Actress Aunor among celebrity losers in polls

There were only four winners among the 30 movie stalwarts who stood for elections this time, a sign the influence of former president Joseph Estrada is waning.

The ruling party's Nora Aunor, singer and multi-award winning actress and superstar in the 1970s, failed in her bid to become governor of Camarines, Bicol Region, southern Luzon.

Earlier, at a protest rally which paved the way for the ouster of former president Joseph Estrada, Aunor claimed that Estrada used to beat her up. She had campaigned for Estrada in 1998.

Actress Vilma Santos' bid for governor of Lipa, Batangas, southern Luzon, is still fraught with uncertainty. Another actor, Aunor's leading man in movies, Tirso "Pip" Cruz III, also lost in his bid as vice-mayor of southern suburban Las Pinas. Actor Edu Manzano, former husband of Vilma Santos, failed to become mayor of Makati.

Opposition action actor, Philip Salvador, did not make it as mayor of suburban Mandaluyong. He was the former live-in partner of Kris Aquino, the daughter of former president Cory Aquino, with whom he has a son.

Opposition actor Rudy Fernandez did not make it as a mayoral candidate of Quezon City. The ruling party's Bong Revilla failed to win the governorship of southern suburban Cavite. His wife, Lani Mercado, also of the ruling party, did not make it as mayor of Cavite.

Comedian Amay Bisaya ranked fourth as Manila's vice-mayor. Radio commentator Rod Navarro landed lowest in the Senate race. They are loyalists of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

However, there are some winning actors, such as Lito Lapid, who ran again as governor of Pampanga, central Luzon, and who is a sure winner. He is with the ruling party. Opposition actor Herbert Bautista, vice-mayoral candidate of suburban Quezon City, is 10 per cent ahead of his rival, Connie Angeles, a former actress.

Actor Rey Malonzo is winning by 2,000 votes over political stalwart, Macario "Boy" Asistio, as mayor of northern suburban Caloocan. He is also with the ruling party.

Re-electionist Joey Marquez, former comedian and basketball star, is not yet sure if he will get back his post, but he is leading. He is married to former actress, Alma Moreno.

About five other actresses and actors won as councillors or policy-makers of local government units. Comedian Cita Astals became councillor of Manila; comedian Lou Veloso, councillor of Manila; actor Darius Razon, councillor of suburban Mandaluyong; actress Aiko Melendrez and comedian Arnel Ignacio as councillors of suburban Quezon City.