Top 15 Celebrities Who Supported People’s Issues

Angel Locsin is no newbie in supporting people’s issues. Angel defines herself as an activist. She has actively used her voice in women’s issues and supported the causes of Gabriela, got down to her knees for relief operations of Red Cross, and in numerous occasions integrated with the marginalized in country while incognito, such as with the poor in Payatas and the Lumads in Surigao del Sur.

This year, Angel (with her boyfriend Luis Manzano) actively supported the campaign #SaveOurSchools and #StopLumadKillings. After finding out that ALCADEV Executive Director Emerito Samarca and Lumad leader Dionel Campos were killed along with Lumad Datu Bello Sinzo, she posted on Instagram a photo of her 2009 visit to Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development (ALCADEV) in Sitio Han-ayan, Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur.

Nung nabalitaan ko ang brutal killings sa community ng mga Lumads, sinilip ko ang mga pictures namin noong nag-exposure kami sa lugar na yun noong 2009. Dito nakangiti pa sina Tatay Emok at Kuya Dionel… Nakakalungkot na isipin na ganito ang sinapit nila, na ang kagustuhan lang naman nila ay magandang edukasyon para sa mga anak nila at sa susunod na henerasyon at maayos na pamumuhay. Mababait sila, mahiyain, masisipag ang mga bata at nakakatuwa na 0-crime rate ang lugar nila. Nakita ko kung paano sila nagtutulungan bilang isang komunidad at kung paano nila pinagsisikapan ang kanilang mga pangarap. Ramdam ko kung paano nila pinapahalagahan ang kanilang paaralan at komunidad, ang nutrisyon, kalusugan, ang kalikasan, at kapwa tao. Naalala ko nung nagpunta ako dun ay kailangan pa naming magtago sa loob ng pick-up para malagpasan ang napakaraming military checkpoints kahit kasama na namin ang Mayor ng lugar. Nalaman namin na kahit silang mga taga-roon ay mas hinihigpitan pa sa pagpasok sa sarili nilang lugar. Kailangan pa ba nilang magpaalam kung pupunta sila sa kanilang “yutang-kabilin” (ancestral domain)? Bakit may paramilitary? Kung sanctuary ang mga paaralan, bakit may presence ng military kung saan pwede sila madamay sa conflict at magkaron ng takot — not to mention yung grabeng psychological effects sa mga kabataan? Nung huling gabi namin sa ALCADEV, nangako kami na ibabahagi namin ang kanilang karanasan sa marami pang tao. Tulungan nyo po kami para mas maihatid po ang kwento nila sa mas nakakarami. Nakiki-isa po ako na respetuhin ang kanilang kultura at karapatan. At naniniwala ho ako na ang isang eskwelahan ay sentro ng edukasyon at isang sanctuario — at ang presensya ng militar ay hindi nararapat. Panawagan ko rin ang katarungan para sa mga pinaslang. #StopLumadKillings

A photo posted by Angel Locsin (@therealangellocsin) on Sep 15, 2015 at 4:02am PDT

Angel also happens to be the aunt of Bayan Muna Representative and Makabayan senatorial candidate Atty. Neri Javier Colmenares. As Colmeranes filed his certificate of candidacy, Angel marched with his supporters. For this, netizens have called her #TitaNgBayan.

“Not only for nine years of being a representative of the Bayan Muna Partylist in Congress that he has been the voice of the poor and the marginalized sectors; way back in Marcos’ time, he consistently fought for the interests of the masses,” Angel said.

After being vocal about Lumad killings, Angel’s social media accounts were hacked.

A photo posted by Liza Diño-Seguerra (@lizadino) on Nov 8, 2015 at 8:07am PST

Here is a power couple that has challenged both the norms of the patriarchal society and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with the latter being, well, burned. Aiza, known child performer turned singer-composer, and Liza, a beauty titlist and thespian, tied the knot in the United States last year.

Aiza and Liza were encouraged by their fellow artist Bayang Barrios to help the Lumads in their plight. During the Manilakbayan of the Lumads, Aiza learned about their situation first-hand after visiting the kampuhan in Liwasang Bonifacio. Aiza also performed for the Lumads and their supporters in ‘Pangiyak Ki’ a concert ni Liwasang Bonifacio and the benefit gig ‘Lapis para sa Lumad’.

The AFP eagerly tried to counter the couples’ strong statements saying that they are misled on the issue of the Lumads. AFP Spokesperson Brigadier General Joselito Kakilala only received a resounding rebuttal from Liza.

