MANILA, Philippines - Famous personalities and several members of political families have emerged victorious in the recent local elections held in the vote-rich Quezon City.
Unlike in recent years, however, fewer celebrities ran – and even fewer won – in what was previously dubbed as the “city of the stars.â€
Leading them was re-elected Mayor Herbert Bautista, who won in a landslide victory against independent candidates Johnny Chang and Henry Samonte.
Prior to the start of the period of filing of certificates of candidacy, various personalities like former senator Robert Jaworksi and famous TV host Vic Sotto floated as possible contenders for the city’s top post.
None of them, however, challenged Bautista, who has thanked them for allowing him to continue his projects for the city.
Aside from Bautista, also victorious was actor Alfred Vargas, who was elected representative of the newly-created fifth district. He defeated former congressmen Annie Rosa Susano and Dante Liban, as well as broadcast journalist Isagani Oro.
Winning in the race for the city council were host-comedian Roderick Paulate (District 2); basketball coach Franz Pumaren (District 3); comedian Anjo Yllana (District 5); and siblings Gian (District 3) and Lala Sotto (District 6), children of Sen. Tito Sotto and actress Helen Gamboa.
Paulate and Gian ran for re-election in their respective districts, while Pumaren reclaimed his council seat after losing in a congressional race in 2010. Lala, who previously served for three terms in the second district, ran in the newly-created sixth district.
All five of them ran under the administration slate of Bautista.
Yllana, a former vice mayor of Parañaque, ran under the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
But not all celebrities who ran for a local post in the city won in their respective bids. Singers Anthony Castelo (District 3) and Heber Bartolome (District 6), who both ran for council seats were not successful.
UNA candidate Aileen Papin (District 5), sister of jukebox singer Imelda Papin, also failed to snag a council seat.
Interestingly, the campaign in the city was less stellar as compared with previous elections. In 2010, among those who ran but lost included TV personalities Aiko Melendez, Ara Mina, Ricky Davao, Arnel Ignacio, Ogie Diaz, and Maria Isabel Lopez.
Clans win some, lose some
A number of political families likewise emerged victorious in the local polls held in the city. Among them were the Belmontes led by re-electionists Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and fourth district Rep. and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte.
Three other Belmontes won in their respective bids: re-electionist councilors RJ (District 1) and Vincent (District 4), and congressman-elect Kit (District 6).
Most of the candidates fielded by the Castelo clan also won in the local polls. Among them were re-electionist Rep. Winston Castelo and his wife re-electionist councilor Precious Hipolito-Castelo, both from District 2.
Also winners were re-electionist councilor Jessica Castelo-Daza (District 4), and first time councilors Karl Edgar Castelo (District 5) and Bobby Castelo (District 6).
Meanwhile, Jessica’s husband, former Bulacan board member Allan Robes, lost in his council bid for the sixth district. Robes, who ran as an independent, was charged with homicide after allegedly shooting the partner of Jessica’s mother, former Rep. Nanette Castelo-Daza.
Lena Marie Juico will replace his brother, outgoing councilor Joseph Emile (District 1).
Two members each from the Medalla and Liban families will also join the city council. Father and son Godie and Bong Liban won in their bids in the fifth and second districts, respectively.
Returning councilor Ramon Medalla (District 2) will also join his daughter Aly, who won in her re-election bid in the fifth district.
The Medinas are not as fortunate. Re-electionist Candy topped the race in the sixth district, but her father former councilor Eric (District 5) and her sister-in-law Olyn Therese (District 2) lost.
Re-electionist councilor Anthony Crisologo topped the race in the first district. His mother Rita, however, failed to win the congressional seat that will be vacated by his father Bingbong.
Incumbent Councilor Francisco Calalay, a candidate of the Liberal Party (LP), defeated Rita by a margin of around 6,000 votes.
No Mathay, Defensor
In addition to Susano, also failing to make a political comeback in Quezon City were the Mathays and the Defensors.
Mat Defensor (UNA), who tried to reclaim the third district congressional seat from incumbent Bolet Banal (LP), lost by a margin of 10,000 votes to Banal.
Former second district congressman Ismael “Chuck†Mathay III suffered the same fate, losing by more than 30,000 votes to Castelo of LP.
Other Mathays who ran for council seats, including former councilor Ramon “Bu†Mathay (District 4) and Ismael Mathay IV (District 5), also lost in this year’s polls.