LIST: Celebrities, personalities running for gov’t positions in 2025 elections

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Elections 2025: (From left) Marjorie Barretto, Willie Revillame, Luis Manzano, Vilma Santos, and Isko Moreno. Images: Instagram/@marjbarretto, Facebook/Vilma Santos-Recto, John Eric Mendoza/INQUIRER.net, Facebook/Isko Moreno Domagoso

As voters troop to their voting precincts on Monday, Election Day, we’ve listed down the number of  celebrities who are running in the 2025 midterm elections. While there may be a debate on whether celebrities could be effective leaders, one cannot deny that there is no monopoly of public service, and that there have been some among them who have exemplified good public service.

Then again, there are those whose mettle are untested, while there are those who are already controversial even before they joined politics.

Here is the list of celebrities and personalities hoping to secure an elective government position in the 2025 midterm elections:

Party-list representatives

Deo “Diwata” Balbuena
Running for: 4th nominee, Vendors party-list
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: Known for vlogging his food joint, TV show extra

Jeremy Marquez
Running for: 1st nominee, Solo Parents party-list
Experience: He was a member of Parañaque City’s Liga ng mga Barangay and City Council. He ran to be the city’s vice mayor in 2016, but lost. He is currently the barangay captain of BF Homes, Paranaque.
Claim to fame: He is the son of actor and former Paranaque Mayor Joey Marquez.

Jonas Gaffud
Running for: 3rd nominee, ARTE party-list
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: A talent manager and pageant mentor, Mama J is known as the co-owner of pageant camp Aces & Queens.

Wilbert Tolentino
Running for: 1st nominee, Ahon Mahirap party-list
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: Talent manager

Zanjoe Marudo
Running for: 2nd nominee, ASAP NA party-list
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: Actor-host

Bryan Revilla
Running for: 1st nominee, Agimat party-list
Experience: Incumbent congressman
Claim to fame: Actor-son of Sen. Bong Revilla Jr. and Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado, brother to Cavite Rep. Jolo Revilla

Samantha Panlilio
Running for: 2nd nominee, Agimat party-list
Experience:NA
Claim to fame: Beauty queen

Jinkee Pacquiao
Running for: 2nd nominee, MBPL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) party-list
Experience: She ran for vice governor of Saranggani in 2013 for just one term
Claim to fame: wife of former Sen. Manny Pacquiao

Kenneth Duremdes
Running for: 3rd nominee, MBPL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) party-list
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: Professional basketball player.

Local government positions

Roi Vinzon (Benguet)
Running for: Board Member, 1st District of Benguet
Experience: He ran for a board member of Pampanga’s 3rd District in 2013, but lost.
Claim to fame: A character actor who remains active in television

Arnold Vegafria (Olongapo, Zambales)
Running for: Mayor, Olongapo
Experience: He ran for mayor in Olongapo in 2022, but lost.
Claim to fame: Talent manager of show biz and pageant personalities

Arron Villaflor (Tarlac)
Running for: Board Member, 2nd District of Tarlac
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: Actor

Aljur Abrenica (Angeles City, Pampanga)
Running for: Councilor, Angeles City
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: Actor

Jaycee Parker (Angeles City, Pampanga)
Running for: Councilor, Angeles City
Experience: She is the incumbent councilor of Angeles City, a position she has held since 2019.
Claim to fame: Member of the Viva Hot Babes

Maricel Morales (Angeles City, Pampanga)
Running for: Councilor, Angeles City
Experience: Before a brief hiatus, she was a councilor of Angeles City
Claim to fame: Actress-beauty queen

Rommel Padilla (Nueva Ecija)
Running for: Board Member, 1st District of Nueva Ecija
Experience: He was a board member of Nueva Ecija in 2007, and was a senior board member of Nueva Ecija’s 1st District in 2016. He ran for representative of Nueva Ecija’s 1st District in 2019 and 2022, but lost.
Claim to fame: Brother of Sen. Robin Padilla

Daniel Fernando (Bulacan)
Running for: Governor, Bulacan
Experience: He is the incumbent governor of Bulacan, a position he has held since 2019.
Claim to fame: Actor

Alex Castro (Bulacan)
Running for: Vice Governor, Bulacan
Experience: He was a Sangguniang Kabataan chairman in Barangay Lias, Marilao, Bulacan in 2002, councilor of Marilao in 2007 and 2010, a member of Bulacan’s Provincial Board in 2016 and 2019, and the incumbent vice governor in Bulacan.
Claim to fame: Former model and singer, he is the husband of Sunshine Garcia, a member of SexBomb Dancers

Doland Castro (Quezon City)
Running for: Councilor, 1st District of Quezon City
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: Former child star, TV reporter, son of former news anchor Angelo Castro Jr.