“How funny for you to easily accuse my husband of being misled in our stand against the oppression of our lumad brothers and sisters without supporting it with any reason… Your military men used the schools as camping grounds, disrupted classes, harassed d teachers, interrogated the students and forced them to admit that their parents are rebels. I talked to these students and they are all afraid of you… Talk about being misled,” Liza answered.

Told you. Burn.

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Glaiza de Castro and Rhian Ramos helped raise awareness on the situation of lesbians in a Roman Catholic-dominant country whose roots are very backward and feudal through their teleserye “The Rich Man’s Daughter” (TRMD). LGBT advocates were able to even form an organization to manifest their unity under the flag of Kapederasyon: a Kapederasyon-TRMD Chapter was formed.

Glaiza actively participated and even helped organized various events such as the prosperous “Babae Power x Tibolusyon: One With the Lumads” where she was able to influence fellow celebrities to support the Lumad campaign including Chynna Ortaleza, Stephanie Sol and Gracenote vocalist Eunice Jorge among others.

Veteran actor and activist Pen Medina surely raised his kids as good artists who are socially involved and outspoken on issues concerning our nation. Pen Medina joined the Oust Gloria rallies, arriving without so much fanfare and walking among the rallyists from basic sectors.

The Medina brothers – Alex, Ping, Karl and Vincent – known for their roles in independent films became more outstanding because of their critical stance on people’s issues such as the Lumad killings and the anti-people Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.

Karl starred as Prof. Jose Maria Sison, founding chairperson of the Communist Party of the Philippines, in Sari and Kiri Dalena’s “The Guerilla is a Poet”. Alex was known as General Jose Bernal in the celebrated film “Heneral Luna” along with other period/historical films such as Richard Somes’ “Supremo” and Sari Dalena’s “Ka Oryang”. Ping played the role of Cong. Antonio Rubio in the mini television series “Bayan Ko” that represents all the ills found in a state leader in the system of bureaucrat capitalism.

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The breakout showbiz love team Aldub, said to have risen to the legendary stardom of love team Pip and Guy, has contributed their hashtags and fansign to support the #SaveOurSchools and #StopLumadKillings call. Claims of the AFP that Yaya Dub or Maine Mendoza is being misled about the Lumad issue were refuted Mendoza’s brother-in-law John Carlos Catalan, saying the AFP did not even hear from Maine herself on what she knows about the issue. Catalan was organizer and supporter of Aldub Breakfast for Lumad and Oh My Gulay for Lumad projects. A section of the fandom AlDub nation identified as AlDub for Lumads have organized several activities for the Lumads, bringing material support for the Lumads and making the hashtag #AldubforLumad continuously trend among others.

The Lumad schools are also among the beneficiaries of the Eat Bulaga AlDub library project. During the “Ang Tamang Panahon” show in the Philippine Arena, Lumad children were among the audience to represent the recipients of the library donation. Full proceeds of the “Ang Tamang Panahon” show, reaching P 14 million, would be donated to building libraries in needy schools nationwide.

Even Lola Nidora wished the Lumads well in their fight and said “Huwag kayong susuko. Laban lang ng laban.”

Usually, people would need to pay big bucks before being able to watch a Broadway actress sing live in a quaint, air-conditioned theater. This internationally renowned and award-winning Broadway actress is an exception.

London West End’s Miss Saigon lead actress Monique Wilson has sung Les Miserables’ “Do You Hear the People Sing?” in rallies, under the scorching sun, asking only for the public join the people’s struggles. Monique, a lesbian who recently married her long-time partner last June, is a proud member of Gabriela where she is the Director for International Affairs following their successful One Billion Rising project. One Billion Rising is an international campaign united women around the world to fight violence against women and children in 2013. The campaign continues.

Monique has long been involved in women’s issues. It was her theater group New Voice Company that brought life to the Vagina Monologues in the Philippines in 2000 where annual V-Day events were conducted afterwards. From then on, her involvement in the mass movement has grown as well as her strong commitment to people’s issues.

What is the essence of being a woman?

Though their crowns have been bequeathed to their new winners, these Filipina beauty queens have redefined the essence of a woman and beauty through raising the sirens on the alarming cases of human rights violations and the culture of impunity in the country.

Last July, the Actors Guild of the Philippines and the Film Artists Group led by Maria Isabel Lopez and Evangeline Pascual organized a benefit exhibit for the political prisoners in the Philippines. They were able to gather celebrity artists and their artworks at the ART Center of SM Megamall. Among the participants were Heart Evangelista, Vanessa “Bangs” Garcia, Jao Mapa, Mara Lopez, Melissa Mendez, Lani Lobangco, Lotlot de Leon, Cris Villanueva, Dranreb Belleza, Nadia Montenegro, Heber Bartolome, Ernie Garcia, Baron Geisler, Cesar Montano, Louie Ignacio, Rosanna Roces, and Precy de Guzman-Brady among others.

