Lito Lapid

{{Short description|Senator of the Philippines (2004–16; since 2019)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Lito Lapid

| image = Lito_Lapid_Senate_Session_No._29.jpg

| imagesize = 220

| smallimage =

| caption = Lapid in 2024

| signature = Lito-lapid-signature.svg

| office = Senator of the Philippines

| term_start = June 30, 2019

| office4 = Chair of the Senate Games and Amusement Committee

| predecessor4 = Panfilo Lacson

| office5 = 25th Governor of Pampanga

| predecessor5 = Bren Guiao

| successor5 = Mark Lapid

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|10|25}}

| birth_place = Porac, Pampanga, Philippines

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality = Filipino

| party = NPC (1991–1998; 2018–present){{cite news |title=Lapid joins NPC; to run for Senate |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1767639/Pampanga/Local-News/Lapid-joins-NPC-to-run-for-Senate |access-date=1 September 2021 |work=SunStar Pampanga |publisher=SunStar Publishing Inc. |date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004200556/https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1767639/Pampanga/Local-News/Lapid-joins-NPC-to-run-for-Senate |archive-date=4 October 2018}}

| otherparty = Independent (2012–2018)
Lakas–CMD (1998–2012)

| spouse = Marissa Tadeo

| children = 6, including Mark and Ysabel

| residence = Porac, Pampanga
Angeles City, Pampanga
Makati, Metro Manila

| occupation = Politician, actor

| birth_name = Manuel Mercado Lapid

| termstart1 = June 30, 2004

| termend1 = June 30, 2016

| office2 = Chair of the Senate Tourism Committee

| termstart2 = May 20, 2024

| predecessor2 = Nancy Binay

| successor3 = Nancy Binay

| termstart3 = July 25, 2010

| termend3 = June 30, 2016

| termstart4 = July 22, 2019

| predecessor3 = Francis Pangilinan

| termstart5 = June 30, 1995

| termend5 = June 30, 2004

| office6 = Vice Governor of Pampanga

| termstart6 = June 30, 1992

| termend6 = June 30, 1995

| governor6 = Bren Guiao

| predecessor6 = Cielo Macapagal-Salgado

| successor6 = Cielo Macapagal-Salgado

| vicegovernor5 = Cielo Macapagal-Salgado
Clayton Olalia
Mikey Arroyo

| termend4 = July 23, 2024

| successor4 = Mark Villar

}}

Manuel "Lito" Mercado Lapid ({{IPA|tl|manˈwel ˈlito ˈlapid|lang}}; born October 25, 1955){{cite web |title=CANDIDATE'S PROFILE: Manuel Mercado Lapid |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/eleksyon2019/candidate/39/manuellapid/ |publisher=GMA News |access-date=21 March 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220321051755/https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/eleksyon2019/candidate/39/manuellapid/ |archive-date=21 March 2022}} is a Filipino actor, director and politician serving as a Senator since 2019, and previously from 2004 to 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/cebu-entertainment/2009/03/16/448665/stuntman-senator-sen-lito-lapid-looks-back-his-beginnings|title=From Stuntman To Senator: Sen. Lito Lapid looks back at his beginnings|publisher=Philippine Star|access-date=16 March 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2001/09/17/133957/lito-hero-his-own-kind|title=Lito a hero to his own kind|publisher=Philippine Star|access-date=17 September 2001}} He started his political career in Pampanga, serving as vice governor from 1992 to 1995, and governor from 1995 to 2004.

