Pokwang

Pokwang was born as Marietta Subong on August 27, 1972^[1][4] in Iloilo City.^[5] Her family lives in Antipolo, Rizal. Her father was an alcoholic and her mother had difficulties in raising Pokwang and her 11 other siblings.^[6] Pokwang was the seventh born among her siblings.^[7]

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.^[7]

Pokwang went to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates to work as a domestic worker^[6] in 1998 after the gulf country started to accept OFWs. She worked in the country for six months. She wanted to go home immediately after she learned that her son who was then five years old was diagnosed with a brain tumor but her employer did not want to finance her plane ticket to fly back to the Philippines as she was still under contract. She was then forced to stay to raise funds herself. Her son later died while she was still in Abu Dhabi.^[7]

Return to the Philippines

Following the loss of her son, Pokwang decided to stay in the Philippines and tend to her daughter.^[7] Pokwang made her first appearance as a backup dancer in Eezy Dancing of ABC 5.^[8]

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.^[5] She worked in a comedy bar named Funline^[9] and in 2002 moved to the Music Box.^[7] In 2004, Pokwang joined "Clown in a Million" a reality talent show segment of Yes Yes Show of ABS-CBN after she was convinced by Nicolas to participate and became the grand champion.^[5] After winning, she secured an exclusive artist contract with ABS-CBN.^[6][8]

Pokwang appeared in various dramas and sitcoms following her win at the reality talent show segment.^[5] She also had concerts both outside and within the Philippines and also had appeared in noon-time shows. She starred with other actors and actresses in various projects such as Dolphy which she considers her idol, Ai-Ai de las Alas, Willie Revillame, Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, Claudine Barretto, Judy Ann Santos, Sharon Cuneta, and Kris Aquino.^[6]

She won the Best Comedy Actress award by the Philippine Movie Press Club for her portrayal in Aalog-Alog and the she garnered the Best Female Comedian award of the People's Choice Award. As a film actress she won the Bert Marcelo Lifetime Achievement Award twice.^[5]

Pokwang appeared in various films portraying supporting characters. Her first film where she portrayed a lead role was the 2011 film A Mother's Story, where she took up a role of an overseas Filipino worker named Medy.^[8]

In 2020, following the denial of ABS-CBN's franchise renewal, she signed to APT Entertainment and hosted two blocktime shows produced by APT, Chika, Besh! and Fill in the Bank. being aired on TV5.

In 2021, Pokwang officially signed up with Sparkle GMA Artist Center after weeks of speculation of her transfer to GMA Network.^[10]

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.^[6]

Pokwang has also impersonated other people as part of her job as a comedian. Among the people she has impersonated were Dionisia Pacquiao such as for an episode in Banana Split^[11] and Anabelle Rama.^[8]

In 1993, Pokwang married a Japanese national who she had met while she was working abroad in Japan. The union had a son, Shin, who later died due to a congenital brain ailment. The couple had become estranged for over a decade. In 2009, after 16 years, Subong's ex-husband contacted her in an effort to reconcile after he found out he had cancer. He also requested to view the grave of his son, to which Pokwang replied "He has forgiven you, he's an angel now.".^[12]

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.^[13] 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.^[14]

Pokwang had a British suitor but in June 2013 it was reported that he decided not to pursue. Pokwang speculated that the reason for this was that she was "playing hard to get", but insists that she remains friends with the Briton.^[15]

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.^[16] Subong became pregnant, but miscarried after three weeks.^[17] By September 2016, Subong 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.^[18] On June 16, 2017, Subong announced on Twitter that she was seven weeks pregnant with O'Brian's child.^[19][20]

On 18 January 2018, Pokwang gave birth to her third child and her first with O'Brian, Malia, in Antipolo.^[21] Pokwang and O'Brien separated in November 2021, with Pokwang having custody over Malia.^[22]

On April 8, 2024, the Bureau of Immigration deported Lee O’Brian and was included in the BI’s blacklist. Pokwang previously complained of financial abuse, intimidation and abandonment of their daughters Malia and Mae. She filed a deportation case against Lee in June, 2023. On December 12, 2023, Commissioner Norman G. Tansingco ruled the case in her favor. In early 2023, she kicked Lee out of their home and he subsequently moved on to someone new.^[23]

Television

More information Year, Title ...