In 2014, Lopez previously led the beauty queens against the pork barrel where she was joined by former Mutya ng Pilipinas candidate Azenith Briones. Lopez was crowned Bb. Pilipinas-Universe in 1982.

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Miss Universe 2010 4^th Runner Up Venus Raj visited the Lumads while they were encamped at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Raj was taking up her master’s degree in Community Development in the university. She likewise joined the call to stop the military attacks on Lumad schools.

Maita Gomez would have been very proud of them.

Known for her title role in the movie “Flor Contemplacion,” the OFW executed in Singapore in 1995, the Philippine cinema’s Superstar Nora Aunor hit the Aquino government for its neglect of our OFWs.

She said, “Ang sa akin naman, hindi sa ano pa mang bagay, kung nabalitaan na natin na mayroong ganyan, dapat noon pa may nag-asikaso na… Mayroon, malaking pagkukulang, malaking pagkukulang talaga, yun lang ang masasabi ko… Kaya nga kailangang samahan yung mga nakikipaglaban, e, para maipagtanggol yung mga kababayan natin katulad ni Mary Jane at ni Flor Contemplacion.”

Nora joined the protest organized by Migrante International in March where she said: “Noynoy, papet, pahirap at pahamak sa migranteng Pilipino at pamilya! Nakabubuhay na sahod sa Pinas, hindi trabaho sa labas! Serbisyo, hindi negosyo! Proteksyon, hindi koleksyon!…Labor export policy, ibasura! Tama na, sobra na! Noynoy, resign na! Umalis ka na diyan! Ito po ang gusto ko at gusto nating lahat.”

In 2014, Aquino did not confirm the recommendation for Nora Aunor’s National Artist Award. A flank of “Oust/Resign Noynoy” protesters grew from artists and the Superstar’s fans that spoke against Aquino’s decision, but the president did not appear publicly for weeks. When he finally appeared, Aquino reasoned Aunor’s conviction in a drug case in the US. This was denied by the case lawyer of Aunor, but the Philippine president did not retract his decision or his words. A month later, he would be embroiled in the Disbursement Acceleration Program controversy and the public would find Ate Guy wearing a shirt with the print “Proud to be Filipino, Ashamed of My Government.”

This former Guns N’ Roses singer knocked on heaven’s door as he sent a letter to Indonesian President Dioko Widodo pleading for the clemency of the “Bali 9” which included our OFW Mary Jane Veloso. Axl’s letter to Widodo was copy furnished to several leaders including United States Secretary of State John Kerry, three ambassadors and the human rights commission of Indonesia.

“I appeal to you Mr. President, Mr. Joko Widodo to use your power…to show your country’s strength and allow the world to witness an extraordinary act of humanity and bravery on yours and your country’s part,” he said.

As for Veloso’s case the singer wrote, “…executing those on the bottom rungs of the ladder in the chain of drug trafficking…seems more than unfair.”

Widodo is known as the Indonesian President who is a big fan of metal rock.

Though famous as the “bad boy” of Philippine cinema, Robin Padilla is known to have a soft spot for the war-torn island of Mindanao.

Padilla reacted to Tawi-Tawi Representative Ruby Sahali’s proclamation that the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao supports Roxas’ bid for presidency.

Who could forget the Zamboanga Siege in 2013 where the Moro National Liberation Front occupied Zamboanga City on the grounds that the Aquino government is not honoring the peace agreement signed in 1996 and the Mamasapano bloodshed last January? Not those from Mindanao.

Among showbiz celebrities, Padilla is one of the few who consistently speaks on the war in Mindanao.

The 90s teen group “Gwapings” and sitcom “Palibhasa Lalake” member Jomari Yllana managed to raise the eyebrows of the ‘Queen of All Media’ and presidential sister Kris Aquino, not because of his moreno charm, but because of his razor-sharp criticism on the Aquino administration after the botched Oplan Exodus in Mamasapano.

The former matinee idol posted on Facebook: “Ang akala nila, parang videogame lang… Nag-ensayo lang at pinasubukan… Sana pagkatapos dumaan ng sasakyan ninyo sa daan na nagkukunwaring matuwid ay dumeretso na rin ito sa impyerno… Kasama ng mga dayuhang mapuputi na napakahusay magsinungaling… Napakahusay na mandurugas at napakahusay mag-angking ng lupaing hindi kanila… Ikaw na ang pinaka-tangang presidente sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas!!!”

