The party’s Senate bet namely Ret. Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Adel Tamano, Susan “Toots” Ople, Gwendolyn Pimentel, and Ramon “Mon-Mon” Mitra, also filed their candidacies.

Villar heard a special mass officiated by Paranaque Bishop Jessie Mercado at the Manila Cathedral before proceeding to the Comelec. His wife, Las Pinas Rep. Cynthia Villar, and three children—Paolo, Mark and Camille were also at the church.

“Simula ito ng hangarin nating i-ahon sa kahirapan ang ating mga kababayan,” Villar said as he made his way to the Comelec office accompanied by his family and a throng of supporters in orange.

Villar said he is proud of the NP line-up which represents many sectors of society such as overseas Filipino workers, the military and women.

Present during the filing were Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and wife Rep. Lani Cayetano, NP Spokesperson Gilbert Remulla, Rep. Timmy Chipeco, Legarda’s father, Pat Legarda, former Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos, Pong Querubin and children.

The filing of the candidacy came after a grand proclamation rally held Sunday at the Macario Sakay Public Park in Moriones, Tondo. 

Nacionalista’s senatorial line-up is a powerhouse cast that emerged from various backgrounds: 

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago (guest candidate): A recipient of the Laureate of the Asian Nobel Prize, known as the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service, is globally famous for her courageous and brilliant crusade against corruption in the Philippines.

Sen. Pia Cayetano: The youngest woman elected in the history of the Philippine Senate. A lawyer, triathlete and mother of two has been promoting health, environment, youth and women’s empowerment to continue the legacy of her father, the late Senator Compañero Rene L. Cayetano.

Sen. Bong Revilla (guest candidate): Holds the distinction as the youngest elected vice governor and governor in the Province of Cavite in 1995 and 1998 respectively; and again as the youngest elected member of the Philippine Senate in 2004.  

Col. Ariel Querubin: The most bemedalled officer in the history of the republic gained prominence and after a seven-hour stand-off at Fort Bonifacio during an alleged coup plot against President Arroyo in February 2006. 

Rep. Bongbong Marcos: Counts 17 years in public service and has earned a distinguished record of achievement as a political leader and public manager.  

Atty. Adel Tamano: Caught the attention of the public as the spokesman of the United Opposition in the 2007 national elections. He is a prominent lawyer and educator (President of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and the Association of Local Colleges and Universities). 

Susan Ople:  The overseas Filipino worker (OFW) advocate is the youngest daughter of the late Senator and Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople and a former Labor Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment.

Ramon “Mon-Mon” Mitra: The son of the late Speaker of the House Ramon V. Mitra has an extensive experience in administration and operations management acquired from over 18 years experience in the military, private business and family-owned corporations. 

Atty. Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana: The daughter of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino ‘Nene’ Pimentel. A lawyer like his father is the president of the Association of Child Caring Agencies of the Philippines (ACCAP), the country’s leading network of residential care and pre-adoption service providers.