From Showbiz to Service: Abby Viduya campaigns for Parañaque councilor while earning her master’s degree
Fresh-faced with very little makeup on, Abby Viduya greeted us with warmth and friendliness at a restaurant in Baclaran on Friday morning. In full gear with her name Maria Isabel Viduya and ballot number 19 printed on it, she looked prepared and ready for campaign battle.
Just a few years ago, Abby had no inkling she would be filing a certificate of candidacy for public office—let alone for a councilor position in Parañaque. But on October 7, 2024, she stood at the Parañaque City Hall, making that commitment official.
Prior to this candidacy, Abby was living a quiet life in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada with her family. A chance online reconnection with her first love, Jomari Yllana, shifted her life’s course. Their romance from younger years rekindled and brought her back to Manila in 2019—not just to resume a paused acting career, but to rebuild something even more significant. By 2023, Abby and Jomari had tied the knot in an intimate Las Vegas wedding.
From supporting his three-term tenure as councilor to attending events and house-to-house visits, Abby gradually got a front-row seat to local politics. Her curiosity turned into commitment, and eventually, a desire to serve on her own terms.
“Abby’s at the right place at the right time,” Jomari said of her transition.
Today, she runs under Team Bagong Parañaque, alongside mayoral candidate Edwin Olivarez.
Reality Sinking In
The reality of her candidacy didn’t immediately settle in. Abby admitted that it only started to hit her when the campaign season officially began.
“The word sink in, siguro nag-sink in na, I think, beginning of the campaign period, nag-sink in na siya,” she shared. “Kasi parang, parang ano, the first day it’s like, ‘Oh my God, ito na, this is it,’ right?”
She had joined campaign activities before, but being the candidate was a different story.
“Hindi ako naninibago sa ginagawa ko ngayon yung mga house-to-house. Kasi na-experience ko na yun dati nung last elections with Jom,” Abby explained. “Pero yung reality na OMG ako na yung kandidato, yun yun. Parang ‘til now, parang every time I wake up, it’s like ako na pala yung tumatakbo. It’s still surreal.”
It Was Her Decision
While many assumed she was simply stepping into Jomari’s shoes, Abby clarified that it was her own decision.
“I was the one who convinced Jom na ako na ‘yung tatakbo. I want to serve Parañaque,” she said.
The idea began forming as early as 2022, while she was accompanying Jomari during campaign season.
“I think it was after Jom’s last election or maybe during because noong sinasamahan ko si Jom noong 2022, it’s the people that were asking me, ‘Ma’am Abby, ikaw na ang papalit kay Konsi Joms ‘pag next elections ha? Gusto naman namin ikaw,’” she recalled. “So, doon ako nagkaroon ng idea. Sabi ko, puwede pala.”
Abby added that it was the people who inspired her the most. “And me going around during that time, nakilala ko ‘yung mga tao, mababait ang mga Parañaqueño. They’re very warm. They welcomed me with open arms. They know din na tubong Parañaque ako.”
Parañaque Is Home
Abby’s connection to Parañaque is strong—it’s where her roots are.
“My family comes from Baclaran, both sides,” she said. “Ako naman, lumaki naman din ako sa Barangay San Isidro, sa Lopez Village, nung time na hindi pa ako nag-aartista. So, I’m really from Parañaque.”
She smiled as she shared a unique trivia, “May street dito. It’s Rivera Street. It was named a month after my other grandfather. So, native ako talaga. And me going house to house, ang daming Viduya rin.”
Working with Team Bagong Parañaque
Being part of Team Bagong Parañaque strengthened Abby’s readiness.
“I’m lucky because I’m part of Team Bagong Parañaque, Mayor Edwin Olivarez,” she said. “Physically, I prepared myself. With my educational background, I think the work, especially in session, I’m excited for that.”
She believes service comes naturally to her. “Serving the people, I think it’s second nature. Lalo na, even back then. Even back then, nung nag-artista ako.”
Abby with Nestor Cuartero
“You remember that?” she added, asking her former manager and veteran journalist Nestor Cuartero. “I used to do medical missions, but we never advertised any of that. We used to go to Palawan. Nagdadala ako ng medicine sa isang tribe in Palawan.”
Convincing Jomari
Surprisingly, Jomari was initially hesitant about Abby entering politics.
“Let me set the record straight. Jom didn’t want me to run. He was very much against it,” she said, glancing at him for confirmation. “’Di ba, baby?”
“It took me a year or so to convince him. He said, ‘No, no, no. Huwag na, huwag na. It’s like I’m throwing you into, baka hindi mo kaya.’”
But Abby was determined. “With my work background naman, sabi ko, I want to help. I want to do something. If I can make a little bit of a difference here, gawin ko na.”
She acknowledged the challenges, “Magulo ang pulitika. Magulo ang politika. I cannot say all of it. Hindi ko naman masabi lahat. And it’s a totally different world.”
Still, she remained firm, “One thing with me, I think what Jom really understands is if I put my mind to it, there’s no stopping me eh.”
Carrying On a Legacy
Over time, Jomari came to see Abby’s intentions. He spoke about his philosophy:
“Service-based and people-based. Anong design? Gobyerno yung ilalapit sa tao. Hindi yung tao habol nang habol sa gobyerno. From the beginning, yan ang setup ko. Ang serbisyo ko, dinadala ko sa tao. Hinahatid namin sa tao.”
“So ang slogan is ‘Da Best!’ The best yung service, the best yung quality.”
