TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines -- Actress Cristina "Kring-Kring" Gonzales-Romualdez did not hide her elation over her "landslide" win on her first foray to politics.

Interviewed at her posh residence in San Jose district, this city, Gonzales-Romualdez, who made over 50 films in the early 1980's up to late 1990's, said that she was so excited to buckle down to work and "serve the people of Tacloban."

"I am very, very excited. I am so eager now to work as a city councilor and pass ordinances which will benefit our women and children here in the city," she told the Inquirer.

Gonzales-Romualdez said she would focus on the welfare of women and children, and would thus like to handle committees that cater to her interests.

Christina attributed her exceptional showing at the polls not only to her being an actress but her being the wife of a scion of the Romualdez family.

Her husband, Alfred Romualdez, a former representative of Leyte's first district, is on his way to becoming the next mayor of this city of over 180,000 people. Alfred's father, Alfredo, is the incumbent mayor serving his last term.

"I think the Taclobanons know me already. I have lived here for the past 10 years now," said Gonzales-Romualdez, whose father, actor Jose Mari Gonzales, also served as congressman of the lone district of San Juan.

Based on the unofficial quick count conducted by radio station dyVL covering 65 percent of the total 496 polling precincts of the city as of 1 p.m. on Thursday, Gonzales-Romualdez was ahead by 2,000 votes over all other winning candidates for the 10-member city council here. She has so far garnered 36,137 votes.

Her total number of votes was almost the same with that of her husband who was ahead by over 10,000 votes of his nearest opponent in the mayoral race. She ran under the United Opposition while Alfred was the official candidate of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats.

During their 45-day campaign, Gonzales-Romualdez said she went house-to-house during the day and held political rallies in the evening. "My God, it was an experience. I could hardly have a decent sleep. At most, I can only sleep just for two hours," the still beauteous mother of two daughters said.

She said that after the campaign, she and her husband would leave for the United States for a much-needed rest.

Gonzales-Romualdez expressed her gratitude to the people who put their trust in her. She said they could expect that she would serve their interest.

Romualdez expressed happiness about his wife?s victory at the council. "She will be a big help to me (in pushing my agenda and programs)," he said.