Some local personalities prefer to keep their political bets private, like Paolo Bediones who does so in the spirit of impartiality as a TV5 news anchor, while others, like veteran kontrabida actress Cherie Gil, declare they are not voting. But as the election comes nearer, a growing number of celebrities bare their political colors loud and proud on Twitter, among other media.
(Celebrities are grouped by their political leanings which are arranged alphabetically by surname.)
1. Kris Aquino, TV host and actress
Supports: Her brother, Liberal Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III
Tweeting tactic: From nationwide sorties to Baby James' booboo, Kris keeps the public updated on her Kuya Noy's campaign.
Sample tweet: "I saw endorsement tvc of Pinoy sports icon saying words to the effect na laban ng laban wala naman napatunayan. In politics, Noy has won 3 straight terms sa Congress & won almost 15 million votes sa Senatorial in 2007. How sad na he didn't think na in politics- knock out nga sya. In politics si Noy ang may napatunayan because Noy has never lost an election! Ika nga, undefeated ang record nya!"
2. Ogie Alcasid, singer-songwriter
Supports: Liberal Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, Liberal Party senatorial candidate Rep. Risa Hontiveros and Siquijor congressman candidate Dingdong Avanzado
Tweeting tactic: Alcasid shares what he's doing to help his political bets, from plugging shows where Hontiveros is featured to shooting a music video for Aquino and campaigning in Siquijor for Avanzado.
Sample tweet: "I truly admire Congresswoman Risa Hontiveros! Let us vote her for senator!"
3. Claudine Barretto, actress
Supports: Liberal Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III
Tweeting tactic: Barretto updates her followers on her campaign moves for Noynoy.
Sample tweet: "And Santino was super kulit.got soo tired,we finishd at 2pm den went straight to Do Ad Campaign 4 Noynoy in Makati wid Kris,Mariel"
4. Mariel Rodriguez, TV host
Supports: Liberal Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III
Tweeting tactic: Rodriguez retweets Aquino campaigns like "Si Noynoy," Ogie Alcasid's video for Aquino, and its behind the scenes.
Sample tweet: "Go noy noy!!!!!!"
5. Pepe Diokno, director
Supports: Liberal Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III
Tweeting tactic: In December, Diokno declared Aquino as his presidential bet ("ok, i'm going to call the 2010 election. who i'm voting for president: noynoy aquino. who's going to win it: manny villar."). Diokno praises Aquino's platform and track record but also recognizes when another candidate's certain output is better than Aquino's ("Video: Artists 4 Gordon/Bayani --> http://bit.ly/9cd2uC. Bec its waaay better thn Noynoy's torch music vid. Tho I dont vote based on ads :)").
Sample tweet: "Some people flat out refuse to read Noynoy's platform. But he has the best platform among the candidates."
6. Jim Paredes, member of APO Hiking Society
Supports: Liberal Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and the rest of the Liberal Party
Tweeting tactic: Paredes cites Aquino's accomplishments like doing "oversight work with many bills which is equally important." He also defends Aquino: "Psycholgical profiles were fake. Return accusations to delusional sender."
Sample tweet: "He dealt with issues and he stuck to them. No fake doctor's records. Corruption, C5 issues."
7. Jodi Sta. Maria-Lacson, actress
Supports: Liberal Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III
Tweeting tactic: Lacson tweets about fellow supporters and Aquino's sorties.
Sample tweet: "Me and my family are off to Tarlac to join Sen. Aquino's sortie and rally."
8. Ciara Sotto, TV host and actress
Supports: Liberal Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, and fellow Sottos like Quezon City councilor candidate Gian Sotto, Paranaque City councilor candidate Valmar "Val" Sotto and, of course, her father, senatorial candidate Tito Sotto
Tweeting tactic: Sotto tweets her political bets' commercials, TV appearances and motorcades. She apologizes for the traffic the motorcades cause.
Sample tweet: "woke up at 5:30am today--- only for my Dad :) tomorrow, I will be in a motorcade around Sta. Mesa, sorry if we cause traffic! See u! :)"
9. Aiza Seguerra, singer
Supports: Bagumbayan presidential candidate Richard "Dick" Gordon and vice presidential candidate Bayani Fernando
Tweeting tactic: Seguerra posts videos of and articles on Gordon and his running mate Fernando.
Sample tweet: "GO GORDON-BAYANI!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQMVSlLER1I&feature=player_embedded"
10. Pia Magalona, radio host
Supports: Bagumbayan presidential candidate Richard "Dick" Gordon
Tweeting tactic: With a red flash twibbon on her Twitter profile photo, Magalona fights for her presidential bet ("Just because someone speaks his mind, short-tempered na ang tawag nyo? Kaya uso dito ang backstabbing, e. Cowards."). Her family is also red-minded (see #11 and #12); her son Elmo was "supposed to record a jingle for [Gordon] but [his team] NEVER got in touch for skeds," according to Magalona.
Sample tweet: "Like I also say, I'm not voting to win a friend, I need a LEADER! I want someone AUTHORITATIVE! Go Gordon!"
