Ara Mina

Hazel Pascual Reyes-Almarinez (born May 9, 1979), known professionally as Ara Mina-Almarinez, is a Filipino actress, singer, endorser, and entrepreneur. Recognized as the "Millennium Goddess", Mina is a recipient of a FAMAS Award for Best Actress, 3 Golden Screen Awards including the 'Dekada Award' and an Asia's Golden Icons Award.

Career Mina derived her stage name, which her mother chose, from her sister Cristine's real first name, Ara, and her other sister Princess's real first name, Mina. During her acting career, she used other names such as Ara Mina-Reyes, Dara Mina, which was derived from Donna Cruz, and Danica Gomez, derived from Charlene Gonzales.

Mina became part of the Philippine entertainment industry at 14 years of age via the youth-oriented program That's Entertainment, hosted and spearheaded by the late master showman German Moreno ("Kuya Germs"). Since then, Viva Entertainment signed Mina after being noticed on That's and Mina has starred in about 40 television shows and 60 movies and released 3 recording albums. She won her first acting award for Best Actress for the film Mano Po at the Metro Manila Film Festival in 2002. The following year (2003), she received 3 more Best Actress awards from Manila Film Festival, FAMAS and Golden Screen Awards for the movie Ang Huling Birhen sa Lupa. She also won the Golden Screen Awards and Star Awards in 2004 for Best Supporting Actress in a drama in the Philippines for her role as Luna in Minsan Pa.

Mina also sings aside from acting. Her self-titled and first album from Star Music (formerly Star records) which carried the hit song "Ay, Ay, Ay, Pag-Ibig" received a gold record award a few months after its release. Because of this, the record label decided to produce another album for her entitled Heavenly, which was also a big hit and included the track "Oops Teka Lang" which was also the theme song of the film of the same title starring Robin Padilla and Claudine Barretto from Star Cinema. Her version of the Rey Valera hit "Kung Kailangan Mo Ako" was also used as the theme song of the ABS-CBN miniseries Sa Sandaling Kailangan Mo Ako. In 2005, she produced her third album entitled Moving On which was released under Sony BMG. It consisted of acoustic covers of hit songs like "What Do We Mean To Each Other" by Sergio Mendes, "Somebody" by Depeche Mode, and "Very Special Love" by Maureen McGovern.

She truly showcased versatility by starring in television shows of different genres, from sitcoms to heavy drama. 1999, she starred in her first television sitcom Super Klenk, wherein she played a super heroine. She was then included in the cast of Bubble Gang, which was her longest stint for television. The character that she played in the TV series Mulawin, Vultra, is also remarkable. In 2007, she switched to freelance acting and transferred to ABS-CBN doing projects via Prinsesa ng Banyera and Ligaw na Bulaklak. She returned to GMA Network and did multiple teleseryes for over two years. From 2011 to 2016, she did stints with TV5 Network but was able to do shows with the Kapuso network through Teen Gen and Yesterday's Bride. In 2011, she returned to Viva Entertainment after 1995, which also manages her sister Cristine Reyes.

On April 17, 2015, Mina was part of the "Lucky Stars" of Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal and won , making Mina as second millionaire of the season five.

Her most recent television stint was for GMA's Pinulot Ka Lang sa Lupa and was also part of the movie My Ex and Whys starring Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano. She staged a teleserye comeback on ABS-CBN in Araw Gabi after doing anthology roles with the channel. In the late 2019 until the end of 2022, she is known for her role of Ellen Padua in FPJ's Ang Probinsyano.

Politics In 2009, she announced running for councilor of Quezon City's Second District, in a move to follow the political legacy of her family.

On October 7, 2024, Ara Mina filed her certificate of candidacy to run for 2nd district councilor of Pasig in 2025, under Lakas–CMD. She was named part of the ticket of mayoral candidate Sarah Discaya, who ran under Unyon ng mga Gabay ng Bayan (UGB). She subsequently lost the election, placing tenth.

Personal life The eldest of 9 children, she grew up in Marikina with her mother, Francis Marie Klenk, and stepfather, Romeo Reyes. At 18, she met and was acknowledged by her biological father, Chuck Mathay, a former congressman from Quezon City. Actress Cristine Reyes is her half-sister through her mother, while San Juan councilors Cris and Macky Mathay are her half-brothers through her father.

Mina has one child with former Bulakan Mayor Patrick Meneses.

