'My senator is #1': Mariel Padilla rejoices as husband Robin leads senatorial race
Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla is on top of the world as her husband Robin leads the senatorial race in the May 9 polls.
As of 3:43 p.m. today, May 10, Robin has earned a total of 25,594,154 votes based on the partial, unofficial results released by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from 97.8% of the 107,785 precincts that opened during Election Day.
The actor and UniTeam Alliance member overtook several politicians, including Antique Representative Loren Legarda who climbed to second place with 23,374,825 votes, as well as broadcaster Raffy Tulfo at the third spot with 22,589,291 votes.
Senator Win Gatchalian is in fourth place with 19,881,687 votes and Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero at no. 5 with 19,574,868. This year's election marks Robin's first time running for public office.
In an Instagram post uploaded earlier today, Mariel thanked Robin's millions of supporters for placing the actor at the top spot of the race. "My Senator is #1 [crying face emojis]. we are beyond grateful!!! Pilipinas, maraming maraming salamat," the actress wrote as caption.
Fellow celebrities congratulated Mariel and Robin in the comments section of her post. Mariel's Wowowin co-host RR Enriquez wrote, "Congrats Ma [red and green heart emojis]. Deserve nyo ang pagkapanalo. Naniniwala kami sa kakayahan ni Robin. Plus ikaw as asawa alam namin magtutulungan kayo."
Veteran singer Martin Nievera and beauty queen Charlene Gonzales-Muhlach followed with their congratulations, while Liz Uy and Sarah Lahbati gave Mariel three heart emojis.
Alex Gonzaga, who was previously rumored to be a supporter of UniTeam presidential bet Ferdinand Marcos Jr., likewise didn't miss expressing her support for the couple. "Congratulations Senator! Congrats Ma!!!! We love you!!!! [heart emoji]."
In an Instagram post during Election Day, Mariel recalled how she lined up for an hour and voted "emotionally" for her husband in her precinct.
"I voted!!!! Woke up at 5:15am showered at 5:20… arrived at 5:58. Lined up. Finished voting at 7am!!!! I AM SO PROUD OF YOU @robinhoodpadilla i was so emotional while shading #49 😭 mahal na mahal kita ROBIN PADILLA!!!! [green heart emojis]"
Later that day, Mariel uploaded an Instagram Story thanking her friends who are rooting for her husband. "Thank you so much to my friends who have messaged me telling me that they voted for robin. Ibang klase ang pakiramdam. Salamat ng marami," she said.
By nighttime, Mariel updated her Instagram followers with a photo of her grandparents and her daughters, Isabella and Gabriella, flying business class to another country.
The supportive wife said she had to pay $19 (P990) to avail of air wi-fi so she could check the partial results of the elections online. Comelec began reporting the results with an initial count of 61.45% at 8:59 p.m. that day.
Her grandmother seems to have joined the excitement, as Mariel shared how she shouted the results even though they were seated far from each other on the plane.
"Si lola may ari ng plane kaka sigaw lang 'MAA!!! 14m!!!" Mariel wrote in her Instagram Story. "Tayo may ari ng plane lola?" she continued. "Haha sigaw sigaw na lang tayo?"
Comelec is expecting to finalize the results for this election's senatorial lineup within three to four days after polling stations closed on Monday night.