In the year of the tiger, these stars were predicted to soar high in their careers.
While career decisions and management plans are eventually to play the biggest role in determining who will dominate the year, several Kapuso stars are already showing promise of breakthroughs, enough to convince us they will make it big in 2022.
There’s a whole new set of ambitious and promising shows awaiting some of these up-and-coming stars, while those who have been around for years are welcoming the year with a more promising insight.
From those who made their mark in 2021 and are expected to continue their success in 2022, to upcoming stars who are starring in their biggest projects, to date, the following are the Kapuso stars who may likely end the year as household names.
Some stars are to shine no matter dimly they started in their young careers. Some have to spend a couple of years before that one big break; some get fame practically handed to them at the onset of their bid to make it big in showbiz.
These stars undoubtedly have the potential, and with the projects, they will star in 2022, that potential is only poised to make them finally shine, shine brighter than the last time, or shine their brightest.
Allen Ansay.
Ansay may be three years fresh as an actor, but already hard to miss his overwhelming potential. Although he may have to shell out his current image soon and take the leading man route, there is no telling how far he can go with that cutie teenager charisma he owns. He’s finally getting his big break via the second season of Prima Donnas, which should only pave a wider road to success.
Althea Ablan.
Not too many in her home network has duplicated, which six years into her young career, Ablan pulled such a pace. In 2019, she made waves by acing her first title role via Prima Donnas, which she will reprise this year, allowing her yet another opportunity to prove why she deserves the spotlight.
Arra San Agustin.
After making waves via StarStruck in 2015, San Agustin has been pretty much en route to superstardom, by playing memorable roles on various Kapuso shows, including Madrasta (2019), The Cure (2018), and Encantadia (2016). This year, she is to headline the creature-serye–Lolong, along with Kapuso leading man, Ruru Madrid.
Ashley Ortega.
It’s perplexing to think that Ortega has not yet well-deserved big break after being around show business for a decade. That dilemma might finally change this year, as she takes on her most important role to date. Widow’s Web, the upcoming show she’ll star alongside Carmina Villaroel, and several other up-and-coming female Kapuso stars, is slated to debut this year.
Beauty Gonzales.
After reaching the popularity peak via the phenomenal ABS-CBN series, Kadenang Ginto (2018), who knew if Gonzales still has somewhere higher to go? On her second starring role via the GMA network, the 30-year-old actress is all-poised to prove her place in her new home network.
Darwin Yu.
Previously known to play boys’ love roles, Yu has successfully forged his path to the mainstream spotlight. Now a Kapuso actor, he is ready to make hearts fall in love with his leading man looks, but more importantly, what he can do in the acting department.
David Licauco.
At 27, Licauco already has a few remarkable appearances on Kapuso shows under his belt. After playing his first lead role on a TV series via Heartful Cafe, the dashing Chinito leading man is back to take the spotlight. Licauco currently stars in the primetime series–Mano Po Legacy: Family Fortune.
Jilllian Ward.
From breaking hearts as Trudis Liit (2010) to making viewers swoon as Mayi in Prima Donnas (2019), Jillian Ward has a vividly colorful portfolio to vouch for her claim to stardom. Although what comes next, especially this year, seems to bring her to a whole new level of success in her career.
Joaquin Domagoso.
You know he got the leading-man looks any fan will go swooning for, any time of the day. Domagoso doesn’t only have his dashing style and familiar last name to back his showbiz bid up. He’s a diamond in the rough, which will get some polishing through the upcoming projects awaiting him, including First Lady, the sequel to the 2020 hit, First Yaya.
Jo Berry.
Jo Berry may be a little person, but don’t let her size get you to thinking he is short of talent and charm. She’s got both up to the brim, and she has Onanay (2018), The Gift (2019), and the currently-airing, Little Princess, to prove her mettle.
Kaloy Tantungco.
When young actor, Kaloy Tantungco, joined the GMA network last year–he has practically swung the door to a much greater fame open. After making boys’ love bandwagoners smitten with his funny yet heartwarming character in Boys’ Lockdown, he is now prepared to tackle more challenging mainstream roles, including the one he currently plays on the afternoon series, Little Princess.
Klea Pineda.
Pineda had her most important year yet, last year when she headlined Stories From the Heart: Never Say Goodbye, which gave us a much clearer look at her artistic brilliance, and how far she can still go in her seven-year career. Judging how well she navigated the past few years, it won’t be a surprise if 2022 sees her shine even brighter.
