MANILA - A record 130 Filipinos registered as candidates to succeed Benigno Aquino as Philippine president in next year's general election by Friday's deadline, the elections agency said.
A man who registered his name as Lucifer, a woman who heard voices from heaven and commanded her to run for public office and another who claimed to be an extraterrestrial ambassador are among the hopefuls.
"This is a symbol or a representative of a vibrant democracy, where more people feel empowered to cast their vote, and to put themselves forward as candidates," said James Jimenez, spokesman for the Commission on Elections.
"We are giving people the opportunity to file their candidacies, but we reserve the right to really cut (the number) down to those with a reasonable expectation of victory."
In the 2010 presidential election, 99 people registered to run for president but only 10 people were allowed to compete. Aquino, only son of democracy icons Benigno Senior and Corazon, won with 42 percent of the votes.
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, who ran twice and lost in 1992 and 1998, was among the last to register.
Abarrondo, Evalia Labrador, independent
Acosta, Vetellano Sienez, independent
Agustin, Levi Gadlan, independent
Ailes, Orlando Ortega, independent
Ali*****g, David - independent candidate
Alpuerto, Waldo Encina, independent
Angay, Earl Christian Basco, independent
Apayor, Adriano Billocedo, independent
Apolonio, Jepollo Julyanis, independent
Aquino, Maria Antonia Rael Tariru, independent
Arada, Crisostomo Tanglao, independent
Arcega, Gerald aka Sultan Muhammad Issa - independent
Arilla, Marita - independent
Arqueza, Michael - independent
Asuelo, Ramon - independent
Auza, Marcos Gonzales, independent
Barredo, Romeo Gustiko, independent
Bayani, Emelito - independent
Binay, Jejomar - United Nationalist Alliance (UNA)
Bitangga, Guadalupe William, independent
Briggs a.k.a Buenafe, Buenafe a.k.a Brigido Valida, independent
Briones, Joselito Barbosa, independent
Bula, Leonardo - independent
Cabrera, Rafael Marco, independent
Cadag, Victorio Angelo Agdigos, Democratic Party of the Philippines
Cadion, Leo - Philippine Green Republican Party
Cailing, Patrocinio Apellanes, independent
Capular, Elizabeth Sevilla, independent
Carreon, Allan - independent
Castelo, Virgilio Papag, independent
Castilla, Quiterio Maarat, independent
Cayabyab, Romeo Bulatao, independent
Concepcion, Ramon - independent
David, Rizalito - Kapatiran Party
De Castro, Simeon, Jr. Juarbal, independent
Defensor-Santiago, Miriam Palma, independent
Defiño, Ephraim - independent
Del Rosario, Maria Victoria Añonuevo, independent
Deotoy, Beatriz Valderama, independent
Depil, Maria Clara Chua, independent
Diaz, Jerry - independent
Dimaya, Arsenio - independent
Diño, Martin Badulis, PDP-Laban
Dulalia, Elias Beniza, independent
Dumlao, Leonardo Agustin, independent
Espiritu, Olimpio Ginio, independent
Falcon, Luisito Montalvo, independent
Feliciano, Ranulfo Chaves, independent
Fortes, Ferdinan - independent
Gil, Nolbert - independent
Guillermo, Edna Mangalus, independent
Hara, Caliope Ong, independent
Ignacio, Alejandro - independent
Inductivo, Adolfo - independent
Jamile, Gary Negru, independent
Javier, Alberto German, independent
Kang, Sel Hope - independent
Lapitan, Rodrigo - independent
Lascoña, Ernesto Villarante, independent
Lawag, Victor - independent
Lihaylihay, Danilo - independent
Llamas, Freddiesher - independent
Lope, Wendell - independent
Lopez, Dante Atanacio, independent
Luna, Juanito - independent
Maestre, Wilma - independent
Manalo, Orlando Silva, independent
Mancilla, Rodel Sinciro, independent
Manrique, Medardo - independent
Maquinana, Jose Larry Pamplona, independent
Marcos, Maria Aurora - independent
Masloff, Ralph - independent
Mendoza, Marianito - independent
Mendoza, Romel Carriedo, independent
Mercaida, Joey Fabre, independent
Montemayor, Jose Jr. Cabrera, independent
Murillo, Josephine - independent
Nebres, Domingo Milarpes, independent
Negapatan, Eric - independent
Nogon, Valeriano III - independent
Obina, Antonio - independent
Padernos, Ernesto Medenilla, independent
Padiernos, Justino Arandia, Peoples Freedom Party
Padirogao, Erwin Dejapa, independent
Pamatong, Ely - independent
Pardo, Jean-Pierre - independent
Pascual, Faustino - independent
Penaranda, Luzminda - independent
Pijao, Ferdinand Jose - independent
Pipo, Robert Basconsillo, independent
Plasquita, Romeo - independent
Poe-Llamanzares, Mary Grace Natividad, independent
Puno, Melchor Calubia, independent
Puzon, Peter Dulay, independent
Reyes, Alicia Basco, independent
Reyes, Arturo - independent
Reyes, Esmeraldo - independent
Rivera, Benjamin - independent
Rivera, Romualdo - independent
Roca, Cesar Calagos, independent
Rodriguez, Rombo - independent
Romanillos, Erenia Rabadon, independent
Rosales, Lilian Quiñones, independent
Roxas, Manuel Antonio, independent
Roxas, Manuel Araneta, Liberal Party
Rufil, Benecio Valida, independent
Sabio, Camilo - independent
Sadsad, Cornelio Jr. - independent
Salim, Sahiron Dulah, independent
Sangkalang Usman, Sharifa Regina Taj Usman, independent
Santos, Mohammad Abdullah Santos, independent
Señeres, Roy Villareal, Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka Workers & Peasants Party
Serrano, Gauvencio - independent
Sisit, Felomena Salorsano, independent
Soguilon, Apolonia Comia, independent
Syjuco, Augusto Jr. - independent
Tabat, Ma. Ruth Betuin, independent
Tagle, Pedrito Diaz, independent
Tindugan, Alfredo - independent
Tiqui, Camilo Villarta, independent
Trocencio, Juanita - Partido Bagong Maharlika
Tutay, Benedicto Macabugao, independent
Urquia, Joseph Florencio - independent, 66
Ursua, Isidro Umali, independent
Usman, Ibrahim - independent
Valencia, Dante Corpus, independent
Winstanley, Bertrand Joseph - independent
Yeban, Virgilio - independent
Ygonia, Romeo John aka Archangel Lucifer - independent
Yulaga, Laurencio Caballero, independent