Perfecto Yasay Jr.

Atty. Perfecto "Jun" Yasay Jr. was born in Kidapawan, Cotabato on January 27, 1947. His Parents are Rev. Perfecto P. Yasay Sr. (Pastor) and Devorah Rivas (Public School Teacher). He is married to Cecile Joaquin (Former Comissioner of Population Commission) whom he has three kids; Oliver, Raveena and Stephanie.

Atty. Yasay is an outstanding alumnus of Central Philippines University in Iloilo City , where he obtained his Liberal Arts degree. He earned his Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. An outstanding lawyer, Atty. Yasay became a member of the Bar of the United States Supreme Court and the US Circuit Court of Appeals.


Atty. Yasay served as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission from 1995 to 2000 after being an Associate Commissioner from 1993 to 1995. He has also been a Senior Partner to two law offices, Managing Director at Philippine News, New York Bureau from 1983 to 1987 and  Manager at Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation’s Legal Department from 1973 to 1979.

On November 29, 2009, he accepted the nomination of Bangon Pilipinas Party as candidate for Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Jay Sonza

Jay Sonza (Jose Yumang Sonza) is a veteran broadcaster, television host, commentator and columnist, the station manager of UNTV37 and co-host of the daily morning show, “Good Morning, Kuya!” and of the evening news program, “Ito Ang Balita”.

Aside from his stint at UNTV, he juggles his job as political adviser, columnist/contributing editor for ABANTE: Una Sa Balita and TONITE, two national daily tabloids.

He is likewise the Chairman of the Board of TAPATAN Incorporated, a multi-media and consultancy firm, and the first Nine Food Ventures, Inc., a fast food service company.

He manages a modest mango farm in Davao, and orchard and gamefowl breeding at Sta Maria, Bulacan.

A pure-blooded Kapampangan, Jay was born on September 21, 1955 in Macabebe, Pampanga.He stayed there until his primary education in Sto. Rosario, Macabebe, Pampanga.

He graduated with honors from the Mabuhay Elementary School.He finished his college in the University of Mindanao with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics.

Jay started off as a youth development worker of the Bureau of Youth Welfare, Ministry of Social Welfare and Development. He later became a radio-producer-announcer of the Bureau of Broadcast, Ministry of Public Information; a regional information officer of the Commission on Population; and a public information officer and senior executive assistant of the Provincial Government of Davao del Sur.

In 2004, Jay ran as a senatorial candidate under the Aksyon Demokratiko political party. He lost in the said elections but became the head of UNTV 37 a year after his electoral loss.

In 2007, he was one of the nominees of BATAS party-list. Recently, he filed his candidacy for the Vice President position for the 2010 elections under the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan party.

Loren Legarda

Lorna Regina Bautista Legarda was born on January 28, 1960 in Malabon. She is the only daughter of Antonio Cabrera Legarda of San Pablo, Laguna and of Bessie Gella Bautista of Malabon. She and her family have roots in Antique.Her maternal grandfather was Jose P. Bautista, editor-in-chief of the pre-Martial Law newspaper, The Manila Times, and one of the pillars of Philippine journalism.
As a teenager, she appeared as a commercial model and/or DJ in various television and print ads for Close-up, Pond's cream, Happee toothpaste, etc.
Loren completed her primary and secondary schooling at the Assumption with honors. She obtained a degree in broadcast communication, cum laude, from the University of the Philippines, the country’s premier university. While working as a journalist, Loren pursued further studies at the National Defense College of the Philippines, where she obtained a degree in national security administration and graduated at the top of her class, receiving gold medals for both Academic Excellence and Best Thesis. Loren is now a reserve officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Loren is the only woman in history who has topped the Senate race twice, once in 1998 with over 15 million votes and in 2007 with over 18 million votes. Loren made history when she was voted by her peers as majority leader the first woman to occupy the prestigious post.
During the 2004 Philippine general election, she ran for the position of Vice-President as an Independent with Fernando Poe, Jr. as running mate. Currently, she is running again for the Vice-Presidency with Manny Villar.
Loren is well known for her advocacies and civic undertakings in various fields encapsulated in the initials L.O.R.E.N. The acronym stands for Law and Order, Rights of Women, Youth and Children, Education, Environment and Employment; and Nationalism.

