Angel Aquino

Angel Aquino is no stranger to the limelight. She has always been a favorite cover girl of various magazines. Starting out as a model, she later became a successful film actress and television lifestyle host. Now, Angel is now a Greenpeace Ocean Defender.

Film actress, TV host, product endorser, fashion model and mother Angel Aquino shares her life, her passions and her unforgettable return to Mindanao in the latest issue of m. (Life and Living in Mindanao). A CineMalaya Film Festival Best Actress awardee, Aquino was once referred to as the “Ingrid Bergman of Asia” by a renowned Japanese filmmaker for her versatility in her craft.

In its third release, m. goes west of the island to rediscover the Philippines’ Latin City, Zamboanga, and uncovers its irresistible attractions and nocturnal haunts. For the adventurous, m. treks to Mindanao’s offbeat destinations, drifts into to the tranquil waters of Lake Sebu to celebrate its Helubong Festival, and takes a culinary excursion to uncover Mindanao’s leading chains of restaurants.

Regine Velasquez

Regina Encarnacion Ansong Velasquez (born April 22, 1970), nicknamed Asia's Songbird, is a multi-awarded Filipino singer and actress.

Velasquez is well-known for her belting prowess which has been noted for its range, power (see vocal belting), technical ability and also for her versatility and reinvention. She has received critical acclaim and commercial success for her singing, hosting and acting endeavors. Her professional career started when she won the grand prize in a nationally televised singing contest. She made her debut in 1986 under the guidance of entertainment mogul Ronnie Henares and was initially marketed as a pop singer. Following her success in the Asia Pacific Song Festival, a series of subsequent successful records in the region consolidated her position as one of Asia's biggest selling performers. Her success and popularity has yielded several top-selling singles and platinum certifications.

Velasquez was the first Filipino artist to stage a solo concert at the Main Hall of Carnegie Hall. Her concert was selected as part of Carnegie Hall's 100th year Concert Series in 1991. Her duet with Jacky Cheung for the song In Love With You was a number 1 hit all over Asia. Her album Listen Without Prejudice was awarded platinum certifications in seven countries. In the mid 90's, Velasquez took full creative control over her career. Distancing herself from the pop artistry, and through considerable experimentation, Velasquez developed a more sultry and sophisticated image.

Miriam Quiambao

Miriam Quiambao is a beauty queen from the Philippines who has competed in the Miss Universe pageant.

She was supposed to represent the Philippines in the Miss World 1999 pageant in London, but the organizers of the Binibining Pilipinas (Miss Philippines) Pageant (Miss Philippines Pageant) decided to send her to the Miss Universe 1999 pageant in Trinidad & Tobago instead due to citizenship problems with the original pageant winner Janelle Joy Delfin Bautista. Quiambao finished first runner-up in the pageant, which was won by Mpule Kwelagobe of Botswana. Quiambao also took home the Clairol Herbal Essences Style Award-the first and, so far, the only Asian to do so.

In Miss Universe, she finished second overall in the preliminaries, with a score of 9.52 behind to Miss South Africa Sonia Raciti. In the semifinals, she finished second in the swimsuit competition with a score of 9.32 and in the evening gown competition with a score of 9.42. Spain's Diana Nogueira dominated both competitions with scores of 9.33 and 9.45 respectively. However, Nogueira only ended up as 2nd runner-up. Many believe that had Quiambao answered the final question with a little more confidence, she would have been Miss Universe 1999.

Ann Curtis

Anne Curtis (born Anne Ojales Curtis Smith on February 17, 1985 in Australia) is a Filipino-Australian commercial model and actress currently active in the Philippines. She is best known for her roles as Stephanie Borromeo in Hiram and as Imang/Fatima, the title role in Kampanerang Kuba. Both of these shows aired on the ABS-CBN network in the Philippines. She is currently on the soap opera Maging Sino Ka Man as Celine, which also airs on ABS-CBN. In 2007, Anne became an MTV VJ for the new MTV Philippines which relaunched March 1, 2007. Curtis was born and raised in Australia by a Filipina mother and an Australian father.

