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".

Ara Mina

Hazel Reyes, who is better known by her screen name Ara Mina (born May 9, 1979 in Manila, Philippines), is a Filipina actress, model and singer. She won the Golden Screen Award in 2004 for Best Actress in a drama in the Philippines. Since 1998, Mina has been a regular cast member of "Bubble Gang", a sketch comedy television show in the Philippines. She is the daughter of Chuck Mathay, a former Philippine congressman from Quezon City.

Asset for asset, very few come close. She is all woman. The breasts are real. The skin in milky; the curves, dangerous. Even the shoulders slope sexy. And the small of the back, so easy to imagine teeth biting into it. Worse, the face beguiles with an innocence that is hard to fight. And when finally the eyes smile, no man is safe. Maybe, no woman, too.

Joel Lamanga, director of Mano Po, the movie that gave Ara her best-actress award at the 2002 Metro Manila Film Festival, her first ever: "What is sexy is the totality of her. It's not just one part of her body but her totality. You cannot take one from the other. She's like a little girl na kailangan mong ipagtanggol sa sinumang magnanais ng masama laban sa kanya."

Maui Taylor

Maui Taylor was born Maureen Rodriguez Taylor in England of Filipino descent, the youngest of four children. At the insistence of her father, a teenaged Maui returned to the Philippines to be raised with Filipino values. With older sisters in the entertainment field – one an opera singer and the other a choreographer – it was no surprise that Maui got into show business as well.

A cousin of Maui Taylor’s, who was in a dance troupe in the Philippines, introduced her into the business circles. Because of Maui’s exotic features, she was quickly cast as an actress despite having no prior experience or professional training. At 14, she was cast as on the Filipino TV soap opera, Anna Karenina, which was the first of many roles in television and film.

In 2002, Taylor garnered national attention after appearing on the cover of For Him Magazine, Filipino edition. Again, due to her striking features – youthful face and mature body – she became a sex symbol, which led to her starring role in the movie, Gamitan, at the age of 22. Gamitan had very strong sexual content and nudity, which was the first for the young actress, Taylor.

Maui also appeared in the movie, Hibla, with actress Rica Peralejo in 2002. Again, nudity and strong sexual content was used in the film, which earned a big box office draw for its scenery as well as its content.

In 2003, Maui Taylor starred in the sex comedy, Sex Drive, which was panned by critics despite making considerable money at the box office. Her next film, also in 2003, was The Last Virgin, in which Taylor played a mentally retarded girl. Maui endured rigorous training in order to act convincingly as a 10 year old girl who is raped. Maui held her own in the film with veteran Filipino actors Ara Mina and Jay Manalo.

The Last Virgin proved to be a controversial film, but performed well at the 2003 Manila Film Festival, winning Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress, Ara Mina. Maui Taylor had been nominated for Best Actress as well, which was a feat in itself.

Joyce Jimenez

Joyce Jimenéz (born October 19, 1978) is a Filipino American actress who mainly stars in movies in the Philippines.

Joyce Jiménez was born in Los Angeles, California to Filipino migrant parents. Her real name is Joyce Herrín Reintegrado. She is well known for having large breasts. Jiménez grew up in the Los Ángeles area where she studied at Bishop Amat High School in La Puente, California. She was accepted to UCLA but decided to forgo schooling to come to the Philippines, but recently she finished a college degree in a university in Australia.

In 1996, Jiménez participated in the Miss Philippines-Hollywood pageant. Although she did not win the title, she did win the Miss Photogenic title. She got her break when one of the judges of the pageant was also a movie talent manager who asked Jiménez to get in touch with her if she ever came to the Philippines which Jiménez did in 1997. Since 1997, Jiménez has starred in over 20 movies, most of which involved nudity. Though she is a popular actress in the Philippines, her critics are quick to point out that her overt sexuality in her movies is what makes her prominent and not necessarily her acting ability.

Jiménez started to venture out from films and into business. She owns Skin-Private Joyce, which specializes in bath and beauty products. She also opened a lingerie line Private Joyce.

Jennylyn Mercado

Jennylyn Mercado (born May 15, 1987) is a Filipina actress and singer. She became famous after winning in the first season of StarStruck, a reality-based talent search show of GMA Network in the Philippines.
Family

In the October 14, 2004 episode of TV drama series Magpakailanman of GMA Network, which featured her life story, viewers learned more about her childhood.

