The incessant rise of new and young talents over the years has both posed as a challenge and motivation for the existing personalities in showbiz to work harder and do better in every project that they do.
While it’s deemed difficult to keep your star shining in this ever-hectic and complicated industry, there are celebrities who are amazingly able to conquer the test of time and retain their spot in the local entertainment scene, such as the seven actors listed in this Kapamilya Snaps feature.
JM de Guzman’s career took off 21 years ago
Many will be certainly surprised to find out that JM actually had her television debut in 2001 via the iconic youth-oriented program Ang TV. He left the spotlight for a decade and marked his return by appearing in four episodes of Precious Hearts Romances Presents in 2010. The following year, he became part of ASAP, wherein he’s able to showcase his singing talent, as well as topbilled the remake of the 1997 soap opera Mula Sa Puso and Angelito: Batang Ama.
The 33-year-old actor went on to impress us with his acting prowess in his succeeding projects, which include Angelito: Ang Bagong Yugto (2012), Hawak Kamay (2014), All Of Me (2015), PHR Presents Araw Gabi (2018), and Pamilya Ko (2019). His compelling performance in the 2021 primetime drama Init Sa Magdamag brought him the Best Actor in a Leading Role accolade from the 2021 Asian Academy Creative Awards.
Dominic Ochoa marks his 25th year in the industry this 2022
Ever since he started his showbiz career in 1996, Dominic apparently has gone to become a staple in Kapamilya programs. He had his acting debut in Gimik, which was followed by a string of projects that included Esperanza (1997), Magandang Tanghali Bayan (1999), and Whattamen (2001) that allowed him to show his versatility.
The 47-year-old actor went on to become a sought-after character actor as he portrayed various roles in numerous Kapamilya series, such as May Bukas Pa (2009), Rosalka (2010), Good Vibes (2011), 100 Days To Heaven (2011), Princess and I (2012), Oh My G! (2015), My Super D (2016), Dok Ricky Pedia (2017), Ngayon At Kailanman (2018), The Killer Bride (2019), Love Thy Woman (2020), Huwag Kang Mangamba (2021), and in the iWantTFC original series Hoy, Love You.
Jericho Rosales has been our favorite leading man for 25 years
After winning another network’s talent search in 1996, Jericho’s acting career took off in ABS-CBN. From simply playing minor roles, he went on to star in the classic soap opera Pangako Sa ‘Yo in 2000 opposite Kristine Hermosa. The success of their team-up spawned into another teleserye in 2003 titled Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas. In 2005, he’s able to show his versatility as an actor by starring in the sitcom Bora: Sons of the Beach and in the TV adaptation of Carlo J. Caparas’ Ang Panday.
The 42-year-old actor then went on to star in a slew of Kapamilya dramas, such as Kahit Isang Saglit (2008), I Love Betty La Fea (2009), Green Rose (2011), The Legal Wife (2014), Bridges of Love (2015), Magpahangggang Wakas (2016), and in the ever-controversial Halik in 2018. Aside from acting, he’s also able to showcase his singing and hosting chops through Magandang Tanghali Bayan and ASAP, wherein he was also one of the members of the popular all-male group The Hunks.
Diether Ocampo entered showbiz in 1993
Diether rose to fame as one of the members of the famous Gimik barkada. This was followed by remarkable stints both in movies and television, which include Mula Sa Puso (1997), Saan Ka Man Naroroon (1999), Recuerdo de Amor (2001), Buttercup (2003), Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas (2003), Marina (2004), Till Death Do Us Part (2005), Bora: Sons of The Beach (2005), Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin (2005), Iisa Pa Lamang (2008), Rubi (2010), Your Song: Gimik 2010 (2010), Guns and Roses (2011), and Apoy Sa Dagat (2013).
After working in different networks for a few years, the 47-year-old actor returned to ABS-CBN and was cast in the fantasy-action series Bagani in 2018, then in the inspirational drama Huwag Kang Mangamba in 2021. Just like Jericho, he’s also one of the hot and handsome members of The Hunks.
Piolo Pascual has been among the country’s bankable heartthrob for around three decades
In the past 30 years that he’s been in showbiz, Piolo has remained as one of the most bankable actors despite the rise in the number of young and new talents. However, did you know that one of his first projects was the children’s show A.T.B.P. in 1994?
It was succeeded by his impressive stints in his next projects, such as Mara Clara (1995) and Gimik (1996), which spawned to his leading man roles in Sa Puso Ko Iingatan (2001), Mangarap Ka (2004), Sa Piling Mo (2006), Walang Kapalit (2007), Lobo (2008), Lovers In Paris (2009), Noah (2010), Hawak Kamay (2013), and Since I I Found You (2018). He also swoons us with his voice through his ASAP performances over the years, in which his group The Hunks was formed.
We currently see the Ultimate Heartthrob in the weekly “sweet-com” My Papa Pi, and he will topbill the Pinoy incarnation of the Korean drama Flower Of Evil opposite Lovi Poe.
Carlo Aquino began his notable career 30 years ago
Just like some of the seasoned celebrities we admire, Carlo’s showbiz career also kicked off through the well-known youth-oriented program Ang TV in the early 90s. He went on to become one of the promising teen stars of his generation, getting cast in the teen series G-Mik (1999) and Berks (2002).
The 36-year-old actor jumped from one network to another in a few years, before going steady in ABS-CBN beginning 2012. He was cast in the 2013 remake of the 1980s soap opera Annaliza, which was succeeded by more projects such as FlordeLiza (2015), We Will Survive (2016), The Better Half (2017), Playhouse (2018), A Soldier’s Heart (2020), and La Vida Lena (2020).
At present, we can catch him in ABS-CBN’s First YouTube Exclusive Daily Series How To Move On In 30 Days as Maris Racal’s love interest.
Ian Veneracion started out 40 years ago as a movie child star
Last, but definitely not the least is Ian, who has been in the limelight for almost his whole life. He was among the in-demand movie child and teen stars of his generation, who had his Kapamilya debut through the “Pusang Itim” episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya in 1996. He scored his first-ever full-length ABS-CBN project via the 2003 soap opera Darating Ang Umaga.
The 47-year-old actor worked in different networks throughout his 40 years in the industry, but among his most remarkable Kapamilya projects are Lastikman (2007), Maria La Del Barrio (2011), Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw (2013), Got To Believe (2013), and Make It With You (2020).
He may be in his late 40s, yet Ian was still tapped to be one of the leading men in the remake of Pangako Sa ‘Yo in 2015, as well as in A Love To Last (2017) and the iWantTFC original series “My Single Lady” (2020).
Have you witnessed the ever-sparkling careers of these handsome and talented actors, Kapamilya?