Richard Gomez

Richard Gomez
Official portrait, 2025
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Leyte's 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 30, 2022
Preceded byLucy Torres-Gomez
Mayor of Ormoc
In office
June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2022
Vice MayorLeo Locsin Jr.
Preceded byEdward Codilla
Succeeded byLucy Torres-Gomez
Personal details
BornRichard Frank Icasiano Gomez
(1966-04-07) April 7, 1966 (age 60)
Manila, Philippines
PartyPFP (2023–present)
Other political
affiliations
PDP–Laban (2016–2023)
NPC (2015–2016)
Liberal (2009–2015)
Independent (2007–2009)
MAD (partylist; 2001–2007)
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Spouse
​
(m. 1998)​
Children1 (Juliana)
EducationUniversity of the Philippines Open University (AA)
University of Perpetual Help System DALTA (MBA)
Cebu Technological University (D.P.A)
Occupation
  • Actor
  • athlete
  • model
  • television presenter
  • politician
  • sports administrator
Sports career
CountryPhilippines
SportFencing, shooting
Events
Épée (fencing)
Clay pigeon (shooting)
Medal record
Men's fencing
Representing  Philippines
Gold medal – first place2003 HanoiTeam épée
Gold medal – first place2005 ManilaTeam épée
Silver medal – second place1997 JakartaIndividual épée
Silver medal – second place2001 Kuala LumpurIndividual épée
Men's shooting
Representing  Philippines
Silver medal – second place2025 ThailandSporting clays Team
Bronze medal – third place2025 ThailandShotgun – Compak sporting Team

Richard Frank Icasiano Gomez (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈgɔmɛs]; born April 7, 1966) is a Filipino actor, TV host, politician, and épée fencer. He has been serving as the Representative of Leyte's 4th district since 2022, and was mayor of Ormoc from 2016 to 2022.

Early life and education

Richard Frank Icasiano Gomez in Manila on April 7, 1966 as an only child of his parents. His father was a racecar driver and his mother Stella Suarez was a actress active in the 1960s. He was into sports as a child, focusing on volleyball from elementary to high school. Gomez later studied at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines for his collegiate studies.

Gomez's parents separated and by high school, Gomez was already living with his grandmother. For his secondary education he attended the Arellano University. After graduating, Gomez worked at McDonald's until 1983. He was into sports as a child, focusing on volleyball from elementary to high school. Gomez later studied at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines for his collegiate studies.

Gomez attended a summer intensive course in mass communication and film at the New York University in 1994. Shortly after he began his anti-drug advocacy.

He earned a doctorate in public administration from the Cebu Technological University in 2019.

Entertainment career

Gomez was scouted by Douglas Quijano who became his talent manager while he was working at McDonald's. Quijano was an associate and friend of his mother.

His first major role in a feature film was Inday Bote which premiered in 1986. He co-starred with Maricel Soriano. He was offered the role originally intended for Gabby Concepcion by Lily Monteverde of Regal Films.

In 2002, he transferred to GMA network with his first melodrama show, Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw and its sequel Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw Pa Rin as well as presenting S-Files. His first GMA sitcom was Lagot Ka, Isusumbong Kita which aired from 2003 to 2007.[citation needed]

Gomez hosted the Philippine edition of Family Feud on GMA Network. He is a former GMA Network contract artist under GMA Artist Center (now Sparkle GMA Artist Center).

After his movie Filipinas in 2003, Gomez made a comeback in the indie film Bente which starred Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Iza Calzado. He briefly returned to GMA Network in the weekly drama anthology, Claudine, and returned to the Kapatid Network The 5 Network after 17 years by hosting the weekend variety show, P.O.5.. He appeared in the drama show, My Driver Sweet Lover, and Mga Nagbabagang Bulaklak. Gomez was part of the teleseries Walang Hanggan from January 16, 2012. He co-hosted The Biggest Game Show In The World (Asia) with Joey de Leon, and appeared in the comedy-drama, Madam Chairman. In 2015, he starred in the mystery drama You're My Home with Dawn Zulueta and an ensemble cast.[citation needed]

Political career

Gomez was appointed as presidential adviser on youth and sports in 1999 by then President Joseph Estrada.

He then became chairperson of the Mamamayan Ayaw sa Droga which sought party-list representation in the House of Representatives via the May 2001 election. He was the first nominee of the group.

MAD garnered 1.5 million votes placing second to Bayan Muna in the elections which would have guaranteed its top three nominees including Gomez seats in the House of Representatives. However the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) disqualified MAD for not representing a marginalized group as intended by the party-list sector. The Supreme Court ruled with finality in April 2002 regarding the issue ending Gomez' bid to be seated as MAD representative.

He planned to run as governor of Bulacan province [unreliable source?] but, lacking the residency requirements, ran instead as an independent in the 2007 Senatorial elections which he lost.

