LIST: Celebrities who are running for government positions in 2022
Celebrities running for local and national post is nothing new in the Philippines. Filipinos have elected a former actor in the highest post in the land in 1998, while several actors and actresses have also won seats in both the Congress and Senate, plus countless more have taken local positions.
For the 2022 elections, a huge turnout of celebrities—from showbiz and media, to sports and beauty pageants—who are hoping to enter or retain their position in politics trooped to their respective Commission on Elections offices to file their certificate of candidacy (COC).
It is no secret that when celebrities run for office, there are always questions and pre-judgements on why they made such move, especially those whose spotlight is starting to dim. But this does not stop these hopefuls to enter politics and bring their star power to the fore.
Among the most prominent faces who are seeking a higher position in government is Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, a former matinee idol, who filed his candidacy for president on Oct. 4. under the Aksyon Demokratiko party.
Boxer-turned-politician Manny Pacquiao announced his retirement from boxing, the same time he declared he is joining the presidential race. He will run under Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiative (Promdi) ticket, with former Manila Mayor and Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza as vice president.
Seeking for higher office is Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, former actor and Eat Bulaga! host, who will run for vice president under National People’s Coalition.
Many celebrities who filed for candidacy already have experience in politics, some of them are seeking re-election, while some are hopeful to snag a seat in whatever position they are eyeing.
There are also several familiar faces on TV and movies who are neophytes in the 2022 political stage. Some of them were supported by fans, and there are also others who were criticized for their move to join politics.
Check out these celebrities who are running for government posts in the 2022 elections.
Senate
- Herbert Bautista (actor) — He will run for senator in the 2022 elections. He is a former Quezon City Mayor from 2010 to 2019.
- Monsour del Rosario (former actor and Olympian) — He filed his candidacy to run for senator under Partido Para sa Demokratikong Reporma. He is a former Makati City representative from 2016 to 2019 and was a member of the City Council from 2010 to 2016.
- Jinggoy Estrada (actor-turned politician) — He is seeking to go back to the senate in the 2022 elections under Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino ticket. He served in the senate from 2004 to 2016. In 2014, he was detained for plunder and anti-graft and corruption charges, in relation to the Pork Barrel Scam.
- Robin Padilla (action star) — He is a staunch supporter of the Duterte administration and is gunning for a senate seat under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
- Noli de Castro (veteran broadcaster) — He is the former Vice President of the Philippines from 2004 to 2010 and will run for senator, under Aksyon Demokratiko, after over a decade’s absence in politics.
Congress
- Arjo Atayde (actor) — He filed his candidacy for District 1 representative of Quezon City. This is his first time to enter politics.
- Lani Mercado (actress) — The incumbent mayor of Bacoor, Cavite will run for Cavite second district representative. Two of her sons are also running for posts—Jolo in congress, and Bryan for board member of Cavite. Her husband, Bong Revilla Jr. is currently a senator.
- Jolo Revilla (actor) — He is currently Vice Governor of Cavite and will run as representative of Cavite’s first district under Lakas-CMD ticket.
- Richard Yap (actor) — He will run again for Congress to represent the 1st District of Cebu City. He ran for the same position under PDP-Laban in 2019 but lost.
- Anjo Yllana (comedian) — He filed his candidacy to represent the fourth district of Camarines Sur. He served as councilor in 1998 and vice mayor in 2004 in Parañaque City. He also served for two terms in the first district of Quezon City as councilor.
- Angelica Jones (former comedian) — She will run to represent the third district of Laguna. She is currently a Board Member of the same province.
Party-lists
- Nora Aunor (actress) — The “Superstar” filed her COC as party-list representative of National Organization for Responsive Advocacies for the Arts (NORAA).
- Karla Estrada (TV host actress) — She filed her COC as representative of Eastern Visayas-based regional party-list Tingog Sinirangan. The party-list currently has two seats in congress and she is gunning for the third seat.
- Margaux “Mocha” Uson (performer, political blogger) — The staunch Duterte supporter, who have been appointed to several government positions including as deputy executive director of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, will run as a first nominee of party-list Mothers For Change.
- Michele Gumabao (athlete, beauty queen) — The volleyball star and Miss Universe Philippines 2020 second runner-up is gunning for the second seat of Mocha Uson’s Mothers For Change party-list.
