# David Licauco

David Alexander Sy Licauco (Tagalog:: born June 15, 1994) is a Filipino actor, model, and businessman. He is known for portraying Malik for GMA television drama Mulawin vs. Ravena (2017), Fidel de los Reyes y Maglipol in Maria Clara at Ibarra (2022–2023), Carding in Maging Sino Ka Man (2023) and Hiroshi Tanaka in Pulang Araw (2024) aired on GMA Network and Netflix.

## Early and personal life

Born to Jolan Alexander Licauco and Eden Sy Licauco with Chinese Filipino ancestry, he is the second-oldest child. His siblings are Elan Alyssandra, Jean Arianne May, and James Daniel; the latter two are both volleyball players and have previously played for the Ateneo Blue Eagles. He is a grandson of Jaime Licauco, an internationally known parapsychologist, columnist, author, lecturer, hypnotherapist, and consultant. In 2014, he started his career in modelling after he won 1st Runner-up in Mr. and Ms. Chinatown.

### Education

Licauco finished high school at Grace Christian College. He then studied college at De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde, playing for its varsity basketball team, then graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration Major in Computer Applications in 2016.

### Health problems

On April 23, 2024, Licauco revealed on 24 Oras that he would undergo surgery for his sleep apnea that he had been enduring since July 2023. In May 2024, he successfully underwent through radiofrequency ablation.

## Career
### 2014–2016: Career beginnings

Prior to becoming a TV actor and a professional model, Licauco started modelling inside the campus for several school event posters. His modelling flair was discovered in the shores of Boracay. He then landed a modelling job via Mr. and Ms. Chinatown on ABS-CBN which opened him opportunities in modelling and acting. In the succeeding months, he walked for several fashion shows such as those of Cosmopolitan, Coca-Cola, and Bench, and graced magazine covers including Candy Magazine, Chalk Magazine, and Garage Magazine.
Although Licauco had been a constant face in fashion shows and magazine covers, in 2014 he made his acting debut in the movie The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin topbilled by Vice Ganda. In the succeeding year he made a cameo in the television series FlordeLiza aired on ABS-CBN followed by playing small roles in Ipaglaban Mo!, Magpakailanman and Karelasyon in 2016.
In all honesty, Licauco never dreamed of entering Philippine showbiz and becoming a star. In his March 2023 interview for GMANetwork.com's Kapuso Profiles, he admitted that growing up, he never considered himself "good-looking" enough to be in showbiz. "I was just an ordinary basketball player na tamad-tamad, so ’di ko lang talaga inisip talaga ’yon,”

### 2017–2021: Rising popularity

In 2017, Licauco starred in the television fantaserye Mulawin vs Ravena. After landing the role of Malik, Licauco's popularity skyrocketed, launching him into stardom. Because of this, he landed consecutive roles in the television series Kapag Nahati ang Puso and TODA One I Love.
In 2021, Licauco received his first leading role in GMA Network's romantic comedy series Heartful Café. It premiered on April 26, 2021, on the network's Telebabad line up.

### 2022–present: Breakthrough

In 2022, Licauco received his breakthrough role in Maria Clara at Ibarra where he starred as Fidel de los Reyes, the mischievous friend of the character Crisostomo Ibarra (played by Dennis Trillo) and potential love interest of Klay Infantes (Barbie Forteza). His performance was tagged by various media outlets as the "New Philippine Superstar not for his boy-next-door looks, but on-point acting skills." Licauco also sang the official theme song for the FiLay love team in the show entitled "Kailangan Kita", which was released on December 23, 2022. The theme song is under GMA Music and GMA Playlist.
On November 22, 2022, Licauco renewed his contract with Sparkle GMA Artist Center.
Licauco was a cover star of March, 2023 issues of Cosmopolitan Philippines, Mega Man Magazine and Scout magazine. He became a cover model of Summit Media's Preview Magazine October, 2023, as “new-generation matinee idol,” and L'Officiel Hommes Philippines Fall-Winter issue, November, 2023, "Balancing Act".

## Other work
### Business career

In 2019, Licauco, as entrepreneur, opened his first restaurant, Turks Shawarma in Valenzuela, Metro Manila. He is the president and CEO of DJA Fitlife Corporation, Kuya Korea Corporation, MAD Business Group, and As Nature Intended. He expanded his food and on-line businesses with His Sobra Comfort Filipino Food delivery rising to Sóbra Café in Ayala Alabang. He founded Kuya Korea and 25th Burgers chains.
Aside from restaurants, he also owns a fit-out construction company.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2014 | The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin | Anarchist | Guest role |
| 2019 | Because I Love You | Rael Tansinco | Lead role |
| 2023 | Without You | Axel | Lead role |
| 2024 | G! LU | Patrick | Lead role |
| 2024 | That Kind of Love | Adam "Mr. Perfect" de Dios | Lead role |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2015 | Flordeliza | Simon | Guest role |
| 2016 | Ipaglaban Mo! | John's friend | Guest role |
| 2016 | Magpakailanman: Ang Sundalong Magiting | Sgt. Canega | Guest role |
| 2016 | Karelasyon | Teammate | Guest role |
| 2017 | Sa Piling ni Nanay | SPO2 Alexander Jesuitas | Guest role |
| 2017 | Karelasyon | | Guest role |
| 2017 | Pinulot Ka Lang sa Lupa | Aiden | Guest role |
| 2017 | Mulawin vs. Ravena | Malik | Supporting role |
| 2018 | Kapag Nahati ang Puso | Zach Yee | Supporting role |
| 2018 | Magpakailanman: Nakawin Natin ang Bawat Sandali | Aron | Guest role |
| 2018 | Dear Uge: Isang Takong, Isang Tanong | Andrew Salvador | Guest role |
| 2019 | One Hugot Away: Walang Label | Ben | Main role |
| 2019 | TODA One I Love | Kobe Generoso | Supporting role |
| 2019 | Wish Ko Lang!: My Dream Debut | | Guest role |
| 2019 | Tadhana: Obsession | Manny | Guest role |
| 2019 | Wish Ko Lang: Against All Odds | Niño | Guest role |
| 2020 | Go! Marikina | Aldrin Kho | |
| 2021 | Magpakailanman | Richard Yap | Guest role |
| 2021 | Heartful Café | Ace Nobleza | Main role |
| 2021 | Dear Uge: Shout Up | Fiel | Guest role |
| 2022 | Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune | Anton Chan | Main role |
| 2022 | Regal Studio Presents: Isn't She Lovely | Stephen | Guest role |
| 2022 – 2023 | Maria Clara at Ibarra | Fidel Reyes y Maglipol | Supporting role (Noli Me Tangere arc) / Main role (El Filibusterismo arc) |
| 2023 | Maging Sino Ka Man | Ricardo "Carding" Macario | Main role |
| 2024 | Pulang Araw | Hiroshi Tanaka | Main role |

## Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination :
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result |
| NWSSU Students' Choice Awards | 2023 | Best Supporting Actor in a Primetime Teleserye | Maria Clara at Ibarra | Won |
| Platinum Stallion National Media Awards | 2023 | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Maria Clara at Ibarra | Won |
| PMPC Star Awards for Movies | 2021 | New Movie Actor of the Year | Because I Love You | Won |
| VP Choice Awards | 2023 | Supporting Actor of the Year | Maria Clara at Ibarra | Won |