Alexis Collera Castro (born September 27, 1985), better known as Alex Castro, is a Filipino model, singer, actor and politician currently serving as the Vice Governor of Bulacan since 2022. He is previously a member of the Bulacan Provincial Board from the 4th district from 2016 to 2022. He also served as a municipal councilor of Marilao from 2007 to 2013 and chairman of Sangguniang Kabataan in Barangay Lias, Marilao from 2002 to 2007.[1] As a talent, he signed with GMA Network, yet later transferred to its rival network ABS-CBN, then returned to GMA after eleven years.

Alex Castro
Castro in 2024
Vice Governor of Bulacan
Assumed office
June 30, 2022
GovernorDaniel Fernando
Preceded byWilhelmino Sy-Alvarado
Concurrent positions
Regional Chairman of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines for Region III
Assumed office
July 2022
National Chairman of the National Movement of Young Legislators
Assumed office
July 1, 2022
Preceded byJolo Revilla
Member of the Bulacan Provincial Board from the 4th District
In office
June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2022
Concurrent positions
Assistant Secretary General of the National Movement of Young Legislators
In office
July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2022
President of the National Movement of Young Legislators for Region III
In office
July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2019
Member of the Marilao Municipal Council
In office
June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2013
Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President of Marilao
Sectoral Representative at the Marilao Municipal Council
In office
August 15, 2002 – November 30, 2007
Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman of Barangay Lias, Marilao, Bulacan
In office
August 15, 2002 – November 30, 2007
Personal details
Born
Alexis Collera Castro

(1985-09-27) September 27, 1985 (age 39)
Quezon City, Philippines
Political partyNUP (2018–present)
Other political
affiliations
NPC (2015–2018)
Liberal (2007–2015)
Spouse
Sunshine Garcia
(m. 2019)
Children2
Alma materFar Eastern University (BS)
OccupationModel, Actor, Singer, Politician
Castro with Ferdie Estrella

Early life

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Castro was born on September 27, 1985, in Quezon City to Angel Gonzales Castro and Susan Collera Castro. His family moved to Marilao, Bulacan during his childhood. He graduated from pre-school and elementary school at the St. Michael School of Marilao. He later completed his high school education at the Jesus is Lord Colleges Foundation in Bocaue.[2]

Political career

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In 2002, at age 17, Castro was elected Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairman of Barangay Lias, Marilao, Bulacan. Not long after, he was elected as the SK Federation president of Marilao, making him an ex-officio member of the Sangguniang Bayan of Marilao. He was awarded as the “Most Outstanding SK Federation President” and with the Gintong Kabataan Award in the Gintong Kabataan Awards in 2005. While fulfilling his duties, he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication degree from the Far Eastern University in 2006.[2]

In 2007, he was eventually elected as the youngest municipal councilor of Marilao. He was re-elected in 2010, the same year that he was conferred as 2010 Gawad Galing Sanggunian's “Outstanding Councilor in Bulacan”. Two years later, he was again recognized as “Outstanding Councilor in the Philippines” by the People’s Choice Awards for 2013.[1] In 2013, he unsuccessfully ran for vice mayor of Marilao as the running mate of Tito Santiago, the outgoing vice mayor who was eventually elected as mayor.[3]

He was elected to the Bulacan Provincial Board as a member from the 4th district in 2016. During his first term, he was concurrently serving as the President of National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL) for Region III. He was then re-elected in 2019 and was named as NMYL's National Assistant Secretary General early in his second term. He was awarded by Gawad Filipino as the Outstanding Public Servant of the Year in 2021.[2][4]

He ran for vice governor of Bulacan in 2022 as the running mate of incumbent governor Daniel Fernando and they both won.[5][6] He was named as the National Chairman of NMYL and the Regional Chairman of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines for Central Luzon for 2022–2025.[2][7]

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On May 6, 2024, whistleblower “Francisco Balagtas” filed with the Ombudsman a 3-page complaint dated May 1, 2024 against Daniel Fernando, Castro, other local officials, including TCSC Corporation’s owners-officers Dionisio Toreja, President, Engr. Bernie Pacheco, Vice President for Mining and others. The corruption case stemmed from the alleged anomalous P500 million Bulacan Flood Control and River Restoration Project, including TCSC's Bulacan dredging projects.[8][9]

Contestant at Are You The Next Big Star?

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Castro contested Are You the Next Big Star? on GMA Network in 2009. He advanced to the final round alongside Camille Cortez, Geoff Taylor, and Frencheska Farr, who would eventually won the contest.