Loren’s biggest project in the environmental field is the Luntiang Pilipinas (Greening of the Philippines) Foundation, which she has founded. In partnership with other organizations, Luntiang Pilipinas has planted over two million trees. As a UNEP laureate, Loren is part of a global network of environmentalists assisting the UN organization in caring for the Earth’s resources.

To improve access to education in the rural areas, Loren organized the Libro ni Loren Foundation, providing textbooks and other reading materials as well as scholarships to underprivileged children. She founded the Bessie Legarda Memorial Foundation which helps indigent breast cancer victims.

Jejomar Binay

Jejomar “Jojo” C. Binay (November 11, 1942) is the current mayor of the City of Makati in the Philippines. He is also the president of the United Opposition (UNO), National President of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) and National President of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.

Jejomar Cabauatan Binay was born in Paco, Manila but grew up in Makati with his uncle, Ponciano, after Binay’s parents – Diego Medrano Binay of Bauan, Batangas and Lourdes Cabauatan of Cabagan, Isabela – passed away.

At a young age, Binay learned to rely on his resourcefulness and determination. He went around his neighborhood to gather slop for his uncle’s backyard piggery, looked after his uncle’s fighting cocks, and went to market daily. As he grew up, Binay took on more odd jobs to support his studies.

Binay is a product of the Philippine public school system. He studied at the Philippine Normal College Training Department, University of the Philippines Preparatory High School and despite financial constraints, earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and Bachelor of Laws from UP (LIB). In 1960, he joined Alpha Phi Omega International Service Fraternity in the University of the Philippines (Eta Chapter).

He passed the bar exams in 1968, and took masteral subjects in public administration and law in UP and the University of Sto. Tomas, respectively.

After the EDSA Revolution, President Corazon C. Aquino appointed Binay acting mayor of Makati. Binay was Aquino’s first appointed local official.

Binay was later elected mayor of Makati in 1988, during the first free elections under the Aquino administration, and was reelected in 1992 and 1995.

He was also appointed Governor of Metro Manila in 1987 in concurrent capacity and was later elected by his peers in Metro Manila as Chairman of the Metro Manila Authority.

In 1998, Binay was appointed Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) with cabinet rank. He was also appointed as Vice-chairman of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission and Traffic Czar for Metro Manila.

Binay was reelected as mayor of Makati in 2001, winning over actor-TV host and then Vice Mayor Edu Manzano via landslide. In 2004, Binay ran for another term and won again by a landslide against Councilor Oscar Ibay.

In 2006 Binay was chosen among the Top 10 Mayors of the World. In an on-line poll organized by CityMayors.com, Binay placed 4th overall behind John So of Melbourne, Australia, Job Cohen of Amsterdam, Netherlands and Stephen R. Reed, Harrisburg, USA.

He ran for his third and last term as mayor in 2007, beating incumbent Senator and actor Lito Lapid. His margin over Lapid has been considered as the largest margin in a local election in Makati City.

Binay announced his candidacy for President at Makati City Hall in his 66th birthday on November 11, 2008. But later slid down to be a Vice-Presidential candidate under PMP with ERAP as President.

Binay is married to Elenita Sombillo, a doctor of medicine. Dr. Elenita S. Binay was elected Mayor of Makati in the 1998 elections, and served until 2001. Their union bore them five children: Maria Lourdes Nancy, Mar-Len Abigail (currently serving as representative of 2nd District of Makati City), Jejomar Erwin (Makati City Councilor), Marita Angeline and Joanna Marie Blanca.

MAR ROXAS

Manuel "Mar" Araneta Roxas II (born May 13, 1957) is a Senator of the Philippines. He is the son of former Senator Gerry Roxas, and the grandson of former President Manuel Roxas. He is married to Korina Sanchez, a broadcast journalist.