In 2015, he was charged for graft over his alleged involvement in the 2004 Fertilizer Fund scam while he was governor of Pampanga, but the case was dismissed in 2016 by the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court due to the "inordinate delay" in the investigation.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rappler.com//nation/111846-lito-lapid-graft-fertilizer-overpricing|title=Graft charges vs Lapid, 5 others for overpriced fertilizer|date=November 5, 2015|website=Rappler|language=en|access-date=May 27, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.mb.com.ph/2016/12/28/sandiganbayan-in-2016-high-profile-cases-resolved|title=Sandiganbayan in 2016: High-profile cases resolved|last=Ong|first=Czarina Nicole O.|date=December 28, 2017|website=Manila Bulletin News|language=en-US|access-date=May 27, 2019|archive-date=May 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527235037/https://news.mb.com.ph/2016/12/28/sandiganbayan-in-2016-high-profile-cases-resolved/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/836103/prosecutors-appeal-dismissal-of-graft-case-against-lapid|title=Prosecutors appeal dismissal of graft case against Lapid|last=Nonato|first=Vince F.|date=October 31, 2017|website=Inquirer|language=en|access-date=May 27, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/04/16/lito-lapid-wins-graft-case-due-to-ombudsmans-delay|title=Lito Lapid wins graft case due to Ombudsman's delay|last=Bonquin|first=Carolyn|date=October 4, 2016|website=ABS-CBN News|access-date=May 27, 2019}}

Early life and education

Lapid was born in Porac, Pampanga on August 21, 1955. He is the fifth child out of nine children of Jose Songco Lapid and Eleuteria Mercado. He completed his elementary education at the Porac Central School in 1968 and secondary education at St. Catherine's Academy in Porac in 1972. He did not enroll for his tertiary education as he pursued acting.

Acting career

Lapid entered the film industry as a stuntman, and became an actor. He is the nephew of Jess Lapid and the cousin of Jess Lapid Jr.{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2011/07/24/709087/jess-lapid-his-peak|title=Jess Lapid at his peak|last=Dolor|first=Danny|date=July 24, 2011|website=Philippine Star|access-date=July 24, 2011}} The movie "The Jess Lapid Story" got him noticed in the movie industry.

Political career

In the 1992 general election he ran under the opposition block Nationalist People's Coalition as vice governor of Pampanga, and defeated the incumbent vice governor Cielo Macapagal-Salgado.

In 1995, he ran for governor of Pampanga under the same party against Governor Bren Guiao, who had the support of former President Corazon Aquino, and won.{{cite news|last1=Dizon|first1=Romy|author2=PNA|title=Cory 'magic touch' wanes in Pampanga|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=8cBNEdFwSQkC&dat=19950509&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|access-date=January 24, 2022|work=Manila Standard|publisher=Kamahalan Publishing Corp.|date=May 10, 1995|location=San Fernando, Pampanga|page=6}} When he sought a second term in 1998, Lapid joined the administration party Lakas-NUCD. After the impeachment of President Joseph Estrada in 2000 and the second EDSA Revolution the following year, he ran again for his final term and won.

He decided to run as mayor of Angeles City, in the 2004 elections but abandoned his plans when he was encouraged to run as a senator.

=Senate=

File:Senator Lito Lapid Sponsorship Speech at Senate Session No. 29 (November 5, 2024).webm

During the 2004 Senatorial elections, the then-president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo encouraged Lapid to run as a senator under the administration coalition K4. He accepted the offer and won the election where he placed eleventh. During his first term, he ran for mayor of Makati in 2007, but lost to incumbent Mayor Jejomar Binay;{{cite web |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/42782/binay-thrashes-lito-lapid-in-makati-awaits-proclamation/story/|title=Binay thrashes Lito Lapid in Makati, awaits proclamation|access-date=January 7, 2023|website=GMA News Online |date=May 16, 2007}} thus, he kept his Senate seat.