11. Maxene Magalona, actress
Supports: Bagumbayan presidential candidate Richard "Dick" Gordon
Tweeting tactic: Magalona's avatar has a Gordon twibbon and she encourages her followers to add his twibbon to their avatars as well.
Sample tweet: "Support Dick Gordon for President! , add a #twibbon to your avatar now! - http://bit.ly/bBeW3V"
12. Saab Magalona, actress
Supports: Bagumbayan presidential candidate Richard "Dick" Gordon
Tweeting tactic: Magalona recognizes instances when Gordon is rude ("Wow Dick Gordon's guesting on @rockedradio might cost him votes. He's being very rude to @gangbadoy. Being frank is diff from rude, sir.") but is still voting for him ("He gets my vote for working his ass off and getting things done.").
Sample tweet: "@anniegarc5 Balat sibuyas kasi ang Pilipino eh. Magyabang man si Dick Gordon, may ipagyayabang! :)"
13. Iya Villania, TV host
Supports: Bagumbayan presidential candidate Richard "Dick" Gordon and Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro
Tweeting tactic: Villania isn't eligible to vote but believes in both candidates.
Sample tweet: "I do also believe in Gordon too folks :) both, I believe, are effective, qualified and would make that positive change our country has been needing for quite sometime now. I am not eligible to vote but would like to help others in choosing the right president :)"
14. Chito Miranda, vocalist of Parokya ni Edgar
Supports: Bagumbayan presidential candidate Richard "Dick" Gordon and Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro
Tweeting tactic: Supporting both Gordon and Teodoro like Villania, Miranda interchanges which presidentiable's name he tweets first.
Sample tweet: "Go Gordon! Go Gibo! Goodluck sa inyong dalawa! Sana isa sa inyong dalawa ang manalo. Forget the surveys! Sa survey ko, kayo ang panalo."
15. Ruffa Gutierrez, TV host and actress
Supports: Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro
Tweeting tactic: In the heat of the headline-grabbing walkout controversy between Kris Aquino and Ruffa Gutierrez plus her mom Annabelle Rama, Gutierrez tweeted, "I AM TEAM NOYNOY! But between now n the May elections many things can… still happen." About a month later, she tweeted, "To set the record straight: I AM NOT OFFICIALLY supporting or campaigning for ANY presidentiable yet. Just like u I am watching & waiting." Finally, about a week before the May 10 elections, she tweeted, "Just got hit by the green fever! My president is G1BO TEODORO! Galing at talino. SULONG G1BO! :))))"
Sample tweet: "4months ago when mom told us she was 4 G1BO we all laughed at her. Nag-iisa siya! 8days b4 the elections we realize she was right all along."
16. Miriam Quiambao, TV host and 1999 Miss Universe first runner-up
Supports: Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro
Tweeting tactic: Aside from celebrating "Greenies" or the Teodoro supporters, Quiambao enumerates the reasons why she is voting for Teodoro: character, integrity and leadership, plus producing results and passing the stress test.
Sample tweet: "To those asking, I am supporting GIBO because I believe in him. My vote is not for sale."
17. Daphne Osena Paez, TV personality
Supports: Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro
Tweeting tactic: Paez votes this year for the first time as a Filipino and says, "I have never felt this passion towards a leader." Sporting a Gibo twibbon on her avatar, she is willing to shoot a campaign ad for Teodoro for free.
Sample tweet: "Last year my dad was all about Gibo. I still laughed, thinking no one knows this guy. I swallowed my words when I heard his plans & vision."
18. Raymond Gutierrez, TV host
Supports: Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro
Tweeting tactic: Preceding his sister Ruffa's Gibo declaration on Twitter by a few days, Raymond has a Gibo twibbon on his avatar and posts photos of going green (green being Teodoro's color).
Sample tweet: "what's great about supporting G1BO: we're not doing it as a favor for someone, but we actually believe in his vision & capabilities."
19. Jolina Magdangal, singer, actress and TV host
Supports: Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro
Tweeting tactic: Magdangal tweets battle cries like "Go Gibo!" and "Go Green!" plus performances for Teodoro's sorties with Rivermaya, a band that sang for a Teodoro commercial.
Sample tweet: "GO GIBO!!!!!!"
20. Tintin Bersola-Babao, TV personality
Supports: Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro
Tweeting tactic: Babao says she declared her support for Teodoro only recently because "Process of genuine discernment takes time. We were open in getting to knw all of them first and listen to their platforms, observe their character." Often asked if her husband Julius, an ABS-CBN news anchor, would vote for Teodoro as well, she says she isn't "at liberty to divulge" Julius' candidate but is convincing him to vote for Teodoro.
Sample tweet: "And careful HOW u tweet abt ur candidate, u might just be a REFLECTION of the character of YOUR candidate.Who is the positive candidate who doesn't resort to mudslinging? Dun ako."
21. Tuesday Vargas, comedian
Supports: Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro
Tweeting tactic: Vargas often performs in various sorties but says she is not endorsing anyone.
Sample tweet: "@yuanista31 entertainment lang ako, not endorsing anyone. But I am part of the green team. Sulong GIBO!"