A graduate of the Wharton School of Economics, Roxas worked as an investment banker, mobilizing venture capital funds for small and medium enterprises. He served as the Representative of the 1st District of Capiz from 1993 to 2000. His stint as Congressman was cut short after he was appointed by President Joseph Estrada as Secretary of Trade and Industry.He resigned from the position at the height of the EDSA Revolution of 2001 and was later re-appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her new Cabinet.He resigned again to run for a Senate seat in the 2004 Philippine election.He was elected as Senator with nearly 20 million votes, the highest ever garnered by a national candidate in any Philippine election.

Initially one of the leading contenders in the 2010 Philippine presidential election, he has slid down to becoming a vice-presidential candidate to make way for Noynoy Aquino.

EDU MANZANO

Edu Manzano is a Filipino actor, comedian, and politician. He was born on September 14, 1955 as Eduardo C. Manzano in San Francisco, California. During his youth, he had joined in the United States Military and served there for four years.

He was formerly married to actress and now governor of Batangas, Vilma Santos , for four years, which ended in a definite separation. They had a son, Luis Philippe Manzano , during their union. He is now the live-in partner of actress Rina Samson. He has a total of three children all in all, with Luis, Amanda Danielle, and Lorenzo.

His roles in movies were mostly of the villain, due to his disposition, dramatic ability, and his looks. He has shown in multiple occasions why he is a character that is easy to respect and hate at the same time in the roles that he has portrayed. He started his acting career during the late 70’s, and he still has not slowed down just yet. His last movie though was way back in 2003, concentrating more on his television career nowadays with game shows, soap operas, and sitcoms, but he is still on top of the market.

He had been successful in movies, but it is in television that made him a household name. He has garnered a reputation as the ideal game show host, which is a role that he has filled in many times in several different game shows. He also acts in different television shows in both drama and comedy. He has also been elected as president of Kapisanan ng mga Artista sa Pelikulang Pilipino, or KAPP for short, which is the Philippines’s actors’ guild, in 1995.

He is also active in politics, having been the vice mayor of Makati during the late 90’s. He is now the current chairman of the Optical Media Board, replacing Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. when he went on to run as a senator. Edu had considered running for senate himself during the 2007 Senatorial Elections, but he backed out despite the support of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, citing lack of funds as the reason for his retraction from the race.

Jamby Madrigal

Maria Ana Consuelo Madrigal-Valade, better known as Jamby Madrigal was born on April 26, 1958 in Manila to Antonio Madrigal and Amanda Abad Santos. She is the granddaughter of the former Supreme Court Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos of San Fernando, Pampanga.
She married Frenchman Eric Jean Claude Dudoignon Valade on December 7, 2002 at the Calatagan, Batangas farm estate of her aunt, the late Doña Consuelo "Chito" Madrigal-Collantes.

In October 1999, President Estrada created the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Children’s Affairs. He appointed her to head this office, which gives the children of the poor access to the President’s highest councils.

She was elected as Senator in the 2004 general elections. She is currently the Chairperson of four Senate Committees: Committee on Environment, Committee on Youth, Women and Family Relations, Committee on Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, and the Committee on Cultural Communities.

Madrigal has filed her candidacy for President in the upcoming 2010 presidential elections together with Jay Sonza as his running mate.

Richard "Dick" Gordon

Richard "Dick" Juico Gordon was born on August 5, 1945 to James Leonard Tagle Gordon and Amelia Juico Gordon, (who were both mayors of Olongapo City). In 1954, he completed his elementary education at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila and on 1962, he completed his secondary education at the Ateneo de Manila University. He stayed in Ateneo and completed his tertiary education, earning a degree of Bachelor of Arts, major in History and Government in 1966. On 1975, he graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Laws at the University of the Philippines College of Law.

