# Angelu de Leon

Maria Luisa "Angelu" De Leon-Rivera (born August 22, 1979), better known by her stage name Angelu de Leon, is a Filipino actress and politician.

## Early and personal life

Angelu de Leon is the youngest daughter of Luis and Flora de Leon. She attended St. Joseph's College, Holy Spirit and Siena College. She made her first commercial, without her father's knowledge, when she was just ten years old. Her father eventually gave his blessing to her acting career before his death from colon cancer.
De Leon became a born again Christian and is an active member of a church in Ortigas where she has attended for a number of years.
In 2016, De Leon disclosed that she had been diagnosed with Bell's palsy in 2009.
De Leon is married to Lorenzo “Wowie” Rivera. They married on September 17, 2010. They have three children together: Nicole, her daughter with actor Joko Diaz; Loise, her daughter with businessman Jojo Manlongat; and Rafa, her son with husband Wowie.

## Acting career

De Leon started acting on television at the age of 12. She was discovered by Johnny Manahan for a kiddie gag show Ang TV, aired on ABS-CBN. Among her batchmates were Claudine Barretto, Jolina Magdangal and Rica Peralejo. After about a year on the said youth-oriented comedy variety-show, she transferred to GMA Network, where she became part of Ober Da Bakod with Janno Gibbs and Anjo Yllana. In the same year, she became a talent of Viva Films, with Di Na Natuto as her theatrical debut. During her early years, she mostly played younger sister to more established stars. In 1994, she bagged her first major role in Kadenang Bulaklak, where she starred alongside Ana Roces, Vina Morales, and Donna Cruz.
In 1995, de Leon got her break when she was included in teen oriented shows like T.G.I.S. (Thank God It's Sabado) and Growing Up with Onemig Bondoc, Ciara Sotto, Raven Villanueva, Michael Flores, Rica Peralejo and Red Sternberg. She became the highest-paid actress on T.G.I.S. These shows gave her a chance to team up with Bobby Andrews, and their partnership became one of the hottest onscreen love teams of her generation in the mid-1990s. Among the noted Angelu-Bobby team-up movies were: Takot Ka Ba Sa Dilim, T.G.I.S.: The Movie, Laging Naroon Ka and Wala Na Bang Pag-ibig, as well as their first drama series Ikaw Na Sana, which was also turned into a movie.
In 1998, at the peak of her career, de Leon became pregnant by fellow Viva talent Joko Diaz. This caused her to go on maternity leave, with projects lined up for her either shelved or passed on to other young stars. A year later, she made a comeback on film, this time bagging mature roles in Bulaklak ng Maynila and Abandonada. Her career was put on hold again when she got pregnant again in 2001 by businessman Jojo Manlongat. Among the films she starred outside Viva were 'Elmer Jamias and Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita.
In late 2001, de Leon started bagging mother roles, beginning with Sana ay Ikaw na Nga. In 2006, she went back to GMA's rival station ABS-CBN, where she played supporting roles, including Super Inggo, its sequel Super Inggo 1.5: Ang Bagong Bangis and Parekoy.
In 2010, she returned to GMA with Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang, starring Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes. It was for her work in the said soap that she was given rave reviews, complemented with the fact that she was back to her sexy figure and can give other young actresses a run for their money. de Leon is a talent of Viva Artists Agency since 2021.

## Political career

De Leon entered into politics when she filed her candidacy for councilor in Pasig's 2nd district for the May 2022 polls under Aksyon Demokratiko. She was included in the Giting ng Pasig coalition of Mayor Vico Sotto. She garnered 138,427 votes, making her as the topnotcher councilor for Pasig's 2nd district.

