More popular names as far as the Senate race in upcoming 2025 mid-term elections is concerned filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) on Monday, Oct. 7, or the penultimate day before the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) filing deadline.

One of the big names who threw his hat in the race was former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson. 

Should he win, Singson said that he will modernize the transport industry by distributing electric vehicles (EVs) across the country with zero down payment and zero interest. He also plans to give Filipinos free bank accounts with accompanying debit card.

Aside from Singson, outgoing Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos also formalized his senatorial bid.

Abalos said that as the former councilor, local chief executive, congressman of the lone district of Mandaluyong City, as well as former chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), he would capitalize on the accomplishments he attained in these positions should he become senator.

"Ang importante sa akin sa lahat ng ginampanan ko...Siguro ang importante sa kwento ay maganda yung ending (What's most important for me is that in every role I took...I think what's crucial in the story is that it has a great ending)," he said.
 

Benhur Abalos (Facebook)

When it comes to online bashers, Abalos said that he has no problem with them, since he knows that what he's doing is right.

"Kung lahat ng bashers aasikasuhin mo, di mo mapupuntahan ang pupuntahan mo (If you keep entertaining all the bashers, you won't get to your destination)," he said.

"Natural ang kritisismo, pakinggan mo naman ito, tingnan mo baka tama naman sila, i-research mo at kung tama naman ito, i-correct mo yung dapat mo gawin (Criticism is natural, you can give it a listen, take a look and consider the possibility that they might be right, do your research, and if they are indeed correct, make the necessary corrections to what you're doing)," he added.

Other senatorial aspirants are Jesus Hinlo, Richard Mata, Nuryana Sahidulla, Pedro Ordiales, Roberto Ballon, James Reyes, Nelson Ancajas, Maria Fe Era, Arnel Escobal, Diego Palomares, Michael Tapado, Gerald Arcega, Raul Lambino, Mario Pagaragan, Angelo de Alban, Luther Meniano, Hernando Bruce, Alice Jumalon, Eulogio Partosa, Epifanio Perez, Mario Valbuena, Freddie Maiquez, Leo Cadion, Getter Malinao, Salipada Amir Hussin, Joel Apolinario, Allen Capuyan, Artemio Maquiso, Jose Abelardo Tam, Oscar Ongjoco, Jacino Bonayag, Ferdinand Tuzara, Agapito Casipong, David D'Angelo, Delfin Lorenzana, Fernando Diaz, Orlando de Guzman, Edgardo Dugue, Jefrey Andrino, Nheling Paliza, and Eduardo Bautista.

Gringo Honasan, Manny Pacquiao, Bam Aquino seek Senate return

Former senator Gringo Honasan also filed his COC for a seat in the upper chamber. He said he wants to "make a difference" and "finish business".

Running under the Reform PH Party, Honasan stated that he would fight for economic, electoral, and social reforms, and even reforms in the spiritual lives of Filipinos.

Gringo Honasan (Gringo Honasan media)

"Itong reporma kasi, sinasabi, hindi ginagawa (These reforms are merely being said and not being done)," he said.

In terms of legislation, Honasan said that he would be focusing on land use, national security, freedom of information, national security, and food security.

"What we look for through legislative intervention is harmony in our families because we cannot give what we do not have. Cooperation in our communities, order in the state, inclusive growth for the nation, and security in our shores," he said.

"Lagi tayo kasing napapako sa (We're all too focused on) pro or anti, we forgot about the pro-Filipino," he added.

Honasan was a senator from 1995 to 2004 and again from 2007 to 2019.

Another former senator, boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, has formalized his senatorial bid under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) chaired by President Marcos.

Asked if it was difficult for him to move to PFP after being one of the President's staunch critics during the 2022 presidential elections, Pacquialo said: "Hindi naman po ako nag-criticize nang todo sa ating pangulo tinanong lang ako ng media noon about corruption. Sabi ko kung may ninakaw dapat ibalik (I did criticize our president harshly. I was asked that time by the media about corruption, I simply said that if something was stolen, it should be returned)."

He went on to state that during the time of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the Philippines was number one in terms of its economy.

"May corrupt bang bansa na number one sa ekonomiya (Is there a corrupt country that's number one when it comes to the economy)?" 
 

Another former senator, Bam Aquino, also filed his COC for senator.

Aquino was asked how he planned on working as a senator, with a Marcos sitting as a president. He stated that in the past, there have been instances wherein a Marcos was a president and an Aquino was a senator, and vice versa.

"Baka lang nararapat ulit na magkaroon ng tambalan na iyan. In the past naipakita naman po natin na kahit di tayo miyembro ng mayorya kaya natin ipatupad ang pinakamahahalagang batas para sa ating bayan (I think it's time that we have that kind of tandem again. We have, in the past, demonstrated that we can enforce even the most important laws for the benefit of our country, even if we're not part of the majority)," he said.

Aquino said that having senators from different parties--either from the administration or the opposition--can make for a better crafted law.

Retired Col. Ariel Querubin filed a COC anew to run for Senate on Monday. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong accompanied Querubin who is running under the Nacionalista Party (NP).


Bong Revilla seeks reelection 

Senator Ramon "Bong Revilla Jr. filed on Monday his COC for reelection. He was accompanied by his family, including his daughter Inah Revilla. 

