MANILA, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – The 2016 Philippine presidential elections just got more interesting.

Vice President Jejomar Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte  were both hoping to enlist Senator Grace Poe as their vice presidential running mate, but the popular and well-loved senator has all but rejected both offers.  She is contemplating on running for president herself.

In an effort to boost their quest for the presidency, Binay and Duterte have named their respective choice for a running mate. Duterte says that his choice for a VP running mate is Batangas Governor Vilma Santos while Binay has picked multi-awarded actress Nora Aunor.  Filipinos, of course, know that in their younger years, Santos and Aunor were rivals for the title of movie superstar. Santos  was a former movie star herself. It would be  déjà vu for both actresses if they decide to face each other in the election.

So how about Grace Poe, herself the daughter of two famous actors, the late Fernando Poe, Jr. (who ran unsuccessfully for president five years ago) and movie queen Susan Roces?

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the presumptive heir to partymate President NoyNoy Aquino wanted Poe to be his VP running mate but the latter has refused. So Roxas is left with no potential strong running mate.

Poe, on the other hand, is leaning towards drafting actor Bong Revilla, Jr. as her running mate.  Unfortunatelty, if Revilla would indeed be Poe’s VP choice, he has to campaign from inside his jail cell.  Revilla is currently incarcerated for charges of corruption .

Forget about ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ How about ‘Elections with the Stars?’ It’s really more fun in the Philippines!