Ali Forbes (Quezon City)
Running for: Councilor, 4th District of Quezon City
Experience: She ran for councilor of Quezon City’s 6th District in 2022, but lost.
Claim to fame: Beauty queen

Enzo Pineda (Quezon City)
Running for: Councilor, 5th District of Quezon City
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: Actor

Alfred Vargas (Quezon City)
Running for: Councilor, 5th District of Quezon City
Experience: He was the councilor of Quezon City’s 2nd District in 2010, and the representative of Quezon City’s 5th District in 2013, 2016, and 2019.
Claim to fame: Actor

Aiko Melendez (Quezon City)
Running for: Councilor, 5th District of Quezon City
Experience: She is the incumbent councilor of Quezon City’s 5th District. She was also the councilor of Quezon City’s 2nd District from 2001 to 2010.
Claim to fame: Actress

Marjorie Barretto (Caloocan City)
Running for: Councilor, 1st District of Caloocan City
Experience: She was the councilor of Caloocan’s 2nd District from 2007 to 2013.
Claim to fame: Actress

Dennis Padilla (Caloocan City)
Running for: Councilor, 2nd District of Caloocan City
Experience: He was the councilor of Caloocan’s 2nd District from 1998 to 2007. He ran for board member of Laguna in 2013, but lost. He also served as a board member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).
Claim to fame: Actor

Angelika Dela Cruz (Malabon City)
Running for: Vice Mayor, Malabon
Experience: She is the incumbent barangay chairman of Longos, Malabon.
Claim to fame: Actress

Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr. (Pasig City)
Running for:Vice Mayor, Pasig City
Experience: A former councilor of San Juan City (1995), before service as the chief of staff of his father, former Sen. Robert Jaworski Sr. He was elected congressman in Pasig City in 2004. He ran for mayor in 2007 but lost. He returned to politics in 2021 as vice mayor of Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto and won in a landslide victory.
Claim to fame: A prominent basketball player under the team of his father, Jaworski Sr., husband to equestrian-actress Mikee Cojuangco.

Shamcey Supsup (Pasig City)
Running for: Councilor, 1st District of Pasig City
Experience: She ran as the first nominee of ARTE party-list in 2021, but lost.
Claim to fame: Former Miss Universe 2011 3rd runner-up, formerly the national director of the Miss Universe Philippines organization

Kiko Rustia (Pasig City)
Running for: Councilor, 1st District of Pasig City
Experience:First-term councilor
Claim to fame: “Survivor” castaway, “Born to Be Wild” host

Ara Mina (Pasig City)
Running for: Councilor, 2nd District of Pasig City
Experience: She is the daughter of Chuck Mathay, a former Quezon City congressman.
Claim to fame: Actress and wife of businessman Dave Alamrinez, the former CEO of PITC, who is now running as second nominee of the party-list group Turismo with former Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo.

Angelu De Leon (Pasig City)
Running for: Councilor, 2nd District of Pasig City
Experience: She is an incumbent councilor of Pasig City’s 2nd District.
Claim to fame: Actress

Isko Moreno Domagoso (Manila)
Running for: Mayor, Manila
Experience: He served as a councilor for Manila’s 1st District from 1998 to 2004. He was also the vice mayor of Manila from 2007 to 2016, and was the mayor. He ran for president in the 2022 elections but lost.
Claim to fame: Actor who rose to fame from That’s Entertainment

Sam Verzosa (Manila)
Running for: Mayor, Manila
Experience: He has been the incumbent representative of the Tutok To Win party-list since 2022.
Claim to fame: Boyfriend of Kapuso actress Rhian Ramos

Yul Servo (Manila)
Running for: Vice Mayor, Manila
Experience: He is the incumbent vice mayor of Manila. He was also the councilor of Manila’s 3rd District from 2007 to 2016, and a representative of the city’s 3rd District from 2016 to 2022.
Claim to fame: TV and movie actor

Joaquin Domagoso (Manila)
Running for: Councilor, Manila
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: Actor-son of returning Manila Mayor Isko Moreno

Mocha Uson (Manila)
Running for: Councilor, Manila 3rd District
Experience: Member of the MTRCB; OWWA deputy executive director; PCOO assistant secretary; supported the candidacy of Isko Moreno in the 2022 presidential elections; a nominee of the Mothers for Change (MOCHA) Party-list
Claim to fame: Actress, leader of Mocha Girls, vlogger

Rosmar Tan (Manila)
Running for: Councilor, 1st District of Manila
Experience: She ran for councilor for Manila’s 4th District in 2022, but lost.
Claim to fame: Vlogger

David Chua (Manila)
Running for: Councilor, 2nd District of Manila
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: Model, actor and TV director

