Janice de Belen

Catherine Janice Yap de Belen (born November 9, 1968), known as Janice de Belen , is a Filipino actress. Philippine media has dubbed her as the "Queen of Horror-Drama" for her acting and portrayals in both Filipino drama and horror films.

She began her career in show business as a child star, and her breakthrough came when she played the title role in the soap opera Flordeluna (1979–1984). She was hailed by Philippine media as the "80s Teen Drama Princess" alongside her then-rival in show business, Julie Vega. In 2020, she won Best Actress in a Drama Series alongside Angel Locsin, Maricel Soriano and Eula Valdez at the 18th Gawad Tanglaw Awards. The same year, she also won Best Drama Supporting Actress at the 33rd PMPC Star Awards for Television. In 2022, she won Best Supporting Actress at the 70th FAMAS Awards for her performance in Big Night!.

In 1986, de Belen had a successful career with TV soaps and films. Her career was halted when she got pregnant at age 18. The father of her child was Aga Muhlach, her screen partner in the films Erpat kong Forgets, Napakasakit Kuya Eddie, Bakit Madalas ang Tibok ng Puso, When I Fall in Love and others.

Career At the age of nine, she became a newscaster for RPN 9's NewsWatch Kids Edition. She got her biggest break from the same channel when she got the lead role in the soap opera Flordeluna a TV soap where she played Flor from 1979 until 1984, when she momentarily quit showbiz to continue her studies. The soap continued to air a few more years after Janice left but it started going on a downward trend and never regained its popularity.

De Belen returned to showbiz, returning to TV with the soap Jesy and the early evening variety show The Big, Big Show. She was considered the "80s Teen Drama Princess" alongside Julie Vega, whose soap Anna Liza provided stiff competition to Flordeluna. In the 1980s, de Belen and Vega co-starred in a number films, mostly produced by Regal Films. In 1982, de Belen was partnered with Gabby Concepcion through the films Puppy Love and Home Sweet Home.

She returned to the world of TV in soap in 1985 with Andrea Amor and Don Camote dela Mancha, both aired on GMA 7. Her transformation from a teenage star to a serious actress started in 1989 when she topbilled Mina Films' Rosenda opposite erstwhile boyfriend Gabby Concepcion. She received her first Best Actress, the Raha Sulayman Award, recognition in 1991 for Vision Films' Kailan Ka Magiging Akin, a Manila Film Festival entry.

In 2001–2010, after her separation from husband John Estrada, she hosted the morning talk show SiS also on GMA-7 with sister Gelli de Belen and their friend Carmina Villarroel.

In 2010, de Belen was one of those names have been inducted into the Eastwood City Walk of Fame.

In 2011–2012, she starred in the TV series Budoy. She followed it up with performance in the television series Ina, Kapatid, Anak which aired on the Primetime Bida Block and worldwide through TFC from 2012 to 2013.

She co-hosted Showbiz Inside Report as well from February 2012 to October 2013 and until recently, was also doing Buzz ng Bayan with Boy Abunda.

In 2016, she moved back to GMA to appear in Destined to Be Yours and My Korean Jagiya.

In 2018, she returned to ABS-CBN and was cast in The General's Daughter and Sino ang Maysala?: Mea Culpa, various episodes of Maalaala Mo Kaya, La Vida Lena, Love in 40 Days and Dirty Linen.

Personal life John Estrada and De Belen were married in 1992, and they had four children – Inah, Moira, Kaila, and Yuan. Iggy "Luigi" Boy Muhlach is her eldest from her previous relationship with actor Aga Muhlach.

She graduated with a diploma in Culinary Arts under Chef Gene Gonzales at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies in San Juan.

On March 19, 2016, her mother died at the age of 67 due to multiple organ failure.

She launched her personal YouTube channel where she show her cooking skills. Along with her sister Gelli, and their closest friends in showbiz Carmina Villarroel and Candy Pangilinan, they have a podcast called Wala Pa Kaming Title, which is also available on their respective YouTube channels.

Interest De Belen loves stuffed toys and considers herself to be a "child at heart". She has a giraffe collection and owns a thousand giraffe items. She challenges herself and started to collect them when someone gave her the first giraffe stuffed toy in 2002.

