(From left) Ian Veneracion, Nadine Lustre, Stell Ajero of SB19, David Licauco. Images: Instagram/@ianveneracion1, Instagram/@nadine, Instagram/@mac_igarta, Instagram/@davidlicauco
February 14 has always been a day of romance and self-love. But it is also a day for mere mortals to day dream about going on a date with a certain celebrity, even if this has nil chances of coming true in this lifetime.
While it’s close to impossible to be a celebrity’s non-showbiz partner, it doesn’t hurt to have a little crush on them. And why not? It’s normal to find someone attractive and note their desirable qualities.
Since Valentine’s Day is coming up, some of INQUIRER.net’s editorial staff candidly shared some of local celebrities that we dream of going out on a date with.
Ian Veneracion
Even when he was still a young star, Ian Veneracion was already a head-turner and a heart-breaker, only he is a gentleman and has never been reported to have broken a lady’s heart. Well, at least those who suffered a minor heart attack after learning that he had quietly gotten married with his non-showbiz girlfriend, Pam Gallardo, now his wife of over 25 years. Veneracion liked to keep his family life private and is very rarely seen or photographed with his wife.
Aside from his youthful mestizo looks and charming personality, what made this 48th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) best actor awardee very swoon-worthy (even if he’s already off-the-market) was the fact that this 48-year-old was able to maintain his fit physique as he aged. Just watch him in his most recent movie, “Nanahimik Ang Gabi.” Throughout his career, Veneracion continued to shine while still keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground. He always had a ready smile for his fans, which made him very likeable indeed.
Nadine Lustre
Fondly nicknamed as “President Nadine” by fans, Nadine Lustre proved that she’s one of the most talented actresses of her generation after bagging the Best Actress award at the 48th MMFF after starring in “Deleter”.
Lustre has appeared in several popular teleseryes and films throughout the years, namely “On the Wings of Love”, “Till I Met You”, “Deleter”, “Never Not Love You”, “Indak”, “Ulan”, “This Time”, and “Greed”, among others.
As of this writing, she is currently a recipient of a Best Actress (Regional Winner for the Philippines) award in the Asian Academy Creative Awards, one FAMAS award, one Gawad Urian award, and a Best Performance award in the Young Critics Circle. The multi-awarded actress is also a singer and entrepreneur in her own right, releasing her first studio album “Wildest Dreams” in October 2020 and her own fragrance named Luster. What an all-rounder!
This certified beach babe also loved soaking up the sun, giving her a sun-kissed glow, as can be seen in her social media accounts. But what made her more attractive was her feisty and independent spirit. Known for her straight talk, she really stood out for being confident in her own skin.
Jason Dy
Singer-songwriter Jason Dy rose to prominence after winning the second season of the singing contest “The Voice of the Philippines” under the mentorship of Popstar Royalty Sarah Geronimo.
Dubbed as the country’s “Prince of Soul,” some of Dy’s most popular songs include “Be My Lady”, “2 Have U”, and “Reasons To Believe”, among others.
David Licauco
Probably some of the most popular heartthrobs at the moment, David Licauco stole hearts with his role as Fidel Delos Reyes in the ongoing GMA fantasy drama “Maria Clara at Ibarra”.
Licauco started his acting career in ABS-CBN after taking on the role of a terrorist in the 2014 film “The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin” and Simon in the soap opera “Flordeliza”. He eventually signed with GMA Network in 2016 and rose to prominence after starring as Malik in “Mulawin vs Ravena”.
But it wasn’t until portraying a handsom ginoo in “Maria Clara at Ibarra” made him skyrocket in popularity. As of this writing, the series is still ongoing but his character’s backstory remained unknown.
The chinito is also an entrepreneur, owning several food businesses co-managed by his family.
Stell Ajero of SB19
Born as Stellvester Ajero, he debuted as a member of P-pop supergroup SB19 in October 2018 as the main vocalist and lead dancer. He is also known as the choreographer of the group, where he notably created the steps of their hit song “Where You At (WYAT)”.
For newbie fans, his voice can easily be detected since he usually puts out his heart by belting the high notes in SB19’s songs.
Apart from SB19, he also appeared in the premiere event of a streaming platform alongside Zephanie Dimaranan and Janella Salvador where they performed a series of Disney songs. This talented young man also showcased his acting chops in the music video of “Salamin” by the band, The Juans.
Bianca Gonzalez
Bianca Gonzalez is known for her signature wit as a host, which was built on the now-defunct show “Game Channel Extreme” with Iya Villania, Aaron Mempin, and Chase Tinio. But it wasn’t until landing third place on “Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Edition” which cemented her name in the industry.
Gonzalez has hosted several shows throughout her career, with several seasons of “Pinoy Big Brother”, “TFC Connect”, “Y Speak”, and “Entertainment Live” included in her hosting resume.
Now wife to professional basketball player JC Intal and mom to two daughters, Gonzalez is a complete package of beauty and brains rolled into one. From intellectual topics — hello, politics — to family life, she would surely have a lot to share on a date!
Piolo Pascual
This list would not be complete without Piolo Pascual on it. The multi-hyphenate personality can make someone feel kilig just by looking at them. Though he already has an adult son of his own, it did not in any way diminish his attractiveness in any way.
As an actor, producer, singer, host, and model, Pascual began his showbiz career in theater. He was destined for better things, and soon, was discovered to join “That’s Entertainment.” However, he briefly left to study full-time at the University of Sto. Tomas, with an eye at immigrating to the United States with a career in Physical Therapy. But the call of call of show business was too strong that he put his studies and immigration plans on hold.
Pascual would then star in several big-ticket movie and TV projects, even earning several awards and accolades. Like fine wine, he would get better in career, even branching out to hosting and music. He also produced several critically acclaimed and commercially successful movies of his own. On top of that, he was able to maintain his good looks as when he first entered the entertainment scene, keeping his body trimmed and toned with various sporty activities.
So, if it were up to you, dear reader, which Filipino celebrity would you date on Valentine’s Day? Let us know in the comments! EDV