Jessica Soho, KathNiel among top celebrity taxpayers of 2022—here are the others
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) gave recognition to the top taxpaying personalities on March 8.
With the theme "Tulong-tulong sa pagbangon, kapit kamay sa pag-ahon. Buwis na wasto alay para sa Pilipino," the BIR is encouraging the public to fulfill their duties as Filipino citizens, whatever their respective statuses are.
Here's the list of personalities from entertainment, music, and journalism who the BIR honored at an awarding ceremony in Quezon City.
KathNiel
Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo, or KathNiel, led the group of personalities who contributed the highest taxes in 2022.
"Maraming-maraming salamat sa award na ito," Padilla said in his acceptance speech. "Maraming-maraming salamat sa dami naming binayaran na tax," he added as he and Bernardo bursted into laughter.
"Hopefully this will inspire everybody to do our responsibility bilang Pilipino," Bernardo said.
Padilla and Bernardo debuted as a love team in 2011 for the teleserye Growing Up. Their other projects include Princess and I, Got to Believe, She's Dating the Gangster, and The How's of Us. They confirmed their relationship in 2018.
Anne Curtis
Anne Curtis is an actress, model, entrepreneur, and television host. She had her showbiz debut as a child actress in Magic Kingdom: Ang Alamat ng Damortis in 1997.
Her big break came when she took the lead role in Kampanerang Kuba. She also appeared in movies like Baler, No Other Woman, and A Secret Affair. She's among the hosts of noontime variety show It's Showtime.
During the BIR event, she encouraged fellow celebrities to lead by example. She also cited her being a new mother as one of the main reasons in being a responsible taxpayer.
"I think it's important that we lead by example to the future generations," she said, "and encourage others to think about the progression of our country."
Willie Revillame
Willie Revillame's humble beginnings include being a drummer and a side character in movies, often in comic roles. He eventually made a name for himself as television host of several programs like Magandang Tanghali Bayan, Wowowee, Wil Time Bigtime, and Wowowillie, becoming a businessman in the process. He's also a singer-songwriter.
"Ang sarap sa pakiramdam na ika'y nagko-contribute sa ating bayan," he said during the BIR event. "After ng administrasyong (ito), dapat walang tigil ang pagbayad natin nang tamang buwis."
Mike Enriquez
Mike Enriquez is a veteran broadcast journalist, and is one of the faces of GMA News.
Enriquez is the Kapuso network's consultant for radio operations, as well as the president of RGMA Network Inc., the network's regional and radio subsidiary, and Super Radyo dzBB station manager.
He's known in Saksi, Imbestigador, and 24 Oras.
Jessica Soho
Kapuso's Jessica Soho is also another major player in the local journalism industry.
Soho's most popular programs include Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho and State of the Nation with Jessica Soho.
Her last major work was her one-on-one presidential interviews ahead of the May 2022 elections.
She's the recipient of multiple awards for journalism locally and internationally, including the British Fleet Street Award for Journalism and the Peabody Award.
Judy Ann Santos
Judy Ann Santos is known for being versatile in comedic and dramatic roles.
She won multiple awards for her acting, including a Cairo International Film Festival Award, Gawad Urian, FAMAS, and Metro Manila Film Festival.
Liza Soberano
Liza Soberano rose to fame when she's 12 years old.
Soberano's acting credits include Got to Believe, Forevermore, Dolce Amore, and Make it With You on the Kapamilya network.
She's now with Careless, the record label of James Reid who's also her manager. She is set to appear Hollywood film Lisa Frankenstein alongside Cole Sprouse and Kathryn Newton.
Sarah Geronimo
Sarah Geronimo earned her break after winning the Star for a Night television singing contest, landing a contract with Viva Records.
She has won several accolades for her singing, including Awit Award, Myx Music Award, Aliw Award, and FAMAS Award.
Her hits include Tala, Kilometro, How Could You Say You Love Me, and Forever's Not Enough.
Vic Sotto
Vic Sotto is one of the main hosts of Eat Bulaga!, the country's longest-running noontime variety show.
Specializing in comedy, he appeared in several television shows and movies, including Iskul Bukol, Okay Ka, Fairy Ko!, Lastikman, and Enteng Kabisote.
Sotto is also a singer who rose to fame in the late '70s as part of VST & Company.
Mel Tiangco
Mel Tiangco is considered among the pillars of GMA News. Before that, however, Tiangco served as an anchor of ABS-CBN's TV Patrol.
She's known for the programs 24 Oras, Mel & Joey, and Magpakailanman.
Michael V.
Michael V., also known as Bitoy, is a comedian known for sketch comedy Bubble Gang and sitcom Pepito Manaloto.
He's also a singer and rapper who often parodies popular OPM songs. He's also a visual artist who often does pencil sketches.
Maja Salvador
Maja Salvador made her television debut when she's 14 years old.
Her acting credits include Nagsimula sa Puso, PHR Presents: Impostor, Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin, Ina, Kapatid, Anak, The Legal Wife, Bridges of Love, FPJ's Ang Probinsyano, and Wildflower.
Bugoy Drilon
Bugoy Drilon rose to fame as a finalist of reality competition Pinoy Dream Academy.
Drilon's hit songs include Paano na Kaya, Bakit Ba, Paano na ang Puso Ko. His renditions of Rodel Naval's Muli and Matisyahu's One Day are also considered fan favorites.
He's one-third of RnB group BuDaKel with Daryl Ong and Michael Pangilinan.
Coco Martin
Coco Martin, dubbed as the "King of Philippine Television," began his showbiz career an indie actor.
Since moving to mainstream, Martin starred in teleseryes like Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin, Walang Hanggan, and Ikaw Lamang.
His most successful role is the police officer Cardo Dalisay in FPJ's Ang Probinsyano. He's now working as a star and director of FPJ's Batang Quiapo.
Niño Muhlach
Niño Muhlach became popular as a child actor in the late '70s. He's the cousin of matinee idol Aga Muhlach.
Niño became an entrepreneur in his adult years, serving as the owner of Megamelt Bakeshop that makes Muhlach Ensaymada.
Jed Madela
Jed Madela is a singer-songwriter who's the first Filipino to win the 2005 World Championships of the Performing Arts in California.
He won six gold medals, the Champion Vocalist World Star Trophy, and the Grand Champion Performer of the World title, besting over 3,000 contestants worldwide.
He has released seven studio albums, with his hits including The Past, Changes in My Life, and Didn't We Almost Have it All.
Erik Santos
Erik Santos emerged as the first grand champion of Star in a Million in 2003.
Some of his popular songs include I'll Never Go, Kung Akin ang Mundo, and Say You'll Never Go.