Actress and beauty queen Bianca Manalo was among those who congratulated Senate President Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian on his new post following a special session of Congress.
Gatchalian on Tuesday, June 17, secured enough votes from the Upper Chamber to get elected as its leader after weeks of leadership deadlock with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who took over on May 11.
Before that, Gatchalian served as Senate President Pro Tempore after he was voted into the position on June 3, following the departure of Sen. Chiz Escudero.
The leadership shakeup on June 3 resulted from the absence of senators aligned with the Cayetano bloc following Sen. Jinggoy Estrada‘s arrest for plunder in connection with the flood control scandal.
Meanwhile, Gatchalian’s role as Senate leader was formalized during a special session called by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to resolve the logjam in the Upper Chamber, allowing legislative measures and appointments to proceed.
Among those who congratulated Gatchalian was Manalo, who reposted a news item announcing his new post.
“Will forever be proud of you!!! Well deserved!!!!!!! It’s about time!” she wrote in an Instagram Story on Thursday, June 18, with raised hands emojis.
“The country needs you!!!” Bianca added with fingers-pointing-up emojis.
A screengrab of an Instagram Story of Bianca Manalo as posted on June 18, 2026 (biancamanalo via Instagram)
The post reached Gatchalian, who shared it on his personal Instagram account.
History
Gatchalian and Manalo previously dated, confirming their relationship in 2019.
In 2023, rumors of a breakup surfaced following leaked conversations between Manalo and her “Magandang Dilag” co-star, Rob Gomez.
Manalo denied that anything romantic occurred between them.
By January 2025, speculation about a split persisted, with a showbiz website reporting that “they no longer have photos together [toward] the end of November.”
Gatchalian also remained silent when asked whether he had spent the 2024 holidays with someone by his side.
The senator confirmed the status of his love life in January 2026, saying it was “non-existent.”
Earlier this month, Manalo’s talent agency also confirmed that the actress is “single and not in any relationship.”
The confirmation came after Manalo was linked to speculation surrounding a rumored breakup between beauty queen Celeste Cortesi and tech entrepreneur Jonathan Sterling.
Celeste has since denied the rumors, saying she and “Jonny” are “good.”
Meanwhile, Gatchalian has been playfully being shipped by some Filipinos to Sen. Risa Hontiveros.
