Quezon City is living up to its billing as the “city of stars” as a number of media and entertainment celebrities led by comedian and incumbent Vice Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista filed Tuesday their certificates of candidacies (CoCs) for various local posts.

Three-term Councilor Aiko Melendez will run for vice mayor while fellow actress Ara Mina will be seeking the city council seat vacated by the former. The two were rivals for Melendez’s first husband, Jomari Yllana.

The “graduating councilor” will be campaigning with former Malacañang chief of staff Secretary Mike Defensor who was expected to file his CoC for mayor last night.

Also running for city council seats are multi-awarded violinist John Philip Lesaca, entertainment reporter Ogie Diaz; actors Ricky Davao, Alfred Vargas and Roderick Paulate; rock band performer Guian Sotto; news reader and former actress Precious Hipolito-Castelo; radio disc jockey Reginald Francisco and game show host Arnel Ignacio.

La Salle basketball coach Franz Pumaren will challenge Defensor’s father, incumbent Rep. Matias Defensor, in the city council.

Movie heartthrob Dingdong Dantes and radio commentator Erwin Tulfo were reported to be eyeing local posts as councilor and congressman, respectively.

Defensor and Bautista will be joined in the mayoralty race by District II Rep. Mary Ann Susano of Lakas-Kampi-CMD-NPC coalition.

Bautista has chosen Joy Belmonte, daughter of incumbent Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., as running mate under the Liberal Party while Councilor Janet Malaya is Susano’s running mate.

Defensor said he has decided to run under the Philippine Reform Party of his aunt. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago. However, his father, incumbent Rep. Matias Defensor will seek re-election under Lakas-Kampi.

Ara Mina (Hazel Reyes in real life), Hipolito, Francisco and Vargas filed their CoCs for councilor in District II. The lone congressional seat in the district will be contested by Hipolito’s husband, Councilor Winnie Castelo under Liberal Party and Alan Francisco, who will represent the ruling-Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

Mina, daughter of former Rep. Chuck Mathay, is reportedly running under NPC while Francisco, a lawyer, was among those considered by Lakas-Kampi to be a member of the council slate.

The third district race for six vacant slots in the city council will be contested by Lesaca, Sotto and Diaz. At least 23 candidates have also filed CoCs for the city council.

Lesaca, brother-in-law of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, will run under Defensor’s “performance team.” Making up the group are former Councilor Pinggoy Lagumbay, Matandang Balara chairman Beda Torrecampo, civic leader Don De Leon, Mike Gonzales and Robert Nazal.

Sotto, only son of former QC Vice Mayor and Sen Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, will run under LP while Diaz is an independent candidate.

Ignacio and Davao are party mates of Susano who disclosed that the NPC has fielded a complete slate for all local vacancies.