The Honorable
Lucy Torres-Gomez
Torres-Gomez in 2019
Mayor of Ormoc
Assumed office
June 30, 2022
Vice MayorLeo Locsin Sr.
Preceded byRichard Gomez
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Leyte’s 4th district
In office
June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2022
Preceded byVacant
Succeeded byRichard Gomez
In office
June 30, 2010 – March 19, 2013
Preceded byEufrocino Codilla Sr.
Succeeded byVacant
Personal details
Born
Lucy Marie Martinez Torres

(1974-12-11) December 11, 1974 (age 49)
Ormoc, Leyte, Philippines
Political partyPFP (2023–present)
Other political
affiliations		PDP–Laban (2016–2023)
Liberal (2009–2016)
Spouse
​
(m. 1998)​
ChildrenJuliana Marie Beatriz T. Gomez
EducationUniversity of the Philippines Cebu (BS)
WebsiteHouse of Representatives

Lucy Torres-Gomez (born Lucy Marie Martinez Torres; December 11, 1974), is a Filipina actress and politician currently serving as the mayor of Ormoc since 2023. She previously served as the Representative for Leyte's 4th district from June 2010 to March 2013 and from June 2013 to June 2022. .[1]

She is married to fellow actor turned politician Richard Gomez, who currently serves as the representative for Leyte's 4th district.[2][3]

Early life and media career

Torres-Gomez was born on December 11, 1974, in Ormoc, Philippines to Manuel "Manoling" Torres Jr. and Julie Martinez, the second of four children. She has an older sister and two younger brothers.[4][5] For primary and secondary school, she attended the Benedictine founded Saint Peter's College in Ormoc.[6] Torres-Gomez later attended the University of the Philippines Cebu (then a college of the University of the Philippines Visayas), from which she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management.[5]

In 1993, Torres-Gomez shot a TV commercial for Lux Shampoo at Lake Caliraya, Laguna, where she met her future husband, Richard Gomez. Five years later in 1998, the two starred in the ABS-CBN television sitcom Richard Loves Lucy, and married that same year.[2][5][7] Torres-Gomez has also hosted the TV5 reality dance competition show Shall We Dance? and the Q lifestyle show The Sweet Life, and endorses Philippine brands bench/, and Kashieca.[2][8]

Political career

Torres-Gomez was elected the Representative for Leyte's 4th legislative district as substitute candidate for her husband Richard Gomez on May 10, 2010. Gomez was disqualified by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) due to his lack of one year residency in the district, a requirement of eligibility for office.[9] On March 19, 2013, the Supreme Court, ruled on a protest filed by fellow congressional candidate Eufrocino Codilla Jr., ousting Torres-Gomez from office. The Courts said that she "did not validly substitute" her husband.[10] Her ousting did not affect her re-election bid, and she regained her seat in May of that same year, beating incumbent Ormoc Mayor Eric Codilla.[11] In May 2016, Torres-Gomez was again re-elected as representative, defeating Violeta Codilla.[12]

As congresswoman, Torres-Gomez has principally authored over 100 bills and co-authored 35. She is the chairperson of the House Committee on Disaster Resilience, and the vice chairperson of committees on Tourism, and Women and Gender Equality, and the special committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts.[1]

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020, Torres-Gomez expressed her support for the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, stating that fear of the abuse of law is not a valid reason to reject needed legislation.[13] The bill was signed into law as Republic Act No. 11479 on July 3, 2020.[14] The law's constitutionality is currently being challenged in the Supreme Court by multiple groups.[15]

Torres-Gomez, together with husband Richard Gomez, was a member of the then-ruling Liberal Party during her early political career, but left in June 2016 to join the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP–Laban) shortly after Rodrigo Duterte won the presidential election.[16]

Personal life

Torres-Gomez married actor and Leyte representative Richard Gomez on April 28, 1998 at the Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church in Ormoc, Leyte.[17] They currently reside in Ormoc, and have one daughter, Juliana Marie Beatriz (b. 2000).[2][18]

Torres-Gomez is Roman Catholic.[6] She speaks Cebuano, English, and Tagalog.

In 2018, Torres-Gomez was named Most Stylish Woman by Philippine Tatler.[19]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Film Producer
2011 Panday Ang Ikalawang Yugto Ina Engkantada GMA Films

Television

Year Title Role Network
1998–2001 Richard Loves Lucy Lucy ABS-CBN
2003–2004 All About You Host GMA Network
2004–2007 Bahay Mo Ba 'To? Lucinda
2004–2005 Forever in My Heart Herself
2005–2010 Shall We Dance? Host ABC/TV5
2007–2011 The Sweet Life Q
2007 Mga Mata ni Anghelita Birheng Maria GMA Network
2010–2011 P.O.5 Host TV5
2010–2013 Talentadong Pinoy Judge
2013 Showbiz Police: Intriga Under Arrest Host
2014 Celebrity Dance Battle

References

  1. ^ a b "House Members: Hon. Lucy Torres-Gomez". Republic of the Philippines: House of Representatives.
  2. ^ a b c d "Lucy Torres-Gomez Biography". TV Guide.
  3. ^ Fariola-Ruedas, Jenette (May 10, 2016). "At last, Richard Gomez wins an election". ABS-CBN News.
  4. ^ Ganal, FM (December 12, 2020). "Richard Gomez calls Lucy Torres his "Superwoman"". PEP.ph.
  5. ^ a b c Jose, MJ (January 11, 2019). "Asia's Most Stylish Lucy Torres-Gomez On Leading A Charmed Life". Tatler Asia.
  6. ^ a b Dacumos-Lagorza, Kristel (September 20, 2012). "Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez: The Leading Lady". The Philippine Star.
  7. ^ Balante, Leo (February 7, 2018). "Lucy Torres Shares The Sweet Story Behind 25-Year-Old Photo". Cosmopolitan.ph.
  8. ^ "LOOK: Lucy Torres-Gomez brings back ladylike dressing with clothing line". ABS-CBN News. September 4, 2019.
  9. ^ Caliwara, Karen (April 29, 2010). "ELECTION WATCH: Lucy Torres-Gomez becomes substitute candidate for husband Richard Gomez". PEP.ph.
  10. ^ Pedrasa, Ira (March 19, 2013). "SC ousts Lucy Torres as Leyte rep". ABS-CBN News.
  11. ^ Ranada, Pia (May 14, 2013). "Winning and losing celeb bets". Rappler.
  12. ^ "Lucy Torres-Gomez reelected Leyte representative". Rappler. May 11, 2016.
  13. ^ Mercado, Neil Arwin (June 24, 2020). "Torres-Gomez: Fear of abuse of law not 'valid reason' to reject anti-terror bill". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  14. ^ Republic Act No. 11479, 2020.
  15. ^ CNN Philippines Staff (July 23, 2020). "16 Supreme Court petitions seek to void anti-terrorism law". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. ((cite news)): |last= has generic name (help)
  16. ^ Lubiano, Art (October 8, 2021). "Lucy Torres foregoes senatorial nominations, aims for Ormoc City mayor". Rappler.
  17. ^ Pingol, Anna (May 2, 2008). "Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres-Gomez celebrate 10th wedding anniversary". PEP.ph.
  18. ^ "IN PHOTOS: Juliana Gomez celebrates 18th birthday". Rappler. September 9, 2018.
  19. ^ Jacinto, Frannie (November 25, 2018). "Lucy Torres Gomez named Most Stylish by 'Tatler'". The Philippine Star.

External links

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