There are beautiful faces who come on the boob tube every now and then. Then, there are those who get to stay in the public for several years. And then there is Angel Aquino. Despite being in her early 40’s, Aquino is considered as still one of the local entertainment scene’s most beautiful faces.
Angelita Velasquez Aquino, or Angel Aquino, is not just a beautiful face. In fact, she combines that timeless beauty with intellect. Born in February 7, 1973, Aquino graduated from the University of the Philippines Bagiuo campus with a degree in Journalism. Her knack for journalism and hosting can be seen evidently through the various talk and lifestyle programs she has hosted, such as F and Us Girls in ABS CBN, both of which she hosted for six years.
However, it is acting where Angel Aquino’s brilliance truly shines. She was first introduced to moviegoers via the film Mumbaki in 1999, where she played the role of troubled Ifugao lass Dolores. Here performance in the said film was highly recognized and paved the way for more roles in many critically acclaimed films like Laro Sa Baga (2000) and Crying Ladies (2003). Aquino is also highly visible in the indie film circuit, playing major roles in such award winning pieces as Kaleldo and Donsol , both shown in 2006.
Angel Aquino also made a successful transition to TV acting. Her first major TV role was as Cecilia Sebastian in ABS CBN’s 20001 series Recuerdo de Amor. From there, Aquino would become a staple cast in the network’s many soap operas, often playing the villains. Her most memorable role to date is that of the manipulative but troubled Vera Cruz, opposite actresses Gretchen Barretto and Bea Alonzo in ABS’ 2010 drama series Magkaribal. She is also frequently cast in episodes of the network’s long running drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya, the most recent of which is the controversial 2012 episode Manika, where she played abusive mother Cora.
Aquino’s acting prowess has not gone unnoticed, being recognized several times by numerous award-giving bodies. She has been nominated several times in the Gawad Urian and FAMAS Awards. She was also awarded the Best Actress trophy at the Balanghai Awards in 2006 for her work in Donsol .
Aquino’s brilliance does not end on the screen, as she has shown that she is also able to handle her personal life as well. This is clearly shown in how she was successfully able to raise her two daughters Iana who is 17 and Thea who is 15, single handedly.