## Filmography
### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 1992–1993 | Ang TV | Various roles | ABS-CBN |
| 1993 | Home Along Da Riles | Episode Guest | ABS-CBN |
| 1994 | Ober Da Bakod | Kuting | GMA Network |
| 1995–1997 | T.G.I.S. | Ma. Patrice "Peachy" Real-Torres née da Silva | GMA Network |
| 1997–1999 | Growing Up | Ma. Patrice "Peachy" Real-Torres née da Silva | GMA Network |
| 1997–1998 | Ikaw na Sana | Blanca Rosales Perez / Susan Saavedra | GMA Network |
| 2000–2001 | May Bukas Pa | Irene Buencamino | IBC/RPN |
| 2001–2003 | Sana ay Ikaw na Nga | Agnes Consuelo Villavicer | GMA Network |
| 2003–2004 | Buttercup | Cloe | ABS-CBN |
| 2004 | Te Amo, Maging Sino Ka Man | Colette Camacho | GMA Network |
| 2006–2007 | Super Inggo | Pacita Jacinto | ABS-CBN |
| 2007 | Super Inggo 1.5: Ang Bagong Bangis | Pacita Jacinto | ABS-CBN |
| 2009 | Parekoy | Angelique | ABS-CBN |
| 2009 | Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang | Heleen Barrientos | GMA Network |
| 2010 | The Last Prince | Mayang | GMA Network |
| 2010 | Love Bug Presents: Exchange of Hearts | Fina | GMA Network |
| 2010–2011 | Koreana | Nerissa Rosales-Jung | GMA Network |
| 2011 | Sisid | Alicia Cordelia | GMA Network |
| 2012 | Hindi Ka na Mag-iisa | Jordana Montenegro | GMA Network |
| 2012–2013 | Teen Gen | Ma. Patrice "Peachy" Real-Torres née da Silva | GMA Network |
| 2013 | Pyra: Babaeng Apoy | Merly Lucente | GMA Network |
| 2014 | Niño | Leny Inocente | GMA Network |
| 2015–2016 | Buena Familia | Bettina Agravante-Buena / Sally Rosales | GMA Network |
| 2016 | Encantadia | Amanda Reyes-Quizon | GMA Network |
| 2017 | Mulawin vs. Ravena | Lourdes | GMA Network |
| 2017 | Road Trip | Herself / Guest | GMA Network |
| 2018 | Sirkus | Liza | GMA Network |
| 2018 | The Stepdaughters | Brenda Salvador | GMA Network |
| 2018 | Inday Will Always Love You | Rica | GMA Network |
| 2019 | Inagaw na Bituin | Aurora Mendoza-Dela Cruz | GMA Network |
| 2021 | Di Na Muli | Grace | TV5 |
| 2024 | Pulang Araw | Carmela Borromeo | GMA Network |

### Talk show

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 2003–2004 | Celebrity DAT Com | Host | IBC |

### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1993 | Di Na Natuto | Elisa |
| 1993 | Kadenang Bulaklak | Daisy Abolencia / Tricia Hidalgo |
| 1994 | Ober da Bakod: The Movie | Kuting |
| 1994 | Forever | Cindy Valdez |
| 1995 | P're Hanggang Sa Huli | Jing-jing |
| 1995 | Okey si Ma'am | Ida |
| 1995 | Jessica Alfaro Story | Lorraine |
| 1996 | Takot Ka Ba sa dilim? | Carly |
| 1996 | Where 'D' Girls 'R' | Demetria |
| 1997 | T.G.I.S: The Movie | Ma. Patrice "Peachy/Pancakes" Real |
| 1997 | Isinakdal Ko Ang Aking Ina | Karen Ilagan |
| 1997 | Wala Na Bang Pag-ibig | Gemma Caringal |
| 1997 | Laging Naroon Ka | Patricia Gomez/Tricia/Trixie |
| 1998 | Ikaw na Sana: The Movie | Blanca |
| 1998 | Ang Lahat ng Ito'y Para Sa 'yo | Catherine Mendoza/Cathy |
| 1999 | Bulaklak ng Maynila | Ada |
| 2000 | Col. Elmer Jamias: Barako ng Maynila | Goody Ramirez Jamias |
| 2000 | Bukas na Lang Kita Mamahalin | Abigail Mansueto/Abby |
| 2000 | Abandonada | Cindy |
| 2002 | D' Uragons | Claudia |
| 2003 | www.XXX.com | Doray/Habibi |
| 2004 | Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita | Maura |
| 2008 | Paupahan | Angela San Pedro |
| 2009 | Status: Single | Wanda |
| 2009 | Hellphone | Cate |
| 2011 | Tween Academy: Class of 2012 | Luisa |
| 2013 | Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy | Rhea |
| 2014 | Echoserang Frog | Madam Berta |
| 2020 | Pakboys Takusa | Selina |
| 2024 | Sunny | Chona |

## Awards and nominations
### Acting awards

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 1999 | Metro Manila Film Festival | Best Supporting Actress | Bulaklak ng Maynila | Won |

### Other awards

| Year | Award | Category |
| 1993 | Guillermo Mendoza Scholarship Foundation | Darling of The Press for Kadenang Bulaklak |
| 1998 | Guillermo Mendoza Scholarship Foundation | Teenage Queen for T.G.I.S. and Growing Up |
| 1998 | Guillermo Mendoza Scholarship Foundation | Most Popular Love Team for T.G.I.S. and Growing Up |
| 2009 | YES! Magazine | 100 Most Beautiful Stars Year 2009 |

### Nominations

| Year | Award | Category |
| 1999 | FAMAS | Best Supporting Actress for Bulaklak ng Maynila |
| 1999 | Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress for Bulaklak ng Maynila |
| 2000 | FAP Awards | Best Actress for Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin |
| 2000 | Parangal ng Bayan Awards | Best Young Actress for Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin |
| 2000 | FAP Awards | Best Supporting Actress for Abandonada |
| 2000 | Star Awards | Best Supporting Actress for Abandonada |
| 2004 | FAMAS | Best Supporting Actress for Aishite Imasu 1941: Mahal Kita |
| 2011 | Empress Golden Screen Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress for Sisid |
| 2011 | Empress Golden Screen Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Single Drama Untold Stories : Anak ng Aliw |