Who's Who of Philippine Cinema

Aga Muhlach: Forever Bagets

2010-11-26T16:21:00.000-08:00

Ariel Aquino Muhlach (born on August 12, 1969), commonly known as Aga Muhlach, is a 2-time Gawad Urian and FAMAS award-winning Filipino actor and product endorser. A popular matinee idol since his teens, he was acclaimed, beginning in the 1990s, as one of the country's top dramatic actors.

He is currently part of ABS-CBN contract actors.

Born in Manila to an acting family, Muhlach's cousin, Niño Muhlach, was a leading child actor of the 1970s, and his aunt, Amalia Fuentes, was a leading dramatic actress. He is of Spanish-German and Chinese descent.

Muhlach began his career as a child actor, appearing in the 1978 film, May Lalaki sa Ilalim ng Kama.[1] His popularity soared in teeny-bopper roles such as Bagets (1983) and Super-Wan-Tu-Tri (1986), one of the films he co-starred with Janice de Belen, with whom he would have a son (Luigi Muhlach; married to Patty Patil).

In 1984, he first attracted critical attention as the titular character in Miguelito, Ang Batang Rebelde, where he portrayed a rebellious teen in conflict with his mother. The role would gain him nominations for Best Supporting Actor from the FAMAS and Best Actor from the Gawad Urian. In 1987, Muhlach would win his first Gawad Urian award, as Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Napakasakit, Kuya Eddie.

Aga would later on appear in most Regal movies, either as support or lead as the 1980s transitioned to the 1990s. With more younger stars coming out, he would later take it as a challenge to increase his stock as one of showbiz's top matinee idol. Hiring publicist Ethel Ramos as his manager, Aga would later on capture more leading man roles and endorsements.

Emerging as one of the top dramatic actors of the 1990s, he won Best Actor awards from the FAMAS for Sinungaling Mong Puso (1992) and the Gawad Urian for Sana Maulit Muli (1996). He also made the headlines for his romantic relationship with the Puerto Rican former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres, who would later marry the singer Marc Anthony.Muhlach married Charlene Gonzalez, the beauty queen who represented The Philippines in the 1994 Miss Universe pageant. They have two children, Andres and Atasha.

To date, Muhlach has appeared in over 50 movies, as well as several television sit-coms such as ABS-CBN's Oki Doki Doc. He also is a longtime commercial endorser for the Jollibee fast food chain

Vic Sotto: Also known as Bossing (of Tito, Vic & Joey)

2010-11-24T12:42:00.000-08:00

Marvic Castelo Sotto (born April 28, 1954), also known as Vic Sotto, is a Filipino actor, host, comedian, and film producer working for GMA Network and stars on noon-time variety show Eat Bulaga!. He won three consecutive titles for Philippine Box Office King (2004, 2005, and 2006)

Sotto was educated at Colegio de San Juan de Letran. His Grandfather Vicente Sotto has Spanish ancestry.

Sotto started his career as a folk singer and guitarist. He then joined his brothers Tito, Val in a gag show "OK Lang" under IBC TV Network. During these years, Sotto is also the lead vocalist of the disco funk band VST & Company. He produced such songs as "Awitin Mo at Isasayaw Ko", "Rock, Baby, Rock", and "Kung Sakali".

He joined his brothers Tito, Val in a gag show back in the early 1970s “OK Lang” under IBC 13. This is where he met another comedian Joey de Leon. de Leon invited the brothers to join him. The trio of Tito, Vic and Joey (TVJ) was created. They were cast in Iskul Bukol, Eat Bulaga!, TVJ: Television's Jesters, Rock and Roll 2000.

Charito Solis: Meryl Streep of the Philippines

2010-11-21T12:08:00.000-08:00

Charito Solis (6 October 1935 – 9 January 1998) was a FAMAS and Gawad Urian award-winning Filipino film actress. Acknowledged as one of the leading dramatic actresses of post-war Philippine cinema, she was tagged either as the "Anna Magnani of the Philippines" or as "the Meryl Streep of the Philippines."

Rosario Violeta "Charito" Hernandez Solis was born in Manila. At age 19, she was introduced by her uncle, the film director F. H. Constantino to Doña Narcisa de Leon, the head of LVN Pictures , who cast her to star in her initial movie Niña Bonita, an adaptation of Frank Capra's It Happened One Night. The film was a success, and marked the beginning for Solis of a 43-year career in film that lasted until her death. Solis died on January 9, 1998 in Calamba City following a cardiac arrest.

Solis would star in well over 100 films starting with LVN Pictures' classics such as Niña Bonita (1955), Charito, I Love You! (1956), Walang Sugat (1957), Malvarosa (1958), Kundiman Ng Lahi (1959) and Emily (1960). Solis was featured in several of the best-known and critically acclaimed movies of Philippine cinema. She played the female lead in the 1962 film adaptation of Jose Rizal's El Filibusterismo, directed by Gerardo de Leon. She was frequently called upon by the country's leading directors to act in their films. Among her many films she also appeared in Eddie Romero's Manila, Open City (1967), Araw-Araw, Gabi-Gabi (1975) and Agila (1980); in Mike de Leon's Kisapmata (1981) and Batch 81 (1982); in Ishmael Bernal's City After Dark (1980) and Hinugot sa Langit (1985); in Lino Brocka's Init (1979) and Ina, Kapatid, Anak (1979); and as the narrator in Marilou Diaz-Abaya's Karnal (1982). Other notable performances of Solis were featured in Angustia (1963), Tatlong Mukha Ni Pandora (1963) and Magda Sales (1964).

From 1967 to 1971, Solis was under contract in Nepomuceno Productions. Her films for that outfit were Dahil Sa Isang Bulaklak, Ang Langit Sa Lupa, Luha Sa Karimlan, Manila Open City, Igorota, Ang Pulubi, Pipo and The Hunted. Considered by many Filipino film historians as her golden age, her association with Nepomuceno Productions elevated her to the status of the Philippines' premiere actress. Her performance in Dahil sa... earned her the Best Actress award from the Asian Film Festival. Thereafter tagged in her movies as "Asia's Best Actress" or any of its variants, she went on to appear in risque films as well as commercial successes. Her performance is also significant in Filipino film history because she is the first actress to ever go nude in a scene, albeit filmed in silhouette, for a film that was also the first Filipino film made in full color (Eastman color). Dahil sa... also brought a bonus to Charito Solis: with the film being the country's entry to the Best Foreign Film category at the Academy Awards (the film did not make it to the semi-finals), she and Luis Nepomuceno, the film's producer, were given tickets to see the 40th Academy Awards, the first Filipinos to ever do so. Following in their golden footsteps were Lea Salonga in 1993 (singer of one of the nominated songs), Pia Clemente in 2006 (the first Filipina Oscar nominee) and Charo Santos in 2009 (actress and TV executive, invited because her network, ABS-CBN, was the official Oscars carrier in the Philippines).