- Shamcey Supsup (beauty queen, architect) — The Miss Universe Universe Philippines national director filed her COC as first nominee of Advocates for Retail, Textile, Tradition, Entertainment & the Creative Sector or ARTE party-list.
- Tom Rodriguez (actor) — He is the first nominee of party-list Anak Maharlikang Pilipino.
Local positions
- Angelu de Leon (actress) — She will run for councilor in Pasig City under the same slate as Mayor Vico Sotto, who is seeking for re-election.
- Aiko Melendez (actress) — She will run for councilor of the third district of Quezon City. She was a councilor in the same city, but for the second district, from 2001 to 2010.
- Bobby Andrews (actor) — He will run for councilor of the fourth district of Quezon City.
- Ali Forbes (beauty queen and singer) — She will run for councilor of sixth district of Quezon City.
- Jhong HIlario (actor, dancer, TV host) — He is seeking for re-election as councilor in District 1 of Makati City. He won his second term as a councilor in 2019, where he received the highest number of votes in his district according to reports.
- James Yap (basketball star) — He will run for councilor in San Juan City under the ticket of reelectionist Mayor Francis Zamora, a former basketball player.
- Paul Artadi (basketball star) — Under the same ticket as his former PBA teammate Yap, Artadi is seeking for another term as councilor of San Juan City.
- Don Allado (basketball star) — Joining Yap and Artadi is another of their PBA Purefoods teammate, Allado. He will run for councilor in San Juan City under the ticket of Mayor Zamora.
- Ervic Vijandre (actor) — He will run for councilor in San Juan City under the ticket of reelectionist Mayor Francis Zamora.
- Lou Veloso (comedian and actor) — He is seeking for another term as councilor in Manila’s District 6.
- Yul Servo (actor) — He will run for vice mayor of Manila, alongside Honey Lacuna, who will run for mayor. Servo is currently Manila’s third district representative.
- Jomari Yllana (actor) — He is seeking re-election as Parañaque City’s District 1 councilor. He was first elected in office in 2016.
- Valdolph Quizon (actor) — He is seeking re-election as Parañaque City’s District 1 councilor. Like Yllana, he was first elected in office in 2016.
- Alma Moreno (actress) — She will run for councilor in Parañaque City, where she served in the council from 2007 to 2014. She previously expressed running for senate a few times but had to withdraw. She will run under Lakas-CMD.
- Dennis Padilla (comedian) — He will run for councilor of Caloocan City. He was previously elected in the city council from 1998 to 2007.
- Nash Aguas (former child star) — He will run as councilor of Cavity City under LAKAS-CMD slate.
- Bryan Revilla (former actor) — He will run for board member of Cavite’s second district.
- Alvin Patrimonio (basketball legend) — He filed his certificate of candidacy to run for mayor of Cainta, Rizal. He will run under Lakas-CMD.
- Arci Muñoz (actress) — For her first foray in politics, she will run for councilor of Cainta, Rizal under Lakas-CMD.
- Dexter “Teri Onor” Dominguez (stand up comedian) — He will run for vice mayor of Abucay, Bataan.
- Claudine Barretto (actress) — She filed her certificate of candidacy for Olongapo councilor. She will be running under the ticket of talent manager and Miss World Philippines national director Arnold Vegafria, who is running for mayor.
- Jason Abalos (actor) — He filed her certificate of candidacy as provincial board member in the second district of Nueva Ecija. He is following the footsteps of his father who previously held the same position.
- Ejay Falcon (actor) — He will run for vice governor in his province of Oriental Mindoro.
- Imelda Papin (singer) — She is the incumbent Vice Governor of Camarines sur and will run for governor in the 2022 elections under Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.
- Javi Benitez (actor) — The son of former Negross Occidental representative Albee Benitez is joining politics and will run for mayor of Victorias, Negros Occidental.
- Lucy Torres-Gomez (actress, model) — She is the incumbent Leyte Representative and will run for Mayor of Ormoc City, the position which her husband, actor Richard Gomez currently holds.
- Richard Gomez (actor) — He is the incumbent Ormoc City mayor and will run for representative of Leyte, the position which his wife, Lucy Torres, currently holds.
- Sharifa Akeel (beauty queen) — She will run for governor of Sultan Kudarat. She recently married politician and Maguindanao Rep. Toto Mangudadatu.
