LIST: Celebrities and Internet Personalities Running for Office in 2025
Oct 4, 2024 • Ina Louise Manto
Oct 4, 2024 • Ina Louise Manto
On October 1, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) officially commenced the election season, with more than 18,200 elective positions to be filled. While familiar names filed for reelection, social media has been abuzz with netizens reacting to celebrities and influencers who have filed their Certificates of Candidacy (COC). As of writing, here are the personalities who will try their luck in the 2025 midterm elections:
Marco Gumabao is an actor and model known for his roles in the TV series Los Bastardos (2018-2019), Just a Stranger (2019) with Anne Curtis, and Revirginized (2021) with Sharon Cuneta. He’s also actress Cristine Reyes’ current partner.
Running for: Congressman in the Fourth District of Camarines Sur
Vice Ganda’s husband, Benigno Dungo Perez, popularly known as Ion Perez, appears on It’s Showtime as a regular host. His claim to fame started when he became Kuya Escort of the noontime show’s Miss Q and A segment.
Running for: Councilor in Concepcion, Tarlac
Rosmarie Tan-Pamulaklakin, also known as Rosmar, is a social media personality or vlogger, who has over 15.8 million followers on TikTok. She’s also an entrepreneur and CEO of Rosmar International, a cosmetics, skincare, and beauty brand.
Running for: Councilor in the First District of Manila
Actor Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde serves as a congressman in the first district of Quezon City. Before becoming a politician in 2022, Atayde was an ABS CBN actor and appeared in several shows. He’s also actress Maine Mendoza’s husband.
Running for: Reelection as a congressman in the first district of Quezon City
Enzo Pineda is a GMA actor who won First Prince in the fifth season of reality competition StarStruck. He is also a Marine reservist under the Philippine Navy.
Running for: Councilor in the fifth district of Quezon City
At age 22, Michael Pacquiao is ready to follow in the political footsteps of his father, former professional boxer and Philippine senator, Manny Pacquiao. He also gained popularity for his rap music.
Running for: Councilor in General Santos City
Manuel “Lito” Mercado Lapid has been a serving Senator since 2019. Before his career in politics, Lapid was a popular action star with a filmography that began in 1968.
Running for: Reelection as Senator
Deo Jarito Balbuena, known as Diwata, gained popularity on TikTok for their viral food business, Diwata Pares Overload. The TikTok page has over 600,000 followers.
Running for: The fourth nominee for Vendors Party-list
“Star for All Seasons” Vilma Santos-Recto is an actress and former politician. She first entered politics when she served as Lipa City’s mayor for three consecutive terms (1998-2003) and the Governor of Batangas from 2007 to 2016.
Running for: Governor of Batangas
Luis Manzano is a comedian, actor, and TV host. He is the son of Vilma Santos-Recto and Edu Manzano and is married to actress Jessie Mendiola.
Running for: Vice Governor of Batangas
Vicente Castelo Sotto III, or Tito Sotto, is a TV personality and former Senator of the Philippines. He was first elected as a Senator in 1992.
Running for: Senator
The COC filing period will end on October 8.
Disclaimer: This article is an ongoing list and will be updated by the 8List.PH editorial team.
Check us out on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube, to be the first to know about the latest news and coolest trends!
When she’s not writing, Ina’s busy curating playlists that will save her when words don’t work, reading, annoying her cat, or thinking of her next meal.
Input your search keywords and press Enter.