Part 2: List of Celebrities Running for Seats in 2022 Elections

As the 2022 national elections draw closer, the Metro Cebu News team has been listing notable celebrities that now look to earn seats in the government from standing in front of cameras.

With the Philippines being a democracy, even celebrities may gun for spots in the government. Here is a list of some more celebrities running for elected seats in the government:

Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso

Francisco Moreno Domagoso, widely known in the entertainment industry and politics as “Isko,” is an actor-turned-politician, currently serving as the 22nd mayor of Manila after he won in the 2019 elections.

Isko was discovered in 1993 by talent scout Wowie Roxas while the latter was attending a funeral. Moreno instantly became a household name and was considered a matinee idol in the 90s. Isko became part of the German “Kuya Germs” Moreno-led “That’s Entertainment,” a daily variety show featuring aspiring teenage actors. Isko went on to play roles in erotic films which were prevalent in the Philippines in the 90s.

Isko became a politician when he was elected as a councilor for Manila’s first legislative district in 1998 and was re-elected in 2001 and 2004. He then became Manila’s Vice Mayor in 2007 after his last term as a councilor and was re-elected in 2010.

Isko lost a senate bid in 2016 but was elected to be Manila’s Mayor in 2019.

Notable projects of Isko Moreno include the beautification of Manila and his housing projects such as Tondominium and Binondominium.

Moreno and five other Manila city councilors were arrested in 2013 for illegal gambling, however, the justice department dismissed the charges over lack of probable cause.

Vicente “Tito” Sotto III

Vicente Sotto III, more known as “Tito,” or “Tito Sen,” is another celebrity who then became a politician, currently running for the vice presidency.

Sotto’s musical career started in 1960 after he joined the cover band Tilt Down Men, which features one of his brothers, Val. Sotto then turned to the business side of the industry as he became the vice president of Vicor Music Corporation.

Sotto also formed one of the iconic Manila sound group VST & Company. Sotto composed “Magkaisa,” widely recognized as one of the anthems of the 1986 People Power Revolution.

He started his acting and hosting career in the 1970s, with the gag show “OK Lang,” which starred the famous trio of Tito, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon, with the trio celebrating their 50th anniversary as a group in 2022.

The trio starred in several other shows such as the variety show “Discorama,” and the sitcom “Iskul Bukol,” before hosting “Eat Bulaga!” in 1979.

Sotto is also one of the five original hosts of Eat Bulaga!

Sotto is currently the incumbent Senate president, and was a congressman for almost two decades, authoring over 100 laws.

He has usually tagged as a conservative, due to his consistent blocking of progressive bills such as the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression Bill in the Senate, claiming that several provisions of the bill are trampling on religious freedom, academic freedom, and women’s rights.

Moreover, Sotto also opposed the Reproductive Health Law when it was still being debated in the senate.

Sotto has been supportive of the current administration’s war on drugs campaign, however, he aims to employ a “holistic approach” to the war on drugs if elected.

Sotto has been involved in several issues, as he has been implicated in the Pepsi Paloma case, and was accused of plagiarism in 2012 when he allegedly plagiarized several passages in a speech opposing the Reproductive Health Bill.

Richard Yap

Richard Yap has not lost hope when it comes to politics, as the actor, model, and businessman, best known for his role as “Papa Chen” in My Binondo Girl and Richard “Sir Chief” Lim in the TV series “Be Careful With My Heart”.

Yap started his acting career in 2011 when he portrayed Kim Chiu’s father, Chen Sy in the ABS-CBN TV series My Binondo Girl.

He then made more appearances in the network in 2012, playing a recurring character in Walang Hanggan as Henry de Dios.

Yap had his big break in 2014 when he starred as Richard “Sir Chief” Lim with co-star Jodi Santamaria in the daytime drama Be Careful With My Heart, which made him a household name.

He then started his political career in 2019, when he ran for Cebu City’s 1st District Congressional seat against longtime politician Raul Del Mar in the 2019 midterm elections.

Del Mar won in a landslide, getting 134,816 votes against Yap’s 81,167.

However, Yap has not lost all hope as he seeks to win as Cebu City’s 1st District representative in the coming 2022 national elections. (GFB)