Filmography Film Year Title Role 1980 The Children of An Lac Mai 1981 Tropang Bulilit Flor 1981 Mga Basang Sisiw 1981 Flor de Liza Flor 1982 Manedyer... Si Kumander 1982 Puppy Love Florecita 1982 Where Love Has Gone Crystal 1983 To Mama with Love Marissa 1983 Home Sweet Home 1983 Aking Prince Charming Neneng 1983 Nagalit ang Buwan sa Haba ng Gabi Jenny Almeda 1983 I'll Wait for You: If It Takes Forever! Jenny 1983 Roman Rapido Corazon 1983 Always in My Heart Gina March 22, 1984 Erpat Kong Forgets Josephine 1984 Hawakan Mo at Pigilan ang Kahapon May 4, 1984 Dear Mama Beth June 15, 1984 Daddy's Little Darlings Elizabeth "Boots" De Leon July 26, 1984 Lovingly Yours, Helen: The Movie Candy (segment "Candy") August 17, 1984 Bigats September 7, 1984 14 Going Steady Maita Belleza October 11, 1984 May Daga sa Labas ng Lungga Maria Josefina "Joey" Rabago December 25, 1984 Shake, Rattle & Roll Virgie (segment "Pridyider") December 11, 1985 Super Wan-Tu-Tri Amor February 7, 1985 Life Begins at 40 September 4, 1985 The Crazy Professor Katrina October 17, 1985 Bakit Manipis ang Ulap?Maria Cristina "Cristy" Austria December 25, 1985 OKS Na OKS Pakner April 24, 1986 Ano Ka, Hilo?Jeanet July 17, 1986 Super Islaw and the Flying Kids Juanita December 11, 1986 Bakit Madalas ang Tibok ng Puso? Anna September 17, 1986 Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita? Diana March 20, 1986 Napakasakit, Kuya Eddie Sandra March 14, 1986 When I Fall in LoveNancy December 25, 1986 Payaso May 14, 1987 Remember Me MamaEvelyn January 15, 1986 Menudo't Pandesal January 4, 1987 Once Upon a Time Gwen March 24, 1988 Nakausap Ko ang Birhen Julia May 5, 1988 Nasaan Ka Inay? Amanda July 20, 1988 Hawakan at Pigilan ang Panahon October 27, 1988 Tiyanak Julie November 16, 1988 Babaing Hampaslupa Eden 1989 Rosenda Rosenda 1989 Bakit Iisa Lamang ang Puso?Jessica Benitez 1989 Mahirap ang Magmahal 1989 Isang Araw Walang Diyos Sis. Camille 1989 Abandonada Mia 1989 Last Two Minutes 1990 Flavor of the Month 1990 Tayo Na sa Dilim Sandy 1990 Bakit Kay Tagal ng Sandali? Lolit 1990 Alyas Pogi: Birador ng Nueva Ecija Estela Mallari-Cruz 1990 Shake, Rattle & Roll II Cathy & Living Dead (segment "Multo" & "Kulam") 1991 Mahalin Mo ang Asawa Ko Anna 1991 Pakasalan Mo Ako Arlene 1991 Isabel Aquino: I Want to Live Isabel Aquino 1991 Anak ni Janice Janice 1991 Umiyak Pati Langit 1991 Kailan Ka Magiging Akin Dolor 1991 Shake, Rattle & Roll III Rosalyn (segment "Ate") 1992 Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin Agnes Salcedo 1992 Aswang Rosita 1992 Guwapings: The First Adventure 1992 Shake, Rattle & Roll IV Tising (segment "Ang Kapitbahay") 1992 Engkanto Karina 1993 Maricris Sioson: Japayuki Cynthia 1993 Milagro 1994 Wating Julie 1994 The Fatima Buen Story Batman 1995 Araw-Araw, Gabi-Gabi 1996 Taguan Sister Shawie 1997 Hari ng Yabang 2004 Annie B. Millet 2006 Tulay 2009 Last Viewing Laura 2009 Shake, Rattle & Roll XI Nurse (segment "Diablo") 2011 Remington and the Curse of the Zombadings Fe 2012 The Healing Cita 2012 Pridyider Mrs. Benitez 2012 Mga Mumunting Lihim Olive 2012 Tiktik: The Aswang Chronicles Fely 2012 The Strangers Paloma 2012 Shake, Rattle and Roll Fourteen: The Invasion Myra (segment "Pamana") 2013 Raketeros 2013 Call Center Girl 2014 T'yanak Nurse 2015 Haunted Mansion Miss Gonzales 2016 I Love You to Death Pinky 2016 Ringgo: The Dog Shooter 2021 Big Night! Melba 2022 Sugat sa Dugo (Wounded Blood) 2024 Road Trip Gigi2025 Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins Madre Juana (segment “1775”) 2025 I'mPerfect Yaya Claring 2026 TBA

Television/Digital

Awards and nominations

De Belen has been recognised by the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) and Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) for the following performances: 30th FAMAS Awards: Best Child Actress, nomination, for Tropang Bulilit (1981) 38th FAMAS Awards: Best Actress, nomination, for Rosenda (1989) 39th FAMAS Awards: Best Supporting Actress, nomination, for Bakit Kay Tagal ng Sandali (1990) 58th FAMAS Awards: Best Actress, nomination, for Last Viewing (2009) 65th FAMAS Awards: Best Actress, nomination, for Ringgo: The Dog Shooter (2016) 70th FAMAS Awards: Best Supporting Actress, win, for Big Night! (2022) 51st Metro Manila Film Festival: Best Supporting Actress, nomination, for I'mperfect (2025)