She lived in Australia until her lawyer father, James Curtis, moved to the Philippines when she was 12 years old. It is a move that Curtis is thankful for. "I am so happy that I’m here. If I were in Australia I’d have been in a boarding school! My dad was strict when it came to education. He kept on discouraging me when I tried doing commercials, saying that they are just tricking me to get out of school. We lived in the country, so we’d be asleep around 8 or 9 p.m. It was really boring. But here there are so many gimmicks. As of now, being young, I prefer living here (in the Philippines) but maybe when I settle down, I’ll move back to Australia.

Pops Fernandez

Born December 12, 1966 – Daughter of popular 70's action star Eddie Fernadez (deceased) and singer Dulce Lukban, Pops Fernandez joined show business when she was 16. Her dimpled and heart shaped face captured the hearts of Filipino audiences.

Maria Cielito Lukban Fernandez in real life, Pops' fledgling singing career started to soar when she was partnered to an English speaking Filipino balladeer Martin Nievera . Initially, Pops was turned off with Martin and branding him as mayabang, and so do Martin thought of her as snob. That impression did not last long though. Their onscreen partnertship turned into a real life romance. In their own TV program “Penthouse Live”, the couple announced that they are getting married. It was in June of 1986 and Pops was only 19. Soon, they were gifted with 2 kids, Ram and Robin.

Afterwards, Pops appears in several movies and product endorsement. After several performances, the Martin-Pops tandem delivered stunning record sales in their concerts. Breaking records over and over again. After those consistent successes in their gigs, they were enthroned as Philippines Concert King and Queen.

Unfortunately, their love story lasted only 12 years. In 1998, the couple decided to live separate lives. It was known that her husband’s infidelity is the root of the separation, Pops remained composed and lip sealed. There was no bad mouthing against his ex-husband Martin in the media. Up to this moment, the two remained friends.

Gwen Garci

Gwen Garci had originally chosen the name Gwen Garcia, but because so many actors and actresses in the Philippines already used the last name Garcia, her manager (Jessica Rodriguez) convinced her to drop the last letter. Although she has done various genres of film, Garci is an actress primarily in the erotica genre—most films have some erotic or secual overtones. She has also performed in a DVD instruction video on seductive stripping.

Born Mai Lee Ang in the Philippines, Gwen Garci has a variegated heritage. She is Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and Filipino, and claims to belong to a Chinese clan. Before her acting career was launched in 2003, Garci started her show business life at age 16, winning the 1997 Body Shots contest. Soon after her win in Baguio, Philippines, she began a career as a model. However, Garci was not meant to be restricted to posing and runways—Vic del Rosario (Viva Hot Babes ) discovered her talent and brought her into the world of acting.

Pia Guanio

No other woman in Philippines probably has such a perfect golden tan like Pia Guanio and that just makes her irresistible. Beautiful bronze looks and long Aphrodite legs have made Liana Pia Coronado Guanio the heartthrob of many people. Born on October 24 in Manila, Pia is one of the most popular faces on the Philippine television and is also known as the traffic angel. If dresses could kill then Pia does a great job by sporting dangerously short skirts and stiletto heels that captivated anyone and everyone. At 5’7, she is definitely tall and her generous good looks are the perfect deadly combo!

Blessed with a charming personality and demure looks, she comes out more as the chocolate girl of the neighborhood. The perfect place to start in the world of showbiz is from the top and that’s what Pia did. She started from the top of the world, flying over Manila in a Helicopter and alerting motorists regarding congestion. What a flying start! She was the most loved traffic angel who not only guided people safely to their destinations but also became part of their families. She was daring enough to become a helicopter-borne traffic reporter for the morning show called "Magandang Umaga Bayan".