In May 4, 1991, when she was nearly four years old, she made headlines as a battered child. Her assailant was her stepfather, who burned her skin with cigarette butts and whacked her back with a flat iron. Her mother, who was then in Dubai working as a domestic helper, immediately came home. She came not to take care of her daughter, however, but to bail out her partner, who was in detention.

Her mother migrated to London and had her own family. Jennylyn's aunt, Lydia Mercado, legally adopted her.

In June 2004, Mercado's biological father, Noli Pineda, now 50, came home for a holiday. His arrival did not go unnoticed by the press. Reports came out saying that he was asking for money from his now self-sufficient daughter (an accusation she has strongly denied, insisting that her father wanted her to use his surname. She and her biological father, who is based in Korea, keep in touch.

Mercado is now the official spokesperson of the Bata Foundation (Christian Mission Services), a non-governmental organization. It operates with basic funding support from its partner organization, Christlicher Missiondienst (CMD) headquartered in Germany, supplementary assistance from two Japanese organizations and a few local groups, with the help of Feed Hungry Inc. and the GMA Artist Center.

Katya Santos

Who says beauty and brains don’t combine? In fact, you can add a little toss of sexiness. Look at Katya Santos and you know very well that she has it all.

Katrina Santos was born on February 2, 1982, in Manila, Philippines. As early as 4 years old, she was already busy doing commercials. The most notable was her Bear Brand ad. Growing up, she found the right training at Ang TV, a youth-oriented talent show of ABS-CBN.

It wasn’t long before she became a regular member of Oki Doki Doc. At 13, she tested her comic skills along with veteran comedians such as Babalu and Jimmy Santos. She also acted alongside Philippine-renowned thespians such as Claudine Barretto and Aga Muhlach .

However, perhaps it’s because younger talents started flooding the entertainment industry or that she was caught in a very awkward age, Katya’s career hardly took off. As a bold move, she decided to hop on the sexy bandwagon.

Katya was one of the original elite sexy members of the Viva Hot Babes. Her participation eventually catapulted her to a certified sex symbol. Together with the likes of Maui Taylor , Gwen Garci , and Andrea del Rosario , to name a few, they were able to release a number of sizzling videoke CDs and DVDs. Katya even got her solo spot courtesy of her Wet, Wild, and Kinky album. They also became busy promoting their singles such as Basketbol and Bulaklak, which, surprisingly, appealed to the masses, even to younger kids.

Her voluptuous bodies also graced numerous men’s magazines, including FHM and Hot Stuff. She was Tanduay’s official calendar girl in 2004. Most of all, it paved the way for a couple of dark movies such as Radyo and Sexdrive. Keka, despite being a bold film, got rave reviews even from the harshest critics. It’s a good thing that she was able to make her way through in spite of rejecting great roles in Tatarin, Balahibong Pusa, and Scorpio Nights.

Katya Santos went back to boob tube playing the role of Morita Ponce in the TV adaptation of Hiram na Mukha. This gave her an opportunity to showcase her own subtle yet convincing acting capabilities, especially when it demanded her o play the ultimate kontrabida against Heart Evangelista .

But she had enough. After Boso, which was released in 2005, Katya hopes to only reminisce those bolder days and rather focus on taking in more mature roles. She is also attempting to hone her singing skills and wish to release her first CD very soon. It will be a combination of pop and R&B, music genres she has grown to love and truly passionate about.

If she’s not doing movies, she also keeps her hands full managing her pizza parlor business, along with her non-showbiz boyfriend. Ever since, Katya has always been business-minded. It even persuaded her to take up Business Administration in International Academy of Management.

Indeed there’s more to life than showbiz. With wits, beauty, character, and body to die for, Katya will definitely go a long way.

Andrea del Rosario

She is just a part of the whole. Andrea was born with a twin brother, but hey this girl ihas no split personality, because she is indeed a personality in her own right!

Andrea is an independent young lady who lives on her own. This pretty angel has had a number of theatrical experiences, having friends from the Repertory Philippines. She can sing, dance and act-a bundle of talent in her 5'5" frame. She has also appeared as a model for Pretty-Pretty Fashion Clothing and did the catwalk with professional models at the Manila Hotel. She has also appeared in several movies such as Mula Sa Puso, Hiling, Bata,Bata Pano ka Ginawa? and Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin. She was a part of the show Attagirl, where she shared the limelight with three of today's hottest babes.

