Top 10 Leading Ladies of Philippine Entertainment

The rise of the teleserye as a vehicle for up and coming leading ladies has never been stronger as it currently is. Gone are the days where there were leading ladies in movies exclusively. The game now, is to be on teleseryes AND movies. It was a trend that must have started with Judy Ann Santos and Claudine Barretto, who starred in teleseryes made into movies. They've graduated to another level altogether, passing the baton, so to speak, to a new generation. We've truly entered a new era of leading ladies.

To come up with the list, I considered not only the success of their movies and television shows, but also looked at their influence, by way of the endorsements they currently have.

1. Sarah Geronimo
The Why: She's truly built a very strong brand for herself. She stands as the only true star that can be considered a triple threat. She sings, dances, and acts. She 's headlined sold out concerts, movies and has also starred in her fair share of television shows. While one can nitpick and say she has yet to prove herself in a drama, few can lay claim to truly establishing this goofy comedy she seems most comfortable in
Brands that trust her star power: Sunsilk, Cebuana Lhuillier, Robitussin, Elaia, 555 Corned Tuna, Lucky Me Pancit Canton, Belo Essentials, Globe Tattoo, Jollibee, Selecta Fortified Milk
Where did we see her? ASAP XV, A Very Special Love 1 and 2, Pangarap na Bituin, Hating Kapatid, Idol (upcoming series)

2. Marian Rivera
The Why: Out of the top three, she might have the most endorsements. She's proven herself to be a very dependable TV star with almost all her shows rating well. Her tandem with Dingdong Dantes has proven the test of time and the audience seems to want more and more of their love story. While one can say she has yet to prove herself in being a bankable movie star, she has proven that even without that star under her sleeve, she's gained the trust of marketers to endorse their brands, most probably because of her undeniable beauty.
Brands that trust her star power: Maxipeel, SM Residences, Jag Jeans, San Miguel Light, San Marino, Honda, Natasha, Phoenix Gasoline, Gran Matador, PLDT Touch Card, PLDT Landline Plus, Talk ‘N Text
Where did we see her? Darna, Marimar, Dyesebel, Endless Love (current series)

For the rest of the list, click the read more link!



3.  Kim Chiu
The Why: She started out as the winner of a reality competition that launched her to stardom. Her tandem with Gerald Anderson, like the Marian-Dingdong love team, has probably one of the most devoted fanbase. The force of Kimerald has lorded over TV and recently, even movies! Their home network has started to build and strengthen the two individually, with more projects that pair them with other stars. Like the Top 2 leading ladies, she's cornered the teen market category.
Brands that trust her star power: Rejoice, Whisper, Voice, Cherry Mobile, Payless, Nescafe
Where did we see her? Sana Maulit Muli, My Girl, Tayong Dalawa, Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo, Bcoz of You, Paano na Kaya

4. Anne Curtis
The Why: We've seen her grow from her nene days in TGIS and Anna Karenina to the Dyosa she has become now. Her undeniable beauty and appeal remain bankable for her home network. It also helps that while she is in a masa industry, she's maintained her upper class appeal, and this is proven by being the first Filipina endorser of the French hair care brand, L'Oreal.
Brands that trust her star power: L'Oreal Paris Hair Care, Whisper, GSM Blue, Swatch, myPhone, Greenwich Lasagna,Natasha
Where did we see her? Hiram, Maging Sino Ka Man, Dyosa, When Love Begins, Baler, Babe I Love You, Showtime (current show), Green Rose (upcoming series), In Your Eyes (upcoming movie)

5. Angelica Panganiban
The Why: While her star waned when she was transitioning from her pacute days, she's risen again thanks to her reinvention of her sexy image to the sexy comedienne that can do drama too! Her beauty has never been questioned and it was always a question of where she'd fit in, and it seems she's found her niche in the business. It definitely helps that her success in her personal life bolsters her star power.
Brands that trust her star power: Del Monte Pineapple Tidbits, Pantene Conditioner, the Bar, TM, Swatch, Bench, Naughty or Nice Cologne
Where did we see her? A Love Story, I Love You, Goodbye, Here Comes the Bride, Iisa Pa Lamang, Banana Split (current gag show), Rubi (current series)