In May 2010, he was re-elected as senator, placing 11th in the overall ranking. He ran under the Lakas–CMD but subsequently left the party in 2012 and served until 2016 as an independent. He was chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism and Cooperatives. As he was ineligible to seek another re-election to the Senate, Lapid ran for mayor of Angeles City in 2016, but lost to incumbent Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan.{{Cite news| url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/05/10/1582077/lapid-loses-huge-margin-pampanga-mayoralty-race |title=Lapid loses by huge margin in Pampanga mayoralty race|last=Sapnu|first=Ric|date=May 10, 2016|work=The Philippine Star|access-date=January 7, 2023}}

Lapid's office acknowledged that P5 million of his pork barrel was used in 2011 to purchase anti-dengue innoculants for Polillo, Quezon. The funds were allegedly misused as part of the pork barrel scam, since there were no reported cases of dengue fever in Polillo in 2011.{{Cite news |last1=Cinco |first1=Maricar |last2=Bernabe |first2=Kirstin |date=2013-07-26 |title=Lapid pork used in scam |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/452887/lapid-pork-used-in-scam |access-date=2025-04-22 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |language=en}}

Lapid sought for a comeback to the Senate in 2019 and won, placing 7th overall. He earned his third nonconsecutive term.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2019/214349-lito-lapid-seeks-senate-comeback|title=Lito Lapid seeks Senate comeback in 2019|last=Elemia|first=Camille|date=October 15, 2018|work=Rappler|access-date=May 22, 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1070457|title=12 winning senators proclaimed|last=Patinio|first=Ferdinand|date=May 22, 2019|work=Philippine News Agency|access-date=May 22, 2019}}

Lapid was re-elected as senator in 2025 and was a part of the Adminstration Slate, Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas. He placed 11th overall.{{Cite web |title=Comelec releases final senatorial ranking in the 2025 elections |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/05/16/2443547/list-final-senatorial-ranking-2025-elections |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=Philstar.com}}

Personal life

File:Lapidjf.JPG).]]

Lapid is married to Marissa Tadeo, with whom he has four children including Mark.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/sb/sb003406.htm|title=Melanie Accepts Kris' Apology; Diana Zubiri & Vhong Navarro Going Steady|publisher=Newsflash.org|access-date=13 March 2015}} Lapid also has a child with former supermodel Melanie Marquez{{cite web|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/04/27/16/meet-manuelito-the-love-child-of-melanie-marquez-and-lito-lapid|title=Meet Manuelito, the love child of Melanie Marquez and Lito Lapid|work=ABS-CBN News |access-date=27 April 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/life/v2/08/03/16/meet-melanie-marquez-gorgeous-daughter-michelle |title=Meet Melanie Marquez' gorgeous daughter, Michelle |work=ABS-CBN Corporation |date=August 3, 2016 |access-date=August 3, 2016}} and another, actress Ysabel Ortega with former singer, Michelle Ortega.{{cite web|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/showbiznews/family/55044/ysabel-ortega-on-dad-lito-lapid-hes-happy-for-me/story|title=Ysabel Ortega on dad Lito Lapid: "He's happy for me."|publisher=GMA Entertainment|access-date=26 September 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://philnews.ph/2018/05/07/ysabel-ortega-relationship-lito-lapid/|title=Ysabel Ortega Speaks Up About Relationship With Father Lito Lapid|date=May 7, 2018|work=Philippine News|access-date=2018-05-08|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/05/03/18/watch-ysabel-ortega-in-tears-over-not-seeing-dad-lito-lapid|title=WATCH: Ysabel Ortega in tears over not seeing dad Lito Lapid|work=ABS-CBN News|access-date=2018-05-08|language=en-US}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"

!Year

!Title

!Role

1968

|Leon Guerrero: Laban sa 7 Kilabot

1972

|Geronimo

1973

|Ang Alamat ni Leon Guerrero

1975

|Nagmula sa Lupa

|Totoy

1976

|Mrs. Eva Fonda, 16

1976

|Enter the Panther

1978

| The Jess Lapid Story

| Jess Lapid

1979

| Bruce the Super Hero

| Rocky Robledo

1979

| Batang Salabusab

1979

| Alas at Reyna

1979

| Death Has No Mercy

1979

| Lipulin... Masasamang Loob (Highway Patrol)

1979

| Ang Sisiw Ay Isang Agila

1980

|Ang Pagbabalik ni Leon Guerrero

|Leon Guerrero

1980

|Kastilyong Buhangin

|Oscar

1980

|Diego Sta. Cruz

|Diego Sta. Cruz

1980

|Yakapin Mo 'Ko, Lalaking Matapang

1980

|Kalibre .45

1981

|Viva Santiago

|Aguinaldo

1981

|Kamaong Asero

1981

|San Basilio

|Julio Valiente

1981

|Tatlong Baraha

|Leon Guerrero

1982

|Isaac... Dugo ni Abraham

|Isaac

1982

|Ang Tapang para sa Lahat!

