Maricel Soriano


Maricel Soriano is a Filipina film and television actress. She has starred in numerous films covering different genres including comedy, fantasy, horror, suspense, action, romance and drama. She was named the "Diamond Star" of Philippine Cinema. She was also hailed as the Comedy Queen, Drama Anthology Queen, Taray Queen, Dancing Queen and Reyna Ng Mga Bakla. She made the songs I Am What I Am, Give Me Just A Little More Time,A Night To Remember, Rico Mambo and Shake Body Dancer famous because of her continuous and excellent performances using these songs. Those are also her signature songs. Her film Inagaw Mo Ang Lahat Sa Akin was an official entry to the Oscar's in 1995. She is the third most awarded actress of all time.
In addition to being an actress, Soriano is also a singer and has recorded several songs. In 1987, she performed a sold out concert titled "Hello, Hello Maricel" at the Araneta Coliseum.
Besides her acting work, Soriano has also been a recording producer, owning Diamond Star Records in 1994 with Manny Valera and dissolved later on. One of her recording groups was Civil Eyes from 1994 to 1998.

Biography

Dubbed as the 'Diamond Star' in the Philippine entertainment industry with 108 movies and several television awards from various award-giving bodies such as FAMAS, PMPC, Empress, FAP, YCC, Pasado, GMMSFP, MMFF, Manila, Iloilo and Cinemanila Film Festivals. She was also known as 'Taray Queen' for her feisty roles in movies, where she's usually loud and energetic at the same time.
Soriano started acting at the age of six in the 1971 film My Heart Belongs to Daddy with Tirso Cruz III and fellow child actress Snooky Serna. She was brought by her paternal grandmother to Sampaguita Pictures search for a child actress who will portray Tirso Cruz, III's younger sister. With her dancing, singing and acting skills, she grabbed the part.
Soriano developed her comic skills under the guidance of the late Dolphy and the late Nida Blanca, one of the country's top caliber actors, both of whom she considered as second parents, especially when she grew up acting in John en Marsha where she was a regular cast.
In the 1980s, she was launched to full stardom as one of the Regal Babies along with Snooky Serna, Dina Bonnevie, Gabby Concepcion, Albert Martinez, Alfie Anido, Jimi Melendez and her loveteam partner, William Martinez. Her 1985 film Hinugot sa Langit, produced by Regal Films and directed by national artist Ishmael Bernal, is now considered as one of the classics of Philippine cinema.
She was also named as "Drama Anthology Queen" in the early 1990s because of her successful weekly drama show topped the primetime ratings game since its airing in October 1986. After two years, she with sister Maria Victoria and former manager Manny Valera established Excellent Productions and took the helm of producing the show. The drama show lasted for ten years and was awarded by the Catholic Mass Media Awards in 1988 and 1989 and the KBP's Golden Dove Media Awards in 1992 and 1993 as outstanding drama anthology. As main performer, she received Star Award's best actress for drama honors in 1988, 1989 and 1992.
In September 2009, Soriano appeared in Florinda, the third and final episode of Sineserye Presents: The Susan Roces Cinema Collection.
In 2010, Soriano guested in Pilyang Kerubin where she played a mother who gives to her children; this was her first GMA Network show.
In 2017, she returned on ABS-CBN to do some projects.

Success and fame

Soriano started her showbiz career as a child star in 1971, appearing as the kid sister of Tirso Cruz III in Sampaguita Pictures' "My Heart Belongs to Daddy". Appearing in a cameo role which lasted only for only 15 minutes, Soriano's screen presence in the film made an impact as she showed her singing, dancing and acting talent. She was seen in various films in the early 70s like "Dalawang Mukha ng Tagumpay", "Somewhere over the Rainbow", "Lady Luck", "Captain Barbel" and was billed simply as Maricel. However in 1974, she took home the best child actress statuette in the 9th Manila Film Festival by playing the child of Boots Anson Roa and Dante Rivero. In 1973, Ading Fernando noticed her flair for comedy and cast her immediately as Shirley Puruntong, the street-smart, strong-willed yet funny daughter of John and Marsha Puruntung. The sitcom became a huge hit that movie franchises followed in 70s, 80s and 90s. It was in the Iloilo Film Festival in 1974 that she bagged another best child actress for the movie version of "John en Marsha". She also starred in "Kaluskos Musmos" in 1978 as the feisty newscaster Jacklyn Pusit, Farrah Pusit's grandchild. It was in 1980, Soriano was the second choice to play the lead in "Katorse" after former child actress Snooky Serna turned down the offer. Since Soriano was not yet ready for daring roles, she begged off and opted to do instead, "Underage" in the same year. Soriano was re-launched into full stardom via Regal Films' Underage, where her thespian talent and charisma shone brightest among the lead stars of the movie. Her tandem with William Martinez was launched via the hit movie Oh My Mama in 1981. She was considered the top 'Regal Baby' in the 1980s and 1990s prompting the Regal matriarch, Lily Monteverde to quip, "Regal without Maricel is nothing".

