LIST: Celebrities, personalities running for the 2025 elections
Several celebrities and personalities have filed their respective COCs for the upcoming 2025 elections.
From Oct. 1 to Oct. 8, hopeful politicians from across the country filed their certificate of candidacy for the position they are eyeing. For the May 2025 midterm elections, a total of 18,280 positions are up for grabs including senators, party-list representatives, house of representatives, and local government positions.
Many celebrities are either reelectionists or neophytes vying for a seat, some of the first introduced were Eat Bulaga! host Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and actor Lito Lapid are part of President Bongbong Marcos’ “Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas” lineup.
Here are the celebrities who have filed their COCs:
Senate
- Chavit Singson (businessman-politician) Singson, who previously served as a governor of Ilocos Sur, is eyeing a seat in the senate as an independent candidate.
- Ben Tulfo (TV Personality) - Ben, who is a host of BITAG TV program, is running for senator.
- Erwin Tulfo (TV personality) - ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin is eyeing a seat in the senate under PBBM’s senate slate. If they both win, they will join their brother and incumbent senator, Raffy Tulfo in the upper house.
- Jimmy Bondoc (singer and lawyer) - Bondoc joined the slate of former president Rodrigo Duterte's PDP Laban as he filed his COC on Oct. 6.
- Lito Lapid (actor) - The Batang Quiapo actor seeks his fourth term in the Senate. He said he would push for free legal assistance.
- Manny Pacquiao (boxer-media personality) - Pacquiao seeks to return to the Senate. He is also among PBBM’s senatorial slate.
- Peter Advincula (political personality) - Advincula, or “Bikoy” in the Ang Totoong Narco-list” video in 2019, is seeking a seat in the Senate. He was found guilty of perjury in 2023 following the complaint of Erin Tañada, Chel Diokno, and Theodore Te who he claimed plotted to overthrow the Duterte government.
- Phillip Salvador (former actor) - Salvador is seeking a seat in the Senate and will push for crime reduction and anti-drug laws.
- Ramon Bong Revilla (actor) - Revilla seeks another term in the Senate for 2025 elections under Lakas–CMD party.
- Richard Mata (pediatrician-social media personality) - Mata, who has two million followers on Facebook, is eyeing a seat in the Senate.
- Rolando Plaza (social media personality) - Plaza, who is better known as “Rastaman,” is trying to secure a Senate seat again for the upcoming elections. He previously bid for the seat but was dismissed as a nuisance candidate in 2019.
- Vicente “Tito” Sotto III (TV host) - Former senate president and Eat Bulaga! host Tito Sotto eyes senate seat once again. According to him, he will push for the government to rightsize and for laws banning fake news and content, among others.
- Willie Ong (doctor-social media personality) - Ong will be running for senator amid his battle with cancer. His wife, Dra. Liza Ong filed his COC on Thursday, Oct. 3. His legal counsel, Atty. Gilbert Lauengco said that Ong is confident in doing a senator's job despite his medical condition.
- Willie Revillame (TV host) - Revillame is seeking a Senate seat in the 2025 polls as an independent candidate. He said he's aiming to bring up the 20% discount for seniors and PWDs.
House of Representatives
- Arjo Atayde (actor) - Quezon City 1st District Rep. Arjo Atayde seeks reelection. He was accompanied by his mother, actress Sylvia Sanchez, incumbent Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, and Vice Mayor Gian Sotto during his filing of COC at the Comelec-NCR office in San Juan City.
- Ejay Falcon (actor-politician) - Falcon, incumbent Vice Governor of Oriental Mindoro and PBB alum, has filed his COC for 2nd District representative of the province.
| Photo from Ejay Falcon / Facebook
- Jolo Revilla (actor) - Jolo also seeks reelection as the Cavite 1st District Rep.
- Lani Mercado-Revilla (actress) - The incumbent Cavite 2nd District Representative, files her COC for reelection with her husband, Sen. Bong Revilla.
- Marco Gumabao (actor) - Gumabao will vie as a representative for the 4th district of Camarines Sur.
- Mark Leviste (politician-internet personality) - Leviste, an outgoing Batangas governor, has filed his COC seeks seat as representative of Batangas’ third district.
- Migs Nograles (politician-social media personality) - Nograles filed her COC for 1st District representative of Davao City. She will compete against incumbent congressman Paolo Duterte.
Party-lists
- Brian Poe Llamanzares (author-entrepreneur) - Brian, son of Sen. Grace Poe, filed his COC as the first nominee of the FPJ Panday Bayanihan party list—which seeks to represent the marginalized sector.
- Deo Balbuena (social media personality) - Balbuena, popularly known as “Diwata” of the viral Diwata Pares filed his COC as the fourth nominee for Vendors party-list.
- Lorraine Badoy (internet personality-former host) - Badoy, who drew flak for her red tagging issues, is the second nominee of the Epanaw Sambayanan party-list, which was said to advocate for Indigenous People’s rights.
