Biography
Who is Angel Aquino?
Early life and education
Born in Barobo, Surigao del Sur, Angelita Grace Velasquez Aquino is the eldest of four children. Her parents originated from Pampanga. She spent her formative years in Barangka, Marikina. There, she attended elementary school. Her mother ran a home-based food business to support the family. Angel Aquino assisted in this business during her childhood to help the family manage limited financial resources.
The family environment was challenging due to the behavior of her father. She has stated she is estranged from him because he abused her mother. Later, she attended St. Bridget School in Quezon City. She received a scholarship funded by the Ateneo Scholarship TD Foundation. After high school, she enrolled at the University of the Philippines Baguio. She started in a mathematics program but switched to mass communications. She majored in journalism at that institution.
Starting a career in modeling and acting
At nineteen, filmmaker Jeffrey Jeturian discovered her at a shopping mall. He helped her arrange auditions with talent agencies. She entered the modeling industry in 1993. She worked with fashion designers such as Peter Lim and Jojie Lloren. She appeared in print and television advertisements for various products. She became the representative for the hair care brand Pantene.
Her film career began in 1996 with a small part in the action drama Mumbaki. She played an heiress of a Banaue tribe. The following year, she acted in the action drama Goodbye America. In 1998, she appeared in Sana Pag-ibig Na. She also took supporting parts in Bata, Bata... Pa'no Ka Ginawa? And Isusumbong Kita sa Tatay Ko. She began her television work as a presenter for the lifestyle show F! In 1999. She worked on this program until 2006.
Breakthrough and film work
Her breakthrough role occurred in the 2000 erotic drama Laro sa Baga. This performance earned her a Star Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 2003, she appeared in the comedy-drama Crying Ladies. This film was a Philippine submission for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards. In 2006, she starred in the drama Donsol. The film was set in Sorsogon.
She also appeared in the 2012 horror drama Amorosa as a widowed mother. In 2013, she performed in the drama film Porno and the coming-of-age story Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita. She won the Gawad Urian for Best Supporting Actress for the latter. In 2018, she starred in the erotic romance Glorious. She played a middle-aged woman involved with a younger man. She also acted in theater productions like The Vagina Monologues in 2002 and Closer in 2013.
Television roles and professional recognition
Angel Aquino established a career playing villainous characters in popular television dramas. She appeared in Magkaribal in 2010 and Maria la del Barrio in 2011. She continued this trend in Apoy sa Dagat in 2013 and And I Love You So in 2015. She also acted in Till I Met You in 2016 and Dirty Linen in 2023.
Also, she played a military intelligence officer in the action series Ang Probinsyano starting in 2017. Throughout her career, she has received various accolades. These include six Star Awards and two Golden Screen Awards. She is also a Gawad Urian winner. Beyond acting, she engages in charitable work focused on gender equality, education, and women's rights.
Birthday and age
Angel Aquino was born on February 7, 1973, which makes Angel 53 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Angel shares the date with 63 other famous people.
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