Yul Servo recently at the 83rd Venice Film Festival. Handout
In a rare moment, Yul Servo opened up about how he felt after losing his re-election bid as vice mayor in the May 2025 elections, as well as where he and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno stand now, following a previous "gap" caused by “political differences.”
]“Nung natalo ako, nalungkot ako. Umiyak pa nga ako. 18 years kang dire-diretso [as a public servant] tapos biglang [natalo]. Nung 2017 na pumasok ako sa politics, ‘yun ‘yung time na maganda ang career ko sa showbiz,” Servo told ABS-CBN News in an interview.
Recalling the emotional turmoil he went through, Servo continued, “Limang araw akong umiyak. Tahimik lang. Nalungkot. Lahat ng nakapaligid sa akin, malungkot. Hindi nila matanggap na natalo ako. Lahat ginawa namin. Hindi kami natutulog. Wala kaming absent. Binigay talaga namin. Marami silang puwedeng i-judge pero ginawa ko naman siya nang maayos.”
During the intense campaign moments in Manila in 2025, rumors circulated that Servo and Moreno had an alleged “falling out” over Servo's choice of Honey Lacuna as his running mate.
When asked if he and Moreno are on good terms now, Servo replied, “‘Pag nagkikita kami, batian lang, casual lang. Hindi na kagaya ng dati. Tampo, siguro.”
“Ako ang unang kinausap niya para maging vice niya. Kaso kay Honey ako. Pinanindigan ko. Pero naramdaman ko rin namang matatalo ako,” he continued.
“Walang pagsisisi. Wala naman akong ginawang masama. Ipinalangin ko naman kay Lord. Ginawa ko naman ang lahat. Pero okay lang. Kung hindi para sa’yo, hindi talaga para sa’yo,” he added.
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Handout
After overcoming his political defeat and now living a normal life as an artist who paints and creates various artworks, the 50-year-old actor then shared his realizations.
“Marami akong na-discover. Maraming taong nawala. Pero okay lang. Nung natalo ako, sabi ko, gusto kong maging normal na tao na lang. Mag-paint na lang. Simpleng buhay na lang. Nagtratrabaho lang. Nag-practice akong mag-motor. Marunong na akong mag-motor. Nagka-time ako,” he told ABS-CBN News.
“Sabi ko, kung babalik naman ako sa showbiz, baka hindi na ako makabalik kasi 50 na ako at may hindi pa akong ginawang hindi maganda sa industriya natin [‘yung nangyari sa ABS-CBN],” he opened up.
Servo also touched on one of the more controversial decisions of his political career. During his time in Congress, he faced significant criticism for voting in favor of the closure of ABS-CBN.
“Ginawa ko lang ‘yung trabaho ko pero nakalimutan ko na artista nga pala ako, na parte ako ng industriya. Nung natalo ako, may katapusan pala ang lahat,” he confessed.
HandoutThe ex-politician also admitted that he apologized to his close friend Piolo Pascual for the decision he made regarding the future of the ABS-CBN franchise.
“Nung pumunta kami sa birthday ni Kuya Joel Torre, nagkita kami. Nung nakapila kami sa restroom, nakita ko siya, sabi ko, ‘Brother, sorry.’ Sabi niya, ‘Nakalimutan ko na ‘yun,’” he recalled.
“Nung nasa politics ako, hindi kami nag-usap. Nung gabi na ‘yun (Torre’s birthday), nag-usap na kami. Tapos binentahan ko siya ng painting,” he added.
He then revealed the story behind the viral photo of him and Pascual shirtless, stating that it was taken on the day he went to see Pascual's wall for which he was about to create art.
“Tinawagan niya ako. Pinapunta ako sa Batangas para makita ‘yung wall sa sala. Matagal na raw silang naghahanap ng artist para sa display doon. Gusto nila ng sculpture. Sakto na ‘yung ginagawa ko ay sculpture na parang metal artwork. Sabi niya lang sa akin, gawin ko ‘yung concept kung saan siya ipinanganak. Siyempre kilala ko siya,” he explained.
He continued, “Nandun [sa artwork] ‘yung una niyang biniling bahay, nandun ‘yung inupahan niyang bahay na nabili niya, ‘yung una niyang biniling condo, ‘yung bahay niyang bago. Nandun din kung saan siya nag-aral at kung saan lumaki ang nanay niya. Lumabas lahat ‘yun sa ginagawa ko. ‘Yun siguro ang pinakamahal na ginawa ko. Walang tawad. Hindi ako nanghingi ng downpayment. Sabi ko, kapag tapos na talaga. Gusto ko kasing pagandahin talaga.”
“Nung nagpa-commission siya, sunud-sunod na naman ‘yung mga nagpapakomisyon. Lucky charm siya talaga,” he added.
After discussing art, he asked Pascual if he still had a chance to make a comeback in showbiz.
“Tinanong ko siya kung puwede pa akong mag-artista. Sabi niya, ‘Oo naman.’ Kailangan ko lang daw magpapogi at magpaganda ng katawan. ‘Yun ‘yung nag-viral na photo na nagwo-workout kami,” he said.
“Iba ang workout niya. Pati diet. Itinuro niya sa akin ‘yung routines niya. Sabi niya, dapat consistent lang. Sana matuloy ‘yung gagawin niyang project na kasama ako. Sabi niya, isasama ako,” he ended.
Servo recently attended the 83rd Venice Film Festival for his film "Makikiraan Po," for which director Lav Diaz received a Premio Brian award.