After her association with Nepomuceno Productions ended, she would appear in several more films such as in Hindi Kami Damong Ligaw, Ms. Teresa Abad Ako Si Bing, Hugasan Mo Ang Aking Kasalanan, Babae Sa Likod Ng Salamin, Beerhouse, Babae Huwag Kang Tukso, Babae Ngayon At Kailanman, Walang Katapusang Tag-araw, Mga Tinik Ng Babae, Iwasan Kabaret, Hubad Sa Mundo, Mga Huwad Na Mananayaw, Init, Alaga and Playgirl.

Solis became the first Filipino actress to play the lead role in an internationally-released Japanese movie, which she did in 1961 when she starred alongside Kojiro Hongo in Kenji Misumi's Shaka, a film biography on the life of Buddha. She appeared another Japanese film "The Princess and I" also produced by Daiei Japan which had its Philippine Premiere in Lyric Theater on Escolta on October 10, 1962. She also starred in another international production, alongside Tetchie Agbayani and John Saxon in Eddie Romero's Desire (1982)

Her performance in 1967's Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak, directed by Cirio H. Santiago, won her Best Actress award at the 1967 Asian Film Festival. She again starred for Santiago the following year in Igorota, where she became the first Filipina actress to bare her breasts on film. Her role in Igorota won her the 1968 FAMAS Best Actress Award[6] , one of 5 she would win during her career. Her other four FAMAS Best Actress wins came in 1959 for Kundiman ng Lahi; in 1960 for Emily; in 1963 for Angustia; and in 1983 for Don't Cry for Me, Mama. After her fifth win, in 1984, she became the first actress to be inducted into the FAMAS Hall of Fame.[7] Solis likewise won the Gawad Urian Best Actress award in 1979 for Ina, Kapatid, Anak, and for Best Supporting Actress for in 1981 and 1982 for Kisapmata and Karnal.

In the first-ever Metro Manila Film Festival held in 1975, Solis won the Best Actress Award for Araw Araw, Gabi Gabi.

From 1966 to 1968, Solis had a weekly TV show on ABS-CBN entitled The Charito Solis Show (1966 to 1968). In 1973, Solis also had a TV weekly drama show named Obra Maestra on RPN.

In the late 1980s, Solis won the chance to showcase her comedic skills, as well as to gain a younger set of fans, when she was cast opposite Vic Sotto, Alice Dixson and Aiza Seguerra in the sitcom Okey Ka Fairy Ko!. She played the imperious Ina Magenta, Enteng Kabisote's mother-in-law, a character which was loosely modeled after Agnes Moorehead's Endora on Bewitched. The popular show lasted 9 years and spawned several film adaptations that continued even well after Solis' death. Giselle Tongi took over the roll of Ina Magenta in the Enteng Kabisote movie franchises which she also grew up watching the show and idolized Charito Solis.

Tito Sotto: Senador ng Pamilyang Pilipino (of Tito, Vic & Joey)

2010-11-20T09:02:00.000-08:00

Senator Vicente C. Sotto III , or “TITO” to many, was born in Manila on August 24, 1948. He is the grandson of Senator Vicente Sotto of Cebu and son of the first Medical Commissioner of the Workmen’s Compensation Commission and President Emerita of the Kababaihang Rizalista ng Pilipinas – Dra. Herminia Castelo - Sotto of Nueva Ecija.

A product of Colegio de San Juan de Letran , and a graduate of Executive Program for Leaders in Development in the John F. Kennedy School of Government - Harvard University, Senator Sotto is married to Ms. Helen Gamboa, a beauty titlist and multi-awarded movie actress and singer. They have four children including Councilor Lala Sotto of Quezon City and Ciara Sotto , recording star and Eat Bulaga co-host.

By profession, Senator Sotto is a respected composer and musical artist. He was Vice President for Production for the Vicor Recording Group of Companies that produced the biggest hits of the 70’s and the 80’s, including the multi-awarded song “Magkaisa”.

An athlete by vocation, Senator Sotto is a gold medalist as member of the Philippine National Bowling Team. He was a Bowling World Cup Philippine representative to Colombia and Australia. At present, as an avid golfer, he carries a respectable 6-handicap.

By affiliation, Senator Sotto’s television and movie career spans from 1973 to the present. Among his many television programs, he has co-hosted with his brother Vic and Joey de Leon, the longest running television program in world television history – “Eat Bulaga”.

By conviction, Senator Sotto is a dedicated public servant, first as Vice Mayor of Quezon City, during which time he was the founding President and later President Emeritus of the Vice-Mayors League of the Philippines. Later on, as a member of the Philippine Senate, he was hailed by many as having an excellent legislative voting record. A Hall of Fame awardee of the International Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association, he has authored and sponsored 103 bills enacted and signed into law, latest of which was the Creation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

As part of his advocacy, Sen.Sotto served as Chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) from July 2008 to November 2009. Under his determined and able Chairmanship, the DDB continued to forge policies for the effective implementation of RA 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Together with the Zonta Women’s Club of Cebu, he established the first women and children crisis center in the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu.

Vicente C. Sotto III , a devout Christian, in all his endeavors is obviously Pro-Family , Pro-Life and Anti-Drugs.

Joseph Ejercito Estrada (Erap para sa Mahirap)

2010-11-19T09:53:00.000-08:00

Joseph Marcelo Ejercito Estrada was born on April 19, 1937, in Tondo, Manila. His parents, Engr. Emilio Ejercito and Maria Marcelo, moved to San Juan where he grew up and where he continues to reside to this day. His primary education was obtained at the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University. He later took up an Engineering course at the Mapua Institute of Technology.

In his early twenties, he became a movie actor by accident but later proved himself to be an accomplished thespian, starring in a string of well-received films that earned him the title of a living legend in local filmdom. More popularly known as Erap, he is a five-time Best Actor awardee – a feat he repeated by winning the Best Picture award an equal number of times. This earned him a rare place in the FAMAS Hall of Fame in 1981 and 1984, respectively.

He entered politics in 1967, was elected and re-elected mayor of the Municipality (now City) of San Juan which he served with dedication and distinction for more than 16 continuous years. Unfortunately, he was one of hundreds of local officials who were asked to step down in the aftermath of the 1986 EDSA revolution. When he left his post, the San Juan Municipal treasury registered P24-million in savings.

In 1972, he was selected as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in Public Administration by the Philippine Jaycees. He was also voted Outstanding Mayor and foremost Nationalist by the Inter-Provincial Information Service in 1971 and awarded the coveted title, “Most Outstanding Metro Manila Mayor,” the following year by the Philippine Princeton Poll.

His administration of San Juan was marked by unequaled accomplishments in infrastructure development. These included the establishment of the first san Juan Municipal High School, the Agora complex, a modern slaughterhouse, a sprawling Government Center with a post Office, a mini-park and the concreting of 98 percent of San Juan’s roads and alleys.

His administration of San Juan was marked by unequaled accomplishments in infrastructure development. These included the establishment of the first san Juan Municipal High School, the Agora complex, a modern slaughterhouse, a sprawling Government Center with a post Office, a mini-park and the concreting of 98 percent of San Juan’s roads and alleys.

