He’s been in the local entertainment scene for around four decades now, yet he continues to be one of the most in-demand veteran actors to portray paternal figures and/or kontrabida roles both in television and film.
And this year, Christopher de Leon is about to enthrall us anew with his portrayal as Adam Wong, a patriarch of a Chinese family who’s torn between his legal wife and his mistress, as well as to his daughters to each of them as they figure in a complicated love triangle, in the much-awaited soap opera Love Thy Woman.
But before we get to see him breathe life to a new character, let’s take a look back on his previous remarkable appearances in ABS-CBN narratives wherein he’s able to astonish us with his formidable dramatic chops via this Kapamilya Spotlight feature.
As many of us know, particularly those who were able to witness his acting career flourish through the years, Christopher started in the industry as one of the main cast of the 80’s all-male comedy gag show Goin’ Bananas along with fellow matinee idols of his time Jay Ilagan, Johnny Delgado, and Edgar Mortiz. From comedy, he subsequently diverted to drama through his stints in Star Drama Presents.
It was in 2006 when he began to become omnipresent in the Kapamilya network, starting off with his portrayal of Don Fidel Madrigal, the father of Bea Alonzo’s Jackie Madrigal-Roxas in the romance drama Maging Sino Ka Man. He then reprised his role in its sequel Maging Sino Ka Man: Ang Pagbabalik the following year.
He’s able to work opposite his real-life wife Sandy Andolong in the 2007 series Pangarap Na Bituin as they played Carlo and Jade Gomez, the parents of the lead characters depicted by Sarah Geronimo and Maja Salvador. It was then succeeded by his appearance as the villain Director General Anthony Mondragon in the 2008 Jericho Rosales and Carmen Soo-starrer Kahit Isang Saglit.
In 2009, he had a special participation in the top-rating primetime series May Bukas Pa as Dr. Marcelito Azarcon, a doctor who doesn’t believe that God exists because for him, it’s science and freewill that make things happen. He went back to his hometown Bagong Pag-Asa to help the people in the midst of a disease outbreak and got reunited with his past love. He then landed a role in the Philippine adaptation of the popular Korean drama Lovers In Paris as George Aranaz.
Christopher had his Maalaala Mo Kaya debut in 2010 via the “Gitara” episode as he played Buloy, a barangay official who turned his loneliness and yearning for his family into a time for him to pursue his passion for music by forming a children’s choir in their community. He then became on of the guest stars of the 2011 kidserye 100 Days To Heaven.
A year after, he got tapped to portray two paternal roles. First, was as the domineering Governor Leo Valderama, the adoptive father of Piolo Pascual’s Fr. Alfred Valderama in Dahil Sa Pag-ibig, and second was as the doting late father of Jake Cuenca’s Paul in Kung Ako’y Iiwan Mo.
In 2013, he amazed us with his special participation as Anton “El Patron” Silvestre, or also known as Anton Cabigas, in Muling Buksan Ang Puso.
We once again saw him as a loving in his two teleserye appearances in 2014, as he played Javier Santiago Sr. in The Legal Wife – the admirable father of Angel Locsin’s Monica – and Franco Hidalgo in Ikaw Lamang – the affectionate father of KC Concepcion’s Natalia.
The multi-awarded veteran actor then went back to action in 2016 through his appearance in the first season of FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, depicting Michael Alonzo, the uncle of Anne Curtis’ Trina who sought the help of the titular character Cardo Dalisay in finding his fashion designer niece after being kidnapped.
In 2018, he was cast as the strict and overbearing adoptive father of Lisa Laureano (Jodi Sta. Maria), Juancho Laureano, who highly opposed his daughter’s romantic affair with Leo Tabayoyong (Robin Padilla) in Sana Dalawa Ang Puso.
And last year, Christopher did a great job in his embodiment of the late Senator Edgardo Angara when his life story was featured in Maalaala Mo Kaya.
Don’t miss his teleserye return by watching Love Thy Woman on the Kapamilya Gold block starting February 10!