TANYA GARCIA has been in showbusiness majority of her life. She had worked across numerous networks, was paired with various leading men and played plentiful protagonist and antagonist roles throughout her career.
As a veteran actress, who has almost three decades worth of work in the industry, I grew up idolizing her. Undoubtedly, she for me, is one of the pretty faces in the industry. Aside from that, she also really acts well.
I had followed her career throughout the years and latterly, I have been extremely excited that she is back with GMA Network with another promising television drama, in a rather interesting role. As she gears to return with GMA, let’s look back at her career and find out some of the things you may not know about Tanya Garcia-Lapid!
EARLY LIFE
Tanya was born as Tanya Katherine Rosales Lyttle on August 5, 1981 in Manila, Philippines. Her parents separated when she was seven years old and has half siblings on her father side. On her mother side, show business runs in the family. Tanya is actually the granddaughter of Carmen Rosales, the great movie queen back in her days. Her maternal grandfather was Pete Rosales.
CAREER BEGINNINGS
She entered the entertainment industry at a young age. Her television debut was in a commercial when she was just ten years old. She was accidentally discovered when she accompanied a friend to audition for a role. Tanya was then launched as part of ABS CBN’s Talent Center’s Star Circle Batch 5 in 1997. It was the great Mr. M (Johnny Manahan) who discovered her.
She was casted in a soap opera – Esperanza led by Judy Ann Santos that same year. She played the role of Andrea Estreta. Judy Ann’s character’s sister and a supporting role and also appeared in the teen-oriented show ‘Gimik’.
BREAKTHROUGH
She transferred to the rival network, GMA Network and landed various supporting roles. From 1998 onwards, she appeared in shows such as GMA Love Stories, GMA Telecine Specials, Campus Romance, Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin and Anna Karenina.
But when Tanya Garcia landed the role of Cecilia Fulgencio / Margarita Zalameda in one of GMA Network’s longest running soap opera, Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga, she immediately became a household name. Her love team with Dingdong Dantes were one of the largest and most famous tandem in her time. Her popularity as an artist and their hit pair up made her GMA-7’s Soap Opera Queen.
The two also starred in the romance comedy series Twin Hearts, where they are joined by Dennis Trillo and Karylle.
PROJECTS WITH OTHER NETWORKS
Tanya has been appearing in numerous drama series and shows in numerous networks – intermittently appearing in QTV( for her shows Baywalk in 2005 and Noel in 2006), TV5 ( in Rod Santiago’s The Sisters in 2011) and GMA Network in various years for projects like Makita Ka Lang Muli and Now and Forever: Agos (2006), Amaya (2011), Super Twins (2007), Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga (2012), Villa Quintana (2013) and Strawberry Lane(2014).
She transferred to ABS CBN in 2015 and started her acting stint there in the anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya, episode Computer Shop. For two years (2015-2016) she appeared in the comedy drama series Ningning. This was followed in a role in the action, fantasy series La Luna Sangre in 2017. 2018 was a busy year for her as she landed roles in the dramas The Blood Sisters and Asintado.
FAMILY LIFE
Tanya married former Pampanga Governor Mark Lapid, the son of Senator Lito Lapid, in a civil wedding held on July 30, 2010 at Marissa Hall in Porac, Pampanga. The couple currently resides in Porac, Pampanga with their three kids Mischa Amidala, Matilda Anika, and Madeleine Ariana.
RECENT PROJECTS
Currently, Tanya is gearing up to be back with GMA Newtork with the show Babawiin ko ang Lahat. The show stars the Filipina teen actress Pauline Mendoza as Iris Allegre Salvador. Tanya will play the role of Christine Allegre-Salvador. Her other costars include Carmina Villaroel, John Estrada, Kristofer Martin and Dave Bornea.
Are you equally excited? The drama premiers this Monday and I couldn’t be happier to see my idol back with GMA! Let me know what are your thoughts with the first episode, yeah?
