These celebrities are running in the Eleksyon 2025
The Philippines officially enters the new election season, and many aspiring candidates start filing their Certificate of Candidacy (COC) from today, October 1 until October 8.
Based on the data provided by the Commission on Election (COMELEC), there are 18,200 elective positions at the national and local levels that will be decided upon by an estimated 68 million registered voters on May 12, 2025.
The 2025 mid-term elections will get more interesting as several celebrities and personalities hope to win a seat in the government.
Who are some of these celebrities running for the first time or seeking to be re-elected next year?
Find out more about them in this gallery:
Tito Sotto
TV host and former Senate president Tito Sotto is attempting to make a comeback in the Mid-term elections. He is part of the senatorial slate of President Ferdinang "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr.'s Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas.
Manny Pacquiao
“The People's Champ” Manny Pacquiao is also seeking a return in the Senate after losing in the presidential race in 2022. Pacman is also in the senate slate of Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas.
Bong Revilla
Action star-turned-politician Bong Revilla is seeking to be re-elected in the Senate in the 2025 May elections. He is included in the senatorial line up of the current Administration.
Lito Lapid
Lito Lapid hopes to get elected for another term in the Senate in 2025. He joins fellow action star Bong Revilla in the slate of Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas.
Camille Villar
Former TV host and Las Piñas representative Camille Villar is following in the footsteps of her mom, Cynthia Villar; and brother, Mark Villar, who are currently both serving as senators. Her dad, Manny Villar, was a senator from 2001 to 2013.
Monsour del Rosario
Taekwondo champion and former actor Monsour del Rosario will be seeking the vice mayoral post in Makati City in the 2025 elections. He will be the running mate of Senator Nancy Binay, who is seeking to replace her sister, Abby Binay, as mayor of one of the richest cities in the country. Monsour served as Makati representative from 2016 to 2019. In 2022 elections, Monsour ran for senator but failed.
Alex Castro
Actor-politician Alex Castro, husband of 'Sexbomb' dancer Sunshine Garcia, hopes to serve another term as vice governor in Bulacan. Before becoming an actor, Alex competed in GMA's talent search competition titled 'Are You The Next Big Star?'
Dan Fernando
Former action star Dan Fernando is also throwing his hat in the ring to seek another term as Bulacan governor in the 2025 elections.
JC Parker
Former Viva Hot Babe Jaycee Parker has also filed her certificate of candidacy on October 1, to run for her last term as city councilor of Angeles City.
Yul Servo
Actor Yul Servo, who is the incumbent vice mayor in Manila and his running mate Manila mayor Honey Lacuna will be in a tough fight in the May 2025 elections. Based on several reports, he would be running against former Star Circle member Chi Atienza-Valdepenas, who will be the running mate of former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno.
Alfred Vargas
'Forever Young' actor Alfred Vargas hopes continue his programs in Quezon City, so he filed his certificate of candidacy to seek re-election as a city councilor in the 5th district. Based on reports, he was joined by his non-showbiz wife Yasmine Espiritu-Vargas during the filing in the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City.
Marco Gumabao
Marco Gumabao is trying his luck in politics by running as a representative of the 4th District of Camarines Sur. He was joined by his actress girlfriend Cristine Reyes when he filed his certificate of candidacy.
Enzo Pineda
'StarStruck' fifth season First Prince Enzo Pineda is among the many celebrities running in the “City of Stars," Quezon City, in the midterm elections next year. The actor hopes to get a seat in the 5th District council.
Jolo Revilla
Jolo Revilla is hoping to be reelected just like his father Senator Bong Revilla in the May 2025 elections. Jolo is the incumbent representative of the first district of Cavite. He is running under the Lakas CMD party.
Lou Veloso
Incumbent Manila city councilor Lou Veloso has also filed his certificate of candidacy as he seeks another term in the city council. Lou previously ran for vice mayor in Manila, but lost to Isko Moreno in 2013. He was last seen on TV via hit GMA Prime series ' Maria Clara at Ibarra' as Mr. Jose Torres.
Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres
Celebrity couple Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres-Gomez hope to get re-elected as Leyte representative and Ormoc City mayor, respectively.
In 2022, Lucy succeeded her husband as mayor of the city, while Richard won as representative in the same district that his represented in the Congress.
Doland Castro
Former news reporter Doland Castro wants to represent the first district of Quezon City in the city council. He filed his COC on October 2, 2024. In a report by Manila Bulletin, Mr. Castro filed for early retirement in ABS-CBN in 2021.
Vilma Santos-Recto
The “Star For All Seasons” is making a comeback in the province of Batangas. Multi-awarded actress Vilma Santos-Recto will be running in the midterm elections in 2025 for the position of Governor. She last served as the chief executive of the province in 2016.
She also served as Lipa City Mayor and congresswoman, too.
Luis Manzano
Meanwhile, her two sons will be also throwing their hat on the ring and will venture into politics as well. TV host Luis Manzano is her mom's running mate (for vice governor) while Ryan Christian wants to represent the sixth district of Batangas in the Congress.