As mayor, he paid particular attention to the elementary education of school-age children by improving and renovating school buildings and constructing additional school structures, health centers, barangay halls and playgrounds in all the barangays and providing artesian wells to areas with low water supply. He relocated some 1,800 squatter families out of San Juan to Taytay, Rizal, at no cost to the affected families. He was also the first mayor to computerize assessment of the Real Estate Tax in the Municipal Assessor’s Office.

For the movie industry, he established the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (MOWELFUND), Inc. which has now become a robust organization that provides industry workers with financial and professional assistance. His efforts to upgrade and professionalize the film industry have resulted in substantial benefits to all movie personnel, from directors and actors down to the lowest crewmen.

He is the Founder and President of the ERAP Para sa Mahirap Foundation, a foundation that offers scholarship assistance to poor but deserving college students. Through the foundation’s educational grants, more than a thousand students have since earned a college degree.

He also established the San Juan Progress Foundation, the San Juan Police and Fire Trust Fund and the Friends of Joseph Estrada, which offers free burial assistance for the poor folks of San Juan.

In 1987, he set his sights on a Senate run and handily garnered a seat. He was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Public Works. He was Vice-Chairman of the Committees on Health, Natural Resources and Ecology and Urban Planning.

In the Senate, Joseph Ejercito Estrada was credited with the passage of, among other major pieces of legislation, the bills on irrigation project and the protection and propagation of carabaos, the beast of burden in the rural areas.

As a senator, he was one of the so-called “Magnificent 12” who voted to terminate the RP-US Military Bases Agreement leading to the withdrawal of American servicemen from the Clark Air Base in Pampanga and the Subic Naval Base in Zambales.

In 1989, the Free Press cited him as one of the Three Outstanding Senators of the Year. He was conferred the degree of Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa by the Bicol University in April 1997, and the University of Pangasinan in 1990.

Joseph Ejercito Estrada, who won as Vice-President in 1992 under a mixed ticket, was also designated as Presidential Adviser on Crime Prevention and Law

Enforcement with a Cabinet rank and served concurrently as Chairman of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (PACC). AS PACC chairman, he was a member of the National Security Council.

The notable accomplishments of the PACC against kidnappers and bank robbers, together with “hoodlums in uniform,” “hoodlums in robes” and illegal recruiters, earned for Chairman Estrada a performance rating of 85 percent in public opinion polls.

He funded the Philippine Drug Abuse Resistance Education (PhilDARE) Program on August 24, 1993, to address the growing problem of drug abuse among the youth.

His role in establishing peace and order, however, was cut short by the issuance of Executive Order No. 221 in January 1995, which clipped the PACC’s operational control over its task forces. He resigned as PACC chairman on June 4, 1997.

He reached the pinnacle of his political career when he was elected President of the Republic in the May 11, 1998 national elections. With almost 11-million Filipinos writing his name on the ballot, his margin of victory was the biggest ever registered in Philippine electoral history.

Speaking before millions gathered at his inaugural address in Manila, the newly-elected chief executive said his presidency would serve the Filipino masses whose welfare had long been neglected. A line from his speech, “Walang kaibigan, walang kumpare, walang kamag-anak,” was a stern warning against anyone who would attempt to undermine his administration with influence-peddling.

Determined to bring his pro-poor platform to every facet of the government’s operations, he immediately ordered the removal of all sovereign guarantees on contracts for public projects which would require the sovereign Filipino people to assume the financial losses of private companies doing business with the government. Records will show that until January 20, 2001, he did not sign a single government contract with a sovereign guarantee.

Committed to cleaning the bureaucracy of undesirable elements, he ordered the immediate relief of corrupt officials in the military and police hierarchy. He ordered a wide-ranging investigation of all government contracts entered into by the previous administration to ensure these were above-board and directly advantageous to the citizenry.

He ordered the investigation of suspected big-time tax evaders even if some of these individuals had contributed to his presidential campaign.

His pro-poor program of government bore fruit in less than two years, with a significant improvement in the country’s peace and order situation. This likewise elicited a proportionate rise in the approval rating of the Philippine National Police.

The Estrada administration undertook an aggressive housing program on a national basis, targeting low-cost homes for the poor.

Agriculture received greater priority, while the national government likewise took steps to bring down the cost of medicine.

Foreign investments grew exponentially, benefiting greatly from the unsullied and esteemed reputation of the best and the brightest chosen to be part of his Cabinet, and even more from his reputation as a strongly nationalistic yet progressive president.

Tragically, a cabal of disgruntled businessmen dissatisfied with his pro-poor stance joined forces with elitist members of civil society and a number of high-ranking Catholic priests to put in motion a movement to steal his presidency by first destroying his reputation and employing a false witness with a dubious character and shadowy background to spearhead this.

The Senate impeachment trial, a constitutional process initiated to determine the truth behind the allegations of corruption hurled by the false witness, ended abruptly in mid-January 2001 when prosecutors staged a walk-out after senators voted against the opening of a document which had no bearing whatsoever on the cases filed before the tribunal.

With the second highest official of the land and her husband working secretly with this group and courting the military sector’s support, things came to a head on the 20th of January 2001 with the leave of absence filed by Joseph Estrada and his temporary departure from Malacanang.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the legality of the Macapagal-Arroyo presidency, he was arrested at his San Juan home in the afternoon of April 25, 2001 on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by the Sandiganbayan for the crime of plunder filed by his political enemies.

The painfully humiliating nature of his arrest sparked massive indignation from his millions of supporters, many of whom converged at the EDSA Shrine to demand his release and reinstatement. On the eve of May 1, 2001, a fraction of the estimated three-million who gathered in EDSA marched to Malacanang to bring their case before Mrs. Arroyo but were met with brutal police and military force.

A long-drawn out trial before the Sandiganbayan special division gave his defense panel the opportunity to map out in unequivocal terms the inconsistencies and impossibilities inherent in the plunder charges filed against him, primarily on the strength of the false witness’s testimony.

In candid moments, however, he acknowledged the improbability of obtaining a fair verdict from a “kangaroo court” which was widely believed to have been created for the sole purpose of ensuring his conviction.

His incarceration continued for more than six years, with only his place of detention changing: the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, Camp Capinpin in Tanay, and finally at his Tanay rest house where he remained until he was freed in October 25, 2007 on the strength of an unconditional pardon.

Today, Joseph Estrada – the private citizen – spends most of his hours making up for lost time by visiting urban poor neighborhoods in what he calls a “Lakbay Pasasalamat” (thanksgiving caravan) to thank residents for their unstinting support for him despite being away for so long.

From June to July of 2008, Estrada’s civic calendar had him bringing humanitarian and relief missions to several provinces severely affected by torrential rains and floods spawned by typhoon Frank. Together with well-meaning friends and associates, Estrada toured devastated barangays and communities in the Panay peninsula – including Iloilo, Aklan, and more recently Romblon – to distribute relief packs of rice, medicines, and canned goods. His visits included meetings with local officials to determine how best to assist these communities in the long-haul goal of rising from the ruins.

