Showbiz pillar Lily Monteverde is a successful producer because she knows the pulse of the people. She has foresight and the ability to choose the right project for the right artist at the right moment. The Regal matriarch is credited for launching unknowns and turning them into showbiz luminaries, including the likes of Maricel Soriano and Dina Bonnevie.

Since she is showbiz’ "Mother," it is but natural that she has her babies. The studio’s stable of stars, aptly named "Regal babies," is considered to possess the most potential among the current crop of wannabes. And most often than not, Mother Lily uncovers gems in these newcomers.

But her instinct in spotting what will be a hit is not confined to producing entertainment for mass consumption. This time she applies her inimitable sense for discovering winners as she picks out her bets in the senate: two Francises, the youthful Congressman Francis "Chiz" Escudero and re-electionist Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan.

Chiz Escudero, Mother Lily believes, will be a welcome addition to the august senate body.

"I believe that Chiz will make a good senator because he has prepared for it and he worked hard as a congressman. I think it is time that we have a young breed of legislators like Chiz in the senate," she says.

"My advocacies and Chiz’ advocacies, they are the same," says Mother Lily, who has produced many award-winning films and established her own pre-school in her compound in Valencia Street, New Manila. Mother, who took up education in Maryknoll College (now Miriam), also studied media and childhood education courses in UP Diliman. "Chiz and I are also schoolmates," she chuckles.

The 37-year-old Chiz studied in the University of the Philippines since elementary. He earned his Political Science degree at UP Diliman in 1988 and finished his law studies also at UP in 1993. He took his masters in international and Comparative Law at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., in 1995-1996. He and wife, former "That’s Entertainment" mainstay Christine Elizabeth R. Flores, are expecting twins.

Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan is also Mother’s schoolmate. But it’s not only for that reason that she is throwing her support on the independent candidate who is seeking reelection.

"I believe in his principled independence. He is a senator who can stand for what he believes in and fight for it no matter what cost. His heart is for the least fortunate, he abhors oppression of any kind," she explains.

Mother Lily also cites Senator Kiko’s personal life. It is not a secret that he has a high-profile family life, being married to one of the country’s top stars, Sharon Cuneta and father to three daughters – KC, Frankie and Miel – all of whom appear in TV advertisements. "He is a decent man. He is for the preservation and protection of the Filipino family. His life with Sharon Cuneta and their children is a living testimony of a true and loving Filipino family," she says.