Year	Title	Role
1998	Eezy Dancing	Herself
2004	Yes, Yes Show!
	Maid in Heaven	Harlene
	Maalaala Mo Kaya: Teddy Bear	Herself (as Marietta "Pokwang" Subong)
2004–2005	Krystala	Fantasia
2005	M.R.S. (Most Requested Show)	Herself/Host
	Pinoy Big Brother Buzz
2006	Aalog-Alog	Etang Sukimura
	Komiks Presents: Da Adventures of Pedro Penduko	Principal Nendita
	Crazy for You	Bessie
2007	Love Spell: Shoes Ko Po, Shoes ko Day	Lisa
	Your Song: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do	Anna
	Ysabella	Phuket
2007–2010	Wowowee	Herself/Host
2007–2020	ASAP	Herself/Performer
2008	Maalaala Mo Kaya: Laruan	Rita
2009–2011	Banana Split	Herself/Various Characters
2009–2010	May Bukas Pa	Amy
2010	Melason In Love	Herself
	Your Song Presents: Love Me, Love You	Lovely
	Pilipinas Win Na Win	Herself/Host
	Your Song Presents: Kim	Belma Jolie
2011	Maalaala Mo Kaya: Singsing	Tita B. Canoy
	Maalaala Mo Kaya: Birth Certificate	Carol Araos
2011–2012	Happy Yipee Yehey!	Herself/Host
2011	100 Days to Heaven	Digna Amparo
2011–2013	Toda Max	Beverly "Lady G" Gil
2011–2016	Kris TV	Herself/Recurring co-host
2012–2013	Aryana	Ofelia Capuyao-Mendez
2013	Maalaala Mo Kaya: Gown	Linda
	My Little Juan	Sarah de Guzman
	Wansapanataym: Give Glove On Christmas Day	Queenie Batumbakal
2014	Maalaala Mo Kaya: Arroz Caldo	Mely
	Mirabella	Mimosa "Osang" Balete
	Ipaglaban Mo: Umasa Ako Sa Hula	Lovinia Ignacio
	Maalaala Mo Kaya: Alak	Lui
2015	Nathaniel	Elizabeth "Beth" Salvacion-Bartolome
	Wansapanataym: Raprap's Wrapper	Sioneng
2015–2017 2018–2020	Banana Sundae	Herself/Various Characters
2015–2016	Celebrity Playtime	Herself/Player on TeamBuilding
2016	We Will Survive	Wilmalyn "Wilma" Bonanza-San Juan
2016–2017	Till I Met You	Agnes De Guia-Nicolas
2017	I Can Do That	Herself/Contestant
	FPJ's Ang Probinsyano	Amor Nieves
2018	Maalaala Mo Kaya: Eskoba	Azon
	Ipaglaban Mo: Teritoryo	Celia
	Maalaala Mo Kaya: Orasan	Fe
2019	Maalaala Mo Kaya: Divet	Diana Carbonell
2020	Make It with You	Jessica
	Eat Bulaga!	Herself/Guest Contestant
	Chika, Besh!	Herself/Host
	Fill in the Bank	Madam Poky/Host/Chismosang Falakang Officer
2021	Wanted: Ang Serye	Mary
	The Boobay and Tekla Show	Herself/Guest
2021–present	All-Out Sundays	Herself/Performer/Co-host/Various roles
2021	Wish Ko Lang	Virgie
	Dear Uge	Chit
	Mars Pa More	Herself/Guest
	Pepito Manaloto	Tarsing Batumbakal
	Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko: It's Not You, It's Me	Sunshine
2022	Regal Studio Presents: Yaya Terror	Yaya Mila
	Mano Po Legacy: Her Big Boss	Rebecca "Becca" Pacheco
	Lolong	Coring
2022–present	TiktoClock	Herself/Host
2023	Open 24/7	Gina
2024	Abot-Kamay na Pangarap	Herself
	Jose & Maria's Bonggang Villa	Tiffany Hambog
2024—2025	It's Showtime	Herself/Guest/Performer
2025	Binibining Marikit	Mayumi Smith

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Film

More information Year, Title ...

Year	Title	Role
2004	Bcuz of U	Tiya Pards
2005	D' Anothers	Aruray "Balat" Paclayon
	Dubai	Cookie
2006	D' Lucky Ones	Lea
2007	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[24]
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" Zabaldica
2015	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 Imaculada
TBA	The Sacrifice	Hilda

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Albums

More information Title, Album information ...

Title	Album information
Pokwang... Ang Album Na May Puso[2]	Released: 2009 Format: mp3 Label: Star Records Writer: Christian Martinez and Lito Camo Chart position: N/A Tracks: "GayaGaya Puto Maya," "Bratatat," "Bahoo," "Sana Kunin Ka Na Ni Lord" Bonus tracks: "Hai" Singles: "Sana Kunin Ka Na Ni Lord"

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Singles

Compilation album

More information Release date, Album Title ...

Release date	Album Title	Record Company	Song Title	Certification	Ref
November 12, 2011	Happy Yipee Yehey! Nananana!	Star Music	"No Boypren, No Problem"	PARI: Platinum	[25]

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