He is likewise picking up where his other pro-poor programs and anti-hunger advocacies left off, calling for greater public support for initiatives that can uplift the lives of millions of Filipinos living in sub-human conditions, at a time when successive fuel price increases and the rice price crisis threaten their survival.

Known to many as Erap, he is married to former Senator Dr. Luisa Pimentel by whom he has three children, namely Jinggoy, who is now a senator of the realm, Jacqueline and Jude.

Joey de Leon (of Tito, Vic and Joey)

2010-11-14T06:34:00.000-08:00

José María Ramos de León, better known as Joey de Leon (born October 14, 1946) is aFilipino comedian/TV host. He hosts the noontime variety show Eat Bulaga!. He is a member of the comedy trio Tito, Vic and Joey that has made several comedy movies and TV shows. As a songwriter, de Leon has penned songs including "Ipagpatawad Mo" (Forgive Me), "Awitin Mo, Isasayaw Ko" (Sing and I Will Dance), "Boyfriend kong Baduy" (My Geeky Boyfriend), "Iskul Bukol" (School Lump).

De Leon was the second child of Jose Seoane de Leon (1918–2008), of Filipino-Spanish descent, and Emma Manahan Ramos. His paternal grandfather was the first mayor of Malolos, Bulacan. His parents divorced at a young age. At the age of three, his father moved to Madrid, Spain.

Prior to being an entertainer, de Leon earned his architecture degree from the National University in Manila. He was also a disc jockey for 12 radio stations when he was starting out.

Joey de Leon has five children. With first wife actress Daria Ramirez, he has two children, Joseph Joachim and Jacinda Myrtle. He married actress Eileen Macapagal. Their union produced three children, Jocas Eightria, Jako and Jio. De Leon also has three grandchildren from eldest daughter Cheenee and one granddaughter from Keempee.

He started out his showbiz career in the 1960s as a radio disc jockey. His first big break on TV was Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation's gag show OK Lang.

In 1975, de Leon became a co-host of GMA Network's early afternoon variety show Discorama hosted by Bobby Ledesma. He invited his former co-stars at OK Lang, brothers Tito, Vic and Val Sotto, to join him at Discorama. Only Tito and Vic accepted Joey's invitation. The newly-formed trio started to do comedy newscast segments interspersed with Top 40 hit-song parodies. The trio was soon invited to become part of the show Student Canteen as they released 12 albums based on their Discorama Tough Hits segment.

Although Tito, Vic and Joey started their trio via Discorama and Student Canteen, it was the sitcom Iskul Bukol that gave them nationwide fame as comedians. Soon after, other TV and movie producers came knocking on the trio's door. In 1979, Tito, Vic and Joey started hosting for the noontime show Eat Bulaga! which was pitted against the more established Student Canteen hosted by their former colleague (and now competitor) Bobby Ledesma. Not long after, Eat Bulaga! toppled Student Canteen from the ratings.

Solo artist

Although de Leon continued to do movies alongside his showbiz team mates Tito and Vic, he started doing solo performances for other TV shows. He top billed Joey and Son in the '80s, a sitcom on RPN where he played father. He was also one of the gag performers on TODAS where his co-stars included Jimmy Santos and Val Sotto. Other TV shows included Apple Pie, Patis, Atbp., The Sharon Cuneta Show, and Let's Go Crazy. He was launched by Viva Films as a solo comedian in She-Man: Mistress of the Universe. He also tried his hand at directing movies like Romeo Loves Juliet and Small, Medium, Large. de Leon's films include Starzan. de Leon did several TV shows for GMA Network and ABC. In 1995, he made a movie comeback via the comedy Bangers for Viva Films as well as Pipti-pipti , Ang Tipo kong Lalake and Takot ako sa Darling Ko. He hosts Eat Bulaga which is now the longest-running TV program in the Philippines, and appears in other shows like Mel and Joey, Startalk, Nuts Entertainment and started a new show for ABC, the now-defunct Teka Mona, which replaced Wow Mali, his long-running TV show on the same network. Another show is in the works for Joey this time on GMA's sister station Q Network. He started hosting Takeshi's Castle with Ryan Yllana. He is also the resident judge of the annual reality-based star search StarStruck and writes the entertainment column De Leon's Den once a week in the Philippine broadsheet Manila Bulletin.

In December 2006, Joey returned to recording with a novelty single he wrote entitled "Itaktak Mo" (Shake it off). Unlike most of his previously recorded songs where the melodies were based on past and contemporary hits, Itaktak Mo had a unique melody that can pass off as either a pop dance hit or a ballroom song. Seen by critics as his answer to the other wildly popular hit, Boom Tarat Tarat (written by Lito Camo and sung by Joey's rival host Willie Revillame), Itaktak Mo was softly launched on Eat Bulaga! shortly before the Christmas season. On January 2007, the song was launched in Joey's album, Joey to the World 2 and gained airplay in most FM stations in a short span of time. Itaktak Mo has also become part of Eat Bulaga!'s segment "Taktak Mo o Tatakbo" that replaced "Laban o Bawi", and is also one of the official dances of the 4th batch of the reality talent search StarStruck.

After "Itaktak Mo" became one of the most requested dance tunes of 2007, Joey followed it up with "Kagat Labi Song", which was launched on "Eat Bulaga" on September 22, 2007. The "Kagat Labi" dance craze was already sweeping the whole country by storm before Joey wrote it. On February 24, 2008, Joey released a single entitled "Walang Daya" (No Cheating) with lyrics comparing his love to his rival host Willie Revillame's misfortunes (Wilyonaryo, Ferrari and Ultra stampede). He first sang it at his own program "Mel and Joey". "Walang Daya" will be included in the album version of "Kagat Labi" will be released under EMI Philippines.

In late 2009, he wrote another top hit Eat Bulaga song entitled "Ba Ba Boom". Then in early 2010, he wrote another single "Aalog-Alog" which is now rising to fame. He also wrote the themesong for Diz Iz It.

On July 31, 2008, de Leon tendered his irrevocable resignation as columnist (De Leon's Den) for Manila Bulletin.

Eddie Garcia (Famas Hall of Famer: Actor, Supporting Actor & Director)

2010-11-13T06:59:00.000-08:00

Eddie Garcia (born Eduardo Verchez García on May 2, 1921 in Sorsogon, Philippines) popularly known as Manoy is one of the top Filipino film actors and also a Movie Director.
Biography

He made his first movie, Siete Infantes de Lara in 1949.

He is also known to play the part of Leandro Montemayor, the fictional Philippine President on the television drama series, “Kung Mawawala Ka” (If Ever You Were Gone), and gave him his first Best Actor in a Drama Series in the 2002 Star Awards, and is also known for portraying various roles either the main villain or the lead or supporting character. He is also known for his trademark humorous lines which he says mostly in action films or comedy films[1]

He also played a part as Lolo Carlos (Grandfather Carlos) in the Filipino-American film, The Debut, the Lolo Sinat (Grandfather Sinat) in the film, Deathrow, and even the villainous Judge Valderama in Kapag Puno Na Ang Salop (If the Ganta is Full) and its two sequels, opposite of Fernando Poe, Jr. although he also portrayed a judge which is the opposite of his latter character as Judge Maximiano Asuncion who is a real life judge known as Hukom Bitay. He also portrayed another real life personality portraying Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.