Lou Veloso (Manila)
Running for: Councilor, 6th District of Manila
Experience: He was the councilor of Manila’s 6th district from 1995 to 2004; 2007 to 2013; 2019 to 2022; and 2022 to the present. He ran for congressman in 2004, vice mayor in 2013, and councilor in 2016, but lost all three spots.
Claim to fame: Film and theater actor, comedian

Victor Neri (Makati)
Running for: Mayor, Makati City
Experience: Worked at the Philippine Coastguard, Bureau of Immigration, and then as Assistant Secretary for Visayas Affairs at the DSWD during the Duterte administration
Claim to fame: Actor

Monsour Del Rosario (Makati City)
Running for: Vice Mayor, Makati City
Experience: He served as the councilor of Makati’s 1st District from 2010 to 2016, and was the district representative from 2016 to 2019. He ran for councilor of Makati’s 1st District in 2007, but was unsuccessful.
Claim to fame: Action star

Jhong Hilario (Makati City)
Running for: Councilor, Makati City
Experience: Incumbent councilor of Makati 1st District since 2016.
Claim to fame: Actor-TV host, dancer. His father, Virgilio Hilario Sr. was a councilor of Makati from 2007 to 2016.

Abby Viduya (Parañaque City)
Running for: Councilor, 1st District of Parañaque City
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: Actress formerly known as Priscilla Almeda, wife of actor Jomari Yllana

Dan Fernandez (Laguna)
Running for: Governor, Laguna
Experience: He is the incumbent representative of the Lone District of Santa Rosa. He served as the mayor of Santa Rosa from 2016 to 2019; representative of Laguna’s 1st District from 2007 to 2016 and 2019 to 2022; a deputy speaker from 2019 to 2020; a board member of Laguna from 1998 to 2001; and vice governor from 2001 to 2004.
Claim to fame: Actor

Sol Aragones (Laguna)
Running for: Governor, Laguna
Experience: She was the representative of the 3rd District of Laguna from 2013 to 2022.
Claim to fame: Broadcast journalist, senior reporter for ABS-CBN’s flagship news programs TV Patrol, Umagang Kay Ganda, and Bandila

Angelica Jones (Laguna)
Running for: Provincial board member, Laguna
Experience: Two-term members of the provincial board in the third district of Laguna
Claim to fame: Actress-comedienne, singer

Gem Castillo (Laguna)
Running for: Vice Governor, Laguna
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: Former actress and alumna of That’s Entertainment; wife of San Pablo City Mayor Vic Amante

Emilio Garcia (Laguna)
Running for: Mayor, Laguna
Experience: He ran for councilor of Laguna’s 1st District in 2013, but lost.
Claim to fame: Actor

Anjo Yllana (Calamba City, Laguna)
Running for: Vice Mayor, Calamba City, Laguna
Experience: He took on the following positions: councilor of Parañaque’s 2nd District from 1998 to 2004; vice mayor of Parañaque from 2004 to 2007; and councilor of Quezon City’s 5th District from 2013 to 2019.
Claim to fame: Actor-comedian, brother of actor Jomari Yllana

Vilma Santos (Batangas)
Running for: Governor, Batangas
Experience: She was the mayor of Lipa City from 1998 to 2007, Batangas governor from 2007 to 2016, and the congresswoman of Batangas’ 6th District from 2016 to 2022.
Claim to fame: The Star for All Seasons and wife of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto

Luis Manzano (Batangas)
Running for: Vice Governor, Batangas
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: TV host son of Vilma Santos and Edu Manzano, husband of Jessy Mendiola

Cai Cortez (Taytay, Rizal)
Running for: Councilor, Taytay
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: Actress, daughter of actor Rez Cortez

Bobet Vidanes (Pililla, Rizal)
Running for: Vice Mayor, Pililla
Experience: He has been serving as the acting vice mayor of Pililla since 2022.
Claim to fame: TV director and husband of ABS-CBN exec Cory Vidanes

Lucy Torres-Gomez (Ormoc City, Leyte)
Running for: Mayor, Ormoc City
Experience: She was the representative of Leyte’s 4th District in 2010 and was ousted three years later. She was re-elected in the same position in May 2013 and 2016. She has been the incumbent mayor of Ormoc City since 2022.
Claim to fame: Model-actress, wife of actor Richard Gomez, who is running as congressman in Leyte.

