Luck is obviously not on the entertainment industry’s side this year. It is in fact, one of the hardest-hit industries whose full recovery may only begin once the current health and economic crisis are over.
Interestingly, and sadly, a big part of the entertainment industry’s struggles to recuperate can also be attributed not just to the pandemic, but to the shutdown of one of the biggest employers in the entertainment industry—ABS-CBN. The media giant’s loss of a free tv franchise has definitely left a vacuum that the rest of the industry has struggled to fill, as more jobs and opportunities are lost in its wake, and with the restrictions imposed by the government in response to the pandemic, the challenge is even more difficult as production houses grapple with meeting market demands, amid health and safety protocols.
That being said, some stars remain and continue to be lucky as projects and new engagements greeted them in 2020. Audiences follow the same faces who became regular scenes on television and online platforms.
Alden Richards
Award-giving bodies are filling-up Alden Richards’ trophy shelves in 2020, with most of his awards made possible by his remarkable performance in the 2019 mega-blockbuster, Hello Love, Goodbye, earning him the highest recognition from Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation Box Office Entertainment Awards (GMMSF-BOEA) for his film’s record-breaking gross in the local box-office.
Richards’ 2019 series, The Gift, concluded in February, but a new show—the musical-variety program, All-Out-Sundays—debuted straight away, only to be cut temporarily by the sudden implementation of the ECQ in March. Likewise, the reality talent competition, Centerstage, premiered on February 16, with him as the main presenter, alongside comedian, Betong Sumaya. The show aired six episodes before the lockdown disabled the network to further produce more. The actor remained active during the pandemic, however, as more shows and tv engagements kept him occupied, including the GMA News special documentary, Lockdown: Food Diaries in late September, and the limited drama-anthology, I Can See You, which debuted in the following month. He remains one of Eat Bulaga’s main hosts. In the concert scene, Richards staged Alden’s Reality: The Virtual Reality Concert in December, which is among the first of its kind in the country. For the concert, he recorded the new single ‘Goin Crazy’ via GMA Music, as the main promotional song for the online event.
As a brand ambassador, Richards is arguably the most in-demand male endorser throughout the year, as more brands stick with him and enlisted his service to promote their products, among which include Century Tuna, Head and Shoulders, Tide, and Embassy brandy.
Billy Crawford
While Crawford’s long stint as a Kapamilya ended alongside the embattled ABS-CBN’s free tv operation, last July, some doors opened for him, allowing him extend his stay in the limelight for the rest of the year. With ABS-CBN, served as one of the presenters of the talent competition, Your Moment.
As a TV5 star, Viva Entertainment entrusted him the hosting job for the Philippine adaptation of the international reality talent show, Masked Singer. He also currently serves as the head host of the new noontime show, Lunch Out Loud, which goes head-to-head with his former show, It’s Showtime.
Iza Calzado
Calzado’s television presence is largely driven by her ongoing teleserye, Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin, which is highly regarded as this year’s breakthrough tv series. The series has been constantly earning rave reviews and garnering millions of views across ABS-CBN’s online platforms. A covid survivor, Calzado graced covers of magazines, celebrating her victory against the new disease.
In November, the 38-year old actress, surprised viewers with the debut of the iwantTFC original, Loving Emily, where she starred alongside young actor Jameson Blake. In endorsements, she continued as ConZACE’s brand ambassador, alongside Ian Veneracion. She also took part in Downy Philippines’ The Body Love Revolution in February, as well as in Safeguard’s anti-covid campaign.
Joshua Garcia
Garcia remained largely visible in 2020 because of his various endorsements whose tvc’s remained actively aired by every national television. His most recent tv series concluded in the first month of the year, after which he maintained a streak of television guestings.
The PBB alumnus starred in the zombie-themed movie, Block Z, which made a nationwide premiere on January 29. He starred in two Maalala Mo Kaya episodes, one aired in February, and the other in December, both of which earned him critical acclaim. Principal filmography for his film, Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan—an adaptation of Bob Ong’s book of the same title—begun during the latter months of the year. He is also set to star in the Philippine adaptation of the Korean smash-hit, Keys to the Heart, next year
Among Garcia’s biggest endorsements include Jollibee, Rebisco, Kopiko, and Mitsubishi Motors.
Kathryn Bernardo
Bernardo’s star didn’t dim in 2020 thanks to her numerous television commercials. The country’s phenomenal box office star affirmed ties with some of the country’s biggest advertisers, including PepsiCo, which made her its biggest brand ambassador for Pepsi Cola and Gatorade, while Unilever Philippines tapped her to be the face of its family soap, LifeBuoy.
In October, the Kapamilya actress received the highest honors from Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation for her film’s Hello, Love, Goodbye, record-breaking gross, last year, a feat she shared with co-lead star, Alden Richards. In the same month, The House Arrest of Us, the web series she starred in alongside onscreen and real-life partner, Daniel Padilla began streaming on online platforms, KTX.PH and iWantTFC. In December, the couple appeared on the music video of Ben&Ben’s Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay, which, as rumors suggest, is linked to the new teleserye the couple will work on, in 2021.
