Spanish Filipino Showbiz Personalities

[Spanish Filipino Showbiz Personalities Featured Image from Morguefile.] Seeing Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities as early as the 1940’s in Philippine entertainment is no longer uncommon. Surely, most Filipinos are a mixed race. Chinese. Arabian. Malay. Spanish, American and Japanese. A mixed bag even. But this list would list showbiz personalities whose Spanish ancestry are mentioned. Whether it’s their parent or grandparent who’s Spanish. They will be noted and classified in our list of Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities.

Spanish Filipino Showbiz Personalities.
Various Performing Arts.

Kuya Manzano.
Born and raised in Spain. Kuya Manzano is one of the most recognizable Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities in the theater scene. His Spanish ancestry is traced to his Spanish father. Albeit seen in some mainstream movies like Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo and Felix Manalo, he also appeared on television projects like GMA News TV’s Katipunan and ABS-CBN’s On The Wings of Love. He donned significant characters in the Filipino-produced musical, Marco Polo: An Untold Story. His last musical project was San Pedro Calungsod The Musical.

Carlos Celdran.
Born John Charles Edward Pamintuan Celdran. Carlos Celdran’s Spanish ancestry is traced to his father’s side. He rose to prominence among Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities as a performance artist. His talent was mostly seen in gigs where he is a tour guide or as a cultural activist or as a political satirist. His most-renowned project is Livin’ La Vida Imelda.

Alodia Gosiengfiao.
Born Alodia Almira Arraiza Gosiengfiao. Alodia is better known as a model, host, celebrity endorser and cosplayer. She is less known as one of the Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities. And more as one of the top cosplayers today. Her Spanish ancestry is traced to her Spanish Filipina mother. She was one of the top Asian cosplayers featured in print media in Japan and United States, to name a few appearances.

Spanish Filipino Showbiz Personalities:
The Veterans

Delia Razon.
Born Lucy May Gritz. Delia Razon was one of the the Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities that graced the silver screen in the 1950’s. Her Spanish ancestry is traced to her half-Spanish mother. She’s mostly associated with sword-and-sandal epics of her era.

German Moreno.
Born German Molina Moreno. German Moreno a.k.a. “Kuya Germs” was more known for being a talent manager and variety show host. As one of the Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities listed here. Moreno’s Spanish ancestry is traced to his half-Spanish father.

Pilita Corrales.
Born Pilar Garrido Corrales. Pilita Corrales was dubbed “Asia’s Queen of Songs”. Her Spanish ancestry is traced to her Spanish-born mother. She became one of the prominent Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities not only because of her ancestry. But also due to her Spanish songs performed on the radio.

Armida Siguion-Reyna.
Born Armida Ponce Enrile, she was better known by her married name Armida Siguion-Reyna. She was the daughter of Spanish mestizo and brother of current senator Juan Ponce Enrile. As one of the prominent Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities. She was once known as a film producer. During Estrada’s regime, she was the chairwoman of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. But her trademark TV program will always be “Aawitan Kita”.

Eddie Gutierrez.
Born Jorge Eduardo Pickett Gutierrez. Eddie Gutierrez became one of the obvious Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities. It was due to his Spanish ancestry traced to his half-Spanish mother. He was one of the classic movie star heartthrobs of his time due to his Spanish mestizo looks. He was last seen at the hit KalyeSerye as the elder version of Lola Nidora’s ex-boyfriend, Anselmo.

Joey de Leon.
Born Jose Maria Ramos de Leon, Jr. Joey de Leon is one of the founding fathers of the longest-running noontime variety show in the world today, Eat Bulaga. His Spanish ancestry is traced to his Filipino-Spanish father. A rare breed among the Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities. He is one-third of the comedy troika of Tito, Vic and Joey. He is also a songwriter and painter.

Eddie Garcia.
Born Jesus Garcia Verchez. Eddie Garcia’s Spanish ancestry is traced from the descendants of Spanish Pinaminomons settlers in the Bicol region. He was a prominent Spanish Filipino showbiz personality not only in blood but also in performance. He was once associated with Spanish-speaking roles among his villain roles in his filmography encompassing more than 400 films. His latest project is the primetime series “Ang Probinsiyano”.

Fernando Poe Jr.
Born Ronald Allan Kelley Poe. Fernando Poe Jr was better known in his other names “FPJ” and “Da King” (bastardized spelling of The King). The King of Action movies’ father, Fernando Poe Sr., was half-Spanish. His grandfather is a Catalan migrant from Majorca, Spain. He was one of the few Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities that cemented their legacy in Philippine entertainment.

Spanish Filipino Showbiz Personalities
Contemporary TV and Film

Edu Manzano.
Born Eduardo Barrios Manzano, Edu Manzano lately is more associated with Philippine politics than with Philippine entertainment. While he was born in the United States, his paternal bloodline included Spanish ancestors. His bio as one of the top Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities is best summarized in this Facebook video.

Piolo Pascual.
Born Piolo Jose Nonato Pascual, Piolo Pascual was also known as “PJ” and “Papa P”. As one of the top Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities. His Spanish ancestry is traced to his half-Spanish half-German father. As an actor, he starred in films that ranged from romantic comedy like “Starting Over Again” to “Dekada 70”. As a producer, he was behind the hit Kimmy Dora series. His last high-profile film project was “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis”. (International release title: A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery.)

Kristine Hermosa.
Born Kristine Hermosa Orille. Kristine Hermosa used her half-Spanish mother’s maiden name once she entered Philippine showbiz. While known as one of the top Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities, her most memorable role is that of Yna Macaspac in the original version of “Pangako Sa Yo”. She’s also one of the first mainstream celebrities to gain a following in Southeast Asia.

Carla Abellana.
Born Carla Angeline Reyes Abellana. Her Spanish ancestry is traced to another inclusion in our list of Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities. Her grandmother is Delia Razon, one of the Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities included in the Veterans section of this article. She first rose to fame upon bagging the title role for the Philippine remake of the Mexican telenovela, Rosalinda. She currently hosts a weekly drama anthology series, Karelasyon.

Ellen Adarna.
Ellen Adarna is one of the Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities who’s name is more often found under “controversial”. From her bra-less fitness ad to her viral photos of kissing another girl. She’s the sultry rebel that the audience can easily fall for. No wonder the last mainstream projects that she was known for are the equally steaming hot TV series Moon of Desire and Pasion de Amor. Hello, raging hormones.

Marian Rivera.
Born Marian Rivera Gracia. Marian Rivera earned the monicker “Primetime Queen” for top-billing several primetime TV series prior to her marriage to Dingdong Dantes. Her Spanish ancestry is traced to her Spanish father, a native of Madrid. It made her the most recognizable name in our list of Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities. She is one of the few actresses that played comic book characters Darna and Dyesebel. Her most memorable mainstream project is the historical fiction epic, Amaya. She is set to appear in the upcoming remake of the hit fantasy series, Encantadia, for the role of Ynang Reyna Mine-a.

As the top pick in our list of Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities. Marian Gracia-Dantes is currently one of the main draws of the weekly comedy show, Sunday PinaSaya. And soon, she will host her morning talk show, Yan Ang Morning. It was a play on her nickname, Yanyan.

Do you know other Spanish Filipino showbiz personalities whose Spanish ancestry can be traced? Send your suggestions by liking our Facebook Page, The Philippines Web. Or tweet and follow us through @pinasamazing. We’d love to hear from you. We’d be expecting you.