6. Angel Locsin
The Why: Many might question her high rank in this list. Many will say that since her move from GMA to ABS-CBN, she's lost some shine in that star of hers and isn't even seen much on any screen. But given that situation, she's still a go-to-person of many brands. She's traversed her sexy image (FHM' Sexiest anyone?), the action star (Lobo), and her humanitarian causes, which has probably gotten her more screen time in the past couple of years.
Brands that trust her star power: Head & Shoulders, Folded & Hung, Myra 400E Lotion, Century Tuna
Darna, Majika, Mulawin, Asian Treasures, Lobo, Only You, Imortal (upcoming series)

7. Bea Alonzo
The Why: For such a young woman, she's always played characters older than her age. But that hasn't stopped her from achieving the success, she's been experiencing. Before there was Kimerald, there was the John Lloyd-Bea love team. The two have teamed up to catapult numerous primetime teleseryes and box-office hit movies. In recent years, they've started to branch out into other pairings and stand on their own star. 
Brands that trust her star power: Angel Evaporated Milk, 4G, Kashieca, Greenwich Pizza
Where did we see her? It Might Be You, Now That I Have You, One More Chance, Miss You Like Crazy, Maging Sino Ka Man, I Love Betty La Fea, Magkaribal (current show)

8. Rhian Ramos
The Why: GMA defintely lacks leading ladies in their stable, but they're definitely lucky they have Rhian Ramos. She's young, fresh, and even though she lacks a constant love team, it has given the station enough flexibility to pair her with their more numerous leading men. And she exhibits this flexibility in the genres she's starred in. In the next couple of years, she's bound to get bigger, as her studio develops her into a more bankable leading lady.
Brands that trust her star power: Palmolive Soap, PLDT MyDSL, HTC, Sabella
Captain Barbell, LaLola, Zorro, Stairway to Heaven, Kaya ng Powers (current show), Ilumina (upcoming series)

9. Heart Evangelista
The Why: Heart is still as pretty as ever. But since her relationship with Jericho Rosales and its end, she hasn't found the spark that catapulted her into an endorsement and teleserye machine again. If one had to track her career, by this time, she should have equaled or surpassed Anne Curtis. But the Fates had a different plan for her. She's slowly building her career in GMA, and hopefully the network finds a suitable pair for her. I just don't think pairing her with Mark Herras will help her cause though. What does separate her from many of her contemporaries is that she's done it all. She's been a host, singer, television and movie actress. And she was successful in all those areas. 
Brands that trust her star power: Olay Natural White, Missy by Bayo
Where did we see her? Hiram, Panday, Codename: Asero, Luna Mystika, Full House, Langit sa Piling Mo

10. KC Concepcion
The Why: In the short time since she was launched as the new star to watch for, she's come a long way already. She started with those movies with Richard Gutierrez, and then made her way into the Primetime Bida lineup via the Pinoy adaptation of Lovers in Paris. Now, she's helming a morning talkshow and shares hosting duties in The Buzz. She's released successful solo albums too. What's fascinating about this young lady's career is that she's attracted brands to her even before she had TV shows! It definitely helps that she's the only daughter of Gabby Concepcion and Sharon Cuneta, who were the love team of the '80s. But I can't rate her any higher because she lacks the projects to back up a higher ranking. 
Brands that trust her star power: Palmolive, Bayo, Garnier, UN World Food Programme
Where did we see her? For the First Time, When I Met U, Lovers in Paris, I'll Be There, The Buzz (current show), Simply KC (current show)

Waiting in the wings: Cristine Reyes, Maja Salvador, Erich Gonzales, Andi Eigenmann, Carla Abellana
In a league of their own: Judy Ann Santos, Claudine Barretto

How would you rank them?