Through television, film, and endorsements, these local celebrities worked like Trojans all year long.
Visibility is the key. That seems to be the driving principle behind some of our local celebrities to keep on working and remain visible in the public’s eye. Indeed, the longer you remain in the limelight, the greater your chances of becoming a household name. That was the case for some of the year’s busiest stars, who ruled television, film, and sometimes both, in 2022.
Here are the stars who have been busy this year:
Coco Martin
Keeping his reputation as the local industry’s most bankable male star, Martin almost never left television even with the seven-year-old action-drama, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, finally bidding farewell in late August. Aside from remaining one of the most in-demand product ambassadors in the country, he also spent the rest of the year touring the Philippines and the United States. He also successfully returned to the Metro Manila Film Festival, this year, via Labyu with Accent.
Diego Loyzaga
Loyzaga is undoubtedly one of the year’s busiest movie stars, with most of his 2022 filmography being under Viva Films and its streaming service, Vivamax. He has appeared in no less than 8 movies, including the big box office drawer, Maid in Malacañang, and the charming Prime Video romcom, How to Love Mister Heartless, making him a cinema staple all throughout the year.
Dingdong Dantes
Dantes took the year to temporarily retire from doing primetime dramas, but that didn’t mean he would not be visible on television. After his short stint on a week-long episode of the drama-anthology, I Can See You, the prime Kapuso actor returned to his hosting duties, via the 3rd Kapuso edition of the global hit game show, Family Feud, which is currently one of the highest-rated TV shows on primetime! Let’s not forget he also completed a very successful maiden season of the heartwarming family sitcom, Jose and Maria’s Bonggang Villa, too!
John Arcilla
Arcilla appeared in three movies—two of which were MMFF 2021’s big winners—in the span of a year. He scored two Best Actor nominations via his respective roles in the MMFF entries, Big Night! , and A Hard Day, the former of which he won unsurprisingly. On television, he was seen almost every day for 8 months as the utterly wicked villain, Renato Hipolito, in the longest-running TV series in Philippine television’s history, FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano. In January next year, he embarked on yet another career-defining role, as Carlos Fiero, in the revenge-themed suspense drama, Dirty Linen.
Kim Atienza
You can tell Atienza did the right thing last year when he moved to GMA Network after being with ABS-CBN for more than two decades. The seasoned TV host saw a career height, as such a choice landed him big hosting roles and projects. Aside from being a special segment host of the Kapuso flagship primetime newscast, 24 Oras, he also hosts the news magazine show, Dapat Alam Mo, and the daily pre-noontime variety show, TickToClock. He is literally on television every day!
Piolo Pascual
Even without noting his television appearances this year, Pascual remained one of the busiest leading men in show business in 2022. He kept and earned numerous endorsement deals, and he toured the United States alongside fellow Kapamilya actor Rosales in November. He is currently airing a TV series called Flower of Evil on the Asian streaming giant, Viu, as well as a sitcom called My Papa Pi on the weekends.
Richard Gutierrez
Fresh from completing an impressive supervillain stint in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano last August, Richard Gutierrez proceeded to star in his own primetime action drama, The Iron Heart. This was in November. The upcoming series marks his return to top-billed teleserye roles, after TV5’s Panday (2016). His two TV stints alone are more than enough to make him one of the most visible television stars of the year.
Robi Domingo
Undeniably one of the year’s most in-demand television presenters, Domingo rose to the occasion and became one of ABS-CBN’s leading TV hosts, when both Billy Crawford and Toni Gonzaga decided to leave the Kapamilya Network. Aside from fulfilling a hosting stint in Pinoy Big Brother’s previous two seasons, the PBB alumnus also presented the sophomore edition of Idol Philippines. Let’s not forget, he also hosts the Sunday noontime musical variety show, ASAP Natin ‘To, shall we?
Vice Ganda
Returning to starring in movies this year via the MMFF entry, Partners in Crime, the Unkabogable Phenomenal Box Office Star, is also one of the year’s busiest stars. This is because he was visible on television from Mondays to Sundays! Aside from leading the Kapamilya noontime show, It’s Showtime—which recently celebrated its 13th anniversary, by the way—the comedian-host is also the presenter of the award-winning community game show, Everybody, Sing! As a recording artist, he also released chart-topping singles. Including the one written by his fellow host, Jugs Jugueta, and the inspirational ‘Look at Me Now’.
Daniel Padilla
Padilla’s comeback TV series, 2 Good 2 Be True, in which he starred alongside his real-life partner, Kathryn Bernardo, ruled Netflix Philippines for six months. It remained in the Top 10 for nearly two months after completing its television run in November. In December last year, he earned nods from critics for his exemplary performance in the film Kun Maupay Man It Panahon. The prime Kapamilya leading man also scored big-time endorsements this year, including an American clothing brand.
Elijah Canlas
This award-winning young actor has certainly navigated his career during the pandemic with flying colors. After his successful boys’ love stint via IdeaFirst Company’s web series, Gameboys, he moved on to land big roles in both film and television. This year, he appeared in two mainstream movies, Vivamax’s Livestream and the film adaptation of his breakout web series with Kokoy de Santos. He also notably starred in the recently concluded TV5 sports drama, Suntok Sa Buwan.