Revilla is once again running under Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), the biggest political party in the country, which he currently chairs. He has been a member of the party since the inception of his political career almost 30 years ago. 

Revilla, like Abalos, is part of President Marcos’ Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas Senate slate.

"Sa ating halos dalawang dekadang paninilbihan bilang senador, marami na po tayong naipasang mga batas na talagang pinakikinabangan ng ating mga kababayan. Hindi po natin sinayang ang tiwala ng sambayanang Pilipino (Throughout my nearly two decades of service as a senator, I have been able to pass many laws that have truly benefited our fellow Filipinos. We have not wasted the trust placed in us by the Filipino people)," he said.

"Sinigurado ko na bawat sentimo na pinapasahod sakin gamit ang buwis ng taumbayan, naibalik natin sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng pagsusulong at pakikibaka sa pagpasa ng mga makakabuluhang batas (I am confident that every single centavo of my salary given from public taxes, is being given back to them through our tireless efforts and advocacy for the enactment of landmark bills),” he added.

Asked what he plans to push for in his potential fourth term in the Senate, the veteran public servant responded that he would continue to champion social justice, the welfare of workers, food security, public infrastructure, and benefits of government employees. 

Party-list filers flock Comelec

Former senatorial candidate and Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) chairman Greco Belgica filed as the first nominee of Bisaya Gyud Party-list.

Asked what pushed him to run for party-list representative, Belgica said that they felt that it was easier a secure a seat in the House of Representatives. He's confident that his party-list will get enough votes.

"We decided na dito muna for now ipagpatuloy muna for now ang aming adbokasiya sa bansa (We decided that for now, we will continue our advocacies here)," he said.

Asked to comment on the House quad-comm hearing on the previous administration's drug war, he stated that sometimes it gets too political.

"Kung tayo po'y mag-iimbestiga dapat po yung nasa batas lamang. Yung mga bagay na pang-korte ibigay po sa korte pero wala ho akong problema sa kung ano mang imbestigasyon ang ilabas nila sa kahit na kaninong tao kahit sa amin (If we're going to investigate, we should only look into that's governed by the law. Matters that concern the court should be left to the court. I have no issue with whatever investigation they conduct on any individual, including ourselves)," he said.

Lawyer Chel Diokno filed as the first nominee of Akbayan party-list. He said that the country needs lawmakers who will fight for the interest and welfare of ordinary Filipinos.

"Nais po namin gawin sa Kongreso ang ginagawa ni Senator Risa [Hontiveros] sa Senado (Our goal is to do in Congress what Senator Risa is doing in the Senate)," he said.

Diokno, who previously ran as a senator in the 2022 presidential elections, said that it's a rare opportunity to be invited as a first nominee of party-list with a solid track record like Akbayan.

"Pareho lang naman ang paglilingkod kung ikaw ay nasa House of Representatives o sa Senado kaya ako'y happy na kasama ako ng Akbayan at first nominee (It's the same kind of service whether you're in the House of Representatives or the Senate, so I'm happy to be with Akbayan as the first nominee)," he said.

In a surprising turn of events,  National Artist for Film and Television Nora Aunor filed with People's Champ party-list as its second nominee.

"Sa kagustuhan ko pong matulungan ang aking mga kasamahan sa industriya ng musika, industry ng puting tabing, sa aking sining, sa entablado, lahat po sila ay kaya po ako naglakas loob ay talagang gustong makatulong para sa lahat, lalo para sa ating mga kababayan (It is my desire to assist my colleagues in both the music industry and the film industry, through my art, on stage - in fact, it's the reason why I have gained the courage and willingness to help everyone, especially our fellow countrymen)," she said.

Meanwhile, 1-Munti Party-list is seeking to institutionalize the programs it has initiated in Muntinlupa City. 1-Munti’s filing was spearheaded by its first nominee, Raffy Garcia and its Secretary General, Jojay Alcaraz.

“As the Philippines seeks to become a more economically advanced nation, it must not forget its future, the children who need more sophisticated support as they grow up in a more complex society,” said Garcia.

A party-list for OFWs, called AKO-OFW, is pushing for financial literacy and livelihood integration programs.

According to Chie Umandap, its first nominee, they want to address the age-old problem of OFWs who return to the Philippines with no savings even after years of working abroad.

Other party-List organizations that filed their CON-CANs were DAMAYANG PILIPINO, AKO BICOL, AKO ILOCANO AKO, OFW, HEAL PH, PAMILYA AKO, AKBAYAN, HELP PILIPINAS, ALP, KALINGA, BH BAGONG HENERASYON, LUNAS, KUSUG TAUSUG, PHILRECA, 4K, PBP, USWAG, APEC, AKO-OFW INC., ONE COOP, AGIMAT, BABAE AKO, and TURISMO.

Also filing their CON-CANs were party-lists MAGSASAKA, PM, KATROPA, KASAMBAHAY, ANAKALUSUGAN, MAAGAP, BAGONG PILIPINAS, MPBL, PM, IPATUPAD, ABANTE BISDAK, AKO TANOD, TINGOG, FPJ, LKP, KBL, DUTERTE YOUTH, WIFI, BFF, HFMPI, BARKO, ACE, BUNYOG, and AA-KASOSYO.