Bankable veteran actors Sylvia Sanchez and Joey Marquez will soon play parents to the Mabunga siblings in the upcoming family drama Pamilya Ko. Since the late 1980’s up to present, Sylvia and Joey proved their professionalism as superb, versatile actors. They both showed exceptional talent in the different roles they portrayed through the years. As we await to witness their acting prowess once more on the said upcoming series, let us look back at their splendid television journey.
Sylvia Sanchez as Luzviminda “Luz” R. Magbunga
On Sylvia’s first ever television acting stint, she was included as part of the supporting cast in ABS-CBN’s afternoon soap opera titled Anna Luna. The show aired from November 1989 to September 1995. After showing her impressive acting talent on the said show, Sylvia portrayed the main antagonist Celia Estrera in the acclaimed primetime teleserye Esperanza from 1997 to 1999.
From 2001 to 2003, she played Beatrice in the daytime drama series titled Recuerdo de Amor. After the said show, she appeared as Judy Ann Santos’s cool mother Strawberry Gonzales in the action-thriller, crime-mystery teleserye titled Basta’t Kasama Kita from 2003 to 2004.
In the early 2000’s, Sylvia continued to take on supporting roles on teleseryes where she mostly played as a loving mother. She played as Eva in the soap opera titled Bituin from 2002 to 2003 and played as Marian Lopez in Mga Anghel na Walang Langit from 2005 to 2006. In 2006, she played as Gigi in Crazy For You and from 2008 to 2009, she played as Edeng de Jesus in Eva Fonda.
It was in 2012 when Sylvia was tapped once again to play a main antagonist role as Leilani “Lani” San Juan in Mundo Man ay Magunaw, opposite lead actress Eula Valdez. On that same year right after the said show ended, Sylvia took on the role of Jodi Sta. Maria’s sweet mother named Teresita Dela Paz-Dela Rosa in the phenomenal daytime drama series titled Be Careful With My Heart. The critically acclaimed series bagged many awards when it aired from 2012 up to 2014.
While still doing her role in the phenomenal teleserye mentioned above, Sylvia portrayed the supporting character named Tessie/Calixta Caballero on 2013’s romantic melodrama series titled Apoy sa Dagat, guested as Nena in 2013 on the situational comedy series titled Toda Max, and took on the supporting role of Ramona Esguerra on 2014’s Philippine adaptation of Pure Love.
During the first season of the 2015 remake of Pangako Sa’Yo that starred King and Queen of Hearts Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo, Sylvia had a special participation, playing Krystal Toleda. On the same year up to 2016, she took the role of the caring grandmother Pacing “Mamay” Angeles in Ningning. Still in 2016, she played as Evelyn "Belen" Bermudez-Aguilar in the superhero fantasy drama titled My Super D.
In September 2016, Sylvia took on her most gripping and memorable lead role on TV. She played as Gloria Guerrero-Alegre in the family drama The Greatest Love that aired from 2016 to 2017. With her unmistakable brilliance, she gained industry recognitions including Best Performance by an Actress in a series award on the 15th Gawad Tanglaw Awards and the Best TV Actress in a Drama Program award on the 25th KBP Golden Dove Awards.
The following year, Sylvia appeared as Dolores “Dory” Lumakad in La Luna Sangre. Then, from 2017 to 2018, she starred with son Arjo Atayde in Hanggang Saan. For her remarkable portrayal of Sonya Magat-Alipio’s character, she was awarded as the Pinakapasadong Aktres sa Teleserye on the 20th Gawad Pasado Awards.
In between her many shows on television, Sylvia also starred on several Maalaala Mo Kaya episodes from 1994 until now. One of her most notable MMK episodes is the 2011 episode titled “Aswang”, wherein she played as the creepy woman tagged as ‘aswang’ named Poying/Julie. With her outstanding performance on the said role, she won the Best Single Performance by an Actress on the 26th PMPC Star Awards for Television.
Joey Marquez as Fernando Potenciano “Fernan” Mabunga Sr.
Alongside Richard Gomez, John Estrada, Anjo Yllana, Carmina Villaroel, Amy Perez, Cynthia Patag and Gloria Romero, the once pro basketball player Joey first made his mark in showbiz on the classic ABS-CBN sitcom Palibhasa Lalake. Throughout the show’s 11 years of airing from March 1987, he became a mainstay until the show ended in November 1998. With his witty personality, he continued to take comedy roles on films and TV shows.
In 2011, Joey then appeared as a guest judge on the morning talent show Showtime, the precursor of the noontime show It’s Showtime. He then hosted the showbiz-oriented talk show Showbiz Inside Report in 2012. While exploring his talent in hosting, he went back to the sitcom format with his appearance on Toda Max in 2012.
When 2014 came, Joey started to play dramatic roles on TV. He portrayed the character of Liza Soberano’s supportive father named Buboy “Papang / Mang Bubs” Calay in 2014’s romantic drama series titled Forevermore.
Months after Forevermore concluded in 2015, Joey appeared as Maja Salvador’s adorable father named Nanding Corpuz in the first season of FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano. During this time, he became part of the It’s Showtime family as a regular host until 2017. Subsequently, he played Bela Padilla’s cool and loving father named Kapitan Tope Estanislao in the 2017 fantasy primetime drama My Dear Heart. In that same year, he guested as Senator Rodolfo Mallari in La Luna Sangre.
Last year, Joey played the endearing and responsible father Gregorio “Mang Gerry” Punzalan to Alessandra De Rossi and Vivoree Esclito’s characters in Since I Found You.
Through his many acting stints on various TV shows, Joey starred on numerous Maalaala Mo Kaya episodes since 2012. Those includes the episode titled “Belen” in 2012 with Aiko Melendez which is his first MMK stint, “Bus/Bus Mistress” in 2014 with Empress Schuck and “Sinigang” in 2015 with Patrick Garcia. He also gave us a one-of-a-kind drama performance by portraying Coleen Garcia’s father in the MMK episode titled Kadena in 2016. Recently, he played as Zanjoe Marudo’s father in the MMK episode titled “Balsa”, MMK’s 2nd special offering in celebration of the show’s 28th anniversary this year 2019.
Don’t miss the exciting tandem of Sylvia Sanchez and Joey Marquez as selfless parents to their “fruit salad” babies in Pamilya Ko, starting this Monday, September 9 on Primetime Bida!