Zanjoe Marudo
Thanks to his streak of leading man roles, Marudo has unsurprisingly found himself in the league of his home network’s prime leading men. Other than starring in the critically-acclaimed series, The Broken Marriage Vow, which was awarded the Best TV Format Adaptation (Scripted) trophy at the Content Asia Awards, he also landed movie roles, including the sultry Vivamax feature, Ikaw Lang ang Mahal, and the mellow drama, 366.
Angeli Khang
Khang’s irresistible allure is no doubt one of the biggest reasons why Viva entrusted 8 Vivamax titles in a span of just a year. In last month’s Selina’s Gold, where she starred alongside local sexy icon, Jay Manalo, she played a feisty vengeance-thirsty woman, who succeeded at turning the tables, after getting sexually, physically, and emotionally abused. Also included in her 2022 filmography are the films Us x Her, Girl Friday, Virgin Forest, and Eva.
Alex Gonzaga.
Keeping her stature as one of the biggest social media stars in the country, Gonzaga is already one of the most visible celebrities of the year, even without acknowledging her noon-time hosting stint, via Tropang LOL. She also appeared in the MMFF film, The ExorSis, and the Netflix film, The Entitled.
Beauty Gonzales
If there is one actress who massively benefited from a network transfer during the pandemic, that is surely no other than, Beauty Gonzales. After moving to GMA Network, the actress landed several leading roles on television, including the I Can See You mini-series, AlterNate, in which she starred alongside prime Kapuso leading man, Dingdong Dantes. She also top-billed the afternoon prime drama, The Fake Life, and the recently concluded Mano Po Legacy series, Flower Sisters.
Belle Mariano
Alongside her onscreen partner, Donny Pangilinan, Mariano catapulted her way to stardom via the phenomenal web series, He’s Into Her. In just a year, the couple starred in their first two movies, Love is Color Blind and An Inconvenient Love, with the latter serving as Star Cinema’s first offering in its return to cinemas. Within a year, she reprised her role in the second season of He’s Into Her. She also appeared in an episode of the web drama anthology, Click, Like, Share. As her popularity soared, Mariano also scored several endorsement deals, making her one of the most sought-after young stars.
Christine Bermas
Bermas’ seductive charm undeniably helped her land roles under Vivamax’s ‘sex and gore’ spree, during the pandemic. The young sexy actress has so far 8 full-length films, under her belt, the starring roles of which include: Relyebo, Lampas Langit, Scorpio Nights 3, Island of Desire, and Moonlight Butterfly, among others.
Jela Cuenca
Cuenca has starred in no less than 10 Vivamax titles, since debuting on the platform in 2021, making her one of the most sought-after newbie sexy stars in the local entertainment scene. This year, she headlined several Vivamax steamy dramas, including Relyebo, Pabuya, Girl Friday, Pusoy, and Silip Sa Apoy.
Kim Chiu
Chiu seems to have continued her ‘Ang Babaeng Walang Pahinga’ phase, even a year after her infamous ‘Walang Lalabas’ statement. In fact, in December 2021, she even starred a film, whose title, ‘Wag Kang Lalabas’, obviously got inspired by her infamous viral gaffe. Aside from appearing on television, 7 days a week, via the noontime shows, It’s Showtime and ASAP Natin ‘To, she also top-billed the Filipino movie adaptation of the hit Korean mellow drama, Always.
Maja Salvador
Salvador seems to be the kind of star who takes her empire with her, everywhere she decides to go. Two years after moving out of ABS-CBN, the ultra-talented actress established herself as a relentless freelance artist and started managing her own talent agency. Along with such a new role, she landed various roles in both movies and television. One of her most notable works, Niña Niño, ended its stellar 13-month run, last May, making it the longest-running drama that debuted and ended during the pandemic. Aside from appearing in the noon time show, Eat Bulaga, 6 days a week, she also recently made a special appearance in the Richard Gutierrez-starrer, The Iron Heart.
Rabiya Matteo
The former Miss Philippines titlist quickly found herself immersed in the world of showbiz, after winning the national title in 2020. She further soared in her career, when she joined GMA Network last year and began landing diverse roles. Today, she is one of the hosts, of the pre-noontime variety show, TickToClock. Early this year, she played the lead female character in the Ramon Revilla Jr-headlined action-fantasy series, Agimat ng Agila. Late this year, she played a key role in the Prime Video original series, A Good Day.
Sue Ramirez
Getting much of her 2022 spotlight by playing the kontrabida role in the hit Kapamilya series, The Broken Marriage Vow, Ramirez has pretty much herself pre-occupied with various showbiz engagements, in the past 12 months. She starred in the film, How to Love Mr. Heartless, opposite Diego Loyzaga, and she played a major role in the Viu series, K-Love. Her currently airing series, The Iron Heart, which stars Richard Gutierrrez, is doing very well in TV ratings albeit ABS-CBN’s still limited free TV presence.
Missing your favorite stars on the list? Head to the comment section to share with us what you think.
