Maricel Soriano has spent decades building a career filled with characters that have become part of Philippine entertainment history, from Separada’s advertising exec Melissa to Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy’s Pia Jackstone. In the latest episode of Rolling Stone Philippines Greatest Hits, the five-time FAMAS Award-winner looks back on the roles that shaped her journey, from her early television work in John en Marsha to the films that cemented her status as the “Diamond Star.”
One of the roles Soriano revisits in the episode is Shirley, the daughter of the titular characters (played by Dolphy and Nida Blanca) in the sitcom John en Marsha, which ran from 1973 to 1978 and returned from 1980 to 1990. Beyond comedy, Soriano also reflects on the dramatic performances that showcased her range as an actress. In Kaya Kong Abutin Ang Langit, she played Clarissa Rosales, an ambitious “bida-kontrabida” whose complexity became one of the film’s highlights.
Looking back on her prolific years with Regal Entertainment, she recalls how filmmakers recognized her growing impact: “Noong mga panahon na ‘yon, kapag gumagawa ako ng pelikula sa Regal — e alam niyo namang sa isang taon, parang nakaka-sampung pelikula ako na pinapalabas — natutuwa sila kasi nagiging part na ako ng istorya, at nandun na nandun ako talaga.”
Soriano also revisits her work with director Chito S. Roño, beginning with the 1994 film Separada, in which she starred alongside Edu Manzano. The film became one of her most memorable projects, known for its sharp dialogue and emotional portrayal of a marriage falling apart. “Maganda ‘yung mga linyahan doon. Tsaka hindi ka mangangapa kasi true-to-life ‘yung mga nangyayari,” she says. She also remembers Manzano as a fun presence on set: “He’s very funny ‘pag nasa set, si Edu, masayahin.” Her performance earned her the Star Award for Movie Actress of the Year in 1995.
She would work with Roño again in 1995’s Dahas, where she played newlywed Luisa, opposite Richard Gomez’s Jake, in a performance that won her the FAMAS Award for Best Actress in 1996. “If your director is Chito Roño, hindi mo makakalimutan ang lines mo, ang role mo, promise,” she says. She also looks toward the next generation through her recent film Meet, Greet & Bye, where she starred with Piolo Pascual, Joshua Garcia, Belle Mariano, and JK Labajo as her children. “Napapaiyak ako minsan dahil sabi ko, ‘Napaka-blessed ko naman na nakatrabaho ko ‘tong mga batang ‘to.’”
The latest episode of Rolling Stone Philippines Greatest Hits is available to watch on our YouTube channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rolling Stone Philippines Greatest Hits is a video series where notable Filipino personalities revisit the roles, works, and cultural moments that defined their careers. Episodes are available on the Rolling Stone Philippines’ YouTube channel.
Soriano revisits several key roles including Shirley in John en Marsha, Melissa in Separada, Clarissa Rosales in Kaya Kong Abutin Ang Langit, and Luisa in Dahas — spanning decades of Philippine film and television.
Maricel Soriano is a five-time FAMAS Award winner. Her role in Separada earned her the Star Award for Movie Actress of the Year in 1995, and Dahas won her the FAMAS Award for Best Actress in 1996.
Soriano collaborated with Chito S. Roño on Separada (1994) and Dahas (1995). She has credited Roño’s direction as a key reason she never forgot her lines or characters in those projects.
Maricel Sorian’s most recent film in Greatest Hits is 2025’s Meet, Greet & Bye, in which she stars alongside Piolo Pascual, Joshua Garcia, Belle Mariano, and JK Labajo. Soriano has described working with the younger cast as one of the more meaningful experiences of her later career.
