| Alex Gonzaga-Morada | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma Mater: | University of Asia and the Pacific(BS) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Name: | Catherine Cruz Gonzaga | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Date: | 16 January 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth Place: | Taytay, Rizal, Philippines | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years Active: | 2006–present | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives: | Paul Soriano (brother-in-law) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Family: | Toni Gonzaga (sister) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Catherine Cruz Gonzaga-Morada (pronounced as /tl/; born January 16, 1988), professionally known as Alex Gonzaga, is a Filipino media personality, host, comedian, actress, businesswoman, singer and vlogger.[1] She played the lead role of Diane Santos on the Philippine television drama series Pure Love.[2]
Alex Gonzaga was born Catherine Cruz Gonzaga on January 16, 1988, in Taytay, a first-class densely populated municipality of Rizal, to spouses Crisanta "Pinty" Cruz and then-incumbent Vice-Mayor Carlito "Bonoy" Gonzaga. Her elder sister is TV host and actress Toni Gonzaga.
Alex graduated from the University of Asia and the Pacific with a Bachelor of Science in Child Development and Education.[3]
In November 2016, Gonzaga began dating Lipa City councilor Michael "Mikee" Morada.[4] On January 16, 2020, Gonzaga announced on Instagram that she and Morada were engaged.[5] On January 17, 2021, Gonzaga announced on her YouTube channel that she and Morada have been married in a private wedding at the Gonzaga residence in Taytay since November 2020.[6]
In a vlog uploaded to her YouTube channel on October 24, 2020, Gonzaga and her family tested positive for COVID-19, and she shared how they recovered from the virus.[7]
In 2021, Gonzaga was pregnant with her first child, until she suffered a miscarriage.[8] In October 2023, she suffered a second miscarriage.[9] [10]
Gonzaga started her career on ABS-CBN for the sitcom, Let's Go!, where she played the role of Alex, which also became her personal nickname. Her role lasted until the series' fourth season called Gokada Go!. After her departure from the sitcom, she was cast in different dramas on the same network, such as Pangarap na Bituin, Your Song and My Girl.[11] [12]
In 2008, Gonzaga transferred to TV5 and became one of the hosts for the talk show, Juicy!. She played a lead role in the 2011 soap opera Babaeng Hampaslupa. Further roles on the network include BFGF, P.S. I Love You and Enchanted Garden.[13] [14]
Gonzaga returned to ABS-CBN in April 2013.[15] [16] She was a co-host for the Philippine version of The Voice.[17] She also served as a guest host for the Philippine version of Big Brother on its All In season. During the pilot episode of PBB: All In, Gonzaga was revealed to be the third and final celebrity housemate to enter the Pinoy Big Brother house, following collegiate athlete Michele Gumabao and actress Jane Oineza. She was given the title as "Sassy Sister ng Rizal".[18] During a diary room session with Big Brother, Gonzaga turns out to be actually a celebrity houseguest and was tasked to avoid revealing the information to the other official housemates.[19] After staying in the Big Brother house for two months, she returned to the "outside world" on June 14, 2014, and she was replaced by internet sensation Cheridel Alejandrino, also known as "Elevator Girl". Gonzaga went on to play her most major role as the lead character Diane Santos in the hit drama series Pure Love, a Philippine adaptation of Korean drama 49 Days, co-starring Yen Santos.[20] Pure Love aired from July to November 2014.[21] [22]
She was also part of the comedy gag show Banana Split, and also starred in the drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya for two episodes.[23] She then released her novel book Dear Alex, Break na Kami. Paano? Love Catherine (2014), under ABS-CBN Publishing, Inc.[24] The novel received positive reviews from fans and critics alike, most complimenting the novel's "break-up" concept and enjoying its humor.[25] A film adaption for the novel was reported to be in the works, with Gonzaga sharing interest in casting Luis Manzano, John Lloyd Cruz and Piolo Pascual for the film adaption.[26]
She was also cast on her first film under Star Cinema, The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin (2014), one of the official entries to the 40th Metro Manila Film Festival.[27] [28] [29] The film was commercially successful and achieved the milestones for having the highest-gross on opening day of any local film[30] and the title of being one of the highest-grossing local film of all time in the Philippines. The film received mixed to negative reviews from critics. Zig Marasigan from Rappler described the film in his movie review as "a brainless, hyper-stylized and utterly ridiculous family comedy."[31]
Gonzaga released her debut studio album I Am Alex G. (2015) with the studio album's lead hit single, "Panaginip Lang", under Star Music. The studio album had a grand launch at Eastwood Central Plaza on March 22, 2015,[32] and a concert,[28] AG from the East: The Unexpected Concert, which was later on held at the Araneta Coliseum to support her studio album on April 25, 2015. She had another major project as the lead star of the fantasy series Inday Bote,[33] [34] [35] [36] a TV adaptation of the classic Filipino film of the same title.[35] [37] She also took hosting duties in the original, local dance competition show Dance Kids, alongside Robi Domingo.[38] [39]
