Daniela Adelaide Jaimeleen Sol Dizon

As the 2025 midterm elections draw near, several celebrity and social media influencers officially filed their Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) for a congressional seat, which drew widespread media attention. 

Photo Courtesy of Tarlac Forum/Marco Gumabao/ABS-CBN News/TheSTAR.

Among these candidates is Deon “Diwata” Balbuena, a food entrepreneur, known as the owner of the pares chain Diwata Pares. Diwata, now the fourth nominee on the Vendors party list, once became a viral sensation for their affordable “pares overload” and “unli-rice” that cost P100 for a complete meal.

“No one has really represented the voices of Filipino vendors—that’s why we are here to be the voice of every Filipino vendor,” he stated in Filipino during his interview on October 2, the second day of CoC filing.
 
Diwata expressed his unwavering commitment to serving the community and helping vendors in the face of adversity. 

He gained support from some of his fellow vendors, as they claimed that Diwata understands their situation better. 

Another candidate is Rosemarie Tan Pamulaklakin, also known as "Rosmar," who first rose to prominence by selling Kagayaku cosmetic items and TikTok creations.

“I was told that the people needed me, so they persuaded me to run,” she remarked on October 2, following the submission of her CoC. 

Rosmar emphasized her urge to help people ever since she was young. 

The candidates also include actor Enzo Pineda, who is seeking a councilor position in Quezon City's 5th district; Marco Gumabao, a candidate for Camarines Sur's 4th district; and Ion Perez, a host on It’s Showtime, aiming for a councilor position in Concepcion, Tarlac.

Not all reactions to their candidacies were positive, as it ignited heated objections in social media—mainly questioning the qualifications they possessed.

“Being a celebrity is a blessing, but jumping into politics and public service is another story,” a citizen’s comment on a Facebook post.

“Politics is not an experiment. It isn’t a place for experimentation or self-promotion. It requires leaders with expertise and understanding to make tough decisions, not those who see it as a stepping stone or personal ground,” a netizen’s TikTok post read.