Kim Chiu
Chiu is among the very few local celebrities who can claim 2020 as their lucky year. But before streak of projects, the actress first went through a viral gaffe, one that would spawn several projects for the PBB alumna.
There are overwhelming merits to netizens calling Chiu as ‘ang babaeng walang pahinga’. She appears on television 7 times a week, juggling this alongside movie and other television engagements. The actress completed two drama series—one on television (Love Thy Woman) and another on iWantTFC (Bawal Lumabas, The Series)—and an MMK episode in 2020, making her the only one to do so. On top of this, she also joined It’s Showtime as one of its mainstay hosts, while still fulfilling her commitment to ASAP Natin ‘To as one of its lead presenters and performers, allowing her to be visible on television throughout the entire week.
In movies, Chiu starred in the local adaptation of the Indian horror film, U-Turn, which was Star Cinema’s Halloween offering last October 31, while in music, she released her first 2020 single, ‘Bawal Lumabas’, in May, following her viral video where she made comments on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal woes and the pandemic. The latest season of Pinoy Big Brother enlists Chiu as one of its special hosts. Several brands—among the biggest of which, ChowKing, Garnier, Tiger Crackers—also kept ties with the actress, as she continues to be one of the country’s most sought-after endorsers. In December, Chiu reaffirmed her loyalty to the network when she signed a new contract with Star Magic, ABS-CBN’s talent management agency.
Kokoy de Santos
De Santos arguably had to dominate web television first, before offers from local media giants came pouring in. The former Pinoy Boyband Superstar hopeful’s earliest successes this year came in the form of the hit boys’ love series, Gameboys in May, which came shortly after he starred in a supporting role, in the iWantTFC original, I AM U, starring Julia Barretto. He also played supporting roles, both for the drama anthology, MMK, and the legal drama, Ipaglaban Mo, during the first quarter of the year.
As the pandemic loomed, and following ABS-CBN’s loss of franchise, other production houses and media entities set their sights on de Santos whose popularity has gone even phenomenal during the pandemic. De Santos made appearance on GMA Network’s Eat Bulaga, before committing himself to TV5 projects, including the musical variety show, Sunday Noontime Live!, and the weekly mini-series, Stay-In Love, where he is partnered with PBB alumna, Maris Racal.
In recording, Star Music’s sister label, Star Pop, allowed de Santos release his single, Lagi Lagi, in November.
Maymay Entrata
Entrata didn’t appear in a lot of tv shows this year but she remained one of the most visible faces on television, courtesy of ASAP Natin ‘To and guesting on a number of Kapamilya shows, including her current hosting stint for PBB’s current season. The 23-year old Pinoy Big Brother alumna, also completed filming for the Star Cinema film, Princess DayaReese, opposite on-screen partner, Edward Barber. The film is set to be ABS-CBN’s opening salvo for the coming year.
The young Kapamilya actress’ national tv visibility is also largely made by a number of product endorsements that continued to keep her service in 2020. She remained among Procter and Gamble’s biggest endorsers for shampoo brand, Rejoice, and family soap, Safeguard. She also remains as Megan Beauty’s brand ambassador, as well as Belo Essentials. This year, Unilever Philippines entrusted her to be one of its endorsers for its mayonnaise brand, Lady’s Choice. In music, Entrata successfully released the single I Love You 2, which served as her tribute to her home network, ABS-CBN, during the height of its franchise renewal struggle.
Pokwang
Pokwang or Marietta Subong in real life, now juggles a daily morning talk show and a primetime game show after transferring to TV5. Earlier in 2020, she was still with ABS-CBN and appeared on the primetime drama, Make It With You, while played as among one of main hosts and actors for the weekly gag show, Banana Sundae.
As a Kapatid star, Pokwang serves as host to the game show, Fill in the Bank, and one of the hosts of the morning talk show, Chika, BESH!, alongside Rita Atayde and Pauleen Luna.
Robi Domingo
2020 may have marked the end of Domingo’s second stint as a MYX VJ, but more doors opened for him during the pandemic, the biggest of which paving way for him to host the full-digital reiteration of the Pinoy iconic quiz game show, Game KNB. The 31-year old alumnus was tapped to headline the 2020 version of the show on Kumu, and on JeepneyTV in October. He currently serves as a regular presenter for the musical variety show, ASAP Natin ‘To, as well as among the main hosts of the current season of the reality tv competition, Pinoy Big Brother.
As an endorser, Domingo is kept busy by several product brands, including Greenwich, Lazada, Rexona, and GCash. He also serves as a regular host to many of the Kapamilya’s virtual events.
Other notable celebrities with maintained strong industry presence include Vice Ganda, who remains one of It’s Showtime’s main hosts; Dingdong Dantes is able to juggle an array of endorsements and television engagements, including the Philippine adaptation of Descendants of the Sun; Maine Mendoza remains a daily feature on local television via noontime show, Eat Bulaga, and weekend sitcom, Daddy’s Gurl; while Kathryn Bernardo’s onscreen and real-life partner, Daniel Padilla, made several remarkable projects including the web series, The House Arrest of Us, and the digital concert, Apollo.