Phillip Salvador
In 2016, former action star Phillip Salvador ran for vice governor of Bulacan, but lost. Will 2025 change his fate in politics? He is hoping to get a seat in the Senate in the mid-term elections.
Angelu de Leon
Pulang Araw actress Angelu de Leon is ready for an intense battle in the local elections in Pasig City after filing her COC.
The T.G.I.S. star is seeking a second term as city councilor in Pasig City under the slate of Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto. The latter is the son of Shining Inheritance actress Coney Reyes and Vic Sotto.
Marjorie Barretto
The sister of Claudine Barretto and Gretchen Barretto, Marjorie Barretto wants to serve again in the city council of Caloocan City.
From 2007 to 2013, she served as a city councilor. Mommy Marjorie filed her certificate of candidacy on October 6, 2024.
Two Tulfos
Three Tulfos in the next Congress?
It is possibile after the siblings of incumbent Senator Raffy Tulfo filed their COC to run in the Senate in the 2025 elections.
Seasoned broadcaster Ben Tulfo is running as an independent, while his brother ACT-CIS Representative Erwin Tulfo will be supported by the LAKAS-CMD party.
Jimmy Bondoc
"Let Me Be The One" hitmaker Jimmy Bondoc will be putting himself on a different stage. And this time if he gets lucky, he will be in the Upper House next year.
The OPM singer is seeking a seat in the Senate in the midterm elections next year.
Dodot Jaworski Jr.
He is giving his full support to Vico Sotto, who will be running for his last term as mayor of Pasig City. Former basketball player Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr. will be again the running mate of Mayor Vico in the 2025 elections.
Wendell Ramos
Last October 5, former Bubble Gang star Wendell Ramos officially filed his COC and will be battling out in what is expected to be a heated local election in the City of Manila in 2025. Wendell is seeking to represent the 4th district of Manila in the city council if he wins.
Jeremy Marquez
Jeremy Marquez, who is currently serving as a barangay captain in BF Homes, Parañaque, is the first nominee of the Solo Parent Partylist.
He has previously appeared in several shows in GMA-7 and is the son of actor-politician Joey Marquez and Francesca Siron.
Isko Moreno
After his failed bid for the presidency in 2022, Sparkle talent Isko Moreno will be returning to the City of Manila in the midterm elections in 2025 to be the next mayor of the city. He previously served as the CEO of Manila, vice mayor, and city councilor.
Kenneth Duremdes
Former PBA player and league MVP Kenneth Duremdes is the third nominee of the party-list MPBL. Meanwhile, former Sarangani vice governor, Jinkee Pacquiao, wife of Manny Pacquiao is the second nominee.
Aljur Abrenica
StarStruck graduate Aljur Abrenica will be running for a seat in the city council of Angeles City, Pampanga in the 2025 elections
Arron Villaflor
Kapamilya actor Arron Villaflor has already confirmed that he is seeking a position as board member in the second district of Tarlac province.
Ara Mina
Just like fellow actress Angelu de Leon, Bubble Gang actress Ara Mina also wants to serve in the Pasig City council as the representative of the second district. Angelu is seeking reelection in the midterm elections.
Cai Cortez
TV-movie actress Cai Cortez has also filed her certificate of candidacy to run in 2025 for a seat to become councilor in Taytay, Rizal.
Aiko Melendez
Aiko Melendez joins a growing list of celebrities running in Quezon City for the midterm elections. Aiko has filed her COC for her reelection bid as city councilor in the fifth district.
Samantha Panlilio
Binibining Pilipinas Grand International 2021 Samantha Panlilio will be running as the second nominee of the Agimat Party-list. It is led by former actor Bryan Revilla, son of Senator Bong Revilla.
DJ Durano
DJ Durano, who was last seen on TV via GMA Prime series 'Black Rider,' is seeking a government post in the 2025 elections by running as mayor in Sogod, Cebu.
Zanjoe Marudo
Based on reports, Zanjoe Marudo is the second nominee of the party-list called ASAP NA or Alyansa Laban sa Substance Abuse para sa Bagong Pilipinas Natin.
Maricel Morales
Maricel Morales is making a comeback in politics by filing her COC to run for councilor in Angeles City, Pampanga . She previously served as city councilor for nine years already. Aside from being an actress, Maricel was hailed as Mutya ng Pilipinas 1995.
Angelica Jones
Angelica Jones is up for reelection in the 2025 elections. She is seeking a third-term as provincial board member in the third disrict of Laguna.
Neil Coleta
Neil Coleta filed his certificate of candidacy to run as councilor in Dasmariñas City, Cavite.
Anjo and Ryan Yllana
Yllana brothers, Anjo and Ryan, are running in the 2025 elections. Anjo hopes to become the next vice mayor of Calamba City, Laguna, while his Ryan is running for reelection as city councilor in the second district of Parañaque.
Emilio Garcia
Veteran actor Emilio Garcia has also decided to run for the mayoralty race in Bay, Laguna in the 2025 elections.
Dan Fernandez
TV-movie actor Danilo “Dan” Fernandez who is an outgoing Laguna representative will seek to become the next governor of the province in the 2025 elections. He is currently the congressman of Santa Rosa City, Laguna.
