International celebrity Pia Wurtzbach will lead the new inductees to the German Moreno Foundation – Eastwood City Walk Of Fame (WOF) who will unveil their stars on Monday, December 10.
The Filipino film and television personalities who will be honored with their own stars include 2 movie actors, a film and television director, 2 Philippine cinema icons, an international news anchor, 2 television personalities, and the beauty queen-turned-television host, Eastwood Mall posted on their social media Wednesday following an earlier announcement by Moreno’s son Federico.
The 9 new inductees will have their names carved on a brass star and bronze plaque (patterned after the Hollywood Walk of Fame) at the Eastwood Central Plaza where Filipino celebrities have been honored with stars since Philippine entertainment’s “Master Showman” German Moreno established the WOF in 2005.
Every year a selection of celebrities who have greatly contributed to the country’s movie, television, news and public affairs, radio, music, theater industries. In its 13 years, 343 names have been given a star on the WOF including Lea Salonga, Rob Schneider, Pepe Smith, Fernando Poe Jr., Dolphy, Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, Mike Enriquez, Jessica Soho, and other local luminaries.
The 2018 honorees of the Walk of Fame are:
Pia Wurtzbach (TV)
Pia Wurtzbach ended the 42-year wait for the next Filipina to dramatically bring home the Miss Universe crown in 2015. The beauty queen has since built a career as a film actor and television host including a stint on America’s Inside Edition at Super Bowl. The Cagayan de Oro native is also the first Filipino to be honored with a wax figure at the historic Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum Hongkong.
Rico Hizon (NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
Rico Hizon, based in Singapore at the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) Asian headquarters, is the Filipino Pride in the field of international news and public affairs television. The broadcast journalist won the Asian Television Awards for his Newsday BBC news program, the first time a Filipino-anchored program won in the awards. He brought the BBC to the Philippines to document the rich Filipino culture and rare wildlife in the country for the BBC Earth’s Philippines: Island Treasures.
Director Chito Roño (MOVIE)
Chito Roño is a writer, producer, and director who is known for visionary filmmaking and has won a directing award for the film classic, “Yamashita: The Tiger’s Treasure.” The Filipino director’s most recent film, “Signal Rock” starring Christian Bables, was nominated as the Philippines’ bet to the 2019 Hollywood Oscars.
Marichu “Manay Ichu” Maceda (MOVIE)
Maria Azucena Vera-Perez Maceda, more popularly known as Many Ichu, is considered one of the matriarchs of the Philippine film industry that is celebrating its 100th year. Coming from a family that owned the film giant Sampaguita Pictures, she continued to produce Philippine classics such as “Batch ‘81” and “Dyesebel.” Many Ichu co-founded several film groups such as the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund), the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), and the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP).
Dr. Jose Perez (MOVIE)
Dr. Perez, the father of Many Ichu, was regarded as the father of the contract stars of Sampaguita Pictures, one of the biggest producers of Filipino films from the 30s to the 70s. He trained the movie stars how to present themselves in public as models of behavior and dressing up. Under Dr. Perez Sampaguita Pictures produced the most number of blockbuster movies.
Vhong Navarro (TV)
Vhong Navarro has made his mark on Philippine television as a comedian, actor, dancer, singer, and television host of ABS-CBN. He was launched and is known as the country’s “Mr. Suave.” His song ditties “Pamela” and “Totoy Bibo” are certified dance hits and Pamela was made into a movie. Navarro was first discovered by director Chito Roño as a member of the dance group Streetboys.
Derek Ramsay (MOVIE)
Derek Ramsay is a British-born Filipino model, actor, host, and former VJ who was raised in Cainta, Rizal. He won a Best Actor award from the Metro Manila Film Festival, along with several nominations for his acting skills in various competitions including the FAMAS, Luna, and PMPC awards. Ramsay is known on Philippine television as a host of The Amazing Race Philippines and Eat Bulaga, and actor in several TV dramas.
Julia Barretto (MOVIE)
Julia Barretto is a young actress known for a string of hit movies including “Love You to the Stars and Back” (2017), “Vince & Kath & James” (2016) and “For the Hopeless Romantic” (2015). Barretto is managed by ABS-CBN’s Star Magic.
Ken Chan (TV)
Ken Chan is a Filipino-Chinese actor, model and host who was part of the “Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman” program on GMA Network when German Moreno was still alive. Chan rose to fame in the award-winning television series, Destiny Rose. His roles in Tween Hearts and Meant To Be has made him a household name in the Philippines.
The legacies of the nine Filipino movie and television personalities will be immortalized on the Walk Of Fame in ceremonies to be held on December 10, 6pm at the Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City.