Versatility

Unmatched in the history of Philippine Cinema, Soriano has the most number of comedy films, from John en Marsha in 1973 to I Will Survive in 2004. Her Inday installment films are all landmarks in the comedy arena. Some of her dramatic films are now considered classics, most notable of which are Saan Darating Ang Umaga?, Kaya Kong Abutin Ang Langit, Hinugot sa Langit, Pinulot Ka Lang sa Lupa, Babaeng Hampaslupa, Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal, Inagaw mo ang lahat sa akin, Abot Kamay ang Pangarap , Soltera, Mila, Filipinas and Inang Yaya. Her action-oriented films with action superstars are all certified hits starting with the record-breaking Batang Quiapo until her last in 1998's Sige Subukan Mo.
Soriano is also considered the 'Dancing Queen' of the 1980s, and her signature dance numbers, "I Am What I Am", "Body Dancer", "Rico Mambo, Angela Clemmons' "Give Me Just a Little More Time" and Shalamar's "A Night to Remember", among others have continued to be associated with her even to this very day. While not a professional singer, she even managed to record two songs, the theme song of the movie, Oh, My Mama! and the gold record hit "Ngayon at Habang Panahon". Aside from a sold out concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum entitled "Hello, Hello Maricel" in 1987, she has appeared in hit concerts locally and abroad in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The TV icon

Aside from being the Diamond Star of Philippine Cinema, she was also named as the Drama Anthology Queen because of her Maricel Drama Special whose very successful and superb. Aside from successfully conquering the movie scene, Soriano duplicated her feat on television with a variety of shows. From the sitcom John en Marsha, she also starred in Kaluskos Musmos and Kuskos Balungos, youth oriented programs in the 1970s. She has appeared in musical variety shows, a drama anthology, comedy shows, soap operas and John En Shirley, where she is reunited with Dolphy and Susan Roces.
The Diamond Star can be considered foremost a progeny of television and her face has continued to become a staple in the small tube. Even with her short hiatus in making movies, Soriano was consistently seen in the longest-running drama anthology which was named after her, and the reprisal of the role of Shirley Purontong brought her into full circle as a certified icon in Philippine TV.
She has received two awards from the Asian TV Awards as Best Actress in a Comedy Show aside from her two awards for the same category from the Philippine Movie Press Club. The PMPC honored her with six awards as Best Actress in a Drama Anthology in 1988, 1989 and 1992 and Best Actress for Drama in a Soap Opera 2006 and 2010 and Best Actress for Drama in Single Performance in 2017.
The Society of Entertainment thru their Golden Screen Awards for TV, the OFW Kakampi Awards and the EduKCircle TV Awards gave her the Best Actress for Drama trophies for her compelling performance in GMA-7's Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real in 2014 and GMA 7 City Hunter in 2021
A sought after celebrity endorser, she has endorsed a wide variety of products and is considered one of the most credible among the elite group of endorsers. She is reported to lend her name only with those products she believes in and uses it as well. Her endorsements as a child started in 1974 with Breeze laundry powder and Bear Brand powder milk with Nida Blanca. She also appeared in the print ads of Libby's Pork and Beans and Newton's Coco Spread. Her appeal to consumers help catapult a number of products to gain a sizable share of the market, most notably: Ever Gotesco Malls, Modess, Green Cross Alcohol & Soap, Whisper, Alaska, Globe, Swift Spaghetti & Corned Beef, Loviscol, McDonald's, Jollibee, Mr. Clean, Breeze, Minola, Fiesta Spaghetti, Golden Fiesta Cooking Oil, Aji Ginisa, Vaseline shampoo, Argentina Corned Beef, DOH's Newborn Screening, Quick Chow Noodles and Saucy Me.
Her TVC with Jollibee in the mid-90s with Cesar Montano, made the catch phrase, "Correct ka dyan" famous. As well as, the strong line, "Ang mikrobyo hindi bine-beybi, pinapatay!" for Green Cross Alcohol in the late 90s. Same thing with the catchphrase, "Mauulit ito, Madalas!" with Mcdonalds Hamburger TVC during the mid-90s. She is formerly signed to GMA Network and is currently under Viva Artist Agency and ABS-CBN.

