| Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan | |
| Birth Name: | Maria Cecilia dela Cueva Laxa |
| Birth Date: | 25 February 1970 |
| Birth Place: | Pasay, Rizal, Philippines |
| Yearsactive: | 1989–present |
| Spouse: | [1] |
| Children: | 5 (including Donny) |
| Parents: | Tony Ferrer (father) Imelda Ilanan (mother) |
| Relatives: | Kiko Pangilinan (brother-in-law) Sharon Cuneta (sister-in-law) Kakie (niece) Gary Valenciano (brother-in-law) Gab Valenciano (nephew-in-law) Espiridion Laxa (uncle) |
Maria Cecilia "Maricel" dela Cueva Laxa-Pangilinan (born February 25, 1970) is a Filipino actress. She won Best Supporting Actress awards in the 1992 FAMAS Awards and Star Awards for her role in the 1992 film Iisa Pa Lamang.[2] [3]
For most of her career in the 90s she has done films with Regal Films and two films with Star Cinema. She appeared in some television series such as Marinella (1999–2001) and Ysabella in 2007. In 2020-2021 she resumed acting in TV5 and portrayed Faith Aguinaldo in the drama Paano ang Pasko and Paano Ang Pangako (Second Season) in 2021. In 2022, Laxa returned to GMA Network to portray Valerie Lim in and Gemma Monastrial in Apoy sa Langit. She returned to ABS-CBN as she starred in the action drama, The Iron Heart. In 2024, She went back to GMA Network again to starred in the legal drama series,
Laxa attended primary school at St. Theresa's College in Quezon City, De La Salle Santiago Zobel School in Muntinlupa, and Assumption Antipolo. She attended secondary school at Assumption College in Makati. She graduated with a degree of B.S. Social Sciences at the University of the Philippines Manila and earned her Master's Degree in Family Life and Child Development at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She has a doctorate degree as well.
Laxa is married to Anthony Pangilinan (brother of Kiko Pangilinan) and the couple has five children namely Ella, Donny (also an actor), Hannah, Benjamin and Solana.[4] Ella married Enrique Lhuillier Miranda in Puerto Real Gardens, Intramuros on December 6, 2023.[5]
| 1990–1997 | GMA Supershow | Herself - Host | GMA Network | |
| 1995–1996 | Kadenang Kristal | Aileen | ||
| 1998 | Mula sa Puso | Atty. Elaine Regalado | ABS-CBN | |
| 1999 | Marinella | Jessica | ||
| 2005–2006 | Mga Anghel na Walang Langit | Dolores "Loleng" Bello | ||
| 2007 | Ysabella | Young Victoria | ||
| 2010 | Kokey at Ako | Dianne Reyes | ||
| 2020 | Paano ang Pasko? | Faith Aguinaldo | TV5 | |
| 2021 | Paano ang Pangako? | |||
| Daddy's Gurl | Marita | GMA Network | ||
| 2022 | Valerie Lim / Rosemarie Lim | |||
| Apoy sa Langit | Gemma Monastrial / Gemma Hidalgo | |||
| 2022–2023 | The Iron Heart | Atty. Helen Gomez | Kapamilya Channel / A2Z / TV5 | |
| 2023 | Can't Buy Me Love | Young Catherine | ||
| 2024 | Open 24/7 | Margarita | GMA Network | |
| 2024–present | Meredith "Mer" Magbanua- Simmons | |||
| 2024 | It's Okay to Not Be Okay | Netflix |
Laxa has won one FAMAS Award, one Gawad Urian Award, and one Star Award.[7]
| Group | Year | Award | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAMAS Awards | (1993) | Best Supporting ActressIisa pa Lamang | ||
| PMPC Star Awards for TV | 1993 | Best Comedy ActressA.T.M. | ||
| Gawad Urian Awards | (1993) | Best ActressIkaw ang Lahat sa Akin | ||
| Best Supporting ActressIisa Pa Lamang | ||||
| (1998) | Best Supporting ActressMinsan Lamang MagmahalTied with Elizabeth Oropesa. | |||
| Star Awards | (1998) | Supporting Actress of the YearMinsan Lamang Magmahal |