Mixed showing for celebrity candidates

MANILA, Philippines - Most celebrities who tried their luck in the midterm polls saw favorable results as partial and unofficial counts come in a day after elections.

Former actor and President Joseph Ejercito-Estrada managed to steal the mayoralty post of Manila from incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim, who was backed by President Benigno Aquino III. Estrada was proclaimed winner on Tuesday.

Estrada's partner, former actor Isko Domagoso (Isko Moreno), also won against former comedian Lou Veloso, who was Lim's running mate.

In Quezon City, former actor Herbert Bautista secured a second term after a landslide victory, while former sexy actor Alfred Vargas won a congressional seat for the newly created fifth district.

Comedians Anjo Yllana and Roderick Paulate also received substantial votes to get a seat in the city council. Yllana's brother, comedian Ryan, also won a council seat in Parañaque, along with former actress Alma Moreno, ex-basketball player Jason Webb and former singer Roselle Nava.

Beauty queen Daisy Reyes also won votes to include her in the Pateros municipal council.

In Batangas, re-electionist Gov. Vilma Santos crushed the competition with a landslide margin, while another re-eelectionist and actor Jeorge ER Ejercito also secured a big margin in Laguna's gubernatorial race.

Meanwhile, actor Jolo Revilla is poised to win as Cavite vice-governor.

Host and model Lucy Torres-Gomez is looking at another term as first district representative of Leyte, while Manny Pacquiao is getting his second term as congressman of the lone district of Sarangani, running unopposed.

For some celebrities, however, star power was not enough to win in the local race.

Comedian Joey Marquez is second to Gus Tambunting in the congressional race for Parañaque's second district, while host Shalani Soledad is behind Magi Gunigundo in the congressional race for Valenzuela's second district.

Actor Christopher de Leon is behind two candidates in the fourth legislative district of Batangas.

While his wife is poised to win, actor Richard Gomez is behind independent candidate Edward Codilla in the mayoralty race in Ormoc City. Celebrity manager Annabelle Rama is also tens of thousands of votes behind Raul del Mar in the race for a congressional seat in Cebu City's first district.