The Movie Queen

With her film output already reaching the millennium mark and a range of films unsurpassed by all other actresses, she is one of the few bestowed by filmdom with this title. The Diamond Star has practically worked in all the major film outfits in the industry, appeared with every major star, and set acting standards and box office records.
She is the third most awarded film actress of all time with 19 trophies to boost from various legitimate award giving bodies such as FAMAS, PMPC, Empress, FAP, YCC, Pasado, GMMSFP, MMFF, Manila, Iloilo and Cinemanila Film Festivals. Aside from these, Soriano has received other acting awards from various sources such as fan magazine publishing companies and people's choice awards.
In 2006, Soriano was back with Regal Films as the lead star of Bahay Kubo, a movie intended for the 2007 Metro Manila Film Festival.

Personal life

Maricel Soriano was born in Pasay City to Linda Dador and Victor Soriano. Her family initially lived in Makati and she and her sister, Maria Victoria "Becbec" attended St. Mary's Academy in Pasay City for their grade school education. But when her family transferred to Kamuning, Quezon City, she attended Trinity University of Asia, CEU High School and OB Montessori. Due to her hectic schedule, she was unable to finish her secondary education. However, according to interviews, if she did not become a movie star, she would probably become a stewardess or a teacher. However, she is a computer-literate person adept at designing accessories, T-shirts, cards, certificates, stationeries. She and sister with erstwhile manager Manny Valera established Excellent Productions in 1990, but was later renamed Diamond Star Productions, Inc. taking over the weekly production of her TV drama show when Regal Films decided to discontinue. It was renamed "The Maricel Soriano Drama Special" with her sister as executive producer while she is the line producer. The same production outfit was responsible for TV sitcoms -"Kaya ni Mister, Kaya ni Misis", "Mary D'Potter" and "Bida si Mister, Bida si Misis" and the film Kung Kaya Mo, Kaya Ko Rin with Cesar "Buboy" Montano. She also opened Mr. Melody, a sing-along bar in Quezon City and Diamond Star Records. Previously married to Edu Manzano from 1989 to 1991. She has two sons, Marron Soriano and Sebastien Soriano. Aside from her sister, who is the mother of actress Meryll Soriano, she has brothers Michael "Mykee" Martinez and former child actor cum business entrepreneur Mel Martinez.

Discography

Soriano recorded a few songs in the 1980s including the gold single "Ngayon at Habang Panahon" penned by Tito Sotto and the theme song of her movie Oh, My Mama! in 1981.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

Soriano has received a number of awards, most notable of which are the two Asian TV Awards as Best Comedy Actress, and three FAP awards, three FAMAS and five PMPC Star Awards for her drama performances. In 1974, she received her first award as Best Child Actress at the age of nine at the 9th Metro Manila Film Festival for Virgo Film's Alaala mo, Daigdig ko. She won her second acting award at the 1974 Ilo-ilo Film Festival for the movie version of the TV sitcom John En Marsha which later became the longest-running Philippine sitcom. She received four consecutive nominations for FAMAS Awards in the years 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997. Her 1995 film, Inagaw Mo Ang Lahat sa Akin, produced by Reyna films was the official Philippine entry to the 1996 Oscar awards. In 1999, she was named as one of the Top 100 Stars of Philippine Cinema All-Time by Manila Times and in 2005 she was listed by the Director's Guild of the Philippines as one of the Top 15 Best Actresses of All Time. On January 5, 2008, she won the Best Actress award for Bahay Kubo at the Metro Manila Film Festival; this is her 3rd Best Actress prior to 1997's Nasaan ang Puso and 2003's Filipinas. Soriano also won in the 38th Box Office Queen and King Entertainment Awards as Film Actress of the Year for her performance in A Love Story.

International awards

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Local awards

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Other awards

Film and Television Achievement Awards

OFW Kakampi Awards

2015 BEST ACTRESS Ang Dalawang MRS. REAL

ENPRESS Golden Screen TV Awards

Nominated

Best Drama Actress || Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real
28th PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Actress in a single performance Kulungan Kanlungan
27th PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Actress in a single performance Baldadong Puso
PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Actress in a single performance MMK: Sing-along Bar
5th Best Drama Actress for TV Best Drama Actress || Maricel Regal Drama Special and Maricel Soriano Drama Special

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