Esther Margaux "Mocha" Uson rose to fame as a performer, but her political transformation, viral presence, and unrelenting controversy cemented her as one of the Philippines’ most polarizing public figures.
Esther Margaux Justiniano Uson, widely known as Mocha Uson, has navigated one of the most volatile trajectories in contemporary Filipino public life. Once celebrated as a pop culture sensation—the provocative lead singer and founder of the Mocha Girls—Uson has since recast herself as a political commentator and government official whose bold presence on digital platforms earned her fierce loyalty from some and sharp condemnation from others. Her name has become synonymous with virality, misinformation, and the sharp intersection of celebrity and power in the age of social media.
Uson’s early rise to fame came through music, dance, and performance. In 2006, she formed the girl group Mocha Girls, which released multiple albums and became known for their suggestive performances and unapologetic sexuality. Touring internationally, the group built a significant following, but internal disputes and controversies—including her alleged personal fallout with original members—kept her name in the tabloids. Uson’s film career followed a similar arc, often featuring roles that leaned into her erotic brand, including Sumpa, Seksing Masahista, and Butas 2.
But it was her digital reinvention that truly marked a turning point. Initially focused on sex education and advice, the Mocha Uson Blog became a powerful political platform during the 2016 presidential campaign. With millions of Facebook followers and a direct, inflammatory style, Uson became a staunch defender of President Rodrigo Duterte and an outspoken critic of opposition figures, including Vice President Leni Robredo and Senators Leila de Lima and Antonio Trillanes. She accused mainstream media outlets—such as ABS-CBN, GMA, Inquirer, and Rappler—of bias, dubbing them “presstitutes,” a term that drew both attention and outrage.
Uson’s political appointments followed swiftly. She served as Assistant Secretary in the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and later held a post at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). But her government career was plagued by criticism—from questions about her qualifications to concerns over her use of taxpayer-funded platforms to spread disinformation. Critics soon dubbed her the “Queen of Fake News.”
Throughout her time in office, Uson has repeatedly been called out for disseminating misleading content. Her posts have included incorrect or misattributed photos, false claims about political opponents, and gross geographical and factual errors, such as referencing a non-existent constitutional article or misplacing the Mayon Volcano. These blunders have resulted in public outrage, trending hashtags like #FireMocha and #MochaUsonIsOverParty, and multiple complaints filed with the Office of the Ombudsman and the Philippine Senate.
In 2018, her controversial federalism campaign video titled “Pepe-dede-ralismo,” featuring crude innuendos and sexual gestures, drew criticism from both the public and political allies, prompting Senate President Koko Pimentel to call it later “filthy.” Shortly thereafter, another video surfaced in which Uson and her co-host mocked sign language, triggering protests from deaf advocacy groups and a formal investigation by the Commission on Human Rights.
Red-tagging accusations followed, with human rights groups such as Karapatan filing formal complaints, citing her as a participant in activities that placed educators, activists, and students at risk. The implications of such accusations are profound, with potential links to human rights violations and persecution under international law.
Uson has defended herself with characteristic defiance. In a 2016 interview, she declared: “I sleep soundly at night knowing that I am fighting for the right side. There is a war going on between good and evil. My mission is to separate truth from lies, light from darkness, and good from evil.” Her supporters laud her directness and claim she represents a voice for the ordinary Filipino. Her detractors argue she is a dangerous symbol of misinformation and weaponized populism.
Mocha Uson’s story is one of transformation, visibility, and tension. From nightclub stages to political briefings, she has remained a figure impossible to ignore. In an era where virality often overshadows veracity, Uson embodies both the potential and peril of digital influence in modern governance.
Uson strongly supported the Davao City mayor, Rodrigo Duterte, during his successful 2016 presidential campaign.
During the campaign, she got involved in a dispute with musician Jim Paredes, a OPM musical group APO Hiking Society member. Paredes, a supporter of the Liberal Party with its standard-bearer, Senator Mar Roxas, accused Duterte of human rights violations.[110] She cited an interview she had with Paredes in 2012, relating that Paredes probed her with questions regarding her sexual orientation; and that he allegedly tried to "hit" on her Mocha Girls bandmate, Mae Dela Cerna, and her as well. Paredes later responded on his official website, saying he doesn't remember asking Uson such questions, describing her allegations as "mere exaggeration", and further explaining how she was "very candid, almost bragging" during the interview.
As part of Rodrigo Duterte's administration
Uson greeting President Rodrigo Duterte at the Malacañang Palace following her appointment as an MTRCB board member, January 9, 2017
After Rodrigo Duterte was elected president of the Philippines, Uson became more involved in politics and later joined Duterte's administration.
In April 2017, Uson was part of the president's official delegation during his state visits to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar. According to a presidential spokesman, she has many followers from overseas Filipino communities, especially in the Middle East, and was meant to boost the morale and well-being of her followers.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea confirmed Uson's appointment in a text message to Rappler on Thursday, January 5, 2017. As a board member, Uson was to be part of a subcommittee tasked with reviewing movies, programs, or television shows for approval recommendations. Her position at the MTRCB was set to expire on September 30, 2017, although she relinquished her post on May 8, 2017, following her appointment as assistant secretary of the PCOO.