In 1980, he ran as mayor of Olongapo City. In 1983, Olongapo became a highly urbanized City. Having been a victim of crime with the assassination of his father then Mayor James Leonard T. Gordon in 1967, Gordon managed to transform Olongapo from a “sin city” to “model city” with various innovations in local governance namely color coded transport system, public markets’ expansion, integrated solid waste management program, vendors’ cooperatives, community organizations and many other public and community development programs. In 1986, Gordon gave way for the Aquino appointed Officer-In-Charge after a formal written directive from the Executive Secretary representing Aquino was issued.

In the 1992 local elections, Gordon won a landslide victory and was reelected as mayor of Olongapo City. 1993, a citizen questioned Gordon's dual duty as mayor of Olongapo City and as chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. The Supreme Court decided that Gordon must hold one position. Gordon decided to vacate his position as Mayor and assumed the position of SBMA chairman in full capacity. In the 1995 local elections, his wife Katherine, a three term Congresswoman, was elected mayor of Olongapo.

During the late 1990s, Gordon became one of Joseph Estrada's vocal critics over differences on the US Naval Base. After winning by a large margin during the 1998 presidential elections, President Estrada issued Administrative Order No. 1 removing Gordon as Chairman of SBMA. Estrada appointed Felicito Payumo, Gordon's critic and congressman of Bataan as new chairman. The removal process was not easy. Hundreds of volunteers barricated the gates of SBMA and Gordon locked himself inside the SBMA Administrative Office Building 229. The issue sparked the interest local and foreign press known as the Showdown at Subic. Gordon filed for a temporary restraining order before the local court. The local court of Olongapo granted Gordon's request but Payumo's party filed an appeal before the Court of Appeals. The CA reversed the local court's ruling and it was affirmed by the Supreme Court G.R. No. 134171. With the Supreme Court decision, Gordon called Payumo and turned over the reins of SBMA at the Subic Bay Yacht Club two months later on 3 September 1998.

In the 2004 national elections, Gordon ran as senator of the Philippines. In the initial public opinion survey, Filipinos were lukewarm on electing Gordon as senator. But with his very positive personality and achievements aired in TV and radio advertisements, public opinion changed and Gordon won and received the fifth highest number of votes from the electorate.

Bayani Fernando

Bayani Fernando is the current Secretary of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). He is a former Secretary of Department of Public Works and Highways.

Bayani Fernando was born in San Juan, Rizal on July 25, 1946. He finished college with a degree on Mechanical Engineering at the Mapua Institute of Technology.

Fernando first ran for public office in 1992, becoming mayor of Marikina City. His administration as mayor is credited with several cleanliness and beautification projects, and his term saw the transformation of Marikina from a 4th class municipality to a model Philippine city. He was re-elected mayor twice, serving until 2001. He was succeeded by his wife, Ma. Lourdes C. Fernando.

In 2002, he was appointed chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Fernando on November 8, 2008, was named the GMA-7’s 2008 “Celebrity Duets” 2nd season grand champion.

On January 4, 2008, Fernando announced that he would be running for the presidency in the 2010 elections.He filed his Certificate of Candidacy on December 1, 2009 as Vice-President with Richard Gordon as President.

Joseph Estrada

Joseph Marcelo Ejercito was born in Tondo on April 19, 1937.He was the son of Emilio Ejercito, a government contractor, and Maria Marcelo, a simple housewife.
Known to many as Erap, he is married to former Senator Dr. Luisa Pimentel by whom he has three children, namely Jinggoy, who is now a senator of the realm, Jacqueline and Jude.

Contrary to the popular notion that he grew up in life of poverty, he lived relatively well-off. After being expelled from Ateneo de Manila University, he enrolled in an engineering course at Mapua Institute of Technology, eventually dropping out to pursue acting.

In his early twenties, he became a movie actor by accident but later proved himself to be an accomplished thespian, starring in a string of well-received films that earned him the title of a living legend in local filmdom. More popularly known as Erap, he is a five-time Best Actor awardee – a feat he repeated by winning the Best Picture award an equal number of times. This earned him a rare place in the FAMAS Hall of Fame in 1981 and 1984, respectively.

