Alessandra De Rossi

Alessandra Schiavone De Rossi, better known by her stage name Alessandra De Rossi (born on July 19, 1984 in England, United Kingdom), is an Italian-Filipino actress. She is the younger sister of actress Assunta De Rossi.

She was once overshadowed by the showbiz success of her older sister Assunta. However, her genuine ability to act allowed her to eventually outshine the former. Her career took off after exceptional portrayals in different drama films including the critically acclaimed Mga Munting Tining (Small Voices) and Homecoming, where she portrayed a Canadian-based domestic worker who visited her home in a rural town in the Philippines, bringing with her the deadly disease SARS which she spreads among the residents.

Alessandra won the part of Valentina, the villainess of the popular comic turned fantaserye (fantasy TV series), Darna, which aired on GMA network in 2005. The show fared exceptionally well in the ratings, earning her additional attention for her show stealing performance.

De Rossi’s latest offering was the Singaporean-based horror film The Maid where she played the lead role of Rosa, a housemaid in Singapore. The film was a box office hit both locally and in neighbouring Asian countries. Like her sister Assunta who posed for men's magazines (mostly FHM), Alex posed also as cover girl for April 2008 of FHM Magazine.

Iza Calzado

Iza Calzado (birth name Maria Izadora Ussher Calzado) is a Filipina actress, commercial model, and TV host who gained big attention in show business in May 2002. She's been compared to veteran actresses Hilda Koronel, Cherry Pie Picache and Loren Legarda in terms of acting.

Her biggest breaks in Philippine showbiz include teaming-up with Argentine actor Segundo Cernadas in GMA Network's Te Amo, Maging Sino Ka Man and taking the role as Amihan in Encantadia.

Before entering show business, she worked as a dubber. Iza started out as a guest teen star in the now defunct show, Click, which led to further roles. Iza won her first ever heroine role through the soap opera Te Amo with the Argentinean actor Segundo Cernadas.

Amihan the Queen of goddesses in Encantadia was the hit character she marked in 2005 for the fantasy- driven market. In that tele-fantasya she worked with other Kapuso stars like Diana Zubiri, Jennylyn Mercado, Yasmien Kurdi, Mark Herras, Karylle, Dingdong Dantes and with Cogie Domingo and Sunshine Dizon in Kung Mawawala Ka. The success of her film partnership with Dingdong Dantes was realized in Atlantika.

When it comes to dream roles Iza wants the offbeat ones just like a madwoman or drug dependent. Incidentally on her first two movies this year, Blackout with Robin Padilla who worked later in Joaquin Bordado, she would be drug dependent and "Mona" as a prostitute in Singapore.

For local counterpart she’s looking forward to working again with Piolo Pascual. They played an estrangeg couple in the flick Milan. Aside from Piolo she’d be thrilled to have a movie or TV project with Jericho Rosales, Dennis Trillo, Jay Manalo, and Victor Neri as she really marvels at their acting ability. But of course, Richard Gomez and Aga Muhlach would definitely be part of her A-list.

Calzado will be the leading lady of F4 member Ken Zhu in the movie to be filmed in Philippines, "Batanes: Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan" of Ignite Media Films, with director, Adolf Alix. Iza just finished Impostora and will be back to the country on September 23.

On January 18, 2008, Iza Calzado won the Model Star Award from the Korea Asia Model Award Festival. Freddie Aguilar received the Asia Star Award. Model Robby Mananquil got the Male Model Star Award.

Heart Evangelista

Love Marie Payawal Ongpauco, better known for her screen name Heart Evangelista, is a Filipino actress, singer, model, and VJ.

Evangelista was first discovered by a commercial agent while shopping at a mall with her sister.[citation needed] She signed up with Star Magic (formerly known as Talent Center) and was paired with John Prats on the show G-Mik. Her team-up with John Prats gained tremendous popularity, and they starred in several movies together— Trip, Ang Tanging Ina and My First Romance. They also starred on another teen-oriented show, Berks.

Evangelista was paired with Geoff Eigenmann on the primetime soap opera Hiram which also starred Kris Aquino, Dina Bonnevie, John Estrada and Anne Curtis. She earned her a Star Awards Best Actress nomination on this series.

She later starred on the fantasy-action TV show Panday.

Evangalista also won the best new female personality (Best New Movie Actress and Best New TV Actress) awards from Star Awards for Movies and Star Awards for TV. She also won Texter's and Listener's Choice at the Himig Handog Awards for her single "Love Has Come My Way". Heart also released the single "Tell Me" in Australia peaking at number 18 on the charts there.

