Graphics by Lance Uy / INQUIRER.net
You spoke, and we heard you. Now it’s time to vote for your favorite award-winning actor and leading lady.
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 (two each for male and female) of 16 celebrities previously chosen for their respective subcategory. The third poll featuring our next batch of date-worthy candidates will start from 7:00 AM of Thursday to 7:00 AM of Friday — until the next batches of crushable stars come into your page. Make sure to vote for your favorite celebrity, because, really, YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
Award-winning Actor: Jericho Rosales
Many fans would fondly remember Jericho Rosales as the adorable teen who ended up winning the “Mr. Pogi” talent search on the noontime show “Eat Bulaga” in 1996, where he described himself as the “proud son” of Marikina City.
Rosales started with small roles in films and teleseryes after his win, but it wasn’t until the film “Tanging Yaman” and the dramatic soap opera “Pangako Sa ‘Yo” with former onscreen partner Kristine Hermosa that would catapult himself into mainstream success.
The actor’s loveteam with Hermosa was one of the biggest pairings in the early 2000s, as they went on to star in numerous projects together including the popular teleserye “Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas” and the films “Forevermore” and “Ngayong Nandito Ka”.
Following his loveteam with Hermosa, Rosales went on to prove himself as a serious dramatic actor who can take on a series of roles. The star also worked with actresses Anne Curtis, Heart Evangelista, and Claudine Barretto, showing off that he has the talent to create chemistry with just about anyone.
The dashing actor experienced another breakthrough after making Filipino viewers hate his guts in the soap “The Legal Wife” with Angel Locsin and Maja Salvador. But all is well as the series ended, since his romance with his wife Kim Jones is still going strong.
Rosales received a number of accolades throughout his career including several Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) Star Awards trophies, Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) awards, and FAMAS recognitions, among many others.
Award-winning Actor: Daniel Padilla
Daniel Padilla is more than just his signature suave and debonair charisma, as he proved that he’s a multi-hyphenate who can captivate audiences in acting, music, and even in philanthropy.
The charmer’s career may have started as a partner to his friend Julia Montes, but it was with Kathryn Bernardo where he was able to find a glittering spotlight as one-half of the KathNiel pairing and a long-lasting romance.
Some of his most successful projects through KathNiel include the popular teleseryes “Princess and I”, “Got To Believe”, and “2 Good 2 Be True”, as well as the romantic films “Must Be Love”, “She’s Dating the Gangster”, “Can’t Help Falling in Love”, and “The Hows of Us”, among a string of other shows.
Of course, Daniel also stole the hearts of fans in the field of music with his popular songs “Nasa Iyo Na Ang Lahat” and “Simpleng Tulad Mo”.
Apart from receiving a number of awards as a singer and actor, he is also a favorite of many brands as celebrity endorser.
Favorite Leading Lady: Kathryn Bernardo
Ask any Filipino household if they know Kathryn Bernardo and chances are that one member would give a resounding yes.
Dubbed as the “Box Office Queen of her Generation,” Kathryn has appeared in several successful films including “Hello, Love, Goodbye”, “She’s Dating the Gangster”, “Must Be Love”, and “The Hows of Us”. Not to mention that she also starred in various popular soap operas such as “Mara Clara”, “Pangako Sa’Yo”, “Got To Believe”, “Princess and I”, and “2 Good 2 Be True”.
The beautiful star, however, began her acting career as a child actress where she showed that she can keep up with the lead stars, two of which can notably be seen in “Endless Love” and “Magkaribal”.
Of course, Kathryn proved she’s more than capable of attracting a legion of fans as she won a string of acting awards throughout her career.
Apart from acting, the 26-year-old star is a favorite of editorials as she graced the covers of several magazines in the country.
Favorite Leading Lady: Liza Soberano
Liza Soberano can catch anyone’s breath away with her breathtaking beauty, but she can also make anyone laugh, smile, or cry with her acting.
The Filipina-American star might have started with small roles, but it was “strawberry girl” Agnes Calay in the teleserye “Forevermore” that won the hearts of audiences — especially with the topic of forever.
Liza soon became one-half of the popular LizQuen tandem with her reel-to-real life partner, Enrique Gil, starring in popular shows “Dolce Amore” and “Bagani”, as well as the films “Everyday I Love You”, “My Ex and Whys”, and “Alone/Together”.
It’s easy to be captivated by her face, but the actress proved that she’s a dynamite to convey the multiple facets of her characters onscreen.
She soon decided to change the trajectory of her career, as she pursued the path towards Hollywood, as a talent of Careless Music. EDV