It's that time again.
From October 1 to 8, all sorts of personalities appeared to file their certificate of candidacy (COC) for the 2025 national and local elections.
There were incumbent officials running for re-election. There were returning politicians seeking a change of titles. There were showbiz personalities seeking a new career in public service. Vloggers also tried their hand at it.
Even athletes and sports personalities were not afraid to try their luck in seeking public office.
Here are some of them.
Manny Pacquiao - Boxing | Running for Senator
Eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is seeking a return to the Senate after losing the 2022 presidential elections.
Now, he's running as part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate.
It's a family affair actually, as Pacquiao's wife Jinky is aiming for a Congress seat as the second nominee for the Maharlikang Pilipino sa Bagong Lipunan (MPBL) partylist.
Their son, Michael, filed his COC for councilor in General Santos City.
Kenneth Duremdes - Basketball | Running for Congressman, MPBL party-list
Former PBA MVP Kenneth Duremdes has also joined the fray as the third nominee of the MPBL party-list.
He is also the commissioner of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League--the inspiration for the MPBL party-list. The now-professional basketball league was founded by Pacquiao in 2017.
Eric Buhain - Swimming | Running for Congressman, Batangas 1st district
A multi-awarded SEA Games gold medalist in swimming and a two-time Olympian, Eric Buhain is gunning for re-election as the Congress representative of the first district of Batangas.
The two-time Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Athlete of the Year also served as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission and chairman of the Games and Amusements Board.
In 2022, he ran to replace the seat vacated by his wife, Eileen Ermita-Buhain. The former swimmer won against his sister-in-law, Lisa Ermita.
Franz Pumaren - Basketball | Running for Congress, Quezon City 3rd district
A former PBA player and a long-time UAAP coach, Representative Franz Pumaren is running for re-election as the representative for the third district of Quezon City.
Like in 2022, he is part of Mayor Joy Belmonte's slate.
Richard Gomez - Fencing | Running for Congress, Leyte 4th district
A former Philippine national team member at the Southeast Asian Games and the previous president of the Philippine Fencing Association, Representative Richard Gomez is once again running for Congress.
Initially known as an actor before becoming the president of the Philippine Modern Pentathlon Association, Gomez is aiming to retain his seat as the representative of the fourth district of Leyte.
His wife, Lucy, is also aiming for re-election as Ormoc mayor.
Monsour del Rosario - Taekwondo | Running for Vice Mayor, Makati
A taekwondo champion who also served as the secretary-general of the Philippine Taekwondo Association, Monsour del Rosario is now aiming to become the Vice Mayor of Makati.
He's no stranger to public office, serving as Makati councilor from 2010 to 2016 before becoming congressman until 2019.
Del Rosario is the running mate of Senator Nancy Binay.
Dondon Hontiveros - Basketball | Running for Vice Mayor, Cebu City
A former PBA player and national team member, Dondon Hontiveros is seeking to serve as the Cebu City vice mayor in an official capacity.
Known as the "Cebuano Hotshot", Hontiveros ran as councilor in 2019 and won. But he became acting vice mayor of Cebu City in November 2021 due to the death of then-mayor Edgardo Labella. Vice Mayor Mike Rama assumed as acting mayor.
Hontiveros ran for councilor again in 2022, topping the local race. However, he became acting vice mayor again when the Ombudsman suspended Rama in May.
However, the Ombudsman ordered Rama dismissed earlier this week, leading acting mayor Raymond Garcia to take his oath. Hontiveros' next step remains to be seen following this development.
Bonel Balingit - Basketball | Running for Councilor, Cebu City
Hontiveros isn't the only athlete-turned-politician in town. PBA legend Bonel Balingit, dubbed as the "Gentle Giant", also filed his candidacy to become councilor in the south district of Cebu City.
James Yap - Basketball | Running for Councilor, San Juan 1st district
Known as "Big Game James" in the PBA, James Yap aims to continue as councilor for the first district of San Juan.
Danny Ildefonso - Basketball | Running for Councilor, Urdaneta
Known in the PBA as "Lakay", "Danny I", and "The Demolition Man", basketball player-turned-assistant coach Danny Ildefonso will now tread a new path as he aims to become a councilor in Urdaneta, Pangasinan.
Bong Alvarez - Basketball | Running for Councilor, Manila 3rd district
A former PBA player dubbed as "Mr. Excitement", Paul "Bong" Alvarez will now attempt to take his act to politics as he runs for a council seat in the third district of Manila.
He is part of Isko Moreno's slate, as the former presidential candidate is aiming for a comeback in the nation's capital.
Ian Alban - Basketball | Running for Councilor, Manila
Another basketball player is aiming for a Manila council seat. Former Arellano baller Ian Alban also filed his COC for councilor.
Jeric Teng - Basketball | Running for Councilor, Gumaca
A UAAP Rookie of the Year before competing in the PBA and the MPBL, Jeric Teng will now dip his toes in public service as he runs for councilor in Gumaca, Quezon.
(With reports from The Freeman)