This Star Circle Batch 3 member describes herself as a self-driven young woman who will take no risks and will create her own ladder to the top-and with the kind of outlook that she has, no one can absolutely stop her from getting there.

Angelica Panganiban

Angelica Panganiban was born on November 4, 1986 in the Caloocan City, Philippines. Panganiban is a member of ABS-CBN's elite circle of homegrown talents properly named Star Magic. She started her career in showbiz at the age of 6 and first show was Ang TV. She was the Junior-Senior Prom Princess in 2002 and Miss Junior and Senior Prom in 2003.

Angelica's parents separated when she was two years old. She has no memories of her father. In her childhood, Angelica had thought that her grandfather, Alfredo Panganiban, was her real father.

Angelica appeared in the cover of Cosmopolitan Philippines in September 2006 and in the cover of FHM Philippines in March 2007. She is the Maxim Philippines' first cover girl.

Perhaps her most famous(also controversial) of her photos appeared in the 2007 Ginebra calendar. During her teen days, she had a a relationship with actor Carlo Aquino. She is currently in a relationship with model and actor Derek Ramsay

Rica Peralejo

Rica Peralejo has one of the most extensive acting biographies for an actress her age. She began as a child, and shifted through age groups and genres to collect an impressive list of credits. Despite all this, she has also done documentary films and established herself as a talented singer.

Rica Peralejo was born on March 7, 1980, in the Philippines. She soon earned a role in the children’s comedy show “Ang TV.” In her teen years, she won roles in teen television comedy shows “Gimik” and “T.G.I.S.” These shows gave Peralejo her start in acting as a career.
After her days in youth variety and sitcoms, Peralejo landed roles in movies and other television programs. She moved between many genres fluently, which earned her various “queen” titles such as “Bold Queen,” “Horror Queen,” and “Scream Queen.” Despite the labels the media tried to pin on her, she also continued acting in comedies and sitcoms, as well as variety shows and television dramas.

Like many other teen stars, Peralejo had a role in the television series “Komics,” which was written from Philippine comic books, and several other programs. Over these years she faced intense competition from other Filipino stars , such as Angelu de Leon. In 2003 she was involved in a traffic accident in which her driver killed a 5-year-old boy. Ironically, she was working on “Malikmata,” a film about a woman who could see the dead—she had the starring role. None of this held her back, and she pushed forward to rise above her competition.
Between 1996 and 2006, Rica Peralejo starred or appeared in whopping 21 movies, 12 television episodes and series, and two videos. Through this, she still managed to cut three music CDs and had one single rise to the top of the charts, a cover of the love song “Fallin.” Her film credits include almost all genres: documentary, horror/thrillers, comedies, drama, action, family entertainment, and crime suspense. She has also participated in music awards ceremonies, talk shows, and television episodes (also of various genres).

With all of her different talents, Peralejo needs no other profession to fall back on, but she may be acting as a mentor to another up-and-coming actress—Peralejo’s younger sister, Paula, appears to be following in the older girl’s footsteps.

Rochelle Pangilinan

Rochelle Pangilinan born May 23, 1982 is a Filipina dancer, singer, and actress. She was one of the famous dancers in Philippines, and the leader of SexBomb Girls. She can be seen in Daisy Siete where she is the main protagonist, it is aired weekdays on GMA Network.

Personal background

Rochelle was born in Malabon, Philippines. She has two siblings. During her childhood, her family was poor, her father was an alcoholic, her father usually beats her mother while he's drunk, her parents then separated. In 2002, Rochelle's parents were back together again, also her father stopped his bad drinking habits.

Dancing career

Rochelle started to join dancing contest when she was a kid, and one day at the competition Joy Cancio offered Rochelle a job at Eat Bulaga. Rochelle was only 14 when she started to dance on Eat Bulaga. Then in 1999 a unnamed group was formed by the network, one of them is Rochelle. They were background dancers for Eat Bulaga. After sometime, the other three left the group. But Joy Cancio recruited more dancers. The group began in November 1999 as the 'Chicken Sandwich Dancers' which was an offshoot of the Danz Focus (house dancers of Eat Bulaga). At first there were 4 (Cheryl, Debra, Janine and Rochelle). The group expanded to 6 with the addition of Jopay and Aira. The group expanded to 8, 12 and 13 (during their first FHM Philippines appearance) to an all time high of 22.