He entered politics in 1967, was elected and re-elected mayor of the Municipality (now City) of San Juan which he served with dedication and distinction for more than 16 continuous years. Unfortunately, he was one of hundreds of local officials who were asked to step down in the aftermath of the 1986 EDSA revolution. The following year, he ran and won a seat in the Senate under his own party, Partido ng Masang Pilipino.

In the 1992 presidential election Estrada initially intended to run for President but later decided to be the running mate of Eduardo Cojuangco of the Nationalist People's Coalition. Estrada won the vice-presidency although Cojuangco was defeated by Fidel Ramos of the LAKAS party. Shortly after the inauguration of Ramos, he appointed Estrada to head the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (PACC) even though Estrada was from the political opposition.

Estrada was elected president in 1998. However, his presidency was soon dogged by charges of plunder and corruption. In October 2000, an acknowledged gambling racketeer, Luis Singson, governor of the province of Ilocos Sur, alleged that he had personally given Estrada the sum of 400 million pesos as payoff from illegal gambling profits. Singson's allegation caused an uproar all over the nation, which culminated in Estrada's impeachment by the House of Representatives in November of 2000. He was the first Philippine President be impeached. On January 19, 2001, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, seeing the political upheaval throughout the country, decided to withdraw its support from the president and transfer its allegiance to the vice-president. Without military support, and with mass resignations from his cabinet, Estrada's government quickly fell.

Estrada returned to his old home in San Juan where he constantly maintained that he never resigned and therefore implying that Arroyo's government was illegitimate, despite the fact that the international community recognized Arroyo's succession and that all government offices, the military and the national police acknowledged Arroyo as the new president.

The new government charged him with plunder and had him arrested in April. He was convicted by the Sandiganbayan of plunder and imposed a penalty of reclusion perpetua,but was later granted executive clemency by Pres. Arroyo.

Bro. Eddie Villanueva

Eduardo "Bro. Eddie" Villanueva (born October 6, 1946) is a religious and political leader in the Philippines. He is the founder and leader of the Jesus Is Lord Church. In 2004, he was a presidential candidate in the Philippine election. He lost the election to incumbent Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.On August 21, 2009, he announced that he will be running in the 2010 election.

He is a graduate of B.S.Commerce Major in Economics in Polytechnic University of the Philippines

He is married to Dr. Adoracion Villanueva with kids namely Eduardo Jr, Emmanuel Joel, Eleanor, & Edelisha

Gilbert Teodoro

Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo "Gilbert"/"Gibô" Cojuangco Teodoro Jr. (born June 14, 1964) is the current Secretary of National Defense of the Philippines, having assumed the post in August 2007. From 1998 to 2007 he was a member of the House of Representatives, representing the First District of Tarlac province. In March 2009 he announced his intention to run for President of the Philippines in the May 2010 elections.

He is the only child of former Social Security System administrator Gilberto Teodoro, Sr. and former Batasang Pambansa member Mercedes Cojuangco-Teodoro. He is also the nephew of Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr., chairman of San Miguel Corporation.

He was elected Kabataang Barangay president in his hometown Tarlac in 1980 and concurrently became Central Luzon Kabataang Barangay president for five years. He was bona fide member of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan of Tarlac from 1980 to 1986.

He took his elementary and high school education on Xavier School in San Juan City. He furthered his education at the De La Salle University Manila, graduating with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Commerce Major in Financial Institutions in 1984. A strong sense of justice inspired him to pursue a Law degree at University of the Philippines, where he received the Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence in 1989—the same year he topped the Philippine Bar exams. Subsequently, he passed the New York State Bar examinations in 1997. Gibo completed his masters degree at the Harvard Law School in Massachusetts and, just early this year, he was given the first honorary Doctor of Laws degree by West Negros University of Bacolod.

For seven years, Gibo practiced his profession at the Estelito Mendoza Law Firm until his congressional candidacy in 1998. By his own merits, Gibo won and became Tarlac’s First District Representative for three terms (nine years). While in congress, Gibo was a proponent of human rights, economic development, and progress.

