Let's be honest. There is no such thing as a "retired" actor in the Philippines. "Retired" actors can shy away from blockbusters or teleseryes, but you'll eventually find their faces on the back of a bus, peddling rice cookers, toaster ovens, or electric fans. Once in a blue moon, they'll play the it girl's tired but wise aunt, the villain's goon, or some random cameo. Such is the life of a person in show businesses.

In the Philippines, the natural progression of an actor whose spotlight is about to dim is to move on to a different platform: politics. It's pretty much the same kind of show but with less makeup and more paperwork. Consider it an evolution of their influence, but we applaud them for starting their career anew. It's not easy to go back to square one, you know.

Only those in the entertainment industry were considered for this list. Journalists and athletes (except athletes-turned-actors-turned-politicians, which is another version of this life cycle) who switched to politics were not considered. Likewise, politicians-turned-celebrities like Mark Lapid and Shalani Soledad were not included.

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Jestoni Alarcon

Councilor, Antipolo (2001-2004)

Vice Governor, Rizal (2004-2007)

Board Member, 1st District of Rizal (2013-incumbent)

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Cita Astals

Councilor, Manila (1998-2007)

Kaka Balagtas

Vice Mayor, San Antonio, Nueva Eciji (2010-2016)

Marjorie Barretto

Councilor, 2nd District of Caloocan (2007-2013)

Herbert Bautista

Councilor, 3rd District of Quezon City (1992-1995)

Vice Mayor, Quezon City (1995-1998, 2001-2010)

Mayor, Quezon City (2010-incumbent)

Charmee Benavidez

Councilor, 2nd District of Pasig (2010-2016)

Lito Camo

Board Member, Oriental Mindoro (2013-2016)

Ran for Bongabong Mayor in 2016, but lost

Alex Castro

Councilor, Marilao, Bulacan (2007-2013)

Board Member, 4th District of Bulacan

Christopher de Leon

Board Member, 2nd District of Batangas (2010-2013)

Ran for the House of Representatives in 2013, but lost

Bob dela Cruz

Councilor, Marilao, Bulacan (2010-incumbent)

Maybelyn Dela Cruz

Councilor, Dagupan (2010-incumbent)

Patrick dela Rosa

Board Member, Oriental Mindoro (2010-2013)

Ran for Baco Vice Mayor, but lost

Andrea del Rosario

Vice Mayor, Calatagan, Batangas (2016-incumbent)

E.R. Ejercito

Mayor, Pagsanjan, Laguna (2001-2010)

Vice Governor, Laguna (2010-2014)

Gary Estrada

Board Member, 2nd District of Quezon City (2010-2016)

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Daniel Fernando

Provincial Board Member, 3rd District of Laguna (1998-2007)

Vice Governor, Bulacan (2010-incumbent)

Guia Gomez

Mayor, San Juan (2010-incumbent)

Richard Gomez

Mayor, Ormoc, Leyte (2016-incumbent)

Ran for Partylist representative in 2001, but was disqualified

Ran for Senate in 2007, but lost

Ran for Leyte Representative in 2010, but lost

Ran for Ormoc Mayor in 2013, but lost

Cristina Gonzales Romualdez

Councilor, Tacloban, Leyte (2007-2016)

Mayor, Tacloban, Leyte (2016-incumbent)

Jhong Hilario

Councilor, 1st District of Makati (2016-incumbent)

Precious Hipolito

Councilor, 2nd District of Quezon City (2010-incumbent)

Brillante Inciong

Councilor, 1st District of Parañaque (2010-incumbent)

Angelica Jones

Provincial Board Member, 3rd District of Laguna (2010-2016)

Maynard Lapid

Board Member, Pampanga (2013-incumbent)

Mark Leviste

Vice Governor, Batangas (2007-2016)

Rey Malonzo

Mayor, Caloocan City (1995-2001)

Ran for Vice Mayor in 2010 and 2013, but lost both times

Joey Marquez

Mayor, Parañaque (1995-2004)

Ran for Parañaque Representative in 2010 and 2013, but lost both times

Yoyong Martirez

Councilor, 2nd District of Pasig (1995-2004; 2013-incumbent)

Vice Mayor, Pasig (2004-2013)