Katrina Halili

Katrina Halili has gone from childhood beauty pageants to “StarStruck,” the Philippine reality-based teen talent search show, and on further to a large number of films and serials. She has been nominated for numerous awards and honors for her roles, and her photos can be found on the covers of FHM Philippines magazine as well as several men’s magazines.

In January 4, 1986, Maria Katrina Irene Halili was born in Quezon City in the Philippines. Palawan, and island province of the Philippines, is where she grew up. As a child she participated in pageants on the island and represented the city El Nido, which is a coastal town on the northeast tip of the island. The actress claims to be part Chinese, and is fond of mentioning this when being interviewed.

Although she spent her youth competing in beauty pageants, the direction of her career was changed when she auditioned for StarStruck. This television teen talent search has launched the careers of many of the Philippines’ top teenage actors and actresses, and the effect on Halili was no different. Although she was the only one not to audition at the studio, she still one a spot as a finalist.

Since then Katrina Halili has appeared and starred in many films and television series, and has posed for FHM Philippines magazine twice. FHM Philippines film critics placed her in highly three times on their list, and in 2006 she topped it.Since Halili’s star-studded StarStruck debut, she has appeared in a dramatic mini series, television dramas, teen romantic comedies, action and fantasy series, family television, a game show, reality TV, and several films of various genres. This busy actress performed in three movies and several television shows in 2006 alone, and her schedule for interviews and photo shoots were hectic as well. As if all that wasn’t enough work, Hallili has put together a collection of music videos on video entitled “Fantasies” with the starlet clad only in bikinis.

Marian Rivera

Marian Rivera Gracia was born in Madrid, Spain on August 12, 1984. As the only child of an inter-racial couple—her mother, Amalia Mallari Rivera, is a full-blooded Filipina and works as an airport attendant in London; her father, Francisco Javier Alonzo Gracia, restaurateur, is a full-blooded Spaniard—Marian had a pampered middle-class upbringing, courtesy of her nurturing maternal grandmother.

Her mother Amalia met her father Francisco in Madrid, Spain. It was in Madrid that her mom gave birth to a beautiful baby girl who was named Marian, after her paternal grandfather, Mariano Gracia. But the marriage of Amalia and Francisco didn’t last long. Marian was two years old when her parents decided to part ways.

Still, Marian’s story is not entirely a fairy tale.

Marian was flown back to the motherland when she was three years old and grew up raised by her Lola Francisca Rivera in Bayanan, Bacoor, Cavite. In her Lola’s home, Marian grew up to become a happy, contented, and well-adjusted adult.

Aside from “Yan-yan,” her mama and cousins fondly calls her “Poyi” or “Poyas” which means “makulit” in Spanish.

When Amalia went back to her job abroad, Lola Francisca became Marian’s designated guardian. Francisco Gracia, meanwhile, did not entirely cut off relations with his child.

It was in St. Francis of Assisi College System, Bayanan, Cavite Campus where Marian finished her elementary and high school days. She was just an average student up until she finished college.

Marian’s yearly trip to Madrid stopped only when she went to college.

The unique family setup was initially difficult for Marian’s mind to comprehend. The questions in her mind became a factor in Marian’s decision on getting her college degree in B.S. Psychology at De La Salle University in Dasmariñas, Cavite. In college, her favorite subjects were logic and Filipino psychology. And she has no problems with “deep Tagalog.”

Marian’s parents now have their own partners in life. Her father remains in Madrid, where he owns a restaurant. Her mom has long since moved to London, where she now works as an airport attendant. Neither one of her parents, however, has given Marian a sibling.

Diana Zubiri

Rosemarie Joy Garcia (born April 15, 1985), stage name Diana Zubiri, is an actress from the Philippines. Zubiri started her showbiz career after applying in Japan as an entertainer. She began to appear in sexy movies such as Itlog, Bakat and Kasiping.

In October 29, 2002, she had a photo shoot wearing a two piece bikini for FHM Philippines on top of EDSA-Shaw flyover in Mandaluyong City, that stirred controversy. Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos filed charges of grave scandal against FHM Philippines and Zubiri but he later withdrew it after Zubiri and Jojo Gabinete, Zubiri’s manager, apologized. Because of the incident, Zubiri became widely-known.

After a few sexy flicks, Zubiri became a GMA Network artist, appearing as a regular cast in Bubble Gang, a sketch comedy television program. She also appears in Encantadia as the main cast, playing Danaya, the diwata that holds the Jewel of the Earth. She reprises her role of Danaya in Etheria