1982

|Anak ng Tulisan

1982

|Isla Sto. Nino

1982

|Hanggang sa Wakas

1983

|Pedro Tunasan

|Pedro Tunasan

1983

|Gamu-gamo sa Pugad Lawin

|Alberto

1983

|The Gunfighter

|Tejan

1984

| Barakuda

1984

| Zigomar

| Zigomar

1984

| Lukas

| Lukas

1984

| Da Best in the Da West

1984

| Alakdang Bato

| Donato

1984

| Angkan ng Siste Reales

1984

| Mga Walang Daigdig

1984

| Julian Vaquero

| Julian Vaquero

1985

| Abandonado

1985

| Ben Tumbling: A People's Journal Story

| Ben Tumbling

1985

| Walang Katapat

1985

| Hari ng Gatilyo

1985

| Calapan Jailbreak

1985

| Sa Bawat Hahakbangan, Babaha ng Dugo

| Danilo Saberon

1986

| Macho Gigolo

| Manny Agbayani

1986

| No Return, No Exchange

| Abe

1986

| Asong Gubat

| Geron

1986

| Kamagong

| Manuel

1986

| Desperado

1987

| Maruso

| Romeo Maruso

1987

| Cabarlo

| Fred Cabarlo

1987

| Barbaro Santo

| David Manabat / Elias dela Cruz

1988

| Akyat Bahay Gang

| Ricardo "Carding" Dacanay

1988

| Ex-Army

| Lt. Emil Matriano

1988

| Sa Likod ng Kasalanan

1989

| Tadtarin ng Bala si Madelo

| Lt. Thomas Madelo

1989

| Jones Bridge Massacre (Task Force Clabio)

| Lt. Col. Aladdin Dimagmaliw

1989

| Sgt. Melgar

| Sgt. Rodolfo Melgar

1989

| Hindi Palulupig

| Romano Magtanggol

1990

| Ibabaon Kita sa Lupa!

| Joaquin Salazar

1990

| Kahit Singko, Hindi Ko Babayaran ang Buhay Mo

| David

1990

| Karapatan Ko ang Pumatay! -Kapitan Guti

| Capt. Guti

1990

| Walang Piring ang Katarungan

| Sgt. Fidel Ronquillo

1991

| Lt. Jack Moreno: Medal of Valor – Habang Nasusugatan Lalong Tumatapang

| Lt. Jack Moreno

1992

| Dudurugin Kita ng Bala Ko

| Reden Verdadero

1992

| Lacson, Batas ng Navotas

| Narsing Lacson

1993

| Gascon, Bala ang Katapat Mo

| Capt. Florencio Gascon

1993

| Aguinaldo

| Gov. Rodolfo Aguinaldo

1994

| Geron Olivar

| Geron Olivar

1994

| Macario Durano

| Macario Durano

1995

| Ikaw Pa Eh, Love Kita

| Sgt. Esteban Samonte

1995

| Hanggang sa Huling Bala

| David

1995

| Sa Iyo ang Pampanga, Akin ang Bulacan

1995

| Escobar: Walang Sasantuhin

| Capt. Salvador Escobar

1996

| Tolentino

| Ramon Tolentino

1996

| Hindi Lahat ng Ahas Ay nasa Gubat

1996

| Tapatan ng Tapang

| Paul

1996

| Da Best in da West 2: Da Western Pulis Istori

| Larry Lopez

1997

| Tapang sa Tapang

| Dante Parcon

1997

| Kasangga Mo Ako Hanggang sa Huling Laban

| Benjo Aragon

1998

| Alamid: Ang Alamat

| Alamid (Old)

