Maricel Laxa

In this Philippine name for married women, the birth middle name or maternal family name is dela Cueva, the birth surname or paternal family name is Laxa, and the marital name is Pangilinan.

Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan
Born
Maria Cecilia dela Cueva Laxa

(1970-02-25) February 25, 1970 (age 54)
Pasay, Rizal, Philippines
Years active1989–present
Spouse
Anthony Pangilinan
​
(m. 1993)​
[1]
Children5 (including Donny)
Parent(s)Tony Ferrer (father)
Imelda Ilanan (mother)
RelativesKiko Pangilinan (brother-in-law)
Sharon Cuneta (sister-in-law)
Kakie (niece)
Gary Valenciano (brother-in-law)
Gab Valenciano (nephew-in-law)
Espiridion Laxa (uncle)

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 has done 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 returned to ABS-CBN as she starred in the action drama, The Iron Heart. In 2024, She went back to GMA Network again to starred 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 (brother of Kiko 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] In October 2024, Laxa's husband Pangilinan had a successful cardiac surgery after suffering from heart valve leaks.[6]

Filmography

Film

Television / Digital series

Year Title Role(s) Network
1990–1997 GMA Supershow Herself - Host GMA Network
1995–1996 Kadenang Kristal Aileen
1998 Mula sa Puso Atty. Elaine Regalado ABS-CBN
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 TV5
2021 Paano ang Pangako?
Daddy's Gurl Marita GMA Network
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 Kapamilya Channel / A2Z / TV5
2023 Can't Buy Me Love Young Catherine
2024 Open 24/7 Margarita GMA Network
Lilet Matias: Attorney-at-Law Meredith "Mer" Magbanua- Simmons
2025 It's Okay to Not Be Okay Netflix

Awards

Laxa has won one FAMAS Award, one Gawad Urian Award, and one Star Award.[8]

Group Year Award Result
FAMAS Awards (1993) Best Supporting Actress

Iisa pa Lamang

Won
PMPC Star Awards for TV 1993 Best Comedy Actress

A.T.M.

Won
Gawad Urian Awards (1993) Best Actress

Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin

Nominated
Best Supporting Actress

Iisa Pa Lamang

Nominated
(1998) Best Supporting Actress

Minsan Lamang Magmahal Tied with Elizabeth Oropesa.

Won
Star Awards (1998) Supporting Actress of the Year

Minsan Lamang Magmahal

Won


References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Corp, ABS-CBN. "EXCLUSIVE: Actress-Author Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan On What It Takes To Get Parenting, And Parenthood, Right". Metro.Style. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  3. ^ "Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan, Donny Pangilinan pay tribute to Tony Ferrer". Manila Bulletin. January 24, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  4. ^ "Maricel Laxa gives birth to 5th child". ABS-CBN News. July 15, 2011. Archived from the original on January 26, 2020.
  5. ^ Llemit, Kathleen (December 13, 2023). "Belle Mariano attends wedding of Donny Pangilinan's sister". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  6. ^ Severo, Jan Milo (October 17, 2024). "Donny's father Anthony Pangilinan underwent successful heart surgery". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "Awards for Maricel Laxa". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved July 29, 2007.