DJ Durano (Sogod, Cebu)
Running for: Mayor, Sogod, Cebu
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: Actor and recording artist

Michael Pacquiao (General Santos City)
Running for: Councilor, General Santos City
Experience: NA
Claim to fame:  Son of former Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Jinkee Pacquiao

House of Representatives

Arjo Atayde (Quezon City)
Running for: Representative, 1st District of Quezon City
Experience: He is the current representative of Quezon City’s 1st District.
Claim to fame: Actor-husband of TV host Maine Mendoza, son of actress-producer Sylvia Sanchez

Lino Cayetano (Taguig City)
Running for: Representative, 1st District of Taguig City
Experience: He was the city’s barangay captain from 2010 to 2013; a representative of the city’s Taguig–Pateros’s 2nd congressional district from 2013 to 2016; and Taguig’s mayor from 2019 to 2022.
Claim to fame: TV and film director

Jolo Revilla (Cavite)
Running for: Representative, 1st District of Cavite
Experience: He has been the incumbent representative of Cavite’s 1st District since 2022. He also served as the barangay captain of Bacoor’s Panapaan VII from 2010 to 2013, and was the vice governor from 2013 to 2022.
Claim to fame: Actor

Lani Mercado-Revilla (Cavite)
Running for: Representative, 2nd District of Cavite
Experience: She has been the incumbent representative of Cavite’s 2nd District since 2022. She also held the same position from 2010 to 2016, before serving as mayor from 2016 to 2022.
Claim to fame: Actress and wife of Sen. Bong Revilla Jr.

Neil Coleta (Cavite)
Running for: Councilor, Dasmariñas, Cavite
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: TV and film actor

Marco Gumabao (Camarines Sur)
Running for: Representative, 4th District of Camarines Sur
Experience: He took a course in Public Service Administration at the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance.
Claim to fame: Actor, son of former actor-politician Dennis Roldan, and brother of female volleyball star-beauty queen Michelle Gumabao

Ejay Falcon (Oriental Mindoro)
Running for: Representative, 2nd District of Oriental Mindoro
Experience: Incumbent vice governor of Oriental Mindoro
Claim to fame: Actor

Richard Gomez (Leyte)
Running for: Representative, 4th District of Leyte
Experience: He has been the incumbent representative of Leyte’s 4th District since 2022. He also served as Ormoc City’s mayor from 2016 to 2022. Prior to getting elected, he failed in his mayoral bid in 2013; he won a representative seat in Leyte’s 4th District in 2010 but was disqualified; and ran for senator in 2007 but lost.
Claim to fame: Actor

National positions

Ben Tulfo
Running for: Senator
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: Broadcaster and vlogger

Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao
Running for: Senator
Experience: After failing in his bid to become General Santos’ 1st District representative in 2007, he eventually won as Sarangani’s representative in 2010 and served for six years. He also served as senator from 2016 to 2022.
Claim to fame: Pambansang Kamao

Erwin Tulfo
Running for: Senator
Experience: He has been the representative of the ACT-CIS party-list and has been serving as the deputy House majority leader since 2023. He also headed the Department of Social Welfare and Development for six months.
Claim to fame: TV reporter

Jimmy Bondoc
Running for: Senator
Experience: He served as a member of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)’s board of directors (2021 to 2022); vice president for corporate social responsibility (2017 to 2022); and was the agency’s assistant vice president for entertainment (2016 to 2017).
Claim to fame: Recording artist, lawyer

Manuel “Lito” Lapid
Running for: Senator
Experience: He took on the following positions: senator (2004 to 2010, 2010 to 2016, and 2019 to 2025); governor of Pampanga (1995 to 2004); and vice governor of Pampanga (1992 to 1995).
Claim to fame: Action star

Marc Gamboa
Running for: Senator
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: Political vlogger and social media personality

Phillip Salvador
Running for: Senator
Experience: He ran for vice mayor of Mandaluyong in 2001 and vice governor in 2016, but ended up losing both spots.
Claim to fame: Actor, father of Kris Aquino’s son Joshua

Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
Running for: Senator
Experience: He took on the following positions: senator (2004 to 2010, 2010 to 2016, 2019 to 2025); governor (1998 to 2001); and vice governor (1995 to 1998).
Claim to fame: Actor son of former Senator Ramon Revilla Sr.

Vicente “Tito” Sotto III
Running for: Senator
Experience: He took on the following positions: senator (1992 to 1998, 1998 to 2004, 2010 to 2016, and 2016 to 2022); and was vice mayor of Quezon City (1988 to 1992).
Claim to fame: Actor-TV host-comedian who was a grandson of the late statesman Vicente Sotto

Willie Revillame
Running for: Senator
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: TV host

Apollo Quiboloy
Running for: Senator
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: Pastor, multimedia network owner 

Willie Ong
Running for: Senator
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: physician, vlogger/social media personality

Eric Mata
Running for: Senator
Experience: NA
Claim to fame: physician, vlogger/social media personality; uncle to Sen. Bong Go and pediatrician to Kitty Duterte