Maria Cecilia "Maricel" Ilanan Laxa-Pangilinan (born February 25, 1970) is a Filipino actress. She won Best Supporting Actress awards in the 1992 FAMAS Awards and Star Awards for her role in the 1992 film Iisa Pa Lamang.
For most of her career in the 1990s, she did films with Regal Films and two films with Star Cinema. She appeared in some television series such as Marinella (1999–2001) and Ysabella in 2007. In 2020-2021 she resumed acting in TV5 and portrayed Faith Aguinaldo in the drama Paano ang Pasko and Paano Ang Pangako (Second Season) in 2021. In 2022, Laxa returned to GMA Network to portray Valerie Lim in Mano Po Legacy: The Family Fortune and Gemma Monastrial in Apoy sa Langit. She transferred to ABS-CBN as she starred in the action drama, The Iron Heart. In 2024, she returned to the GMA Network to star in the legal drama series, Lilet Matias: Attorney-at-Law.
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Education
Laxa attended primary school at St. Theresa's College in Quezon City, De La Salle Santiago Zobel School in Muntinlupa, and Assumption Antipolo. She spent her teenage years in the United States, where she attended Palisades Charter High School (then known as Pali High School) in Los Angeles, California.. Maricel graduated with a degree of B.S. Social Sciences at the University of the Philippines Manila and earned her Master's Degree in Family Life and Child Development at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She has a doctorate degree in Theology from the College for Global Deployment in Washington State as well.
Personal life
Laxa is married to Anthony Pangilinan and the couple has five children namely Ella, Donny (also an actor), Hannah, Benjamin and Solana. Ella married Enrique Lhuillier Miranda in Puerto Real Gardens, Intramuros on December 6, 2023.. According to UPLB, Maricel is a columnist and motivational speaker on women’s empowerment, parenting, and spiritual development. Alongside her husband, she co-founded the “Intentional Parenting” advocacy, a program that equips Filipino families with practical tools to build strong, values-based homes.
Filmography
Film
Long Ranger and Tonton (Shooting Stars of the West) (1989)
Elvis and James: The Living Legends! (Buhay Pa... Mukhang Alamat Na!) (1989)
Last 2 Minutes (1989)
Ganda Babae, Ganda Lalake (1990)
Makiusap Ka sa Diyos (1991)
Uubusin Ko ang Lahi Mo (1991)
Banana Split (Basta Driver Sweet Lover) (1991)
Buburahin Kita sa Mundo (1991) – Donna
Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin (1992)
Dudurugin Kita ng Bala Ko (1992)
Iisa Pa Lamang (1992)
Alyas Boy Kano (1992)
Hindi Kita Malilimutan (1993) – Jocelyn
Makati Ave.: Office Girls (1993)
Ang Ika-Labing Isang Utos: Mahalin Mo Asawa Mo (1994)
Bocaue Pagoda Tragedy (1995)
Run Barbi Run (1995)
Minsan Lamang Magmamahal (1997)
Magic Kingdom: Ang Alamat ng Damortis (1997)
Magkaibigan (2008)
Litsonero (2009)
My Lady Boss (2013)
Awards
Laxa has won one FAMAS Award, one Gawad Urian Award, and one Star Award.