Edu Manzano for Vice President

The announcement came as a big surprise, if not a mild shock, to most people in the industry.

“I was surprised, too,” said Edu “Doods” Manzano on his choice as Gibo Teodoro’s running-mate in the 2010 elections. “I knew about it but I didn’t think the announcement would be made so soon.”

“Nagulat ako!” said Edu’s manager June Torrejon when she heard the announcement yesterday.

Edu initially planned to run for senator under former Pres. Joseph “Erap” Estrada’s Puwersa Ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), that’s why he quit as host of the ABS-CBN gameshow Pilipinas, Game Ka Na Ba? several weeks ago, although he has stayed as co-host of the same station’s early-morning show Umagang Kay Ganda.

“For Doods’ senatorial bid, we have already prepared buttons with ‘Game na!’ on them,” said June. “Well, we can still use those buttons even now that he’s running for vice president.”

Unlike Defense Secretary Gibo who is, as he put it, “a neophyte” in politics, Edu is not a greenhorn. He once served as Vice Mayor of Makati City and later lost his bid for the mayor of the same city.

He also served Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration as head of the Optical Media Board (OMB) which is tasked to run after film pirates. It’s the same position that he inherited from Sen. Bong Revilla and is now held by Ronnie Ricketts. It’s interesting to note that Bong was also short-listed as Gibo’s running-mate, together with Vice Pres. Noli de Castro who has begged off from the race.

But keeping the advice of his father, former Sen. Ramon Revilla, to bide his time because he’s “still too young,” Bong declined the offer and decided to run for reelection.

The, well, “merry-go-round” even included Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos — yes, Edu’s ex-wife! — who claimed that, despite the persistent reports, she never got a formal offer. She said “no, thank you” just the same, determined as she is to run for reelection and, she said, “finish what I have started as Governor of Batangas.”

Asked for her reaction to Edu’s vice presidential bid, Gov. Vilma said, “Why not? He’s very qualified to be a public servant. Kaya n’ya ‘yon! Wishing him good luck!”

Edu said that he didn’t have second thoughts about being Gibo’s running-mate.

“Gibo is a good man,” said Edu. “He has a good vision for the country. He will make a good president.”

Edu added that he has been working hand in hand with Gibo’s wife, Tarlac Rep. Monica “Nikki” Prieto-Teodoro in the campaign against child abuse (and child pornography) which was among his priorities as OMB head.

Edu will be running against Sen. Mar Roxas (with Sen. Noynoy Aquino as running-mate) and Makati City Mayor Jojo Binay (with Erap). Also rumored to be running are former First Lady Imelda Marcos (with MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando), and Sen. Loren Legarda and Sen. Chiz Escudero (not clear with whom).

[via]