IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Mariel Padilla’s career timeline

Mariel Padilla | Images: Screengrab from YouTube, ABS-CBN Entertainment/Facebook live, Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla

With a showbiz career spanning two decades, Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla has surely ventured into every field there is, beginning with commercial modeling, video jockeying, television hosting, acting, and now a lawmaker’s wife who is also a proud online seller of luxury products on the side. 

At 15, Mariel first tried her luck in endorsements when she modeled for an American dermatology product. When she landed a part for MTV Asia’s TV show “Rouge,” the actress-host had the opportunity to also serve as a VJ for MTV Philippines. 

Despite initially signing with GMA Network as one of the regular hosts of “Extra Challenge” and appearing on the series “Love to Love” it was only in 2005 that Mariel’s career met its turning point when she transferred to ABS-CBN and became one of the original hosts of the reality series “Pinoy Big Brother” (PBB) for its many editions.

Mariel’s stint for PBB opened more doors for her to host other notable shows for the network, as well as assuming titular roles in some movie and television titles. Despite briefly leaving the network in 2015 to transfer to TV5, the former “Wowowee” host returned to ABS where she did not only return to her old post on PBB at the time, but also included “It’s Showtime” in her hosting duties until 2019.

Notwithstanding her blossoming career, the “Varga” star turned her back from showbiz to take a “indefinite leave” when she married actor-turned-politician Robin Padilla. Now Mariel’s main role as a senator’s wife and a mother to their two daughters has become her hardest duty yet.

Mariel and Robin Padilla with their daughters | Image: Instagram/@marieltpadilla

Political landscape

Over the years, the former “Entertainment Live” host faced criticism over her marriage considering Robin’s “bad boy” image and “unwanted” run for senator. In her interview with Bea Alonzo in 2022, Mariel opened up about losing friends when her husband decided to pursue a title in the political landscape. 

“This is why you really can’t [mix] politics sa friendship. Siyempre, may part na mahu-hurt ka. Okay na sa akin na hindi mo kami tinulungan pero at least, hindi ka nagsalita against us. ‘Yung nagsalita pa against us, hindi ko ‘yun matatanggap,” she remarked. 

Recently, the former Kapamilya star then received yet another backlash after making Robin’s Senate office a place to conduct her “drip session,” with Sen. Nancy Binay, chair of the Senate ethics committee, looking into the matter as it involved the “conduct, integrity and reputation” of the senate as an institution.

Vlogging and online selling

Aside from her housewife duties, Mariel found herself trying out vlogging, managing her food market shop, and fulfilling her dream to be an online seller. After the pandemic, she started to sell her pre-loved designer items online. The former “Wil Time Bigtime” host has been doing live selling on her social media accounts for almost two years now. 

“This is it! Tonight I will fulfill my dream to be an online live seller! I have been watching live sellers almost everyday haha (I swear it’s addicting!) and at 9pm tonight on my Instagram and Facebook I will go live and mga sis pwedeng pwede na kayo mag ‘MINE’ all from my personal collection,” she wrote in her announcement at the time.

For now, Mariel is keen in keeping her stay-at-home duties as she affirmed that online selling complements her responsibilities as a mother and a wife. 

“It’s so much fun mainly because I get to do what I like to do which is talking, I get to talk. But at the same time, I get to do what I’m supposed to be doing, which is taking care of my family,” said the actress-host.