Aiko Melendez

Councilor, 2nd District of Quezon City (2003-2008)

Ran for Vice Mayor in 2010, but lost

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Matthew Mendoza

Councilor, Puerto Princesa, Palawan (2013-incumbent)



Maricel Morales

Councilor, Angeles, Pampanga (2010-incumbent)

Alma Moreno

Councilor, 1st District of Parañaque (2007-2016)

Isko Moreno

Councilor, 1st District of Manila (1998-2007)

Vice Mayor, Manila (2007-2016)

Roselle Nava

Councilor, 1st District of Parañaque (2010-incumbent)

Teri Onor

Board Member, Bataan (2010-incumbent)

Dennis Padilla

Councilor, Caloocan (2001-2007)

Ran for Laguna Board Member in 2013, but lost

Imelda Papin

Vice Governor, Camarines Sur (1998-2004)

Ran for Senate in 2010, but lost

Ran for San Jose Del Monte Representative in 2013, but lost

Jinkee Pacquiao

Vice Governor, Sarangani (2013-2016)

Sonny Parsons

Councilor, Marikina

Roderick Paulate

Councilor, 2nd District of Quezon City (2010-2016)

Charee Pineda

Councilor, 2nd District of Valenzuela (2013-incumbent)

Rico J. Puno

Councilor, 1st District of Makati (1998-2007; 2016-incumbent)

Ran for Makati vice mayor in 2010, but lost

Vandolph Quizon

Councilor, 1st District of Parañaque (2016-incumbent)

Jolo Revilla

Barangay Captain, Panapan VII, Bacoor, Cavite (2010-2013)

President of the Association of Barangay Captains, Cavite (2010-2013)

Vice Governor of Cavite (2013-incumbent)

Daisy Reyes

Councilor, Pateros (2010-2016)

Ran for Pateros Mayor in 2016, but lost

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Maita Sanchez

Mayor, Pagsanjan, Laguna (2010-incumbent)

Gian Sotto

Councilor, 3rd District of Quezon City (2010-incumbent)

Lala Sotto

Councilor, 6th District of Quezon City (2013-incumbent)

Wahoo Sotto

Councilor, 2nd District of Parañaque (2013-incumbent)

Lou Veloso

Councilor, 6th District of Manila (1995-1998)

Ran for Manila Vice Mayor in 2013, but lost

Anjo Yllana

Councilor, Parañaque (1998-2004)

Vice Mayor, Parañaque (2004-2007)

Jomari Yllana

Councilor, 1st District of Parañaque (2016-incumbent)

Ryan Yllana

Councilor, 2nd District of Parañaque (2010-incumbent)

LOWER HOUSE

Mikey Arroyo

House of Representatives, 2nd District of Pampanga (2004-2010)

House of Representatives, Ang Galing Pinoy Party List (2010-2013)

Acting Vice Governor, Pampanga (2017-incumbent)

Monsour del Rosario

Councilor, Makati City (2010-2016)

House of Representatives, 1st District of Makati (2016-incumbent)

Dan Fernandez

House of Representatives, 1st District of Laguna (2007-2016)

Dennis Roldan

Councilor, Quezon City (1988-1991)

House of Representatives, 3rd District of Quezon City (1992-1995)

Lucy Torres Gomez

House of Representatives, 4th District of Leyte (2010-2013, 2013-incumbent)

Lani Mercado-Revilla

House of Representatives, 2nd District of Cavite (2010-2016)

Mayor, Bacoor, Cavite (2016-incumbent)

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Vilma Santos

Mayor, Lipa, Batangas (1998-2007)

Governor, Batangas (2007-2016)

House of Representatives, Batangas (2016-incumbent)

Yul Servo

House of Representatives, 3rd District of Manila (2016-incumbent)

Alfred Vargas

Councilor, 2nd District of Quezon City (2010 to 2013)

House of Representatives, 5th District of Quezon City (2013-incumbent)

UPPER HOUSE

Rogelio dela Rosa

Senator (1975-1963)

Jinggoy Estrada

Vice Mayor, San Juan (1988-1992)

Mayor, San Juan (1992-2001)

Senator (2004-2016)

Lito Lapid

Vice Governor, Pampanga (1992-1995)

Governor, Pampanga (1995-2004)

