This year, a new wave of stars rose to find their place in the spotlight. These are the artists who owned 2025 with unforgettable breakout roles and standout projects.
Fyang Smith
The Pinoy Big Brother Gen 11 Big Winner has certainly grown since winning in 2024. This 2025, she took on her first acting role as the quirky Jaja in the well-received iWant original series Ghosting, where she co-starred with fellow PBB alum and love team partner JM Ibarra. The digital series was even extended due to its popularity. The tandem also made their Metro Manila Film Festival debut together in the latest installment of the horror franchise, Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins.
Also this year, Fyang won the Best New Female TV Personality award at the PMPC Star Awards for Television.
JM Ibarra
Despite falling short of the coveted Big 4 spot, JM showed real promise as an actor. Together with Fyang, he headlined their first series, Ghosting, where JM took on dual roles: the ghost Wilberto and Gen Z photographer Macmac. He also ventured into the horror genre alongside Fyang in Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins.
But JM’s biggest break this year came with his first-ever title role in the 2025 Cinemalaya Film Festival entry, Child No. 82. In the film, he shared the screen with established showbiz names such as Vhong Navarro and Rochelle Pangilinan.
Ashtine Olviga
From her P-pop roots to her blossoming acting career, the Mutya ng Section E herself proved just how fitting she is to her title role. Coming from a well-loved Wattpad story, Ashtine took on the role of Jayjay with courage and authenticity, earning solid support.
Together with her love team partner Andres Muhlach, she also starred in their first film together, Minamahal: 100 Bulaklak Para Kay Luna, where both showcased impressive maturity as young actors.
She also earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival.
Andres Muhlach
This year, Andres proved he’s more than just showbiz royalty. In his first starring role in a digital series, he brought Keifer—the angsty heartthrob of Ang Mutya ng Section E—to life, paired opposite Ashtine.
Beyond this and their well-received film Minamahal: 100 Bulaklak Para Kay Luna, Andres is set to play Adie in Bagets: The Musical, a role originally made famous by his father, Aga Muhlach.
Capping off an impressive year, he also won Best New Male TV Personality at the PMPC Star Awards for Television.
Emilio Daez
Who could forget his story of having only “10” fans? This year proved to be very different for Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collaboration Edition’s Emilio Daez, as he gained thousands more. Even before his PBB stint, he took on his first lead role as Uno Santillan in the iWant original series Love at First Spike. He’s also currently part of the star-studded cast of the action series Roja.
Emilio also made his mark in the Metro Manila Film Festival as part of the cast of Bar Boys: After School, where he portrayed the domineering and overbearing Ziggy.
River Joseph
River is definitely a next-gen leading man to watch. He ended his Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition stint as the Fourth Big Placer alongside duo partner AZ Martinez. River played the antagonistic Parker in Love at First Spike opposite Emilio Daez. He also appeared in The Four Bad Boys and Me and had a guest role in Sins of the Father.
His biggest break, however, came when he was cast as Nadine Lustre’s leading man in Call Me Mother, portraying the charming, kind-hearted, and supportive Anton.
Brent Manalo
Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition winner Brent Manalo shone even brighter this year. Audiences may have first noticed him as Zanjoe Marudo’s brother in The Broken Marriage Vow, as well as in the iWant original Beach Bros, but his winning PBB stint allowed viewers to get to know him even better.
This Metro Manila Film Festival, Brent joined the cast of Call Me Mother, where he showcased his natural charm, sharp comedic timing, and a refreshing new side to his growing range as an actor. He is also set to star in the upcoming series The Secrets of Hotel 88.
Aside from acting, Brent also ventured into music this year, releasing his first-ever song, “What If Tayo,” a duet with Mika Salamanca. As of this writing, its music video has already garnered over 1 million views on YouTube.
Mika Salamanca
Once a controversial influencer, Mika Salamanca showed who she truly is during her Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition journey, ultimately emerging as a Big Winner alongside Brent Manalo. After PBB, Mika explored new horizons beyond her influencer image, recording her own rendition of "Sino Nga Ba Siya," originally performed by Sarah Geronimo, as well as the original song "What If Tayo," a duet with Brent.
She also marked her first Metro Manila Film Festival appearance with Call Me Mother, where she portrayed Bea, and is set to star in the upcoming series The Secrets of Hotel 88.
Bianca De Vera
Her sassy personality in the PBB house translated seamlessly on screen, as she wowed audiences with her first lead role as Savannah in Love You So Bad, earning a Best Actress nomination at the Metro Manila Film Festival.
Earlier this year, Bianca also showed another side of her range by portraying Bella in the hit Filipino adaptation of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay.
Dustin Yu
Bianca’s final duo partner in PBB Celebrity Collab edition, Dustin, also had his breakthrough year with his first-ever starring role in the MMFF entry Love You So Bad, where he played L.A. Dustin is also set to star in the upcoming series The Secrets of Hotel 88 alongside Bianca and their fellow PBB alumni. He is also part of the horror franchise Shake, Rattle, and Roll: Evil Origins.
Will Ashley
Like Dustin, Will was also part of two Metro Manila Film Festival entries in 2025. He starred alongside Bianca and Dustin in the romantic comedy Love You So Bad, where his portrayal of Vic earned him a Best Actor nomination.
Meanwhile, he also received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his performance as the hardworking law student Arvin in Bar Boys: After School. Beyond the big screen, he is set to appear in the upcoming series The Secrets of Hotel 88.
Aside from acting, Will also marked a major milestone this year with his sold-out concert, Will Ashley Live, at the New Frontier Theater.
Lucas Andalio
Rounding out the list is the Lucas Andalio, Best Child Performer of the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival, who wowed audiences and critics alike with his remarkable performance.
In Call Me Mother, he played Angelo, a charming child adopted by Vice Ganda’s Twinkle. Lucas also displayed impressive on-screen rapport in his scenes with award-winning actress Nadine Lustre, who portrayed his biological mother, Mara.
Prior to the hit film, Lucas also played the son of Baron Geisler’s Miguel in the popular action series Incognito.