Maricel Soriano
The Diamond Star

Forget the title – it’s, basically, merely a response to the need to give her some form of moniker a la Megastar for Sharon Cuneta, Superstar for Nora Aunor, and Star for All Seasons for Vilma Santos.  Because this woman, born Maria Cecilia Dador Soriano on February 25, 1965, and who had been acting since she was six (My Heart Belongs to Daddy, 1974), is a chock-full of achievements.

And she’s a campy funny, in a bitchy kind of way, too (she’s not called taray queen for nothing), endearing her to everyone who’s ever wanted to be as frankly honest about everything – gays, most particularly.

Soriano, or Maria, as her fans call her lovingly, developed her comic skills under Dolphy, considered the king of comedy of the country, and the late Nida Blanca, herself a renowned comic AND drama actress, whom she acted with in TV situational comedy John En Marsha, the country’s longest running sitcom.  She, however, became a star with her films including Hinugot sa Langit (under National Artist Ishmael Bernal), Minsan May Isang Ina, Saan Darating ang Umaga?, Teenage Marriage, Kaya Kong Abuting Ang Langit, Pinulot Ka Lang sa Lupa, and Babaing Hampaslupa.  Her collections of awards, including two Asian TV Awards as Best Comedy Actress, and two FAP awards, two FAMAS, and two PMPC Star Awards for her drama performances, came from the likes of Ikaw Pa Lang ang Minahal; Vampira, Separada; Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin; Inagaw Mo ang Lahat sa Akin; Dahas; Ama, Ina, Anak; Abot-Kamay ang Pangarap; Minsan Lamang Magmamahal; Nasaan ang Puso?; and Soltera.

A little known fact is that Soriano, who has two sons (Marion and Sebastian), also tried singing – but while she had a gold single (Ngayon at Habang Panahon, penned by Tito Sotto) and a sold out concert at the Araneta Coliseum titled Hello, Hello Maricel in 1987), she is still known for her contribution to the Philippine cinema, where she shone the brightest.