He is the only person in the Philippines to be a Hall of Fame inductee of the FAMAS in three categories: Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Director.[1]

He is the only performer in Philippine movie history to win three consecutive FAMAS Awards: Best Supporting Actor Awards for Taga sa Bato (1957), Condenado (1958) and Tanikalang Apoy (1959).[1]

He is the most awarded and nominated person in the long history of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) Awards. He garnered a total of 34 nominations (13 for Best Supporting Actor, 10 for Best Actor and 11 for Best Director). Out of these, he got 6 Best Supporting Actor wins, 5 Best Actor wins and 5 Best Director wins, 3 Hall of Fame Awards, 1 Lifetime Achievement Award and the Fernando Poe, Jr. Memorial Award. He was awarded his first FAMAS Award in 1957 and his last FAMAS, a Hall of Fame for Best Actor, in 2003.

The first actor to be inducted in the FAMAS Best Supporting Actor Hall of Fame of the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences in 1974.

He played the role of Markadan of Saladin, a powerful dark magician, in the television fantasy series, Majika. He also directed many films such as hinukay ko na ang libingan mo starring Robin padilla portraying twin brothers and even eddie himself as the film’s main antagonist

Personal life

His family is among the descendants of Spanish settlers.[citation needed] He is a former member of the Philippine Scouts in Okinawa during World War II. The Philippine Military Academy Marangal (Honorable) Class of 1974 also adopted him as one of their honorary classmates, alongside First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

He has a daughter living in San Diego, CA by the name of Lisa Ortega.

He is also good friends with fellow veteran actors Dolphy and Fernando Poe Jr. He also personally witnessed the last moment of FPJ. Earlier that year during the 2004 presidential elections, he and Dolphy are campaigning alongside FPJ

Dolphy - Comedy King

2010-11-12T21:58:00.000-08:00

Dolphy (born Rodolfo Vera Quizon, Sr. on July 25, 1928 in Pampanga though raised in Tondo, Manila), is a comedian-actor in the Philippines.

Quizon started as a stage performer during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. He then acted in comedy films. In 1950, as part of the comedy duo Dolphy and Panchito, he opened for the Beatles at Rizal Stadium in Manila.

In 2001, Quizon and his sons Eric and Jeffrey Quizon all won the Prix de la Meilleure Interpretation in Brussels, Belgium for playing Walterina Markova in the movie Markova:Comfort Gay.

Book and foundation

On July 25, 2008, Quizon celebrated his 80th birthday, with launching of a book, Dolphy, Hindi Ko Ito Narating Mag-isa (Dolphy, I Didn't Get Here All By Myself), ABS-CBN President Charo Santos-Concio stated: Nagbigay siya ng mga ngiti at halakhak sa gitna ng mga problema (He gave us joy and laughter in times of trouble). Bibeth Orteza was commissioned to complete the biography, amid the creation of "Dolphy Aid Para sa Pinoy Foundation, Inc.", a non-profit and non-stock organization.

He has been known as the King of Philippine Comedy.

ABS-CBN honored him by renaming its Studio 1, to "Dolphy Theatre" on July 28, 2008. Kapamilya's “The King of Comedy at 80”[clarification needed] was held at the Meralco Theatre on August 3 on Sunday's Best.

In 2010, President Benigno Aquino III conferred the Grand Collar of the Order of the Golden Heart on actor-comedian Rodolfo V. Quizon, also known as Dolphy.

Quizon's parents are Melencio Espinosa-Quizon a Filipino with Chinese Descent and Salud Vera-Quizon (1904–1986). He has 10 siblings: Jimmy, Georgie, Melencio Jr. "Junior" (1932–1969), Auring, Laura, Josie, Sony and Jane.

He currently reside in multinational village in Paranaque.

THE TRUTH, ALL READ HERE: RE: Photocatalyst and Negative Ion Bulb

2010-11-12T08:12:00.000-08:00

Photocatalyst and Negative Ion Bulb was scattered like wildfire passing to every ears of Filipinos, the innovation has been already successful, whereas someone spent time to research it and post it without even using and feel the benefits of it. I am a user a the said bulb and it really helps me a lot, when I got the Photocatalyst and Negative Ion Bulb and used it in my tiny shop, drastic changes has been made.

Researched by an unknown blogger was published in a blog, readers be aware because it was really misleading, he only qoutes Carl Koval's saying about the Tio2 , without knowing that Carl is also an inventor of improve photocatalyst application.

See more details about Carl Koval

http://www.patentgenius.com/patent/5439652.html

http://www.patentgenius.com/inventedby/KovalCarlAGoldenCO.html

Reading upon the line,

"..Says Koval, “When illuminated TiO2
is used to decompose organic compounds, a
large number of intermediate compounds are
usually formed. In some cases, these intermediate compounds can be more hazardous
than the compound being decomposed.” For
example, he says, the breakdown of TCE
yields trichloroacetic acid (a substance almost
as toxic as TCE) and, in the gaseous phase,
p h o s g e n e ( a c h emi c a l w a r f a r e a g e n t ) .
However, he says, this doesn’t mean that all
applications using TiO2
would be dangerous.
“In situations where this type of process was
being proposed for outdoor use, I see no
problems with it, because similar things occur
naturally in the atmosphere, and it would be
unlikely that concentrations of the hazardous
c h emi c a l w o u l d r e a c h t o x i c l e v e l s . . . .
However, [in an indoor setting] who knows
what would be formed if TiO2
photocatalysis were used to decompose plasticizers, bacteria,
and so on, and what the health effects might
be from inhaling such compounds?”
Certainly there is cause for caution, agrees
Anderson. “But given time and control over
the process,” he adds, “these daughter products do break down into environmentally
benign substances, a process which can be
monitored using a gas chromatograph.” And,
says Blake, “All oxidization processes have
the potential to produce partial oxidization
products. It comes down to a question of the
fraction of the target compounds that are
converted to the intermediate products and
how much of those produced are released
into the air or water. The amount released
will be a function of the efficiency of the
photocatalytic device and the way it is constructed and operated.”
All that being said, in the realm of envir o nme n t a l c l e a n u p t e c h n o l o g y i s T iO2
indeed the white knight riding to the rescue
or something less? Says Blake, “There is no
single technology that can address the very
wide range of contamination problems in
the environment. Most workers in the field
recognize that the photocatalytic chemistry
of TiO2 has pluses and minuses that make it
attractive for some applications and not for
o the r s . The pho t o c a t a l y t i c chemi s t r y o f
TiO2
is very intriguing. It works in water or
air, it uses light instead of heat, and it is
such a simple concept. Engineering it with
the right balance of economics and performance is the challenge.”