After the shutdown of ABS-CBN and loss of the network's franchise, Gonzaga returned to TV5 and was one of the main hosts of Brightlight Productions's variety show Lunch Out Loud (Tropang LOL), which aired from October 2020 to April 2023.[40]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | I've Fallen For You | Samantha | Film debut | |
| 2014 | The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin | Gundina Galamiton | Official entry for the 40th Metro Manila Film Festival | |
| 2015 | Buy Now, Die Later | Chloe Narciso | Official entry for the 41st Metro Manila Film Festival | |
| 2016 | My Rebound Girl | Rocky | ||
| 2018 | Nakalimutan Ko Nang Kalimutan Ka | Jaz Cruz | ||
| Everybody Loves Baby Wendy | Wendy | iWant film | [41] | |
| Mary, Marry Me | Mary Anne "MA" Lagman | Official entry for the 44th Metro Manila Film Festival | ||
| 2020 | Love the Way U Lie | Stacey Likauko | Netflix Film and Viva Films | |
| 2021 | The Exorsis | Daniella "Dani" Raymundo Morales | Viva Films; official entry for the 47th Metro Manila Film Festival | [42] |
| 2022 | The Entitled | Belinda Buenavista | Netflix Film | [43] |
| Year | Title | Role | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–2007 | Let's Go! | Alex Sy | |
| 2007 | Gokada Go! | ||
| Pangarap na Bituin | Chorva Ayala-Gomez | ||
| Your Song Presents: Sana Ngayong Pasko | Anna | ||
| 2008 | My Girl | Christine | |
| Your Song Presents: Without You | Jen | ||
| Mars Ravelo and Jim Fernandez's Tiny Tony | Michelle | ||
| Maynila | Various roles | ||
| 2008–2009 | Lokomoko | ||
| Your Song Presents: My Only Hope | Cefelita "Fifi" Madrigal | ||
| 2009–2010 | Everybody Hapi | Cathy | |
| 2010–2011 | BFGF | Maria Claridad "Claring" Malinao | |
| 2011 | Babaeng Hampaslupa | Grace Mallari Wong / Elizabeth Wong-See | |
| Regal Shocker: Piano | Amanda | ||
| 2011–2012 | P. S. I Love You | Andrea Tuazon | |
| 2012 | Regal Shocker: Manananggal | Rina | |
| 2012–2013 | Enchanted Garden | Diwani Olivia / Aya Malfora | |
| 2013 | Toda Max | Laila | |
| Maalaala Mo Kaya | Various roles | ||
| 2013–2015 | Banana Split | ||
| The Voice of the Philippines | Host | ||
| 2013–2020 | ASAP | Host / Performer | |
| 2014 | House guest | ||
| The Voice Kids | Host | ||
| Pure Love | Diane Santos | ||
| 2015 | Pablo S. Gomez's Inday Bote | Inday Catacutan | |
| 2015–2016 | Dance Kids | Host | |
| 2016 | Pasión de Amor | Jenny (finale episode) | |
| Game ng Bayan | Host | ||
| 2017 | I Can Do That | ||
| 2017–2020 | I Can See Your Voice | Sing-vestigator | |
| 2018 | Star Hunt: The Grand Audition Show | Host | |
| 2018–2019 | |||
| 2019–2020 | Home Sweetie Home: Extra Sweet | Mikee Montes | |
| 2020 | The Voice Teens | Host | |
| 2020–2023 | Lunch Out Loud | ||
| 2021–present | Alex Asks | Host |
| Year | Director(s) | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Panaginip Lang" | 2015 | Andrei Antonio | [44] | |
| "Break Na Tayo" | Jasper Salimbangon | [45] | ||
| "Unbound" | 2016 | Frannk Lloyd Mamaril | [46] | |
| "Chambe" | 2018 | Jasper Salimbangon | [47] | |
| "Chambe" | [48] | |||
| "Sissums" | [49] | |||
| "Tipints" | 2019 | Fifth Solomon | [50] | |
| "Please Lang" | Jasper Salimbangon | [51] | ||
| "G" | [52] | |||
| "Amfee" | [53] | |||
| "Amfee" | [54] | |||
| "Amfee" | [55] | |||
| "WKT" | 2021 | Alex Gonzaga and Edrex Clyde Sanchez | [56] |
| Details | ||
| I Am Alex G. |
|
|---|
| + List of singles, showing year released and album name | Title | Year | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| As lead artist | ||||
| "Panaginip Lang" | 2015 | I Am Alex G. | ||
| "Break Na Tayo" | ||||
| "Chambe" | 2018 | |||
| "Sissums" | Mary, Marry Me OST | |||
| "Tipints" | 2019 | |||
| "Please Lang" | Himig Handog | |||
| "Amfee" | rowspan=2 | |||
| "WKT" | 2021 | |||
| As featured artist | ||||
| "Unbound" | 2016 | |||
| + List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions and album name | Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PH | |||||
| Hit Chart [57] | Pinoy [58] | ||||
| "Panaginip Lang" | 2015 | 8 | 6 | I Am Alex G. | |
| "Chambe" | 2018 | 8 | 5 | rowspan="3" | |
| "Tipints" | 2019 | — | 16 | ||
| "Amfee" | — | 16 | |||
| Year | Award Giving Body | Category | Nominated Work | Results | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 27th PMPC Star Awards for TV | Best Comedy Actress | Banana Nite | ||
| Best Talent Search Program Hosts | The Voice Kids | ||||
| Anak TV Awards | Makabata Stars | ||||
| 2014 | 28th PMPC Star Awards for TV | Best Talent Search Program Hosts | The Voice of the Philippines | ||
| Best Comedy Actress | Banana Nite | ||||
| 2016 | 12th USTv Awards | Students' Choice of Reality/Game Show Host | The Voice Kids | ||
| Anak TV Awards | Makabata Stars | ||||
| 2019 | MOR Pinoy Music Awards | LSS Hit of the Year | "Chambe" | ||
| PMPC Star Awards for Music | Female Recording Artist of the Year | ||||
| Song of the Year | |||||
| 2020 | Eastwood City Walk Of Fame | Celebrity Inductee | rowspan="4" | ||
| PUSH Awards | Popular Digital Star | ||||
| 2nd VP Choice Awards | YouTuber of the Year | ||||
| CICP Spotlight Awards | YouTube Superstar | [59] |