Graphics by Lance Uy / INQUIRER.net
The fans spoke, and we listened. Now it’s time to vote for your favorite star.
The INQUIRER.net team has narrowed down to the Top 16 the Filipino celebrities that you, our dear readers and netizens, would love to date on Valentine’s Day, and which you have graciously let us know on our social media platforms. While we cannot guarantee you a candle-lit dinner and a bouquet of flowers, or even a cozy walk with your celebrity crush, you still have the power to choose which celebrities get the chance to score a kilig feature this month of love.
On Tuesday, INQUIRER.net started the survey with four (2 each for male and female) of 16 celebrities previously chosen for their respective subcategory. The second poll featuring our next batch of date-worthy candidates will start from 7:00 AM of Wednesday to 7:00 AM of Thursday — until the next batches of crushable stars come into your page. Make sure to vote for your favorite celebrity, because, really, YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
Breathtaking Daddy: Ian Veneracion
The moment he flashes a smile to the crowd, screams automatically film the room; a clear testament to this 47-year-old actor’s undeniable charisma.
Unbeknownst to younger fans, Ian Veneracion’s acting career started in the 1980s when he took on the role of playful Jeffrey Laperal in the RPN Channel 9 sitcom “Joey and Son” with veteran comedian Joey de Leon. His star power started to shine bright during the decade, especially as a member of the variety show “That’s Entertainment” — which is probably a favorite guilty pleasure of many Filipino parents during their youth.
He then embraced the action genre in the 1990s, as he appeared in several adrenaline-inducing films such as “Pugoy – Hostage: Davao”, “Isa Lang ang Buhay Mo! Sgt. Bobby Aguilar”, and “Kanto Boy 2: Anak ni Totoy Guapo”, among many others, where he was usually seen as the lead actor shooting guns and getting the damsel in distress when he gets lucky.
Ian soon alternated between GMA-7 and ABS-CBN in the 2000s to find a footing in the local entertainment industry, but it wasn’t until the 2015 remake of the hit teleserye “Pangako Sa’yo” where he was able to achieve his renaissance as the breathtaking Eduardo Buenavista.
The actor soon embraced his leading man status, including as a single father in the teleserye “A Love to Last”, a man seeking to get a jewelry shop manager’s sweet yes in the film “The Achy Breaky Hearts”, and the corrupt and abusive police officer in the erotic Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2022 film entry “Nanahimik Ang Gabi”.
Ian also achieved the coveted MMFF Best Actor in December 2022, his first lead actor nod after 40 years, proving that age is merely just a number when it comes to achieving your dreams.
Breathtaking Daddy: Piolo Pascual
A favorite of Filipino moms — including former vice president Leni Robredo herself.
Piolo Pascual was one of the quintessential hunks of the 2000s, and was even part of the all-male unit The Hunks with Jericho Rosales, Diether Ocampo, Bernard Palanca, and Carlos Agassi. But it wasn’t until the film adaptation “Dekada ‘70” catapulted him to star status as fans began to appreciate him as a serious actor.
The actor was also involved in an onscreen partnership with veteran actress Judy Ann Santos, topbilling teleserye hits such as “Sa Puso Ko Iingatan Ka,” and the films “Kahit Isang Saglit,” “Bakit Di Totohanin,” “Till There Was You,” and “Don’t Give Up on Us.”
Piolo went on to carve his own line as an individual, where he showed off his acting prowess as a leading man and bankable star, and even pursued singing where many of his albums hit Platinum status during its release.
By the late 2000s and 2010s, the actor went behind-the-scenes as an executive producer and started the independent film production company Spring Films with director Joyce Bernal and Cornerstone Entertainment president Erickson Raymundo.
Since then, Piolo has reached several heights in his acting career, where among his notable achievements are his films “Manila” and “On The Job” premiering to worldwide audiences at the Cannes Film Festival.
Sexy Siren: Kylie Versoza
Kylie Versoza started her entertainment career in the world of pageantry where she joined Binibining Pilipinas for two times before she was crowned as Binibining Pilipinas International 2016. She went on to represent the Philippines in Miss International, and was the sixth Pinay to bring home the crown.
The 5’8 stunner then entered showbiz as the titular Diwata in the 2017 film “Ang Panday”, which was considered to be her first acting role. At that time, Kylie was joined by Coco Martin, Jake Cuenca, Eddie Garcia, Jeric Raval, and Elisse Joson.
Kylie started to be recognized by the public as the seductive yet revenge-driven Dulce Silverio in the teleserye “Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Los Bastardos”. Since then, she went on to star in her next set of projects, many of which unknowingly magnify her killer charm.
Apart from the screen, Kylie is also an advocate of mental health and suicide awareness, and has volunteered for the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation. She also opened up the online support group, Mental Health Matters, to extend support to those in need of emotional and mental support.
From the pageant realm, showbiz, to advocating for issues that matter, the 31-year-old proved that she’s more than capable of being a seductress.
Sexy Siren: Ivana Alawi
Ivana Alawi’s showbiz career started when she was a teenager, in the romantic-comedy series “Reel Love Presents Tween Hearts”, where she was credited with the screen name Mariel Rey. From then on, she started to carve her own path as an individual by joining the sixth season “Starstruck” where she ended her journey as one of the semi-finalists.
She shifted gears to ABS-CBN where she appeared in small roles in “Precious Hearts Romances: Araw Gabi” and “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano”; but it wasn’t until the launch of her self-titled YouTube channel that launched her breakthrough.
Prior to entering showbiz, Ivana went home to the Philippines as a seven-year-old girl who was raised in Bahrain. While she was able to inherit her late Moroccan father’s money after his death, it was her determination that led to achieving her dreams for her family — including buying them a new house in February 2022.
Apart from her sultry image, Ivana also became recognized for her beauty after she appeared on TC Candler’s “100 Most Beautiful Faces in the World” lists in 2021 and 2022.
Her vlogs continue to be a hit among fans, as her channel remains as one of the most subscribed in YouTube Philippines. EDV