On May 8, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Uson as the PCOO's assistant secretary. Uson will manage the PCOO's social media department.
In her official Facebook account on June 5, 2018, Kris Aquino again called out Mocha for spreading misinformation about her parents, the late former president Corazon Aquino, and slain former senator Ninoy Aquino.
On October 3, 2018, during a Senate budget hearing, Uson stated that she had resigned as PCOO assistant secretary so that the PCOO's proposed 2019 budget could be passed. In early August 2016, after her exclusive interview with Bureau of Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon on her "Mocha Uson Blog", Uson was alleged to have been appointed by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) as a "social media consultant", but she later clarified through her Facebook page that she would not be holding an official position. She drew criticism from Filipino netizens who questioned Uson's qualifications for the job and promoted the Twitter hashtag #DutertePleaseAppointMe, citing how easy it is to secure a position under the Duterte administration. Some netizens supported Uson and asked the public to give her a chance to prove her worth.
The Bureau of Customs issued an official denial on its Twitter account: "Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon will not appoint Mocha Uson as BOC Social Media Consultant, but she can write articles about BOC on her blog." Faeldon's chief of staff also clarified, "No papers are being prepared. Commissioner Faeldon did not sign any documents regarding Mocha’s appointment.
Following this, Uson responded to her critics through an official statement and a television interview. She confirmed that she will not hold an official position at the Bureau of Customs, but she reiterated her intent to help the Duterte administration through social media voluntarily. She also urged critics to "make good use of [their] time" by volunteering to help underprivileged children at the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
On September 30, 2019, a new list of presidential appointees from Malacañang revealed that Uson had been appointed deputy executive director of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). Uson said she would have more time to focus on the needs of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), including creating a Department of OFWs.
Filipino netizens slammed the appointment by questioning Uson's competency and qualifications. They called it the government's "recycling of garbage," a waste of salary, a scam, and a disease, among other things.
Mocha was heavily criticized for supposedly violating the ban on mass gatherings when she visited quarantined overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Lian, Batangas.
Political stance
In May 2011, Uson, along with other pro-reproductive health advocates, headed to the Batasang Pambansa Complex, the headquarters of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, to call for the passage of House Bill 4244, better known as the Reproductive Health Bill. She also expressed her support for effective sex education in schools and challenged the Catholic Church to excommunicate her for supporting the aforementioned bill.
On April 2, 2017, critics of Vice President Leni Robredo held a rally called "Palit Bise" (lit. 'Change the Vice President'), calling for the legal removal of the vice president from office. According to Uson, the movement aims to oust Robredo through impeachment or voluntary resignation due to her alleged lack of support for the Duterte administration.
Public Image, Relationships, and Personal Life
Mocha Uson has long defied expectations about how a public figure, particularly a woman, should behave in Philippine society. Open about her bisexuality, Uson has starred in several steamy videos featuring romantic encounters with other women, often as part of her early career’s provocative brand. A self-described “open-minded Catholic,” she has nonetheless clashed with religious institutions, most notably calling the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) the “antichrist”—a remark that drew widespread backlash from the country's religious community.
Among her most notable relationships was her alleged romance with Paul "Pooh" Lunt, an elusive American music promoter and chef known for licensing K-pop music globally. According to sources, the two met at a New Year’s Eve gathering in 2009 and began dating shortly afterward. Lunt, described as camera-shy and obsessively private, splits his time between homes in Dubai, Seoul, and California. While Uson lived in the open, embracing media attention and political visibility, Lunt preferred seclusion. Their contrasting personalities—her public openness, his rigid privacy—reportedly led to the dissolution of the relationship.
Speculation has followed their split ever since. According to some accounts, the dismissal of Mocha Girls members Hershey Delas Alas, Bez Lacanlale, Grace Oracion, and Heart de Guzman—allegedly due to their socializing with Lunt—caused lasting personal and professional fallout. Some sources claim this incident contributed to Uson and Lunt severing all communication. Further controversy emerged during the Duterte administration, when it was reported that Go-Optics, a company partially owned by Lunt, was thrice rejected in its bid to become a major fiber optic internet supplier in the Philippines. Political insiders hinted at Uson's influence as a possible factor, alleging that her personal history with Lunt may have shaped the outcome.
In January 2021, Uson again made headlines when rumors circulated online claiming she was pregnant, with actor and administration ally Robin Padilla named the supposed father. Both parties firmly denied the allegation. Uson publicly dismissed the rumors as a politically motivated smear campaign intended to discredit her and Padilla, both known supporters of then-President Duterte.
Despite the controversies that have followed her for much of her adult life, Uson maintains an obvious platform. Her personal choices, relationships, and outspoken stances—often shared directly with millions of followers—have blurred the lines between persona and politics. To her critics, these blurred lines are a liability. To her supporters, they are proof of authenticity.
Discography
Studio albums
- with Mocha Girls
- A Taste of Mocha (2006; XAX Records)
- Mocha (2007; Viva Records)
- Deliciosa (2008; Viva Records)
- Pinay Ako (2012; Bellhaus Entertainment)
Filmography
Television
Sources:Wikipedia 2021, Twitter 2021, AFP 2021, Newsline 2021