Kokoy de Santos.
Gameboys star, Kokoy de Santos, has been picking up steam for more than a decade now, although it’s just since a few years ago when the limelight finally found him. Now, as a new Kapuso star, he found a much bigger venue to showcase his enormous talent.
Mavy Legaspi.
Currently making hearts smitten as Sebastian in I Lef My Heart in Sorsogon, Legaspi has all the goods to make it last in show business. Of course, being a son to Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legaspi, Mavy has the royalty gene to give him an extra bump to go higher, but we all know he is far more than that.
Miguel Tanfelix.
Miguel Tanfelix has pretty much his entire life revolved around acting. At six, he was already flying as Pagaspas in Mulawin (2004), which practically paved the way for him to land more ambitious roles, including the title role Niño (2014) and Diego in Kambal Karibal (2017). This year, he takes on the highly-coveted lead role in Voltes V Legacy.
Pauline Mendoza.
Pauline Mendoza is best known for playing the perfect daughter, Iris Salvador, on the aftertoon drama, Babawiin Ko Ang Lahat (2021), and as the vengeful spirit, Criselda, on the primetime series, Kambal Karibal. It isn’t so hard to spot the brimming potential she holds, one that’s poised to bring her to greater glory in her career, especially since she’s set to play as one of the main characters in the ensemble drama, Widow’s Web.
Radson Flores.
Radson Flores has worked his way up the Kapuso ranks since his StarStruck stint nearly six years ago. He had a few notable assignments, but none of those holds a candle to playing Mark Gordon in the Philippine adaptation of the ‘70s classic, Voltes V.
Rob Gomez.
Anybody from a known showbiz clan gets that extra advantage to steal the scene, free of sweat. Gomez, however, doesn’t just have his royalty badge to stay long and strong in the business; he has the looks and the talent. After surprising online moviegoers with his ‘daring’ comeback in A Girl and A Guy, Gomez is geared-up to deliver more surprises as Joseph in the ensemble drama–Mano Po Legacy: Family Fortune.
Royce Cabrera.
Cabrera’s way to stardom has been pretty well in effect ever since he first plunged into the world of entertainment in 2018. Now a Kapuso exclusive, the Quaranthings star is looking to land a string of big roles in his new home network, ones he [surely] is ready to pull off.
Ruru Madrid.
Ruru Madrid’s impressive work on a streak of banner GMA shows, including Encantadia (2016), Alyas Robinhood (2017), and Sherlock Jr. (2018), has pretty much given him a sort of badge that validates his top-tier status. With Lolong, there isn’t so much to prove, but it won’t be a surprise when he pulls off another career milestone.
Sanya Lopez.
Sanya Lopez has an enormous ability to charm her way to viewers’ hearts. That was apparent when she took on her biggest, and most important role last year as Melody in the top-rated primetime series, First Yaya, whose most anticipated sequel, First Lady debuts this year.
Sofia Pablo.
When a charming young talent like Pablo comes knocking, you answer and swing the door wide open. The mix of charm and talent alone she showed via Prima Donnas merits this amazing Kapuso star an opportunity to shine, and 2022 seems to have its arms fully stretched wide to welcome her.
Vince Crisostomo.
With limited show appearances, this Prima Donnas mainstay certainly has a long way to go before he takes a special place in his home Network’s roster of superstars. This year, he returns as a ‘major’ character in the second season of Prima Donnas, which pretty much guarantees his forward surge as one promising star.
Yasser Marta.
Marta’s cover boy looks may be enough to land a lead role, but it will take more than that to own a competition. Not that a mix of talent and charm like Marta needs to complete, but he definitely can pull it off if the challenge comes along. He stars in the upcoming romantic drama, What We Could Be this year. It is another chance to show not just his irresistible appeal but also his versatility.
Ysabel Ortega.
Set to play Jamie Robinson in GMA Network’s upcoming TV adaptation of the ‘70’s anime classic Voltes V and the TV series, What Could Be, the former Kapamilya talent makes her biggest and most crucial leap in her quest to achieve stardom.
They are all geared to roar loud in the Year of the Tiger. Respectively, they tackle characters that can only serve as a testament to their versatility, artistry, and abilities–to pull off challenging roles and shine like no other and never before.
Do you think we missed your fave on the list? Don’t forget to drop a comment below to share your thoughts.