22. IC Mendoza, comedian
Supports: Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro
Tweeting tactic: Mendoza wears green clothing in support of Teodoro and praises his vision for the country.
Sample tweet: "@mikaelamartinez naman! Aside from his vision. He's the cutest candidate!"
23. Bubbles Paraiso, model
Supports: Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro
Tweeting tactic: Paraiso tweets that she gives away Teodoro baller IDs, wears green clothing in support of Teodoro and joins Teodoro's rallies.
Sample tweet: "i want a President who will SERVE the country. i want a President who is best for the job . i am not anti anyone. but i am FOR @giboteodoro"
24. Michelle Madrigal, actress
Supports: Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro
Tweeting tactic: Like Jolina Magdangal, Madrigal tweets battle cries for Teodoro.
Sample tweet: "malapit na ang election!!! go green! go gibo! =)"
25. Megan Young, actress
Supports: Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro
Tweeting tactic: Young isn't registered to vote but she tweets her support for Teodoro and the pro-Teodoro.
Sample tweet: "Kung registered lang ako, I would also vote for him. RT @mondgutierrez its official, I'l be voting for Gibo in the upcoming elections."
26. Ping Medina, actor
Supports: Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro
Tweeting tactic: With a Gibo twibbon on his avatar, Medina encourages his followers to add the twibbon to their avatars as well.
Sample tweets: "@miriamq Yes let's take it! Gibo stands for the same principles I believe in. He's the only one who can handle such a complex mess :p"
27. Jose Javier Reyes, director
Supports: Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro
Tweeting tactic: Reyes says he is voting for Teodoro because of his "distinct leadership and vision" and "viable solutions," among others.
Sample tweet: "My president has balls and brains, dignity in his person and clarity in his vision. He is neither a product of self-promotion nor emotion."
28. Mikaela Lagdameo, model and entrepreneur
Supports: Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro
Tweeting tactic: Aside from giving away baller IDs, wearing green clothing and tweeting Teodoro's events, Lagdameo is also planning their own motorcade in Rizal along with Bubbles Paraiso.
Sample tweet: "Why @giboteodoro? I see his desire to serve.He has no hidden intentions.He does not put anyone down.He is no puppet! And I believe in him."
29. Sib Sibulo, radio host
Supports: Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro
Tweeting tactic: Sibulo encourages his followers to add a Teodoro twibbon to their avatars.
Sample tweet: "GIBO 2010! http://twitpic.com/1iz47s"
30. Carlos Celdran, performance artist
Supports: Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro
Tweeting tactic: Celdran has been campaigning for Teodoro since last year. He tweets Teodoro's qualifications, concerts and media appearances, among others. He recently got into a heated tweet dialogue with ANC producer Patricia Evangelista for ANC's feature on Teodoro's vested interests but he insists, "It is NOT [Patricia Evangelista] vs. [Carlos Celdran] We don't go there. I have deep respect for her. I'm just pikon. That's all."
Sample tweet: "doesn't believe in surveys. But likes that Gibo has taken the lead in this particular one. http://bit.ly/ai6GBP"
31. Ina Feleo, actress
Supports: Senatorial candidate Kit Tatad and Batangas second district Board Member candidate Christopher de Leon
Tweeting tactic: Feleo shares the motorcades she joins for de Leon and encourages her followers to add a twibbon to their avatars for Tatad, like her.
Sample tweet: "fun motorcade here at batangas. Pero busog at antok na ako. Isa pang motorcade.woo!"
32. Sunshine Montano, actress
Supports: Her husband, Liberal Party Bohol governor candidate Cesar Montano
Tweeting tactic: With her Twitter profile decked out in Cesar's campaign poster, Sunshine -tweets Cesar's TV appearances and proclamation rallies, among others.
Sample tweet: "pls watch "The Buzz" .. Cesar's one on one interview with Tito Boy Abunda. Shot here in Bohol.â˺"
33. Isabelle Daza, model
Supports: Nacionalista Party senatorial candidate Gilbert Remulla
Sample tweet: "Gibert Remulla is d only who is NOT RETURNING to the senate, not running under his dads name. If we want a change pls vote for him. :)"
34. Pia Guanio, TV host
Supports: The Sottos like senatorial candidate Tito Sotto, Quezon City councilor candidate Gian Sotto and Paranaque City councilor candidate Valmar "Val" Sotto
Tweeting tactic: Guanio, veteran comedian Vic Sotto's girlfriend, tweets and retweets posts promoting the running Sottos.
Sample tweet: "tito sen is no.7 in the surveys. no.53 in the ballot for the new automated elections"
35. Quark Henares, director
Supports: Nacionalista Party senatorial candidate Adel Tamano
Tweeting tactic: Henares tweets and retweets posts on Tamano's traits.
Sample tweet: "i'm not one to be in yr face abt campaigning but Adel's a really good, decent man who's dedicated to our country.pls vote!"
Know other celebrities tweeting their votes? Leave a comment below.
Artwork (homepage) by Warren Espejo. Screencaps from Twitter.