On January 13, 2021, she was engaged to Businessman Dave Almarinez, CEO of the Philippine International Trading Corporation and former Laguna Provincial Board member. They were married in a wedding ceremony in Baguio on June 30 later that year.

Mina supports children with birth defects through the Ara Mina Foundation, which she founded in 2007. Her youngest sister, Princess Klenk, was born with Down syndrome, and was the inspiration behind this cause.

Electoral history

Filmography

Film

Television Year Title Role 1993–1996 That's Entertainment Herself / Regular 1998–2007; 2025 Bubble Gang 1999–2000 Super Klenk Charito / Super Klenk 2000–2001 Kiss Muna Ara 2002–2003 Kung Mawawala Ka Lucinda Montemayor 2004 Te Amo, Maging Sino Ka Man Destiny 2004–2005 Mulawin Vultra / Violeta / Veronica 2005 Mars Ravelo's Darna Dyesebel 2006 Magpakailanman 2007 Lupin Sister Anna Nicole 2007–2008 Prinsesa ng Banyera Cassandra Ynares / Elena 2008 Ligaw na Bulaklak Janet / Jennifer Alegro Maalaala Mo Kaya: Dagat Leah 2009 Carlo J. Caparas' Totoy Bato Elena Magtanggol Sine Novela: Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin? Glacilda Bautista 2009–2010 Sine Novela: Tinik sa Dibdib Trixie Veneracion-Marquez / Trixie Domingo 2010 Ilumina Elsa Sebastian 2011 Untold Stories Mula sa Face to Face Ang Utol Kong Hoodlum Rhea Bustillos Maalaala Mo Kaya: Tulay Ester 2012 P. S. I Love You Cassandra 2012–2013 Yesterday's Bride Josilda "Josie" Ramirez 2013 Magpakailanman: The Wally Bayola Story Riza Teen Gen Violeta "Violet" Bernardo-Torres The Gift Theresa Maalaala Mo Kaya: Drawing Shirley Wansapanataym: Dolly Daldal Lisa Maalaala Mo Kaya: Double Bass Liezel 2014 Wansapanataym: Enchanted House Dorothy Barin Trenderas Diane San Miguel 2015 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Sanggol Kapamilya Deal or No Deal Herself / Case Number 4 2016 Ipaglaban Mo: Kasambahay Veronica Tasya Fantasya Yvonne Pepito Manaloto Gina Karelasyon Lorraine Dear Uge Sylvia Mercado 2017 Pinulot Ka Lang sa Lupa Mariz Alejo-Zimmerman Ipaglaban Mo!: Pagkakasala Linda Maalaala Mo Kaya: Kakanin Gina Mulawin vs. Ravena Vultra / Violeta / Veronica (archived footage only) 2018 Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Araw Gabi Harriet De Alegre / Amanda Rodriguez 2019 Ipaglaban Mo: Pariwara Doray 2020–2022 FPJ's Ang Probinsyano Ellen Padua 2021 Bella Bandida Alas 2022 Tadhana: Isabella Rhea Bermudez Barangay PIE Silog Sunday: Pasok Mga Suki Herself, featured celebrity entrepreneur 2023 Magandang ARAw Herself Jack and Jill sa Diamond Hills Cleo Maharlika 2024 Lovers & Liars Elizabeth Laurente Private Time with Ara Herself Padyak Princess Susan Velarde / Rosa It's Showtime Herself Tadhana: Sugar Daddy Sylvia Landicho 2025 Regal Studio Presents: Mami and Papi Together Helga 2026 My Husband is a Mafia BossAlyana FerrerLove Is Never GoneRita Crisanto

Awards and nominations Year Award-Giving Body Category Work Result Ref. 1999 Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Awards Popular Princess of RP Movies 2000 Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Awards Most Promising Female Singer 2002 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actress Mano Po 2003 Manila Film Festival Best Actress Ang Huling Birhen Sa Lupa Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Awards Ms. RP Movies Mano Po Golden Screen Awards Best Actress Ang Huling Birhen Sa Lupa 2004 Golden Screen Awards Best Supporting Actress Minsan Pa 52nd FAMAS Awards Best Actress Ang Huling Birhen Sa Lupa 20th PMPC Star Awards for Movies Best Actress Ang Huling Birhen sa Lupa 2005 21st PMPC Star Awards for Movies Best Supporting Actress Minsan Pa 19th PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Drama Actress Mulawin 2007 24th PMPC Star Awards for Movies Movie Supporting Actress of the Year Selda

Discography Ara Mina (1999, Star Music) Heavenly (2001, Star Music)