Abby, having seen this firsthand, said, “I’m inspired most of all by the success of my husband.”
She remembered asking him once, “How do you do it? How do you do it?”
Jomari’s reply stuck with her: “Puso lang. ’Pag nasa puso mo, walang mabaho, walang madumi, walang mahirap, walang mayaman.”
“So, nung unti-unti niya nakikita, nandun yung realization na the only way you can make it work, ‘pag galing sa puso, ‘yun talaga eh,” she added.
Plans for Women and Seniors
Abby’s platform is filled with ideas, especially for women and senior citizens.
“I have a lot, ang dami, ang dami kong ideas. Lalo na sa mga seniors, kababihan, mga solo parents. Pinag-uusapan na namin,” she shared. “Sabi ko, ‘Baby, puwede ba ‘yung mga project na ‘to?’ Sabi niya, ‘Yes, pwede.’”
One such plan is a livelihood starter kit for women. “Meron akong gustong gawin. Parang kabuhayan package. Na each package mun ibibigay namin. Para makapagstart sila sa business. Sa kababaihan ito.”
She explained the importance of this, “I know how hard it is. Alam ko, ang hirap makapag-umpisa ‘pag wala kang puhunan. But if someone’s there to help me, maiinspire sila. So, I want to inspire these women to be able to start a business of their own.”
What She Brings to the Table
Abby also brings years of professional experience from Canada.
“Actually, my work before in Canada sa senior’s home, retirement residence,” she said. “So I started from office administrator and then I worked my way all the way to the top. So, working with seniors, I’ve been trained, especially if they have Alzheimer’s, dementia, to assess their behavior.”
She added, “So much patience.”
“It just actually dawned on me na parang wow, ang dami pa palang puwedeng gawin,” she reflected. “Especially if I do become a public servant, if I’m going to be a councilor, ang dami kong puwedeng gawing program especially for senior citizens.”
She’s even certified in physical and entertainment activities for the elderly. “A lot of them can be more mobile with some programs to help them, especially with chair exercises. I’m certified to teach chair exercises. Even with making programs for entertainment, certified din ako diyan.”
Handling Intrigues
Abby knows the scrutiny that comes with public life.
“Maintriga. Of course, maintriga. Hahalungkatin lahat,” she said. “Sabi ko, ‘My God, ano pa ba ang hindi nasusulat tungkol sa akin? I mean, I’ve always been an open book. Very open ako. Wala akong tinatago.’”
Guided by Moral Compass
Amid it all, Abby keeps Jomari’s reminder close, “What he keeps telling me is, use your moral compass.”
She admitted, “Actually, before, I didn’t believe sa mundo ng pulitika. You know, there are a lot of us who were apolitical. Until you’re thrown into the world, then you see what’s really going on.”
“Puwede pala ang maging politician na malinis, that’s really looking out for the welfare of the people. I see that here in Parañaque,” she said. “I see that especially with my husband. I see that especially with Kuya Edwin Olivarez and the team. They really look out for the people. So, isa rin ‘yan sa malaking factor sa decision ko na to run because I’ve seen what they’ve done.”
Celebrity, But Capable
To those who doubt celebrities in politics, Abby offered a candid response.
“Well, you know, as I keep saying, everybody’s entitled to their own opinion. There are a lot of celebrities running out there,” she began. “Ang buhay ng artista, we’re always exposed. We’re exposed to different people, to different social classes. Sanay kami kahit saan mo kami dalhin. Sanay kami.”
She continued, “May minsan sinasabi, ay, artista lang yan. Walang alam gawin. My goodness, napakahirap kaya ng trabaho ng artista. I mean, we have to memorize pages and pages of lines. Ang hirap kaya ng oras ng work namin, ‘di ba? Kailangan umiyak. So, huwag sana nilang maliitin yung pagiging artista. Mahirap na trabaho yan. Marangal naman na trabaho yan, diba?”
“Maraming artista diyan na super smart. ’Cause in order for you to memorize all those lines, mahirap kaya ‘yun,” she added. “What I was able to use noong nag-aral ako, ‘yung pag-mememorize ng lines, nagamit ko ‘yun when I went back to school.”
“Nakatapos ako, I have my bachelor’s degree in Office Administration and I’m currently in school again because I’m taking my masteral [degree] in Public Administration.”
“All I do is read. I read so much. I like reading about the law here in the Philippines, what happened in the past. I’m very much aware. I’m not entering this with my eyes closed.”
Solid at Home
At the heart of it all is her marriage, which Abby described as her anchor.
“We’re very much stable as a couple,” she said. “Sabi ko dati, ang relationship natin is as solid as a rock. Anything that’s thrown at us, kaya namin and what I love about our marriage is we always work as a team.”
“I make decisions. I make a lot of decisions na sinusuportahan ni Dom. Whatever Dom likes also, sinusuportahan ko siya.”
Abby laughed as she shared a sweet detail. “Ang selos…I think I’m very secure with how Dom looks at me. And he’s very secure of how I look at him.”
“Sabi ko nga sa kanya, ‘Alam mo baby, kahit saan tayo pumunta, wala na akong makitang guwapo.’ Ikaw talaga ang pinakaguwapo for me.”
“And that’s what he tells me too,” she added. “We can admire other people but hanggang dun lang.”
From celebrity life to campaign trails, Abby Viduya has made it clear: she isn’t just dipping her toes in politics—she’s diving in headfirst, ready to serve with heart, patience, and purpose.
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