Graphics by Lance Uy / INQUIRER.net
Netizens spoke, and we listened. The time has come to vote for your favorite effortless charmer and all-around goddess.
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 fourth poll featuring our next batch of date-worthy candidates will start from 7:00 AM of Friday to 7:00 AM of Saturday — until we finally come down to the most crushable male and female stars. Make sure to vote for your favorite celebrity, because, really, YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
Effortless Charmer: Joshua Garcia
It’s common knowledge that Joshua Garcia is such a talented actor. But there’s something magnetic about his guy-next-door presence that can’t be helped but be swayed with.
Perhaps, it’s the way he communicates with his eyes or captivates with his emotions, but it’s clear that he is someone who’s worth fawning over, whether it’s on Tiktok or on TV.
His breakthrough came in the form of “Vince and Kath and James”, where he caught the eye of cinephiles with his silent appeal. However, it was “The Killer Bride” that proved his mettle as an actor wherein he proved he was there was more to him than being half of a love team.
Apart from his successful acting projects, he became quite a heartthrob among Tiktok users that the community goes wild whenever he comes online.
But in the words of one witty commentator in his post, the first step to catching a lot of hearts is probably to become as “gwapo” as him.
Effortless Charmer: Stell Ajero
In a room where his fellow members are competing in their knowledge about cacao, Stell Ajero would shout “WYAT” on the top of his lungs and ask if he can get more chocolate — prompting the room to burst into laughter.
Curious outsiders would not have a hard time finding who Stell is among the members of SB19, since he usually holds a suave persona in group photos. Visuals aside, he is also usually the one who puts a smile on someone’s face through a funny joke or just by his encouraging words.
But as soon as he steps on stage, he turns into a completely different person. Either he takes someone’s breath away with his powerful voice or smooth dance moves, fulfilling his job as the group’s main vocalist and choreographer with such ease.
Among his biggest breaks outside of the group, however, is having the opportunity to show off his vocals and princelike charm with Janella Salvador and Zephanie Dimaranan during the premiere of a popular streaming platform in the country, a testament to his star power as an individual.
There is something uniquely captivating about Stell than what meets the eye. To some, he might not be the first person who catches your attention at first glance, but he’s the type of person who captivates you completely until you’re left in a lovestruck daze — wanting to know him even more.
All-around Hosting Goddess: Anne Curtis
There are many words to describe Anne Curtis but “goddess” might be the one that fits her to a T. She may be a regular fixture in the noontime show “It’s Showtime”, but there’s so much more to her than what meets the eye.
For starters, Anne is obviously a looker. She is a favorite among editorials for her statuesque proportions and breathtaking beauty — but once she sheds off her model-like stance, she transforms into a lovable host that you can’t help but watch over and over again.
It’s known among mainstream media that “It’s Showtime” relies on the masa, and the multi-hyphenate is one of the show’s shining stars. Her infectious laugh is easy on the ears, one you can’t help but laugh along. And she also has the ability to keep up with the show’s humor even as she is able to dish superb upperclass vibes.
Of course, she is more than just a TV host. She is also an award-winning actress who can take on different roles with such grace, you can’t even imagine that she is Anne Curtis herself.
Apart from being a superstar and entrepreneur (she has her own beauty line), how she manages being a mother to her daughter Dahlia Amélie and wife to Erwan Heussaff is nothing short of being Wonder Woman.
All-around Hosting Goddess: Maine Mendoza
Even before she dabbled in show business, Maine Mendoza was already making a name for herself as a YouTube sensation. Her break came when she joined the noontime variety show “Eat Bulaga” as Yaya Dub. Her unconventional rise to fame came about after her unscripted smitten look over Alden Richards was noticed by the camera and viewers, giving birth to the phenomenal “AlDub” pairing, that up to this day — even when she is already bound to be married to actor-politician Arjo Atayde — refused to fizzle out.
But Aldub or not, Maine has proven many times that she has what it takes to stay long in the business, what with her natural humor and talent for hosting, which carries over to her being an effective endorser. The 27-year-old star showed once and for all showed that her many talents — acting, dancing, writing — can bring in the big bucks.
Maine has become something of a trailblazer in the industry. After all, it’s not everyday that someone would catch the attention of the audience by being herself. But that is simply a brand that she brought in whatever field she pursued, her genuine authenticity as well as a sincere love for the craft.
But while she lended parts of herself to the world, there’s something mysterious about her that you can’t help but want to know more about what she can offer. EDV