1998

| Lisensyado

| Capt. Aladin Esguera

1999

| Tatapatan Ko ang Lakas Mo

| Rommel Cruz

1999

| Ako'y Ibigin Mo... Lalaking Matapang

| Leon

1999

| Largado

| Attorney Randy Reyes

2000

| Fidel Jimenez: Magkasubukan Tayo

| Capt. Fidel Jimenez

2000

| Patigasan

2000

| Pasasabugin Ko ang Mundo Mo

2000

| Huwag Mong Ubusin ang Bait Ko!

| Sgt. Rolando Serrano

2000

| Eskort

| Angelo

2001

| Masikip Na ang Mundo Mo, Labrador

| Capt. Ramon Labrador

2001

| Bukas, Babaha ng Dugo

| Felix Mercado

2001

| Dugong Aso: Mabuting Kaibigan, Masamang Kaaway

| Barangay Chairman

2002

| Lapu-Lapu

| Lapu-Lapu

2006

| Tatlong Baraha

| Leon Guerrero

2017

| Ang Panday

| Apo

2018

| Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles

| Sgt. Domingo

2021

| Mang Jose

|Inkredibol Diego

2022

| Apag

| Alfredo Tuazon

TBA

| Untitled Brillante Mendoza film{{cite news|author=PEP Troika|title=Bong Revilla, Robin Padilla, Lito Lapid, at Coco Martin magsasanib-puwersa sa pelikula|trans-title=Bong Revilla, Robin Padilla, Lito Lapid, and Coco Martin to join forces in a film|url=https://www.pep.ph/pepalerts/pep-troika/178660/bong-robin-lito-coco-movie-a4118-20240131|access-date=July 4, 2024|work=PEP.ph|publisher=Philippine Entertainment Portal Inc.|date=January 31, 2024|language=Filipino}}{{cite news|last=Llemit|first=Kathleen A.|title=Coco Martin, Robin Padilla, Bong Revilla, Lito Lapid working on new film — report|url=https://www.philstar.com/movies/2024/02/02/2330167/coco-martin-robin-padilla-bong-revilla-lito-lapid-working-new-film-report|access-date=July 4, 2024|work=Philstar.com|publisher=Philstar Global Corp.|date=February 2, 2024|location=Manila, Philippines}}

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"

!Year

!Title

!Role

!Notes

!{{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}

2013

| Little Champ

| Leon "Amang" del Torro

|Main Role

2017–2019

| FPJ's Ang Probinsyano

| Romulo "Leon" Dumaguit

|Main Role / Protagonist

2023–2025

| FPJ's Batang Quiapo

| Supremo "Primo" C. Medina

|Main Role / Anti-Hero / Protagonist

| {{cite news|title=Coco Martin, Lovi Poe, Charo Santos to star in FPJ's 'Batang Quiapo'|url=https://rappler.com/entertainment/series/coco-martin-lovi-poe-charo-santos-star-in-fernando-poe-jr-batang-quiapo|website=Rappler|date=December 7, 2022|access-date=December 9, 2022}}

References

External links

{{commonscat-inline}}
{{IMDb name|nm0991856}}
[http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/sen_bio/lapid_bio.asp Senate of the Philippines - Lito Lapid]
{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929060727/http://www.lpp.gov.ph/govs/lapid.html |date=September 29, 2007 |title=Lito Lapid as governor of Pampanga }}

{{navboxes

|title=Senatorial history of Lito Lapid

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Category:1955 births

Category:Living people

Category:ABS-CBN people

Category:Filipino actor-politicians

Category:Politicians from Pampanga

Category:Filipino film directors

Category:Filipino male film actors

Category:Governors of Pampanga