Senator (2004-2016)

Ran for Angeles City Mayor in 2016, but lost

Manny Pacquiao

House of Representatives (2010-2016)

Senator (2016-incumbent)

Ramon Revilla, Jr

Vice Governor, Cavite (1995-1998)

Governor, Cavite (1998-2001)

Chair, Optical Media Board (2002-2004)

Senator, (2004-2016)

Ramon Revilla, Sr

Senator (1992-2004)

Tito Sotto

Vice Mayor, Quezon City (1988-1992)

Senator (1992-2004, 2010-incumbent)

Freddie Webb

Councilor, Pasay City (1971-1978)

House of Representatives, Parañaque (1987-1992)

Senator (1992-1998)

OTHER GOVERNMENT UNITS

Edu Manzano

Vice Mayor, Makati (1998-2001)

Chair, Optical Media Board (2004-2009)

Ran for Vice President in 2010, but lost

Ran for Senate in 2016, but lost

Cesar Montano

Chief Operation Officer, Tourism Promotions Board (2016-incumbent)

Ran for Senate in 2007, but lost

Ran for Bohol governor in 2010, but lost

Ran for Partylist representative, but lost

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Ronnie Ricketts

Chair, Optical Media Board (2009-2016)

Ran for Muntinlupa representative in 2016, but lost

Mocha Uson

Assistant Secretary, Presidential Communications Operations Office

PRESIDENT

Erap Estrada

Mayor, San Juan (1969-1986)

Senator (1987-1992)

Vice President (1992-1998)

President (1998-2001)

Mayor, Manila (2013-incumbent)

LOSERS

Dan Alvaro

Ran for Quezon City councilor in 2010, 2013, and 2016, but lost all three times

Nora Aunor

Ran for Camarines Sur governor in 2001, but lost to Luis Villafuerte

Heber Bartolome

Ran for Quezon City councilor in 2013, but lost

Amay Bisaya

Ran for Bohol governor in 2013, but lost

Anthony Castelo

Ran for Senate in 2010, but was disqualified

Ran for Quezon City councilor in 2013, but lost

Rez Cortez

Ran for Camarines Sur representative in 2013, but lost

Ricky Davao

Ran for Quezon City councilor in 2010, but lost

Allan Paule De Guzman

Ran for Muntinlupa councilor in 2016, but lost

Jograd Dela Torre

Ran for Manila councilor in 2013

Joko Diaz

Ran for Batangas board member in 2013, but lost

Ogie Diaz

Ran for Quezon City councilor in 2010, but lost

Jaime Fabregas

Ran for Quezon City councilor in 2010, but lost

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Rudy Fernandez

Ran for Quezon City mayor in 2001, but lost to Sonny Belmonte

Emilio Garcia

Ran for Laguna board member in 2013, but lost

Glenda Garcia

Ran for Quezon City councilor in 2010, but lost

Inday Garutay

Ran for San Juan councilor in 2016, but lost

Arnell Ignacio

Ran for Quezon City councilor in 2010, but lost

Tado Jimenez

Ran for Marikina councilor in 2010 and 2013, but lost both times

John Lesaca

Ran for Quezon City councilor in 2010, but lost

Maria Isabel Lopez

Ran for Quezon City councilor in 2010, but lost

Long Mejia

Ran for Calumpit councilor in 2013, but lost

Ran for Bulacan board member in 2016, but lost

Ara Mina

Ran for Quezon City councilor in 2010, but lost

Aga Muhlach

Attempted to run for Representative of the 4th District of Camarines Sur in 2013, but was marred with residency issues

Rommel Padilla

Ran for Nueva Ecija vice governor in 2010, but lost

Fernando Poe, Jr.

Ran for the presidency in 2004, but lost to Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

Lance Raymundo

Ran for San Juan councilor in 2016, but lost

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Jobell Salvador

Ran for Makati vice mayor in 2010, but lost

Ran for Parañaque councilor in 2013, but lost

TJ Trinidad

Ran for Pasay counsilor in 2013, but lost

Rey Valera

Ran for Meycauayan vice mayor in 2013, but lost

Ervic Vijandre

Ran for Taguig councilor in 2013, but lost

Ericka Villongco

Ran for San Juan councilor in 2016, but lost