Evangelista worked on and off for three years (2005-2008) and focused mainly on hosting gigs, starring on a few Maalaala Mo Kaya and Your Song episodes, and giving time to her foundation Heart Can. In early 2007, she renewed her ties with her mother station ABS-CBN and was under a per project basis. She finished a sineserye (TV series based on a film) for the station, the remake of the movie Hiram na Mukha, and appeared briefly on Pangarap Na Bituin. She also topbilled the reformatted version of Your Song under the title "Muntik Na Kitang Minahal".

Managed by Manila Genesis Entertainment for two years (2006-2008), she is now being managed by her father and co-managed by Annabelle Rama, Richard Gutierrez's mother.

She announced her sudden transfer to ABS-CBN's rival network, GMA Network, last April 23, 2008. She signed up a two-year exclusive contract and is now being paired with Richard Gutierrez. Their first teledrama together on GMA's upcoming Telebabad is Asero.

Kim Chiu

FRIENDSTER ACCOUNT: kimchiu19@abs-cbn.com Kimberly Sue Yap Chiu (born April 19, 1990) was born in Tacloban,Leyte[citation needed] and later transfered in Cebu City. She is a Filipino actress and model. Chiu first appeared in a reality TV show, Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition last April, 2006 and won the competition garnering more than 600,000 votes. She and third placer Gerald Anderson, with whom she had a very close friendship during her stay in the House, eventually entered showbiz and was made as a love team. Their love team was called Kimerald, a combination of their names' Kim and Gerald, by their fans. Both were given recognition and appeared on several programs on ABS-CBN and were given endorsements. Chiu starred in her first movie, First Day High and eventually given their first solo movie, still with Anderson, I've Fallen for You. Chiu and Anderson starred in their very first television series Sana Maulit Muli which was shown also in Taiwan entitled Chances and was dubbed in Mandarin and will also be shown in Cambodia.

Sana Maulit Muli is about two young lovers who discover how true love can overpower fate and destiny. Small-town girl Jasmine Sta. Maria (Kim Chiu) and Travis Johnson (Gerald Anderson), the illegitimate son of an American soldier, both meet as stowaways in a ship sailing from Cebu. They promise to write each other as they were separated but this promise is intercepted as soon as Camille Soriano (Erich Gonzales) deceives Travis by writing to him as Jasmine. In time, Travis' father dies and their family leaves for the Philippines only to meet up with both Camille and consequently Jasmine. A rocky start between Jasmine and Travis turns into friendship then real love. Jasmine learns later on of Camille's deception and soon after learns that Camille is her younger sister. In order to make amends with her sister, Jasmine gives away everything for Camille's happiness leading to the break-up. Due to the taunting of Travis' brother, a twist ensues as Jasmine dies by a bus accident.

Bea Alonzo

Phylbert Angellie Ranollo, Tisay (Tee-säy) to her family and friends, was born on October 17, 1987 to her British father and Filipina mother, Mary Ann.

Phylbert dreamt of becoming an actress and joined a hometown pageant that eventually introduced her to people who’d help her join the business. In 2001, she was launched as a member of Star Circle’s batch and debuted as Bea Alonzo.

In early 2003, Bea caused quite a stir among critics and teleserye buffs alike, receiving critical acclaim for her performance as awkward nerdy girl turned feisty law student Katrina Argos in ABS-CBN’s Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay. Her convincing portrayal of a 21-year old in spite of being only 15 at the time and her strong chemistry with on-screen partner, John Lloyd Cruz brought kilig surges to every household in the Philippines and abroad.

The overwhelming response of the “accidental teleserye couple” was unexpected. The two are now known as one of the country’s premiere loveteams, not only known for their sizzling chemistry but for their powerful acting prowess.

The media quickly took notice of her sheer talent. The Philippine Star’s columnist Ricky Lo was once quoted, “she acts with the intensity of a veteran even if she’s actually a relative greenhorn.” In Star Studio magazine’s October 2003 issue, Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay co-director Don Cuaresma exclaimed that Bea has “the masa appeal of Sharon Cuneta, the intensity of Maricel Soriano, and the acting range of Lorna Tolentino.”

People don’t really know what it is. Where she gets the spirit or the motivation for the gripping performances. Maybe it’s her obvious passion for acting, whatever it is she plays the role with such complexity, precision and depth. With her emotions mirroring in her eyes.

After Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay, she remains to be popular among teleserye fans in the Philippines and abroad with her follow-up dramas: It Might Be You and Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin. She recently finished her fourth drama with John Lloyd Cruz, Maging Sino Ka Man.

Since her movie launch, My First Romance in 2002, Bea has top-billed six more films and has constantly earned movie critics’ approvals. She continues to prove her versatility with different projects: making movies, dramas, TV appearances, hostings and endorsements.

Bea Alonzo is not just another household name, the girl is an actress. One who delivers her performances with obvious beauty and surprising maturity.