Anja Aguilar

Angellie G. Urquico, better known by her stage name Anja Aguilar, is a Filipino actress and recording artist. She was the grand winner of the second season of Little Big Star in 2006. She is a former member of the group Pop Girls from VIVA Records.

Life and career

Aguilar hails from Marikina, where she was born as Angellie G. Urquico, by which name she was known when she won the grand prize of ABS-CBN's singing competition Little Big Star, hosted by her idol Sarah Geronimo. As early as four years old, she already exemplified her singing talent at birthday parties and family gatherings. She has since joined over 50 contests which include Batang Vidaylin on ABC-5 (now The 5 Network) and Duet Bulilit on ABS-CBN's then noontime show MTB. After her breakthrough triumph in Little Big Star, acting opportunities also opened. She starred in an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya, where she played a 12-year-old girl who fell in love with a 26-year-old guy, played by Piolo Pascual. She made a few drama series appearances on ABS-CBN, such as Maria La Del Barrio, May Minamahal, and Palos. In film, she was seen in a minor role in Praybeyt Benjamin. She appeared in an indie film, Astig, starring Dennis Trillo, and another called Ugat sa Lupa.

Aguilar signed up with Viva Artists Agency on May 15, 2010, and became a member of Pop Girls, along with Shy Carlos and Nadine Lustre. The screen name "Anja Aguilar" came to be as a suggestion by VAA President Veronique R. Corpus. In January 2012, she was launched as one of ASAP 2012's main talents. Her self-titled debut album was released in February.

The 10–track album Anja Aguilar has original compositions by Vehnee Saturno, including the hit carrier single "To Reach You". She also recorded a cover of Willie Revillame's song "I Love You", which was used by TV5's drama series P.S. I Love You as its theme song. Director Monti Parungao, behind the music videos of "Bakit Pa Ba" by Sarah Geronimo and "Masasabi Mo Ba" by Rachelle Ann Go and reality shows like Survivor, also directed the video of "To Reach You".

Filmography Television Year Show Role 2006 Little Big Star Herself/Contestant 2006–2011 ASAP Herself/Performer 2007 Sineserye Presents: May Minamahal Pinky Tagle 2007 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Dream House Rian 2008 Palos Young Sylvia 2009 Squalor Mameng 2009 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Teacher Tara's Sister 2010 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Bahay Joy 2010 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Marriage Contract Mark's Sister 2010 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Parol Young Judy 2011 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Tulay Young Eva 2012 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Kalendaryo Pinky Chavez 2015 MTV Pinoy Celebrity VJ 2016 Class 3C Has A Secret Freya / Tania 2017 Someone to Watch Over Me Queenie

Film Year Movie Role 2009 Astig Memeng Ugat Sa Lupa N/A 2011 The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin Jesamine Santos 2014 The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin 2015 Your Place or Mine? Micah Angeles Para sa Hopeless Romantic Micah Felix Manalo young Avelina TBA The Super Praybeyt Benjamin Jesamine Santos

Discography Anja Aguilar (2012)