Performances/results

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Week # Song choice Original artist Order # Result
Top 16 "This Love" Maroon 5 15 Safe
Top 14 "Sabihin Mo Na" Top Suzara 8 Safe
Top 12 "Panakip Butas" Hajji Alejandro 11 Safe
Top 10 "You Are Not Alone" Michael Jackson 2 Safe
Top 8 "Nandito Ako" Ogie Alcasid 3 Safe
Top 7 "Basang-Basa Sa Ulan" Aegis 4 Bottom 2
Top 6 "Narda"
(performed with Gian Magdangal)
Kamikazee 1 Safe
Top 4 "Huling El Bimbo"
"I'll Be There for You"
"Awit ng Kabataan"
Eraserheads
Bon Jovi
Rivermaya
4
2
4
Runner-Up

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Network
2009 Are You the Next Big Star? Himself / Finalist GMA Network
SOP Fully Charged Himself / Performer
2010 Your Song Presents: Maling Akala Lawrence Peseta ABS-CBN
Wansapanataym: Zoila's Valentina Robert / Bobot
2011 Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Mana Po Bob
Mula sa Puso Thaddeus
Reputasyon Manuel
Wansapanataym: Darmo Adarna Migs
ASAP Himself / co-host
2012 Mundo Man ay Magunaw Mike Sarmiento
Kahit Puso'y Masugatan Christian Morales
Maalaala Mo Kaya: Gong Eddie
Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Paraiso Albert Ramirez
Wansapanataym: I'll Be Home For Christmas Joseph
2013 Wansapanataym: Si Paolo At Si Apollo Apollo
Maalaala Mo Kaya: Dream House Luis
Annaliza Cedrick Francisco
Maria Mercedes Anthony Figueras
2014 Moon of Desire Diego
Maalaala Mo Kaya: Kumot Crizaldu
2015 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Pagkain Clyde
Pasión de Amor Gelo Corpuz
Wattpad Presents: Jenny and The Magic Arinola Laxus The Genie TV5
LolaBasyang.com Presents: Ang Mahiwagang Kuba Johnny
Walang Iwanan Father Chito ABS-CBN
2016 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Pasa Jonjon
Doble Kara Victor
2017 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Tahanan Josue
Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin young Joey
Wildflower Rufo
2018 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Manibela Marvin
Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Los Bastardos young Fausto Davide
Ipaglaban Mo: Abogada Noel Valeroso
2019 Maalaala Mo Kaya: Medalya Alvin
The Killer Bride young Jacobo Dela Torre
The Haunted Bernard Robles Jr.
2020 Ipaglaban Mo: Himlayan Antonio Yulo
Ang sa Iyo ay Akin young Francis Angeles Kapamilya Channel
Walang Hanggang Paalam young Nick
2021 Artikulo 247 Alexander GMA Network

Film

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Year Title Role Company
2008 My Best Friend's Girlfriend Jun GMA Films
Regal Films
Manay Po 2: Overload Rainier Regal Films
One True Love Mike GMA Films
Regal Films
Desperadas 2 Norman Regal Films
2012 Shake, Rattle & Roll 14 Private Hilario Tabios Regal Films
2013 The Bride and the Lover Matteo
Call Center Girl Martin Star Cinema
Skylight Films
2014 Maybe This Time Patrick Viva Films
Star Cinema
Somebody to Love Rainier Regal Films
2015 Resureksyon Ramil Regal Films
Reality Entertainment

Personal life

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Castro is married to former SexBomb Girls dancer Sunshine Garcia since March 2019 almost two years after their engagement. He has two sons.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Hon. Alexis C. Castro, Board Member - Fourth District". Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Bulacan. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "Vice Governor Alexis C. Castro". Provincial Government of Bulacan. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  3. ^ "Alex Castro running for Marilao vice mayor". ABS-CBN News. August 20, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  4. ^ "Bulacan BM Alex Castro named Outstanding Public Sevant of the Year". Politiko Central Luzon. December 28, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  5. ^ "Alex Castro files COC for vice governor in Bulacan". ABS-CBN News. October 7, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  6. ^ Silverio, Frederick (May 11, 2022). "Fernando, Castro win in Bulacan". The Manila Times. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  7. ^ Catindig, Anton Luis Reyes (July 19, 2022). "Bise Gob. Alex Castro: Bababa ako sa mga bayan, hindi lang dito sa bulwagan". News Core Bulacan (in Filipino). Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  8. ^ Dumlao, Artemio (May 8, 2024). "P500-M scandal rocks Bulacan river dredging project". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  9. ^ Villamente, Jing (May 7, 2024). "Graft raps filed vs. Bulacan governor, et al". Daily Tribune (Philippines). Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  10. ^ "BM Castro's sons are as pogi as him!". Politiko Central Luzon. January 1, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
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Political offices
Preceded by Vice Governor of Bulacan
2022–present
Incumbent