In 2010, he ran for a seat in the Congress for the 4th district of Leyte but was disqualified by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for failing to establish residency in Ormoc. His wife, Lucy Torres-Gomez, took his place and won. He served as his wife's chief of staff during her term as congresswoman.[citation needed]

In 2013, he ran for mayor of Ormoc but lost. He was finally elected as Mayor in 2016 and was reelected in 2019.

He ran for a seat in the Congress for the 4th district of Leyte in 2022, switching places with his wife and eventually won.

Sports

Fencing

Gomez competed in fencing with the épee as his weapon. Gomez first major appearance as a competing fencer was at the 1995 Finlandia Fencing Championships at the Shangri-La Plaza where he outbested national team members to claim the men's épee title.

Gomez represented the Philippines internationally at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games as a fencer starting in the 1995 edition in Chiang Mai. He won a silver medal at the 1997 edition in Jakarta and another in the 2001 edition in Kuala Lumpur. He later won a gold medal each in the 2003 and 2005 editions He quit fencing in the SEA Games after.

He later won a gold medal for the Philippines at the Asian Master Fencing Championship in 2015.

Gomez served as president of the Philippine Fencing Association from 2016 to 2023.

Sports shooting

After taking part as a fencer at the 2001 SEA Games, Gomez took up sports shooting. Gomez competed in both fencing and shooting in the 2005 edition. In the shooting event, Gomez participated in the trap and skeet.

Gomez also competes in clay pigeon shooting. In 2022, he participated in the 4th FITASC Asian Sporting Championships, where he won the senior category silver medal at the Compak Sporting event and fourth place at the sporting clays event. Gomez is the organizer of the Sporting Clays Association of the Philippines. Gomez returns to the SEA Games in the 2025 edition in Thailand as a clay pigeon shooter.

Rowing

Gomez managed the Philippine rowing team at the 1991 SEA Games in Manila.

Other sports

Gomez was a member of the Philippine national rowing Team (1989–1991), national volleyball team (2014–2005).[better source needed] Gomez is also the president of the Philippine Modern Pentathlon Association.

Personal life

Gomez is married to Lucy Torres. He first met Torres in 1993, when the two was working on a television commercial for the shampoo brand Lux. Their marriage took place on April 28, 1998 at the Saints Peter and Paul Parish Church in Torres' hometown of Ormoc, Leyte. They have one daughter, Juliana (b. 2000), who grew up to be a fencer.

Alleged connection to Albuera shooting incident

Gomez and his wife, incumbent Ormoc mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, were alleged by Albuera, Leyte mayoral candidate Kerwin Espinosa to possibly be connected to an assassination attempt on the latter's life on April 10, 2025. In his claim, Espinosa stated that Ormoc police chief Reydante Ariza, a suspect in the incident, would have only answered to the Gomez couple, though he refrained from accusing them outright of instructing Ariza to target him. Gomez has denounced Espinosa's statement, and claimed that the assassination attempt on Espinosa was "scripted".

Filmography

Films

Television

YearTitleRole
1987–1998Palibhasa LalakeGoma/Ricky/Ricardo
1994–1995TondominiumCharlie
1997–2002
2011–2016		ASAPHost
1998–2001Richard Loves LucyRichard/Goma
2001Your Honor
2002–2003Ang Iibigin Ay IkawWaldo Sandoval
2003Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw Pa Rin
2002–2007S-FilesHost
2003–2007Lagot Ka, Isusumbong KitaRic
2004–2005Forever in My HeartRaphael Cruzado
2005BalikbayanGuest
EncantadiaRaquim
2006Encantadia: Pag-ibig Hanggang Wakas
2006–2007Captain BarbellViel Villan / The General
2007–2008MarimarRenato Santibañez
2008The Sweet LifeGuest
Codename: AseroIbsen Abesamis/Agent Zeus
ObraGuest
2008–2009Family FeudHost
2009All About EveFrederico Gonzales
2010–2011P.O.5Host
My Driver Sweet LoverDelfin
2011Mga Nagbabagang BulaklakApollo Ortega
100 Days to HeavenTagabantay (an ice cream vendor)
My Binondo GirlYong Shu Syneryn
2012The Biggest Game Show In The World (Asia)Host
Walang HangganMarco Montenegro
Gandang Gabi, Vice!Guest
Toda MaxRicky
2013It's ShowtimeGuest
2013–2014Top Gear PhilippinesHost
2014Madam ChairmanEx-Boyfriend
2014–2015Quiet Please!: Bawal ang MaingayHost
2015Sabado BadooCameo Featured Footage
2015–2016You're My HomeGabriel Fontanilla
2016Maalaala Mo Kaya: TraysikelRaphael
2017Kapuso Mo, Jessica SohoGuest
2025Fast Talk with Boy AbundaGuest