Despite Anjo Yllana’s effort to apologize to Kris Aquino for his brother’s statement, Jomari never retracted his statement against the Philippine head of state and said-to-be Mamasapano mastermind.

Other showbiz personalities who aired their dismay in the handling of Mamasapano included the couple Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo. Kris Aquino had another public fallout, this time with Juday.

The world stage was set for People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao as he faced his biggest fight. All eyes and media were on him and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. But that did not stop him from sharing the spotlight with another Filipino.

At the height of calls to give mercy to human trafficking victim Mary Jane Veloso, Pacquiao released a statement for Indonesian President Joko Widodo which read, “His Excellency, President Joko Widodo, I am Manny Pacquiao. On behalf of my countryman, Mary Jane Veloso, and the entire Filipino people, I am begging and knocking on your kind heart that Your Excellency will grant executive clemency to her by sparing her life and saving her life from execution.”

He added, “Mr President, on May 2nd, I’ll be fighting in Las Vegas, Nevada, against Floyd Mayweather. It is considered the fight of the century. It will be a great morale booster if, in my own little way, I can save a life. I am dedicating this fight to my country and the entire Asian people, to which the Philippines and Indonesia belong. Thank you, Mr. President.”

His controversial loss to Mayweather Jr. did not stop the record holder eight-division champion to fulfill his promise to visit Veloso in Yogyakarta, Indonesia together with his wife Jinkee.

Pacquiao is not new in advocating workers’ rights. He supported the 125-peso across the board and nationwide wage hike for workers alongside labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno and Anakpawis Partylist. The Saranggani representative is also the Vice Chairperson of the House Committee on Migrant Workers’ Affairs.

The tough-talking Davao City mayor is a media interview favorite and not only once was he able to convey support for the plight of the poor. Popular for his iron-fist policies in Davao, Duterte was not just able to put the international limelight in one of the world’s safest cities, but also highlight issues why Filipinos are not safe in their own country.

Flying and derailed trains in the midst of the hellish Manila traffic and costly fares did not escape the mayor when he visited Metro Manila. Of the trains and the government, he said: “I can’t imagine why our government could be so insensitive to the plight of the poor workers. Not only is public transport so expensive, it demeans the human beings who are cramped inside the MRT and LRT like cattle.”

He also pushed for government subsidy to trains, particularly the planned Davao train system, to “take into consideration…that those who will use it are ordinary people who earn very little.”

Duterte went on to say: “We would like our workers to be productive, but how could they be productive when they come to work late and tired because of the jostling to get a ride, not to mention the fact that a huge chunk of their daily earnings go to their transportation fare?”

The fierce presidential candidate also hit labor contractualization saying that it “will kill the Filipino skill.” He pointed out that contractualization policy would destroy Philippine labor and job security. Now, 90% of currently available jobs are contractual in nature.

From a man with iron fists to an iron lady.

Miriam Defensor-Santiago is the force to reckon with in Senate when it comes to national sovereignty. The feisty lawmaker led the Senate ‘opposition on the implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) without its concurrence.’ It could be remembered that the EDCA was PNoy’s welcoming gift to US President Barrack Obama during his visit last April 2014.

Not only did Miriam impede the EDCA, she also led the Senate inquiry on the tragic murder of Filipina transgender Jennifer Laude by Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton. The feisty senator was sharp in saying that the US would invoke the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which is why she reiterated her stance that the VFA must be terminated. Under the VFA, American soldiers who are accused of crimes on Philippine soils would remain under the custody of the US.

She even called the attention of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach following the latter’s answer in the pageant’s question for the top 5: “Do you think the US should have a military base in the country?”

She tweeted, “Congrations @piawurtzbach. You are regal. But from what I heard, we need to talk. See you! #MissUniverse2015.”

Mornings are never the same without Ted Failon.

This veteran broadcaster sure knows how to boil water for your coffee together with the hottest issues in the country every morning in his radio show. Although working for the major network that has close ties with the Aquino administration and the possibility of bumping into Kris Aquino from time to time, Failon is relentless in pursuing the truth where the nation and the people’s interests are concerned and in the process finds himself criticizing the government for its failures and negligences. Audiences nationwide relate with his sentiments on the MRT and LRT fiasco, daily carmaggedons throughout the metro, Mamasapano bloodshed and tuition hike among others.

He releases the big guns against the blunders of the Aquino government thru in-depth research and extensive interviews. A consummate artist (voice actor, punchline artist, radio jockey and more), Failon continuously makes exposés while playing something from Sinatra or The Commodores.

The list ends here but we would love for this list in 2016 to run longer. May more celebrities speak out, shed light and support the issues of the people in 2016 and the years to come.