Meryll Soriano and her dad Willie Revillame. Image: Instagram/@meryllsoriano
MANILA — Actress Meryll Soriano said she believed her father Willie Revillame’s unsuccessful 2025 Senate bid may have turned out for the best, citing the pressures of politics and her concern for his health and family.
Soriano discussed Revillame’s campaign during the July 21 episode of GMA Network’s “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” where she appeared with Pokwang to promote their Cinemalaya film “2 Valid IDs.”
The film, directed by Ma-an Asuncion-Dagñalan, follows a farmer who encounters identification requirements while trying to claim money sent for her ailing husband at a remittance center.
Soriano said she had initially felt uneasy about his candidacy because politics was outside his experience. She said her father had since reflected on the decision and understood that politics was not his forte.
According to Soriano, people encouraged Revillame to run because they believed he could help others. She said, however, that she questioned how he would handle the stress of a national campaign and public office, describing her reaction as a daughter’s concern about the possible effects on his health, daily life and family.
Revillame ran as an independent in the May 12, 2025 midterm elections. He received 8,568,924 votes and finished 22nd, outside the 12 winning Senate positions.
At a January 2026 press conference for “Wilyonaryo,” Revillame described the loss as a blessing in disguise and said he did not mind the outcome.
Soriano said she believed her father could continue helping people through other pursuits.
