Julia Christine Botin

Celebrities running for local positions cast votes in Halalan 2025

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- Celebrities who are running for local positions in midterm elections went to the polls early to cast their votes on Monday, May 12. </p><div> </div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1747014966892image.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo from Enzo Pineda Campaign Team</span></span></span></div><div><strong>Enzo Pineda</strong></div><p>Actor Enzo Pineda arrived at his respective precinct at Kaligayahan Elementary School in Novaliches, Quezon City on Monday, May 12, to caste his vote.</p><p>Pineda is running for councilor in Quezon City&#x27;s Fifth District. He joined showbiz via a talent search &quot;StarStruck.&quot;  In 2016, he started acting in ABS-CBN through the series &quot;‘Til I Met You.&quot; His other series include &quot;Pusong Ligaw,&quot; &quot;Bagani&quot; and &quot;Can&#x27;t Buy Me Love.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-3" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJik7LOvNoc/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=594&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A7419336.6000003815%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="694" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-3" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Aiko Melendez</strong></div><p><strong></strong>Actress Aiko Melendez on Monday casted her vote in Quezon City for midterm elections. Melendez is running for councilor in Quezon City&#x27;s 5th District.  </p><p>In a previous interview with ABS-CBN News, the 45-year-old actress said she has no qualms in returning to public service after 11 years. </p><p>Melendez is considered one of the best actresses of her generation. She is known for her hit films &quot;May Minamahal,&quot; &quot;Sa &#x27;yo Lamang&quot; and &quot;Kahit Kailan.&quot; Her last movie outing was &quot;Rainbow Sunset&quot; where she won best supporting actress at the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival. On television, Melendez is best known for her role in ABS-CBN&#x27;s revenge drama &quot;Wildflower.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174702873591020250512-halalan-vilam-santos-1.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"/><span class="fr-inner">Photo by Arnell Ozaeta </span></span></span></div><div><strong>Vilma Santos</strong></div><p>Veteran actress Vilma Santos-Recto hasb finished casting her vote in Batangas. The country&#x27;s Star for All Seasons is running for governor of the province, with her son, host-actor Luis Manzano as her running mate. </p><p>In a previous interview, Santos described her return to  governorship as a “tour of duty.” “Kung kami po ay papalarin, nandirito po kami at handang magbigay ng serbisyo. Lumaki ang dalawang ito, na pareho na po kaming nagsisilbi ni Secretary Ralph Recto,” sayid Santos, referring to her sons Luis and Ryan, who is running for representative in Batangas&#x27;s 6th district.</p><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-3&amp;features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1921774682828583347&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-05-12T03%3A57%3A32.230581%3A5c2af279-c343-48f8-bd89-fafc1c7ba2c1%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=95b9bff2ea9c7bf48d5b2d49ff1530d8f9985f1a&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:550px;height:801px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="1921774682828583347"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong>Abby Viduya</strong></div><p>Former sexy star Abby Viduya, a candidate for Parañaque 1st District councilor, has cast her vote in her precinct. She is married to actor Jomari Yllana, whose term as Parañaque 1st District councilor is ending this 2025. They tied the knot in November 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. </p><p>&quot;Kasi it&#x27;s Jom&#x27;s last term, para ituloy ang serbisyong tatak Yllana ako naman ang magtutuloy ng serbisyo. ... Ang ginagawa ni Jom ay inilalapit niya ang serbisyo ng gobyerno sa tao, &#x27;yun ang ginagawa ng aking asawa, so itutuloy ko po,&quot; Viduya said in previous interview.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-5" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJisqh4h9ge/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=594&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A5%2C%22os%22%3A10377090.900000095%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="870" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-5" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong>Angelu de Leon</strong></div><p>Actress Angelu de Leon based on her social media post has cast her vote. She is running for her second term as Pasig City councilor. De Leon joined show business at the age of 12 when she became part of ABS-CBN&#x27;s &quot;Ang TV.&quot; In the 1999 Metro Manila Film Festival, she won best supporting actress for her performance in “Bulaklak ng Maynila.”   </p><div> </div><div><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-2&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1921779070234251323&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-05-12T03%3A57%3A32.230581%3A5c2af279-c343-48f8-bd89-fafc1c7ba2c1%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=95b9bff2ea9c7bf48d5b2d49ff1530d8f9985f1a&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:550px;height:648px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="1921779070234251323"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong>Alfred Vargas</strong></div><p>Actor Alfred Vargas has casted his vote at SM City Fairview, one of the mall voting program venues by the Commission on Elections. The actor-politician is seeking for another term as councilor in Quezon City&#x27;s 5th District. </p><p>A Management Economics graduate from the Ateneo de Manila University, the actor is the son of the late lawyer Susana “Ching” Vargas, who previously worked as deputy executive secretary for finance and administration in Malacanang, under three former presidents, Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. </p><p>He first won a seat in Congress in 2013. His brother, Patrick Michael &quot;PM&quot; Vargas represents Quezon City&#x27;s 5th District at the House of Representatives.  </p><p>Vargas had auditioned for Star Magic Batch 10, which included Bea Alonzo, Dennis Trillo and Nadine Samonte.</p><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-4&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1921758722994393253&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-05-12T03%3A57%3A32.230581%3A5c2af279-c343-48f8-bd89-fafc1c7ba2c1%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=95b9bff2ea9c7bf48d5b2d49ff1530d8f9985f1a&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:550px;height:601px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="1921758722994393253"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><div><br/></div><div><strong>Ejay Falcon</strong></div><p>Actor Ejay Falcon cast his vote at Barangay Cacawan in Pinamalayan on Monday, May 12. Falcon is seeking a seat at the 2nd District of Oriental Mindoro. </p><p>In 2022, the former &quot;Pinoy Big Brother&quot; winner was elected vice governor of Oriental Mindoro.</p><p>Falcon worked as a helper in a market before entering the entertainment industry in 2008, when he joined and won &quot;PBB: Teen Edition Plus.&quot;Falcon was the lead star in the ABS-CBN dramas &quot;Dugong Buhay&quot; and &quot;Sandugo,&quot; among other starring roles in Kapamilya movies and series.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3HC3q5-16zU?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3PcGy1GtJe0?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Celebrities who are running for local positions in midterm elections went to the polls early to cast their votes on Monday, May 12.</p>

Celebrities who are running for local positions in midterm elections went to the polls early to cast their votes on Monday, May 12.