Awards and nominations

Film

Television

Others

References

  1. ↑ "Richard Gomez". Rappler. December 14, 2025. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Richard Gomez proclaimed Ormoc City mayor". Rappler.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Hon Richard Frank. I. Gomez" (PDF). Philippine Leader (in English and Filipino). 52 (4). Philippine Jaycees: 33–37. October–December 2000. Retrieved October 20, 2026 – via Junior Chamber International Hong Kong, China.
  4. 1 2 Tenorio, Büm Jr. (May 19, 2023). "Life lessons my students learned from Richard Gomez: 'I come from a broken family but I chose not to be broken'". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 20, 2026.
  5. ↑ LOOK: Richard Gomez earns doctoral degree in public administration
  6. ↑ Inquirer, Richard Gomez faces tax evasion charges
  7. 1 2 Lasco, Gideon (August 27, 2026). "Antecedents to Rodrigo Duterte's Drug War: The Anti-Drug Campaigns of Joseph Estrada (2000) and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2003)". Southeast Asian Studies. 15 (2): 5, 8. doi:10.20495/seas.26007. ISSN 2186-7275. Retrieved October 19, 2026.
  8. ↑ Gomez, Richard; Navarro, Constantino III (August 5, 2001). "A government of laws". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. A6. Retrieved October 20, 2026.
  9. 1 2 Porcalla, Delon (July 28, 2001). "MAD, other parties disqualified from party-list polls". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 19, 2026.
  10. ↑ Go, Miriam Grace (April 6, 2013). "Fixing the party list". Rappler. Retrieved October 20, 2026.
  11. ↑ Guda, Kenneth Roland (February 23, 2022). "Politicians, their spouses, siblings and children pack the party-list race". Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. Retrieved October 20, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Goma, 4 others lose Congress bid 'with finality'". Manila Standard. April 14, 2002. p. 1. Retrieved October 20, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Richard Gomez Running For Bulacan Governor". www.istorya.net.
  14. ↑ "Richard Gomez disqualified from Leyte congressional race". ABS-CBN News. February 17, 2010. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  15. ↑ "At last, Richard Gomez wins an election". ABS-CBN. May 10, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  16. ↑ "#HalalanResults: Richard Gomez set to retain seat as Ormoc City mayor". ABS-CBN. May 14, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  17. ↑ Meniano, Sarwell (July 28, 2022). "Richard Gomez celebrates win as new Leyte solon". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Actor Gomez is fencing champ". Manila Standard. April 24, 1995. p. 21. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  19. 1 2 "Richard Gomez bags silver in epee tilt". Manila Standard. September 12, 1997. p. 10. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Alaxan fencing starts today". Manila Standard. February 21, 1998. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  21. 1 2 3 Navarro, June (January 28, 2007). "Goma has new target in sight". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  22. ↑ Navarro, June (May 12, 2007). "Goma chides TF over outright qualifiers". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. A35. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  23. ↑ Lino, Cha (December 2, 2019). "LOOK: Richard Gomez shows throwback of 1995 SEA Games PH fencing team". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  24. ↑ Galvez, Waylon (June 23, 2021). "Richard Gomez reelected as fencing chief". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  25. ↑ Galvez, Waylon (November 15, 2023). "Gacuma is new president of Philippine Fencing Association". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  26. ↑ Gutierrez, Dennis (November 23, 2022). "Richard Gomez wins silver in int'l sporting clay championships". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on December 3, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Richard Gomez makes his SEA Games comeback in new shooting event". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. December 11, 2025. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  28. ↑ "These Filipino Personalities Were Also World-Class Jocks". Esquire. January 14, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Philippine Modern Pentathlon Association". Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM). February 16, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  30. ↑ Pingol, Anna (May 2, 2008). "Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres-Gomez celebrate 10th wedding anniversary". PEP.ph.
  31. ↑ Agcaoili, Lance (September 22, 2026). "Juliana Gomez exits Asian Games fencing after P-black card". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 20, 2026.
  32. ↑ "IN PHOTOS: Juliana Gomez celebrates 18th birthday". Rappler. September 9, 2018.
  33. ↑ Evite, Sharon (April 12, 2025). "Gomez: 'Do not believe somebody like Kerwin Espinosa'". ABS-CBN News. ABS-CBN Corporation. Retrieved May 8, 2025. Itong si [Reydante] Ariza, sa pagkakaalam ko, tauhan nila [Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres-Gomez] ito. [...] Mahirap naman
  34. 1 2 Bonifacio, Jazmin (April 11, 2025). "Kerwin Espinosa says he received death threat before gun attack in Leyte". Rappler. Leyte, Philippines: Inquirer Interactive Inc. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  35. ↑ Inso, Futch Anthony (April 13, 2025). "Gomez on Kerwin's allegation: 'Don't believe somebody like him'". Cebu Daily News. Inquirer Interactive Inc. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  36. ↑ Cabuenas, Jon Viktor (April 13, 2025). "Espinosa to Gomez: I am not an actor like you". GMA News Online. GMA Network Inc. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  37. ↑ "Aggressive program development". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corporation. March 5, 1994. p. 11. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  38. ↑ "44th Guillermo Mendoza Box-Office Entertainment Awards". Pep.ph. Retrieved May 19, 2014.