Stars, beauty queens in winning circle

The 2016 campaign was just as star-studded as the previous ones. In politics as anywhere else, there’s no business like show business.

Here are some of those (including showbiz-related) who made it:

• Senators (as of the latest count): Manny Pacquiao; reelectionists Tito Sotto and Ralph Recto; returning Senators Kiko Pangilinan and Migz Zubiri (one-time host of TV show Team Explorer with JC Gonzales and Jeffrey Hidalgo); Joel Villanueva (host of the TV shows Diyos at Bayan (with his dad Bro. Eddie Villanueva) and Agenda; and Risa Hontiveros (host of, among other shows, Street Pulse, Headline Trese and Firing Line).

• Congressmen: (Incumbent) Imelda Romualdez-Marcos (Ilocos Norte); (Incumbent) Alfred Vargas (Quezon City, unopposed); Chiqui Roa-Puno (Antipolo City); (Incumbent) Bacoor Mayor Strike Revilla (Cavite); Monsour del Rosario (Makati City); (incumbent) Lucy Torres (Ormoc City); Imelda Papin (Camarines Sur); (former ABS-CBN reporter) Sol Aragones (Laguna); Edward Maceda (Manila); Yedda Marie Kittilstvedt Romualdez (Tacloban City); Yul Servo (Manila); and Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos (Lipa City).

• Board Member: Jestoni Alarcon (Rizal Province)

• Vice Governors: (Incumbent) Daniel Fernando (Bulacan); and (incumbent) Jolo Revilla (Cavite)

• Mayors: (Incumbent) Joseph “Erap” Estrada; (Incumbent) Guia Gomez (San Juan City); (incumbent) Rep. Lani Mercado (Bacoor, Cavite); (incumbent) Herbert Bautista (unopposed); (incumbent) Junjun Ynares; (incumbent) Councilor Cristina “Kring-Kring” Gonzales-Romualdez (Tacloban City); (incumbent) Rep. Dan Fernandez (Sta. Rosa, Laguna); Maita Sanchez-Ejercito (Pagsanjan, Laguna); (incumbent) Fe Abunda (Boy’s sister, unopposed, Borongan City, Western Samar); and Richard Gomez (Ormoc City).

• Vice Mayors: (Incumbent Joy Belmonte (Quezon City); Ina Alegre (real name: Jennifer Mindanao Cruz; Pola, Oriental Mindoro); Janelle Ejercito (San Juan City); and Andrea del Rosario (Calatagan, Batangas).

• Councilors: Vico Sotto (Pasig City); Jenny Pingree Esplana (Valenzuela City); Jhong Hilario and Rico J. Puno (Makati City); Hero Bautista, Precious Hipolito, Roderick Paulate, Lala Sotto, Kate Coseteng, Anjo Yllana and Gian Sotto (Quezon City); Charee Pineda (Valenzuela City); and Vandolph, Roselle Nava, Ryan Yllana, Jomari Yllana and Wahoo Sotto (Parañaque City).  

 

News from the ‘beauty’ front

• Beauties at NYC Phl Independence Day Parade

The biggest Philippine Independence Day Parade outside the Philippines will be staged once again by the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI), headed by Dr. Prospero Lim, on June 5 along Madison Ave. in Manhattan, New York City, with TV 5 and Aksyon TV International as media partners. More than 200 Fil-Am organizations will join the parade with around 80,000 expected revelers.

Unfortunately, Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach, won’t be able to attend the parade that day. She will be at the Miss USA 2016 pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada, on the same day. Many fans were expecting her to be riding a float along the route together with PIDCI’s queens for this year including Mrs. Kalayaan 2016 Dhelma Lopez and Diwa ng Kalayaan 2016 Elaine Ficarra. But Pia will grace the 2016 Philippine Independence Ball on June 10 at the Teaneck Marriott Hotel in Teaneck, New Jersey, where she will be the guest of honor.

PIDCI is an umbrella organization of Filipino American associations based in the East Coast. It is principally dedicated to promoting history, the cultural heritage and traditions of the Filipino people through the celebration of Philippine Independence Day. Hence, the name. — Reported by Felix Manuel

Left: Maxine Medina (center) with (from left) Dad Max Medina, Mom Marife Medina, sister Ferica Medina and boyfriend Marx Topacio. Below: With some members of her Aces & Queens Family (from left) Dave Grona, Jim Ryan Ros, Raymond Galang, Boyet Blas, Gerry Diaz, Maxine, Mark Besana, Carissa Cielo Medved and Arnold Mercado.

• Miss U-Phl Maxine Medina marks 26th birthday

Three weeks after winning Miss Universe-Philippines, Maxine Medina celebrated her 26th birthday at the Jardin Club of the Remington Hotel with the after party at House Manila in the same hotel. The party also served as a celebration for her Bb. Pilipinas win. It was a very private and intimate party attended only by her immediate family, her Aces & Queens family, close friends and colleagues from PMAP (Professional Models Association of the Philippines). Also in attendance were Maxine’s Aces & Queens Binibini batchmates 2016 Bb. Pilipinas International Kylie Verzosa, 2016 Bb. Pilipinas Grand International Nicole Cordoves, second runner-up Jehza Huelar and Best in National Costume Angela Fernando. 2012 Miss World semifinalist Queenie Rehman was also there to greet Maxine.

Maxine’s family was present — her dad Max Medina, lovely mom bank manager Marife Perez Medina and sister Ferica Medina who is seen as a future beauty queen. Maxine’s two brothers, Matthew Kendrick and Marx Ryan, are working in the US. On hand to help entertain the guests was Marx Topacio, Maxine’s boyfriend. Early bird was 2003 Miss World 2003 Top 5 finalist Mafae Yunon Belasco who came with her kids. The PMAP delegation was headed by Maxine’s aunt Gem Padilla who was 1990 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe. Gem is a cousin of Maxine’s mom from the mother’s side, the Padillas from Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija. Marife is a distant relative of Robin Padilla. 

Aces & Queens members who celebrated with Maxine were Jonas Gaffud, Arnold Mercado, Mark Besana, Boyet Blas, Gerry Diaz, Carissa Cielo Medved, Jim Ryan Ros, Raymond Galang and Dave Grona. Missed at the party were Nad Bronce, John Cuay, Albert Kurniawan, film directors Cesar Evangelista and Jeffrey Jeturian who discovered Maxine at a restaurant in Trinoma in 2012. — Reported by Gerry Diaz

 

• Ex-actress Jenny Varga vies for 2016 Mrs. Universe

Former actress Jenny Varga (photo, Jennifer Guinto in real life) is the country’s bet in the forthcoming 2016 Mrs. Universe slated to be held in Yancheng, China, aiming to be our first-ever titlist.

Jenny hails from Cavite City and has three children. A Business Administration graduate from Philippine Christian University in Manila, Jenny is now a successful entrepreneur. She also worked in Japan where she taught English to pre-school and high school students. She is not new to the pageantry world. She was an official candidate of 1983 Bb. Pilipinas pageant won by Cita Capuyon and was also a 1983 Miss Philippine Pacific fourth runner-up.

In 1984, Jenny entered showbiz via Jolo: No Man’s Land as leading lady of Muhammad Faisal. She did more than 50 films with lead action stars.  

Mrs. Universe Philippines national director Gareth Blanco handpicked Jenny from several aspirants who submitted their portfolio to be our representative in the pageant.  — Reported by Celso de Guzman Caparas

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)