As the 2025 elections approach, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.’s familiar placement near the top of the ballot has stirred curiosity among voters yet again. This traces back to a strategic decision he made in 2009, just before running for his first reelection in 2010.
The actor-cum-politician, born Jose Mari Bautista, secured court approval to legally change his name to Ramon Bautista Bong Revilla Jr., making “Bong Revilla” his official last name.
The timing of this name change was no coincidence—it was a calculated move to align with the Philippines’ first automated election system, introduced in 2010.
Under the manual voting system previously used, voters had to manually write the names of their chosen candidates on blank ballots, often leading to disputes over handwriting and spelling.
In the automated system, ballots were redesigned to include pre-printed candidate names listed alphabetically, alongside ovals for shading. In this new setup, name recognition and ballot placement became crucial.
While Revilla’s original surname, Bautista, would have placed him higher on the alphabetized ballot than “Bong Revilla,” the change was about clarity and familiarity.
By adopting his widely recognized screen name as his official legal surname, Revilla ensured voters would immediately connect his name on the ballot with his public identity. It also aligned all his legal documents—passports, IDs, and official records—with the name voters knew.
Changing one’s legal name in the Philippines is not a simple process. According to Rule 103 of the Rules of Court, a person must file a petition for a name change and provide a valid reason that satisfies the court. Acceptable reasons include:
- To avoid confusion or align with a public identity – For example, a person widely known by a nickname, stage name, or professional name can request to align their legal name with their public identity.
- To correct clerical or typographical errors – Common mistakes in birth certificates or other official records can be rectified through a name change.
- To simplify a name or avoid ridicule – Names that are difficult to spell, overly complex, or subject to ridicule may be changed to prevent misunderstanding or embarrassment.
- To align with gender identity – Although changing the sex marker is restricted, names can be changed to reflect gender identity in certain cases.
- To reclaim a family name – A person may request to adopt a biological parent’s surname or revert to a maiden name after annulment or separation.
Revilla’s petition fell under the provision allowing individuals to adopt a name by which they are widely known. By demonstrating that “Bong Revilla” was the name he had used for decades in his acting career and public life, the court approved his request, recognizing it as a practical and reasonable change.
Unlike Revilla, who legally changed his last name, many other celebrity-politicians have used their famous screen names on the ballot without altering their legal identities.
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) allows candidates to use nicknames or names they are popularly known by, as long as these do not mislead voters. Here are some notable examples, including their legal names and ballot names:
Fernando Poe Jr.
Legal Name: Ronald Allan Kelley Poe
Ballot Name: Poe, Fernando Jr.
Position: President
Joseph “Erap” Estrada
Legal Name: Jose Marcelo Ejercito
Ballot Name: Estrada, Joseph “Erap”
Position: President, Mayor of Manila
Tito Sotto
Legal Name: Vicente Castelo Sotto III
Ballot Name: Sotto, Vicente “Tito”
Position: Senator, Vice President
Vilma Santos
Legal Name: Maria Rosa Vilma Tuazon Santos-Recto
Ballot Name: Santos, Vilma
Position: Governor of Batangas, Representative of Lipa
Isko Moreno
Legal Name: Francisco Moreno Domagoso
Ballot Name: Domagoso, Francisco “Isko Moreno”
Position: Mayor of Manila, President
Lucy Torres-Gomez
Legal Name: Lucy Marie Martinez Torres
Ballot Name: Torres, Lucy
Position: Representative of Leyte, Mayor of Ormoc
Lito Lapid
Legal Name: Manuel Mercado Lapid
Ballot Name: Lapid, Lito
Position: Senator
Jinggoy Estrada
Legal Name: Jose Pimentel Ejercito Jr.
Ballot Name: Estrada, Jinggoy
Position: Senator
Alfred Vargas
Legal Name: Alfredo Paolo Dumlao Vargas III
Ballot Name: Vargas, Alfred
Position: Representative of Quezon City
Jhong Hilario
Legal Name: Virgilio Hilario Jr.
Ballot Name: Hilario, Jhong
Position: Councilor of Makati City
Yul Servo
Legal Name: John Marvin Nieto
Ballot Name: Nieto, Yul Servo
Position: Representative of Manila, Vice Mayor of Manila
E.R. Ejercito
Legal Name: Emilio Ramon Pelayo Ejercito III
Ballot Name: Ejercito, E.R.
Position: Governor of Laguna
Angelu de Leon
Legal Name: Maria Luisa Angela Martinez de Leon
Ballot Name: De Leon, Angelu
Position: Councilor of Pasig City
Aga Muhlach
Legal Name: Ariel Aquino Muhlach
Ballot Name: Muhlach, Aga
Position: Representative of Camarines Sur
