I have spent many years of my life watching the various projects of Pokwang. She has made me laughed out loud until I have tears in my eyes and my stomach hurts.
These days, I really enjoy her YouTube videos. It’s such a refreshing thing to watch after a long day of hard work. I particularly love her recipes and how chill her family life is. She is also now active as a Kapuso appearing in many shows like Pepito Manaloto: Ang Unang Kuwento, Bubble Gang and the newest episode of Regal Studio Presents: Yaya Terror.
Here are some of the things you may not know about Pokwang.
EARLY LIFE
Pokwang was born on August 27, 1970 as Marietta Subong in Iloilo City, Philippines but has her roots in Antipolo, Rizal. She is the 7th among 11 siblings.
She had a tough life in her earlier years. She was a dancer and had worked in Japan for two years. After the country imposed stricter rules for OFWs, Pokwang tried her luck in Abu Dhabi. There, she worked as a domestic worker. During her stay there, her son was diagnosed with brain tumor. Although she raised the funds for her son’s health, she was not able to fly back to the Philippines due to her contract. With that experience, she decided to stay in the Philippines to tend to her daughter.
CAREER BEGINNINGS
Her talent in making people laugh started when she worked as a guest performer in a comedy bar. She worked for various famous comedy bars such as Funline and Music Box. Her talent was exposed nationwide when she joined the Clown In A Million, a reality talent show of Yes Yes Show, a gag television show in ABS CBN. Eventually, she won the grand champion and was signed as an exclusive contract of ABS CBN.
Since her signing with Star Magic in 2004, Pokwang has been working non-stop. She played herself in her own life story in Maalaala Mo Kaya in 2004. She was also in the fantasy television series Krystala in that year. Her first hosting stint was in 2005 in the Pinoy Big Brother Buzz. This shows that she has a knack in hosting, she then functioned as a Wowowee host from 2007 to 2010.
NOTABLE WORKS
Pokwang ventured into drama acting, hosting, entertaining but she never left her roots which is in comedy. She was in the comedy gag show Banana Sundae from 2015 to 2020, playing various characters. She was also the lead actor in the comedy-drama television show We Will Survive with Melai Cantiveros.
Throughout her career, Pokwang appeared repeatedly in the longest running drama anthology in television – Maalaala Mo Kaya playing various roles. She was also in Ipaglaban Mo and Wansapanataym.
POKIE AT THE MOVIES
Pokwang is also a bankable movie star. Some of her memorable movies include My Call Center Girl, My Illegal Wife, Elsa Woolworth, A Mother’s Story, Wang Fam, ‘D Luy Ones, Mercury is Mine and Oda sa Wala. She won a lot of acting awards due to her versatility as a comedy and drama actress.
ACCOLADES
In her decades long work in showbusiness, her talent as an actor, performer and entertainer never went unnoticed. She won her first major acting award at the 21st PMPC Star Awards for TV in 2007 for her role in Aalog-Alog, as the Best Comedy Actress. She proved her talent in comedy when she was awarded the Best Comedy Actress in 2012 from the 26th PMPC Star Awards for TV for her role in Toda Max. She was awarded her first GMMSF Box office Entertainment Awards in 2014 for the Best Marcelo Lifetime Achievement Award.
PERSONAL LIFE
Pokwang’s life is such an inspiration to all of us. Although her first born son died of a congenital brain ailment, she picked herself up and moved on with life. Love found her again years after and the fruit is a lovely doting daughter – Rie Mae. Although the two parted ways, Pokwang found her longtime partner after many years in the person of American actor Lee O’Brien. The two met while shooting a movie called EDSA Woolworth released in 2015. The two welcomed their lovely baby daughter named Malia Francine O’Brian.
There you have it, a lot of admirable facts of one of our favorite comedians of all time!