Aside from being a licensed commercial pilot, he also holds rank as colonel in the Philippine Air Force Reserve Force.

Gibo, 45, is married to present Tarlac First district Representative Monica “Nikki” Prieto-Teodoro and they have one son named Jaime Gilberto.

As the 34th and youngest Department of National Defense Secretary, Gibo is headstrong on preserving the security of the country. As the concurrent Chairman of National Disaster Coordinating Council, he is proactive and involved in disaster management.

Manny Villar

Manuel 'Manny' Villar Jr. was born on December 13, 1949 in Tondo, Manila to Curita Bamba, a seafood dealer, and Manuel Montalban Villar, Sr., a government employee. He is the second of nine children. He started helping his mother sell seafood at the Divisoria market at a young age to support his siblings and himself for school. Villar finished his elementary schooling at the Holy Child Catholic School in 1962 and his secondary education at the Mapua Institute of Technology in 1966. He then entered the University of the Philippines and took up business administration. He worked as a fish and shrimp trader while he studied, putting in long hours to get fresh catch in the market. He finished his bachelor degree and went on to take up master’s in accountancy at the same university.

He started his professional career as an accountant and financial analyst before launching his own company in 1975. He later established the largest homebuilding company in the country, Camella & Palmera Homes.

Manny Villar became the housing industry leader, and the biggest homebuilder in Southeast Asia, having built more than 100,000 houses for the poor and middle class Filipino families.

In 1992, Villar was elected congressman of Las Piñas and Muntinlupa for three terms in a row. He has served as speaker of the House of Representatives, senator of the Republic, and in 2006 he assumed the Senate presidency. Previously, Villar held the position of Senate president pro-tempore and chairman of the Committees on Finance, Foreign Relations, Public Order, and Agriculture and Fisheries.

Manny Villar is the first post-war public official who became both speaker of the House of Representatives and Senate president.

Senator Manny Villar is a devoted husband to Congresswoman Cynthia A. Villar and a loving father to sons Paolo and Mark and daughter Camille.

John Carlos “J.C.” G. de los Reyes

Born February 14, 1970, married to Dunia Valenzuela with three children, Gabriel 10, Santiago 8 and Barbara 6.

He studied in Ateneo de Manila for his elementary education, and graduated in De la Salle for high school. He finished his B.A. in Theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, reputed to be one of the most orthodox Catholic Universities in America. Late 1993 he taught Philosophy in the then Center for Research and Communication, now the University of Asia and the Pacific and was under the tutelage of Fr. Joseph de Torre, a Spanish priest of the Holy Cross who wrote extensively on the social teachings of the Church. In 1995, he ran and was elected City Councilor of Olongapo.

*His long time friendship with Nandy Pacheco, founder of Ang Kapatiran, who he worked with as early as 1996 led him to be the only winner of the party from among 30 national and local bets in the 2007 election. His election was a political comeback after a nine-year hiatus from local politics.

*His political career has mostly centered on countering traditional politics by asserting the principle of subsidiarity and the prophetic politics of personal and social transformation. 

His passion and mission is to work toward genuine social justice.

NOYNOY AQUINO

"Corruption is the single biggest threat to our democracy. It deprives the poor of the social services they badly need. It destroys the very moral fiber of our society. No reform agenda will succeed wihout a determined program to eradicate corruption. It is the business, not just goverment, but of every Filipipo to fight corruption."

Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Cojuangco Aquino III (born February 8, 1960) is a Senator for the Philippines and a candidate for President of the Philippines in the 2010 election, intending to represent the Liberal Party. He is best known for being the only son of former President Corazon Aquino and Senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. He is also the brother of TV host and actress Kris Aquino

A graduate of Ateneo de Manila University, he was seriously wounded by rebel soldiers in a failed coup attempt during his mother's presidency. In 1998, he was elected to the House of Representatives as Representative of the 2nd district of Tarlac province in the 11th Congress of the Philippines. In 2007, he was elected to the Senate of the 14th Congress of the Philippines.