| Birth name | Maria Cecilia dela Cueva Laxa |
|---|---|
| Birth date | February 25, 1970 (age 56) |
| Birth place | Pasay, Rizal, Philippines |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Spouse | Anthony Pangilinan (m. December 1993)[1] |
| Father | Tony Ferrer |
| Relatives | Espiridion Laxa (uncle) Kiko Pangilinan (brother-in-law) Sharon Cuneta (sister-in-law) Gary Valenciano (brother-in-law) Paolo Valenciano (nephew-in-law) Gab Valenciano (nephew-in-law) Kiana Valenciano (niece-in-law) Gab Pangilinan (niece-in-law) Josh Buizon (nephew-in-law) Kakie (niece-in-law) |
Maria Cecilia "Maricel" dela Cueva Laxa-Pangilinan (born February 25, 1970) is a Filipino actress. She won Best Supporting Actress awards in the 1992 FAMAS Awards and Star Awards for her role in the 1992 film Iisa Pa Lamang.[2][3]
For most of her career in the 1990s, she did films with Regal Films and two films with Star Cinema. She appeared in some television series such as Marinella (1999–2001) and Ysabella in 2007. In 2020-2021 she resumed acting in TV5 and portrayed Faith Aguinaldo in the drama Paano ang Pasko and Paano Ang Pangako (Second Season) in 2021. In 2022, Laxa returned to GMA Network to portray Valerie Lim in Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune and Gemma Monastrial in Apoy sa Langit. She transferred to ABS-CBN as she starred in the action drama, The Iron Heart. In 2024, she returned to the GMA Network to star in the legal drama series, Lilet Matias: Attorney-at-Law.
Education
Laxa attended primary school at St. Theresa's College in Quezon City, De La Salle Santiago Zobel School in Muntinlupa, and Assumption Antipolo. She attended secondary school at Assumption College in Makati. She graduated with a degree of B.S. Social Sciences at the University of the Philippines Manila and earned her Master's Degree in Family Life and Child Development at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She has a doctorate degree as well.
Personal life
Laxa is married to Anthony Pangilinan and the couple has five children namely Ella, Donny (also an actor), Hannah, Benjamin and Solana.[4] Ella married Enrique Lhuillier Miranda in Puerto Real Gardens, Intramuros on December 6, 2023.[5]
Filmography
Film
- Long Ranger and Tonton (Shooting Stars of the West) (1989)
- Elvis and James: The Living Legends! (Buhay Pa... Mukhang Alamat Na!) (1989)
- Last 2 Minutes (1989)
- Ganda Babae, Ganda Lalake (1990)
- Makiusap Ka sa Diyos (1991)
- Uubusin Ko ang Lahi Mo (1991)
- Banana Split (Basta Driver Sweet Lover) (1991)
- Buburahin Kita sa Mundo (1991) – Donna
- Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin (1992)
- Dudurugin Kita ng Bala Ko (1992)
- Iisa Pa Lamang (1992)
- Alyas Boy Kano (1992)
- Hindi Kita Malilimutan (1993) – Jocelyn
- Makati Ave.: Office Girls (1993)
- Ang Ika-Labing Isang Utos: Mahalin Mo Asawa Mo (1994)
- Bocaue Pagoda Tragedy (1995)
- Run Barbi Run (1995)
- Minsan Lamang Magmamahal (1997)
- Magic Kingdom: Ang Alamat ng Damortis (1997)
- Magkaibigan (2008)
- Litsonero (2009)
- My Lady Boss (2013)
- Hello, Love, Goodbye (2019)
- Magikland (2020)
- Ten Little Mistresses (2023)
- 1521 (2023) – Ahmani[6]
- ' (2024) – Iya
Television / Digital series
| Year | Title | Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1990–1997 | GMA Supershow | Herself - Host |
| 1995–1996 | Kadenang Kristal | Aileen |
| 1998 | Mula sa Puso | Atty. Elaine Regalado |
| 1999 | Marinella | Jessica |
| 2005–2006 | Mga Anghel na Walang Langit | Dolores "Loleng" Bello |
| 2007 | Ysabella | Young Victoria |
| 2010 | Kokey at Ako | Dianne Reyes |
| 2020 | Paano ang Pasko? | Faith Aguinaldo |
| 2021 | Paano ang Pangako? | |
| Daddy's Gurl | Marita | |
| 2022 | Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune | Valerie Lim / Rosemarie Lim |
| Apoy sa Langit | Gemma Monastrial / Gemma Hidalgo | |
| 2022–2023 | The Iron Heart | Atty. Helen Gomez |
| 2023 | Can't Buy Me Love | Young Catherine |
| 2024 | Open 24/7 | Margarita |
| Lilet Matias: Attorney-at-Law | Meredith "Mer" Magbanua- Simmons | |
| 2025 | It's Okay to Not Be Okay | Olivia Jose |
Awards
Laxa has won one FAMAS Award, one Gawad Urian Award, and one Star Award.[7]
| Group | Year | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAMAS Awards | (1993) | Best Supporting Actress Iisa pa Lamang | |
| PMPC Star Awards for TV | 1993 | Best Comedy Actress A.T.M. | |
| Gawad Urian Awards | (1993) | Best Actress Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin | |
| Best Supporting Actress Iisa Pa Lamang | |||
| (1998) | Best Supporting Actress Minsan Lamang Magmahal Tied with Elizabeth Oropesa. | ||
| Star Awards | (1998) | Supporting Actress of the Year Minsan Lamang Magmahal |
References
- ^ Fernandez, Maritoni (July 1, 1993). "December wedding for Maricel and Anthony". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. p. 21.
The wedding is to be held this coming December in a scenic, romantic spot in San Mateo, which is just a little past Marikina.
- ^ Corp, ABS-CBN. "EXCLUSIVE: Actress-Author Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan On What It Takes To Get Parenting, And Parenthood, Right". Metro.Style. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
- ^ "Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, Donny Pangilinan pay tribute to Tony Ferrer". Manila Bulletin. 2021-01-24. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
- ^ "Maricel Laxa gives birth to 5th child". ABS-CBN News. July 15, 2011. Archived 2020-01-26 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Llemit, Kathleen (December 13, 2023). "Belle Mariano attends wedding of Donny Pangilinan's sister". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ Purnell, Kristofer (June 3, 2023). "Trailer for '1521' starring Bea Alonzo, Danny Trejo, Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan finally drops". Philstar.com. Manila, Philippines: Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
The release of '1521' coincides with the 125th anniversary celebration of Philippine independence on June 12, 2023.
- ^ "Awards for Maricel Laxa". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2007-07-29.
External links
- Maricel Laxa at IMDb