Quezon City has the most number of celebrity candidates, with 13. Nine of them won.

Parañaque City and Laguna come next with the most number of celebrity candidates, with 8 each. Six won in Parañaque City, while 4 won in Laguna.

For the 2010 elections, Rappler estimates that 80 celebrities joined the polls, and only 49 won.

Among those who participated in the 2010 elections but didn’t run this year are:

Winners in 2010

• Actress Marjorie Barreto (Caloocan City councilor)
• Former broadcaster Mon Ilagan (Cainta, Rizal mayor)

Losers in 2010

• Actress Aiko Melendez (Quezon City vice mayor)
• Actress Ara Mina (Quezon City councilor)
• Comedian Arnell Ignacio (Quezon City councilor)
• Actor Cesar Montano (Bohol governor)
• Actor Jaime Fabregas (Quezon City councilor)
• Broadcaster Jay Sonza (senator)
• Musician John Lesaca (Quezon City councilor)
• Comedian Ogie Diaz (Quezon City councilor)
• Singer/actor Rico J. Puno (Makati City vice mayor)
• Actor Rommel Padilla (Nueva Ecija vice governor)
• Actress Glenda Garcia (Quezon City councilor)
• Beauty queen/actress Maria Isabel Lopez (Quezon City councilor)
• Actor Ricky Davao (Quezon City councilor)

– Rappler.com