With the victory of entertainers, singers, actors and other showbiz personalities in the recent elections, it’s likely that we would see another roster of ambitious names in future polls for government positions.
Whether or not entertainment celebrities should get involved in politics is a matter left to experts to debate on, but we can’t ignore how these people from the local tinsel town, and even those whose stars have already faded, made the recent elections more dramatic, interesting, if not entertaining.
Last week, we wrote about the showbiz personalities lucky to be elected and those who weren’t touched by Lady Luck’s magical wand including those who have ran for national posts like newly-re-elected senator Tito Sotto (who is now on his fourth term) and newly minted senator Manny Pacquiao as well as unlucky ones – Edu Manzano, Isko Moreno (Francisco Domagoso), Rey Langit, Mark Lapid, and Alma Moreno.
This week, we are listing the names of those actors and celebrities who won and lost in the local race that we missed out in our first installment.
Inspired by their father’s political “deeds and ambition,” Lala and Gian Carlo are beginning to carve their names in politics, with pride. Tito Sotto’s second child with former actress Helen Gamboa was elected councilor in the 2nd District of Quezon City, while her younger brother, Gian Carlo will start his third term as councilor in Quezon City’s 3rd District. Their cousin, Vico Sotto, son of Vic Sotto with Coney Reyes, is successful in his first attempt to run for public office as councilor in the 1st District of Pasig City.
Also in Quezon City, comedian and original Petrang Kabayo star Roderick Paulate won a fresh mandate as councilor despite being ordered dismissed by the Ombudsman over ghost employees.
In Makati’s 1st District, It’s Showtime host Jhong Hilario and OPM singer Rico J. Puno each won a seat as councilors in the city’s first district while Taekwondo champion and former action star Monsour del Rosario was proclaimed congressional representative with 76,728, or 60.3 percent of the votes against his rival’s 30.1 percent.
In Parañaque’s, former Ang TV cast member and singer Roselle Nava, former child star Vandolf Quizon and former Gwapings member and underwear model Jomari Yllana all won as councilors of the city’s 1st District.
On the other hand, Jomari’s older brother Anjo Yllana has been recently proclaimed councilor of “City of the Star’s” fifth district. Their youngest brother, Ryan, won as a re-electionist in Parañaque’s 2nd District.
Outside the National Capital Region, former Viva Hot babes member Andrea del Rosario is now the vice mayor of Calatagan in Batangas. Cosmo Hunk and Star Magic talent Alex Castro, who appeared in a Maalaala Mo Kaya episode last Saturday along with del Rosario, topped the race as Board Member in Bulacan’s 4th District.
Former sexy actress Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez is the new mayor of Tacloban City, a landslide victory. She was proclaimed by the Tacloban City Board of Canvassers (CBOC) early morning just a day after the elections.
Meanwhile, in what was a fierce fight among two former film and television actors in Bulacan, LP candidate Daniel Fernando has emerged the winner. He led against fellow actor Phillip Salvador, his closest rival in the race for vice gubernatorial position.
Like Salvador, a lot of showbiz personalities and entertainers have not been victorious in their bid for local posts.
Actor Jason Abalos tried his luck in politics when he ran as councilor in his hometown in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija. Abalos, who wanted to make his hometown a tourist attraction and look into the welfare of local employees in Pantabangan, lost the battle.
Back in NCR, former beauty queen and commercial model Daisy Reyes almost won the mayoralty race. Her rival topped her with just 1, 316 votes.
In Muntinlupa, action star Ronnie Ricketts, former President of the Philippine Film Actors Guild and former Chairman of Optical Media Board (only he was suspended due to a graft case), placed second in the congressional race in the city. In other words, he lost, too.
