Pokwang

Marietta Tan Subong (born August 27, 1972), known professionally as Pokwang, is a Filipino comedian, actress, television host and singer.

She started in a reality show on ABS-CBN and subsequently appeared in dramas and sitcoms of the network. She also received the Best Comedy Actress award from the Philippine Movie Press Club for her portrayal in the sitcom Aalog-Alog and the Best Female Comedian award from People's Choice Awards. She became a host of the variety shows Wowowee, Pilipinas Win na Win and Happy Yipee Yehey.

Early life Pokwang was born as Marietta Subong on August 27, 1972 in Iloilo City. Her family lives in Antipolo, Rizal. Her father was an alcoholic and her mother had difficulties in raising Pokwang and her 11 other siblings. Pokwang was the seventh born among her siblings.

Career As a migrant worker In 1990, Pokwang went to Japan as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) and worked as a group dancer, going home to the Philippines four times within the two years time she worked in Japan. Her contracts in Japan were for six-months each. She saved money to renovate her family's fragile house to one made with sturdier materials. Pokwang also learned how to speak Japanese due to her work. She stopped working in Japan after she got pregnant which was also the time when Japan started to impose stricter regulations after following an issue with OFWs in Japan.

While performing as a guest in a comedy bar in Cubao, she met Eric Nicolas who was looking for a talent to work with ABS-CBN. and in 2002 moved to the Music Box.

In September 2024, Pokwang and her daughter Ria Mae opened a food business, Mamang Pokwang's Gourmet.

In July 2026, during the opening ceremonies of the 22nd edition of Cinemalaya, Pokwang told the press she could relate to her character in 2 Valid IDs (a film about a poor farmer struggling to get her remittance money because she doesn't have a valid ID). She added that she personally experience the same when she was applying as an entertainer in Japan.

Comedic style Pokwang prefers to use herself as a subject of her jokes rather than other people. She does not use "green jokes" (Filipino parlance for sexual innuendos) or devise other jokes more fit for a mature audience as she enjoys having children part of her audience. and Anabelle Rama.

In 1996, she entered into another relationship again with a Japanese partner. Though they did not marry, the union had a daughter, Ria Mae (born 1996). Pokwang has since not spoken to her daughter's father, but harbors no ill will toward him, stating she is open to her daughter one day meeting with him. He found out about Pokwang's celebrity status via a mutual friend and through international media channels. In May 2014, Pokwang re-established contact with Ria Mae's father, who had since married and started a family, in an effort to have him appear at her debutante ball for her 18th birthday. Pokwang became a grandmother when Ria Mae gave birth to her first son in 2020.

On 20 January 2015, Pokwang entered into a relationship with American actor Lee O'Brian, whom she worked with in the film Edsa Woolworth which was released in theaters in that same month. She became pregnant, but miscarried after three weeks. By September 2016, she had been introduced to O'Brian's relatives and the two began talking about marriage. Nuptial planning was delayed as Pokwang's priority at the time was her project Till I Met You. On June 16, 2017, she announced on Twitter that she was seven weeks pregnant with O'Brian's child. On 18 January 2018, Pokwang gave birth to her third child and her first with O'Brian, Malia, in Antipolo. Pokwang and O'Brien separated in November 2021, with Pokwang having custody over Malia. She cited that they broke up due to her suspicions of O'Brien's financial mishandling of their joint business venture, as well as his defensive reaction over being confronted.

On June 13, 2023, Pokwang filed for O'Brien's deportation at the Bureau of Immigration, citing that he was only using a tourist visa while living and working in the Philippines for eight years. Alongside the filing, Pokwang complained of financial abuse, intimidation and abandonment of their daughters Malia and Mae. She hoped the filing would help her be "free" of O'Brien. Pokwang also accused O'Brien for being physically and mentally abusive and unfaithful during their relationship, and wanting to abort Malia when Pokwang was pregnant with her. Ria Mae also said O'Brien wanted her kicked out of their home when she announced her pregnancy.

In December 2025, Pokwang publicly apologized on behalf of her family after her brother was caught in a viral video for slapping a man pushing a cart on the street during a heated altercation.

Filmography Television

Film Year Title Role 2004 Bcuz of U Tiya Pards 2005 D' Anothers Aruray "Balat" Paclayon Dubai Cookie 2006 D' Lucky Ones Lea2007 Agent X44 Col. Cynthia Abordo Apat Dapat, Dapat Apat: Friends 4 Lyf and Death Maria Ligaya "Gay" Kalungkutan 2008 Supahpapalicious Nympha Dayo: Sa Mundo ng Elementalia Vicky 2009 Nobody, Nobody But... Juan Lolay 2010 Cinco Emily I Do Myka Punongbayan Super Inday and the Golden Bibe Miss Kokay 2011 The Adventures of Pureza: Queen of the Riles Sr. Purisima Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak! Pining 2012 A Mother's Story Remedios "Medy" Santos The Mommy Returns Ruby Pascual-Martirez The Healing Alma 24/7 in Love Virgie Cruz D' Kilabots Pogi Brothers Weh?! Kitty Kilabot 2013 Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo? Cora Veloso Call Center Girl Teresa "Terry" Damaso Manlapat 2014 My Illegal Wife Clarissa "Clarise" Zabaldica2015 Edsa Woolworth Edsa Woolworth Wang Fam Malou Wang All You Need Is Pag-Ibig Teacher Corina 2016 Mercury is Mine Carmen Batac 2018 Sol Searching Lorelei Baloloy Oda Sa Wala Sonya 2019 Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity Don Zulueta 2023 Ten Little Mistresses Babet Becky & Badette Badette Imaculada20262 Valid IDsSylviaTBAThe SacrificeHilda

Discography Albums Title Album informationPokwang... Ang Album Na May Puso

Awards and nominations Year Award giving body Category Nominated work Results 2007 21st PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Comedy Actress Aalog-Alog 2008 22nd PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Female TV Host 23rd Awit Awards Best Novelty Recording Bratatat 2011 25th PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Comedy Actress Banana Split 2012 26th PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Comedy Actress Toda Max 60th FAMAS Awards Best Actress 2015 Golden Screen TV Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Program Mirabella 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actress Becky & Badette