Link here

That article was written 10 years ago, so what do you think has happened after 10 years? Does the development of Photocatalyst and Negative Ion Bulb has been changed? Those articles is just a speculation that time, the reason why it is written with a question mark (see Title: Titanium Dioxide:
Environmental White Knight?, means that it was not proven at the time, but after ICC (Import Commodity Clearance) has certified the product of Goodfaith, no question ask get your GoodLights, come and get one used it and enjoy the benefits of inhaling clean air.

Sharon Cuneta - The Megastar

2010-11-11T12:39:00.000-08:00

Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan is a popular and multi-awarded Filipino singer, actress and TV host dubbed herself as "Megastar of Philippine Entertainment", fondly called Mega by fans and people from the entertainment industry. According to her, her success in the movies (53 starring roles), television (6 shows) and recording (40 albums) make her possibly the greatest Filipino entertainer of all time.Her popularity has translated well into the field of advertising, where she is the highest paid and most effective Filipino celebrity endorser. Cuneta's long list of endoresements run the gamut from fastfood chain to bank, from make-up line to electronics, from ice cream to tele-communication company.

Among her recent honors at the beginning of 2010, "2009 MMFF Best Actress" for Mano Po 6: A Mother's Love and "Diamond Record Award" (10 X Platinum) for "Isn't It Romantic?"

On January 12, 2010, coinciding with her annual birthday show, her self-titled magazine Sharon at Home was launched and has since become one of the best-selling titles of ABS-CBN Publishing.

Her mother, Elaine Gamboa-Cuneta, hails from Santa Ana, Pampanga while her father Pablo Cuneta (1910–2000), was a mayor of Pasay City for four decades. She is half-Tagalog on her paternal side and one-fourth Kapampangan and one-fourth Spanish-American on her maternal side.

Cuneta grew up surrounded by music, listening to her dad's collection of 45s, 78s and 33 1/3s. Her aunt is '60s Shingaling Sweetheart Helen Gamboa. Cuneta during her early years made her first TV appearance in Kuya Ike Lozada's show, in the Bulilit portion, where she mimicked her Tita Helen's songs. Cuneta was just as young when she appeared in her first movie, the Rosanna Ortiz-George Estregan starrer Lovers for Hire. She played one of Roderick Paulate's playmates.

She attended International School Manila (Makati Campus), Boston University (USA) and the University of the Philippines.

Cuneta first appeared on Philippine pop charts in 1978 as a 12 year old, singing "Mr. D.J." which was very popular and earned her the title of "D.J.'s Pet" (which was also the title of her first album).[unreliable source?] Other hit albums followed, and Cuneta was asked to sing on many movie soundtracks of the time - becoming the first "movie soundtrack star" in the country.

She starred in projects from Viva Films. At age 15, her first feature film, 1981's Dear Heart paired her with fellow teeny-bopper Gabby Concepcion. The movie was a huge success thus crowning her as the Popular Teenage Queen of RP movies by Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation, Inc. (GMMSF).

Her early movie roles launched her as a "poor little rich girl". Although raised in an influential rich political family, she appealed to the sosyal (socially rich) and masa (poor masses) crowd of Philippine society, with her intelligence, humor and down-to-earth personality.

She started hosting with other teenage prodigies on GMA Supershow, later called Germspesyal, with German Moreno and C.U.T.E. (Call Us Two For Entertainment) with her aunt from Pampanga, former actress Helen Gamboa, via GMA 7.

She paved her way to fame in the early 80's as a young recording artist and eventually made it successful as a teen actress. Being one of the top stars amongst her contemporaries, Cuneta earned acting awards in her early years in the business. Bukas Luluhod Ang Mga Tala [unreliable source?] was her history-breaking movie in 1984 and followed by another certified blockbuster Bituing Walang Ningning in 1985, and was tagged as The Philippines' Megastar.

Cuneta first appeared on Philippine pop charts in 1978 as a 12 year old, singing "Mr. D.J." which was very popular and earned her the title of "D.J.'s Pet" (which was also the title of her first album). Other hit albums followed, and Cuneta was asked to sing on many movie soundtracks of the time - becoming the first "movie soundtrack star" in the country.

She starred in projects from Viva Films. At age 15, her first feature film, 1981's Dear Heart paired her with fellow teeny-bopper Gabby Concepcion. The movie was a huge success thus crowning her as the Popular Teenage Queen of RP movies by Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation, Inc. (GMMSF).

Her early movie roles launched her as a "poor little rich girl". Although raised in an influential rich political family, she appealed to the sosyal (socially rich) and masa (poor masses) crowd of Philippine society, with her intelligence, humor and down-to-earth personality.

She started hosting with other teenage prodigies on GMA Supershow, later called Germspesyal, with German Moreno and C.U.T.E. (Call Us Two For Entertainment) with her aunt from Pampanga, former actress Helen Gamboa, via GMA 7.

She paved her way to fame in the early 80's as a young recording artist and eventually made it successful as a teen actress. Being one of the top stars amongst her contemporaries, Cuneta earned acting awards in her early years in the business. Bukas Luluhod Ang Mga Tala was her history-breaking movie in 1984 and followed by another certified blockbuster Bituing Walang Ningning [14] in 1985, and was tagged as The Philippines' Megastar.
[edit] 1984-Present: Mega Stardom

Cuneta's success was witnessed by many of the Filipino people. Her movies were all box-office hits, crowning her the Box-Office Queen for many years from 1984 where she wore her first crown. Her recordings were chart-toppers and her television shows were loved by many Filipinos. Her acting abilities were also recognized by the critics and various award-giving bodies granting her the Grandslam Best Actress in 1996 for the movie Madrasta. She became a household name in the Philippines resulting in her face being seen everywhere: on big billboards, on TV commercials and in product endorsements. Her popularity made her one of the most admired Filipinos.

Her musical-variety show, The Sharon Cuneta Show was one of the longest running television shows in Philippine show business from 1986 through 1997.

She achieved consistent recognition both in her recording and acting career. Cuneta's movie projects were mostly certified blockbusters and history-breaking.

Cuneta achieved mega stardom since then and considered as one of the Philippine cinema's greatest box-office queens.
1980's-The New Philippine Movie Queen

1984 was the year when Cuneta's producers at Viva Films planned to change her image from poor-little-rich-girl image into from rags to riches type of movies. She made three movies that year including the movie Bukas Luluhod ang Mga Tala which broke all box-office records and made her the new Box-office Queen. She continued to make movies following the rags to riches formula and most of those successful movies came from popular comic novels like Bukas Luluhod Ang Mga Tala, Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin, Bituing Walang Ningning and Babangon Ako't Dudurugin Kita to name a few. She also won the Best Actress Award for the movies Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin? from FAMAS Awards and Sa Hirap at Ginhawa from Film Academy of the Philippines.

Because of her popularity, and her movies were acknowledged as having established a consistency at the box office, the Philippine press began to refer to her as 'Megastar' in their write-ups.

Aside from doing blockbuster movies, Cuneta also had a weekly musical variety show The Sharon Cuneta Show every Sunday night.

