# Maricel Laxa

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.
For most of her career in the 1990s 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 Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune 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, Lilet Matias: Attorney-at-Law.

## Education

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.

## Personal life

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. Ella married Enrique Lhuillier Miranda in Puerto Real Gardens, Intramuros on December 6, 2023. In October 2024, Laxa's husband Pangilinan had a successful cardiac surgery after suffering from heart valve leaks.

## Filmography
### Film

* Long Ranger and Tonton (Shooting Stars of the West) (1989)
* Elvis and James: The Living Legends! (Buhay Pa... Mukhang Alamat Na!) (1989)
* Last 2 Minutes (1989)
* Ganda Babae, Ganda Lalake (1990)
* Makiusap Ka sa Diyos (1991)
* Uubusin Ko ang Lahi Mo (1991)
* Banana Split (Basta Driver Sweet Lover) (1991)
* Buburahin Kita sa Mundo (1991) – Donna
* Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin (1992)
* Dudurugin Kita ng Bala Ko (1992)
* Iisa Pa Lamang (1992)
* Alyas Boy Kano (1992)
* Hindi Kita Malilimutan (1993) – Jocelyn
* Makati Ave.: Office Girls (1993)
* Ang Ika-Labing Isang Utos: Mahalin Mo Asawa Mo (1994)
* Bocaue Pagoda Tragedy (1995)
* Run Barbi Run (1995)
* Minsan Lamang Magmamahal (1997)
* Magic Kingdom: Ang Alamat ng Damortis (1997)
* Magkaibigan (2008)
* Litsonero (2009)
* My Lady Boss (2013)
* Hello, Love, Goodbye (2019)
* Magikland (2020)
* Ten Little Mistresses (2023)
* 1521 (2023) – Ahmani
* GG: Good Game (2024) – Iya

### Television / Digital series

| Year | Title | Role(s) | Network |
| 1990–1997 | GMA Supershow | Herself - Host | GMA Network |
| 1995–1996 | Kadenang Kristal | Aileen | GMA Network |
| 1998 | Mula sa Puso | Atty. Elaine Regalado | ABS-CBN |
| 1999 | Marinella | Jessica | ABS-CBN |
| 2005–2006 | Mga Anghel na Walang Langit | Dolores "Loleng" Bello | ABS-CBN |
| 2007 | Ysabella | Young Victoria | ABS-CBN |
| 2010 | Kokey at Ako | Dianne Reyes | ABS-CBN |
| 2020 | Paano ang Pasko? | Faith Aguinaldo | TV5 |
| 2021 | Paano ang Pangako? | Faith Aguinaldo | TV5 |
| 2021 | Daddy's Gurl | Marita | GMA Network |
| 2022 | Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune | Valerie Lim / Rosemarie Lim | GMA Network |
| 2022 | Apoy sa Langit | Gemma Monastrial / Gemma Hidalgo | GMA Network |
| 2022–2023 | The Iron Heart | Atty. Helen Gomez | Kapamilya Channel / A2Z / TV5 |
| 2023 | Can't Buy Me Love | Young Catherine | Kapamilya Channel / A2Z / TV5 |
| 2024 | Open 24/7 | Margarita | GMA Network |
| 2024 | Lilet Matias: Attorney-at-Law | Meredith "Mer" Magbanua- Simmons | GMA Network |
| 2025 | It's Okay to Not Be Okay | | Netflix |

## Awards

Laxa has won one FAMAS Award, one Gawad Urian Award, and one Star Award.
| Group | Year | Award | Result |
| FAMAS Awards | (1993) | Best Supporting Actress Iisa pa Lamang | Won |
| PMPC Star Awards for TV | 1993 | Best Comedy Actress A.T.M. | Won |
| Gawad Urian Awards | (1993) | Best Actress Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin | Nominated |
| Gawad Urian Awards | (1993) | Best Supporting Actress Iisa Pa Lamang | Nominated |
| Gawad Urian Awards | (1998) | Best Supporting Actress Minsan Lamang Magmahal Tied with Elizabeth Oropesa. | Won |
| Star Awards | (1998) | Supporting Actress of the Year Minsan Lamang Magmahal | Won |