More showbiz lights up the political trail and why Sen. Grace is running again!

Until last Monday when she (finally, finally!) filed her COC (Certificate Of Candidacy) accompanied by her mom, Susan “Lola Flora” Roces, Sen. Grace Poe kept people guessing if she would run or not. Hanging in many people’s mind is the question: Was she “traumatized” by her loss in the 2016 presidential election?

Funfare learned that Grace got the consensus of her family, especially her husband Neil Llamanzares and Mom Susan, before she made a decision.

Asked by ABS-CBN reporter Johnson Manabat at COMELEC what her opinion was, Susan said (quoted as spoken), “Higit kailanman, ngayon kailangan ang kanyang paglingkod sa bayan.”  

Asked what she learned from the 2016 election, Grace texted Funfare, “If nothing else, 2016 was an opportunity for me to go around the country. To see and feel for myself what our countrymen needed and how better to serve them.”

Alfred Romualdez, Mar Roxas, Richard Yap and Sen. Chiz Escudero

She added, “I will continue to legislate to help our economy and provide opportunities to all, especially the marginalized.

“I authored the law that will provide meals for all malnourished children in public schools. I will work to expand that to include all children in public schools. Currently, all DSWD daycares will also benefit from the law and provide meals for all toddlers and young children in their facilities.

“I am also pushing to help drive down the costs of commodities particularly rice by co-authoring the Rice Tariff Bill. This will allow more legally imported rice as long as the appropriate taxes are paid. In return, revenue from the rice import tax will be used to help farmers improve their yield.

“I also resolve to continue to be fair and independent in my views. I will impartially practice oversight and make sure government officials in their agencies are accountable and are effective in projects they are tasked to implement.”

For sure, Grace will help light up the 2019 campaign trail, along with other showbiz stars, those showbiz-related and other celebrities, namely:

• Mar Roxas for senator;

• Freddie Aguilar for senator;

• Richard Yap for Cebu congressman;

• Pangasinan Rep. Baby Arenas for reelection;

• Manila (4th District) Rep. Edward Maceda for reelection;

• Pangasinan (4th District) Rep. Christopher “Toffer” de Venecia for reelection;

• Mikey Belmonte for Quezon City councilor (2nd District);

Mikey Belmonte, Cavite Vice Gov. Jolo Revilla, Rep. Baby Arenas and Dr. Willie Ong

• Ormoc Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez for reelection;

• Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco for Navotas City mayor (while his younger brother, incumbent Navotas Mayor John Ray, will run for congress);

• Quezon City Councilor Roderick Paulate for Q.C. vice mayor;

• Alfred Romualdez for Tacloban City Mayor (his wife, Cristina Gonzalez-Romualdez, the city’s incumbent mayor, said she’ll focus on the family business and their children);

• Sen. Chiz Escudero (third termer) for governor of Sorsogon;

• Cavite Vice Gov. Jolo Revilla for reelection;

• Cavite Rep. Strike Revilla for reelection;

• Camille Villar for Las Piñas congresswoman;

Rep. Christopher de Venecia, Rep. Toby Tiangco, Freddie Aguilar and Manila Councilor Edward Maceda

• Dr. Willie Ong for senator;

• Isko Moreno for Manila mayor;

• E.R. Ejercito for Laguna governor;

• Janella Estrada for San Juan City mayor; and

• Q.C. Councilor Hero Bautista for reelection.

There’s a rumor that, encouraged by the popularity of Ang Probinsyano where he appears with Coco Martin, former Sen. Lito Lapid might run for the same position.

And what about James Yap, rumored to be running for San Juan City vice mayor?

Asked about it, James texted Funfare, “Sinong maysabi? Hahahahaha!!!”

Rep. Strike Revilla, Camille Villar, Ormoc City Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez and Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco

(Note: Mentioned in last Friday’s [Oct. 12] Funfare as among the showbiz guys running in 2019 were: Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada for reelection; former Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bong Revilla again for the Senate; Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte for Q.C. mayor; Q.C. Councilor Gian Sotto for Q.C. vice mayor; Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos for reelection; election lawyer Romy Macalintal for senator; Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez for reelection; Ex-PCOO Asec. Mocha Uson for Partylist Kasosyo; Bacoor [Cavite] Mayor Lani Mercado for reelection; Sta. Rosa [Laguna] Mayor Dan Fernandez, back to Congress; Makati Rep. Monsour del Rosario for reelection; and Q.C. Rep. [5th District] Alfred Vargas for reelection.)

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)