- Nora Aunor (veteran actress) - Screen legend-former singer is the second nominee of People’s Champ Movement
- Wilbert Tolentino (social media personality) - Vlogger and entrepreneur Wilbert has filed his COC as the first nominee of the Ahon Mahirap party-list.
Local positions
- Abby Viduya (former actress) - Viduya, wife of Jomari Yllana filed her certificate of candidacy for councilor of the 1st district of Parañaque.
- Aiko Melendez (actress) - Melendez seeks reelection as 5th District Quezon City Councilor.
- Alfred Vargas (actor) - Vargas is seeking reelection as the councilor of Quezon City's fifth District.
- Aljur Abrenica (actor) - Abrenica seeks a seat as councilor in Angeles City, Pampanga under Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde's party, who vies for the mayoral seat.
- Angelika Dela Cruz (actress) - Dela Cruz filed her COC for vice mayor of Malabon City. She was elected as Brgy. Captain in Longos in 2023.
- Angelu De Leon (actress) - De Leon seeks reelection as councilor of District 2 in Pasig City.
- Anjo Yllana (actor-TV host) - Yllana seeks to return to politics vying for the vice mayor post in Calamba, Laguna. He is teaming up with Timmy Chipeco who seeks to return as mayor. Yllana previously served as the vice mayor of Parañaque and councilor in Quezon City 5th District.
- Alex Castro (actor-singer) - Castro is seeking reelection as vice governor of Bulacan.
- Ara Mina (actress) - Ara filed her COC for councilor in Pasig City’s second district.
- Chi Atienza (journalist-TV Host) - Atienza is running for Manila City vice mayor
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Photo by Janelle Lorzano / The Philippine STAR
- Dan Fernando (former actor) - Former actor Dan Fernando seeks the Bulacan governor seat once more.
- Danny Ildefonso (former PBA player) - the “PBA legend” filed his COC for councilor at the Urdaneta City, Pangasinan Comelec office.
- Enzo Pineda (actor) - Actor-turned-marine reservist is eyeing the QC 5th District Councilor position. He was accompanied by his girlfriend, actress Michelle Vito during the filing.
- Ion Perez (TV host) - The It’s Showtime host is running for councilor at Concepcion, Tarlac.
- Isko Moreno (former actor-politician) - Isko seeks to return as mayor of Manila. He will compete against Sam Verzosa and former ally, Honey Lacuna.
- James Yap (PBA player) - Yap seeks a second term as a city councilor in San Juan.
- JC Parker (former actress) - Former Viva Hot Babe JC Parker seeks reelection as the city councilor of Angeles, Pampanga.
- Joaquin Domagoso (actor) - Isko Moreno's son, Joaquin is seeking a councilor seat in the 1st District of Manila.
- Lou Veloso (comedian-actor) - The veteran actor filed his COC for Manila District 6 councilor.
- Lucy Torres (former TV host) - Torres seeks reelection as the mayor of Ormoc City.
- Luis Manzano (actor-TV host) - Luis is running for the Batangas vice governor seat. This is his first time entering politics.
and 6th District rep. seats, respectively. | Photo from Lucky Manzano / Facebook
- Maricel Morales (actress-former beauty queen) - Morales seeks political comeback as she filed her COC as councilor in Angeles City.
- Marjorie Barretto (former actress) - Barretto seeks return as Caloocan City councilor this time in the 1st District. This is her comeback in the politics after 10 years.
- Michael Pacquiao (music artist) - The 22-year-old son of the Filipino boxing icon will try his hand at politics as he filed his COC for councilor of General Santos City under the People's Champ Movement (PCM). He was accompanied by his parents, Manny and Jinky Pacquiao on his filing on Oct. 5.
- Mikee Morada (politician-social media personality) Mikee, the husband of actress-vlogger Alex Gonzaga, seeks reelection as Lipa City Vice Mayor.
- Mocha Uson (actress-social media personality) - Political blogger and founder of music group, Mocha Girls, is eyeing a councilor seat in the 3rd District of Manila.
- Paul “Bong” Alvarez (former PBA player) - PBA’s “Mr. Excitement” is running for councilor for the third district of Manila.
- Roi Vinzon (veteran actor) - Actor-film director Vinzon has filed his COC for board member of Benguet District 1.
- Rosemarie Tan Pamulaklakin (social media personality) - Content creator-entrepreneur Rosmar is vying for a councilor seat for the first district of Manila.
- Shamcey Supsup (beauty queen) - Supsup, who also serves as MUPh national director, will run for councilor in Pasig City’s first district.
- Sam Verzosa (businessman) - The Frontrow founder is going against Honey Lacuna and Isko Moreno in the mayoral seat of Manila. He also served as the representative of the Tutok To Win party-list since 2022.
- Vilma Santos-Recto (actress) - The “Star for All Seasons” is eyeing for Batangas governor seat again after winning the position in 2016.