Star-studded 2013 elections

MANILA, Philippines - The 2013 elections will certainly be colorful, exciting and tough, if not a fierce battle among all candidates. With seven months to go before we all cast our votes, the elections will see old timers slugging it out with first-time candidates, showbiz stars included.

Expectedly, showbiz personalities are what make the elections more interesting. Their popularity and mass appeal are what propelled them to run for public office knowing they would be supported by people who idolize them.

For next year’s elections, more showbiz personalities were convinced to enter politics. One of them is Aga Muhlach who leads the list of showbiz stars trying it out in politics. He filed his candidacy as congressman of Camarines Sur. This is Aga’s first salvo into politics and he enjoys the support of his wife, Charlene Gonzalez.

Annabelle Rama also bravely entered the political arena by filing her candidacy as congressman of Cebu. It will be remembered that Annabelle’s husband, Eddie Gutierrez, tried his luck in politics as congressman a few years back, but was not successful enough.

This time, Annabelle boldly launched her candidacy and she was supported by her family — husband Eddie and children Ruffa, Rocky, Elvis, Richard, Raymond and Ritchie Paul.

Also invading politics is singer Imelda Papin, who is seeking for the congressional seat in Bulacan. Character actor Rez Cortez is running for congress in a different district in Camarines Sur.

For broadcast journalists, throwing her hat in the political arena for the first time is ABS-CBN reporter Sol Aragones, who is running for congress. Meanwhile, young actress Charie Pineda will try it out as councilor.

Seeking for a senatorial seat for the first time is censors chief Grace Poe Llamanzares. Strongly backing her up is her mom, veteran actress Susan Roces. Singer Victor Wood is also a senatorial aspirant.

Jolo Revilla, although not a tyro in politics, is seeking for the vice gubernatorial seat in Cavite. Jolo has served as Kabataang Barangay chairman in Cavite in the past years. For his vice gubernatorial bet, he is heavily supported by his parents, Bong Revilla and Lani Mercado, who are both politicians. Bong is a senator, while Lani is a congressman in Cavite.

Joko Diaz is making his political debut by running as board member in Batangas. Aiming for a higher political position as congressman are Quezon City councilor Alfred Vargas, Batangas board member Christopher de Leon, Valenzuela Councilor Shalani Soledad-Romulo and former Parañaque Mayor Joey Marquez.

Meanwhile, seeking for re-election are Ormoc City Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez and Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez.

Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos, Laguna Gov. ER Ejercito, Bulacan Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Pagsanjan Mayor Maita Sanchez, Bacoor Mayor Strike Revilla and Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno are all re-electionists.

A former ABS-CBN reporter Mon Ilagan is likewise gunning for his third term as Cainta mayor. Richard Gomez, who in 2010 was disqualified from the race as Ormoc City representative because of residency rule, will run for mayor of Ormoc next year.

Former President Erap Estrada is going back to being mayor, this time in Manila. He served as mayor of San Juan for almost two decades before he ran for the senate, became vice president and then president. Early this year, he bought an old mansion in Manila to comply with the residency rule come 2013.

Gary Estrada and Angelika Jones will both seek for re-election as board members in Laguna.

Aiming for different position or higher public office are Manila Councilor Lou Veloso who will run as vice mayor, Rizal Gov. Jun Jun Ynares will run for mayor in Antipolo City and former Caloocan City Mayor Rey Malonzo who will try to make it as Manila vice mayor.

Tito Sotto, Loren Legarda and Chiz Escudero will run again for the senate while San Juan City Rep. JV Ejercito will also aim for the senate.

Anjo Yllana will go back to politics and will run for councilor in Quezon City, while his brother Ryan Yllana will run for councilor in Parañaque with Alma Moreno.

Also running as councilors are Jestoni Alarcon (Antipolo), Robert Ortega (Manila), Marjorie Barretto (Caloocan), Roderick Paulate (Quezon City) and Monsour del Rosario (Makati).