Movie actors win in Southern Tagalog polls

BATANGAS , Philippines – “We’re not just for the big screen, they chose us to be of service.”

Actors and actresses based here in Southern Tagalog proved themselves that they are not just for acting but destined to serve their constituents when they won the polls in their respective places of residence.

In Batangas, Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto won her second term as the chief executive of the province when she defeated her closest rival Edna Sanchez, widow of former Batangas governor Armand Sanchez.

Santos-Recto convincingly won against Sanchez by garnering 602,156 against the latter’s 390,330. Ate Vi to her fans and constituents, was elected mayor in Lipa City in 1998 for three terms and became the first woman governor of Batangas province in 2007.

Vi’s screen partner Christopher “Boyet” de Leon finally succeeded in his political career when he won as board member in the second district of Batangas. Boyet lost when he ran for the Batangas vice gubernatorial race in 2007.

In Laguna, where the most number of actors won, was led by governor-elect Jeorge “ER” Ejercito Estregan, son of on-screen villain George Estregan and nephew of former President Joseph Estrada.

ER won against his closest rivals former Laguna governor and DILG secretary Joey Lina, Dennis Lazaro, son of incumbent Laguna Gov. Teresita “Ning-Ning” Lazaro and incumbent vice governor Ramil Hernandez.

ER is the incumbent mayor of Pagsanjan Laguna. His wife Maita Ejercito also won to succeed her husband’s position as Pagsanjan’s mayoralty seat in the just concluded May 10 local and national election.

Actor-turned politician Dan Fernandez won his second term as congressman in the first district of Laguna. Fernandez was disqualified momentarily when he lost in a petition filed against him for residency issue. He was reinstated after filing and won for reconsideration.

Sexy-singer-actress Angelica Jones-Alarva won as board member in the third district of Laguna. Angelica ran in 2007 as board member but lost due to name conflict. She mistakenly used her screen name Angelica Jones when her real family name Alarva is more known as natives of San Pablo City.