She married her love-team partner Gabby Concepcion and bore their first child named Maria Kristina Cassandra in 1985, but her popularity was not affected and made even stronger.

She continued to make blockbuster movies with her mother studio Viva Films and eventually elevated to a Hall of Fame as Box Office Queen in the later part of the 80's.

1990's-Grandslam Best Actress Era

Cuneta's reign as box-office queen even made stronger when she did movies with the popular action stars like Fernando Poe Jr. (Kahit Konting Pagtingin-1990) Robin Padilla ,(Maging Sino Ka Man-1991), Ramon 'Bong' Revilla Jr. (Pangako Sa 'Yo-1992), Rudy Fernandez (Kung Kailangan Mo Ako-1993) to name a few. All those movies were certified blockbusters, that though she was already elevated to Hall of Fame as Box-Office Queen in 1990, she was crowned again in 1991 through 1993 because of the success of her movies.

For the first time, in 1996, Cuneta made a movie outside her mother studio Viva Films via the movie Madrasta from Star Cinema. This movie garnered her the Best Actress Award from all major award-giving bodies in the Philippines, hence a Grandslam win for her outstanding performance in the movie. Cuneta became one of the few actresses (along with Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, and Lorna Tolentino) to be given a grand slam best actress award in Philippine Cinema. In this era, she achieved continuous recognition in her recording, hosting and acting career.

On April 28, 1996, Sharon Cuneta walked down the aisle for the second time, to marry Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan. She left the country for a while to be with her husband in Boston who was studying at Harvard University. Even though Cuneta was not in the country, she remained in the limelight because of her many TV commercials that Filipinos were able to view everyday. She did two movies before she left for the States. When she arrived in 1998, ABS-CBN produced a talk show for her entitled Sharon.

[edit] 2000's- Mega30, Three Decades of Megastardom

Year 2000, Cuneta managed to maintain her status as the Queen of Philippine movies by filming another blockbuster movie from StarCinema entitled Minsan Minahal Kita.
Cuneta's late father, Pablo Cuneta, was mayor of Pasay City for four decades. He died at the age of 90 in September 2000.

She gave birth to her second child Simone Francesca Emmanuelle (Frankie) in December 2000 and her third daughter was born, Mariel Daniella Sophia (Miel), in September 2004, and decided to leave her television show.

In 2002, at age 36, Cuneta was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Board of Directors of the Phil. Association of Recording Industry via the Dangal ng Musikang Plilipino Award on her 25th years in music industry.

In 2003 she made a film with independent producer Unitel Pictures entitled Crying Ladies. With this film she won a Best Actress award from The Brussels International Independent Film Festival held in 2004. Prior to that, she was awarded Best Actress locally by PASADO Awards and People's Choice in the 2003 Metro Manila Film Festival.

She did not make any movies from 2004 through 2007 while she concentrated her career in television and music. Her album Isn't it Romantic was successful enough to warrant the making of Isn't it Romantic II.

On January 6, 2006, The Megastar returned to television from her maternity leave with a 40th birthday celebration on ABS-CBN's Ang Pagbabalik Ng Bituin ("The Return of the Star"). The following month, a new talk show entitled Sharon aired, which she is still currently hosting.

After a long rest from filmmaking, she made another movie entitled Caregiver in 2008 which, according to ABS-CBN, is their most expensive film. In this film, Cuneta played the role of a school teacher working abroad as a caregiver. The movie was a certified blockbuster making it one of the highest grossing films of 2008.

Her Long Time Nanny Loreta Benitez aka Yaya Luring Passed away Last December 19, 2009 at the age of 83 due to cardiac arrest.

On January 12, 2010, coinciding with her annual birthday show, her self-titled magazine Sharon at Home was launched and has since become one of the best-selling titles of ABS-CBN Publishing.

Susan Roces - Queen of Philippine Cinema

2010-11-11T09:42:00.000-08:00

Jesusa Purificación Levy Sonora-Poe (born on July 28, 1941 in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines), better known as Susan Roces, is a Filipina actress and the widow of Ronald Allan Kelley Poe, popularly known as Fernando Poe, Jr. She was born to an American mother of French descent and a Filipino father of Spanish and Chinese descent.^[1]

Her sister, Rosemarie Sonora, and niece Sheryl Cruz are also actresses.

Following the death of her husband in 2004 at the age of 65, Roces became a rallying point for the political opposition in the Philippines.

On June 2005, she was one of the key figures calling for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In a fiery speech, she claimed that "She stole the presidency not once, but twice!"

She was one of the main cast members of John En Shirley, a comedy show that aired on ABS-CBN till October 2007.

THE TRUTH, ALL READ HERE: RE: Photocatalyst and Negative Ion Bulb

2010-11-10T09:10:00.001-08:00

Vilma Santos - Star for All Season

2010-11-10T09:10:00.000-08:00

Maria Rosa Vilma Tuazon Santos-Recto (born Bamban, Tarlac) commonly known as Vilma Santos-Recto or Ate Vi is a Philippine actress and politician.

Santos starred in Trudis Liit (1963), Lipad, Darna, Lipad (1973), Burlesk Queen (1977), Relasyon (1982), Sister Stella L. (1984), Alyas Baby Tsina (1984), Pahiram ng Isang Umaga (1989), Dahil Mahal Kita: The Dolzura Cortez Story (1993), Anak (2000) and Dekada '70 (2002), Bata-Bata Paano Ka Ginawa, and recently, In My Life.

She is currently in politics as the governor of Batangas province, Philippines. She is also the former mayor of Lipa City, Batangas.

Santos started her acting career when one of her uncles, who was a cameraman at Sampaguita Pictures, convinced her to try out for the movies. Initially, Sampaguita Pictures had planned a child star role for her in Anak, Ang Iyong Ina (1969). When Santos was in the studio, she noticed a long line of little girls. Thinking that that line was the line for her audition, she decided to queue in. The long line turned out to be for an audition for Sampaguita Pictures' offering Trudis Liit (Little Trudis). When it was her turn to audition, she was asked by the panel to sing, dance and cry on cue. She got the part of "Trudis Liit" for which she received the FAMAS Awards Best Child Performer award for 1963.

She was cast in Sa Bawat Pintig ng Puso (1964), Maria Cecilia (1965), Kasalanan Kaya? (1968), Iginuhit ng Tadhana (1965) and later in its sequel Pinagbuklod ng Langit (1969).

In 1998, she entered politics and ran for mayor of Lipa City, Batangas where she three consecutive elections, becoming the city's first female mayor.

In 2005, the University of the Philippines conferred to her the Gawad Plaridel Award for her achievements and contributions both as an actress and a public servant. In the same year she was conferred an honorary doctorate degree (honoris causa) in humanities by the Lipa City College. She was again honored in 2006 by the University of the Philippines as one of the four awardees in UP's First Diwata Awards.
Santos-Recto was proclaimed Governor-elect of the province of Batangas on May 21, 2007 after garnering 475,740 votes against Sanchez's 344,969 becoming the first female governor of the province of Batangas. Governor Santos-Recto was reelected Governor of Batangas during the May 2010 elections.

Vilma Santos-Recto is married to Senator Ralph Recto. Together they have a son, Ryan Christian. She is also mother to actor/model/television host Luis Manzano by her previous marriage to actor Edu Manzano.

THE TRUTH, ALL READ HERE: RE: Photocatalyst and Negative Ion Bulb

2010-11-09T23:49:00.000-08:00

Fernando Poe, Jr. - King of Philippine Movies

2010-11-05T09:44:00.000-07:00

Ronald Allan Kelley Poe (August 20, 1939 – December 14, 2004), better known as Fernando Poe, Jr. and colloquially known as FPJ and Da King, was a Filipino actor and cultural icon. From the 1950s, Poe played steadfast film heroes who fight for the common man, which won him respect and admiration. He did not complete high school but went on to win numerous awards and prizes as an actor and film director. During the latter part of his career, he ran an unsuccessful bid for President of the Philippines in the 2004 presidential election against the former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He was honored on May 24, 2006 as Philippine National Artist through Philippine Proclamation No. 1065.^[1]

Ronald Allan K. Poe was born on August 20, 1939 in Manila, Philippines, of Filipinos of Pangasinan people, Spanish, Kapampangan, and Irish American extraction, the son of actor-producer-director Fernando Poe, Sr. of San Carlos City, Pangasinan (1916–1951) and Bessie Gatbonton Kelley (1918–1999) of Candaba, Pampanga.^[2] ^[3] His mother, Bessie Kelley, was an American and sometimes called Elizabeth Kelley in some sources especially in Philippine press.^[4]^[5]^[6] His mother's parents, Arthur Kelley (WWI Army Corp of Engineer from Iowa, USA) was an Irish American who settled in the Philippines and Martha Gatbonton, a Filipina of mixed Kapampangan and Spanish heritage. Poe Jr.'s parents were not legally married yet when he was born in 1939. His parents later married in 1940.^[7] He was the second of six siblings, born after Elizabeth and before Fernando II (Andy), Genevieve (Jenny), Fredrick (Freddieboy), and Evangeline. His name at birth was Ronald Allan Kelley Poe; his brother Andy was the legal Fernando Poe Jr.

Actor Conrad Poe was his half-brother, the illegitimate son of Fernando Poe, Sr. by actress Patricia Mijares.^[8] The original family surname was spelled Pou from his grandfather, playwright Lorenzo Pou, a Catalan migrant from Majorca, Spain, who ventured into mining and business in the Philippines.^[8] As his father was a famous actor, Poe had small parts in several movies of the 1940s. However, Fernando Poe, Sr. died in 1951 after a rabid puppy licked his wounds. Poe finished primary education in 1953 at San Beda College. For high school, he went to San Sebastian College, Mapua Institute of Technology, and University of the East.^[9] After the death of his father, he dropped out of the University of the East in his sophomore year in order to work to support his family. He worked odd jobs, including as a cleaner, a messenger boy and a stuntman, before becoming a full-time actor. He then adopted the screen name Fernando Poe, Jr..^[9]^[10]

Poe dropped out of high school to work in the Filipino film industry as a messenger boy, and was given acting roles in subsequent years.^[9] Starting as a stuntman for Everlasting Pictures, he was given a break and landed his first starring role in the movie Anak ni Palaris (Son of Palaris) at the age of 14. The movie was not a big hit. In 1957, the movie Lo Waist Gang made him popular,^[9] and the film was such a big hit that low-waist pants became a fad.

Known also as FPJ from his initials, Poe acted in a number of movies which depicted him as the champion of the poor and downtrodden. He also directed nine movies, under the pseudonym Ronwaldo Reyes. Reyes originated from the surname of his paternal grandmother, Martha. The name Ronwaldo Reyes also alliterates to Ronald Reagan, who like Poe, was an actor who later ran for President.

He established FPJ productions in 1961 and later organized other film companies such as D'Lanor, JAFERE, and Rosas Productions. In 1963, he and Joseph Estrada testified against criminal gangs, known as the Big Four, who extorted money from the film industry.^[11] In 1965, he shared the lead in The Ravagers, a film depicting the United States and the Philippines working together against Japanese war time occupation. The film is considered one of the most influential Filipino films, and it helped establish Fernando Poe, Jr.'s status as a movie icon.

Poe became an award-winning actor and garnered the most best actor awards at the FAMAS. Among the movies that received awards were Mga Alabok ng Lupa (1967), Asedillo (1971), Durugin si Totoy Bato, Umpisahan Mo, Tatapusin Ko (1983), and Muslim Magnum .357 (1987).^[12]

Poe was dubbed as the "Da King" of Philippine movies because of his box office hits. He made over 200 films in his lifetime and ran a successful movie production firm. Among his famous movies include playing Flavio in the mythical Ang Panday series, Kahit Konting Pagtingin, Dito sa Pitong Gatang and Aguila. His last movie was Pakners which also stars 9-ball billiards champion Efren "Bata" Reyes.

Fernando Poe Jr., was the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP)'s candidate for the 2004 presidential election. A public figure in his movie career and known for his charitable but unpublicized endeavours, he targeted his candidacy at the same poor whom he championed in his movies.

Poe accepted the nomination in December 2003 and was to be the standard opposition bearer for the Philippines' 2004 presidential election.^[13] Some accounts portray him as a reluctant candidate who was only prevailed upon to accept the nomination by his best friend, former President Joseph Estrada. But other accounts say he was convinced to cast his bid for the presidency because of the overwhelming crowd that gathered for the first rally of the FPJ for President Movement at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

He is the best friend of the former President and actor Erap Estrada. Poe married actress Susan Roces(real name Jesusa Sonora) in December 1968 in a civil wedding. They were later married in a church and among their primary sponsors were then President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Imelda Marcos. They adopted their only daughter, current MTRCB Chairman Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares.

Although a famous public figure, Poe had been very reclusive about his personal life. However, in February, 2004, during the presidential campaign, Poe admitted to having sired children out of wedlock. His two children are Ronian (Ron Allan) with former actress Anna Marin, and daughter Lovi Poe with former actress Rowena Moran.

Poe was admitted to Saint Luke's Medical Center in Quezon City on the evening of December 11, 2004 after complaining of dizziness at a gathering in his production studio premise.^[14] He suffered from a stroke and slipped into a coma while being treated for a brain clot. Doctors described his condition as a cerebral thrombosis with multiple organ failure.^[15] He died at the age of 65 on December 14 at 12:01 am, without regaining consciousness.^[15] Friends and allies from the movie and political worlds were at his bedside. He left behind his wife actress Susan Roces and daughter, Mary Grace, along with his other children, son, Ronian, and daughter, Lovi.

The nine day wake was attended by hundreds of thousands, with organizers claiming numbers as high as two million.^[16] The funeral procession drew tens of thousands who crowded the streets of Quezon City, an event that was reminiscent of the funeral processions of Ninoy Aquino in 1983 and matinee idol Julie Vega in 1985. He was buried in his family plot along with his father and mother in North Cemetery, Manila, Philippines.