Who is Maritess Joaquin?

Ni Oggie Medina

I met actress Maritess Velasco Joaquin during the last wake for Congressman Joe de Venecia at Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City.

She is a Filipino actress known for her roles in various TV series and films. She is often credited simply as Maritess Joaquin.

This year she appears in “Apoy sa Dugo”, enacting the role of Cedes in this GMA Network TV series. She also appeared in “What Lies Beneath” alongside actor Jameson Blake. Her performance here has been noted for its “acting prowess”.

In Maalaala Mo Kaya (2011), she appeared in the “Birth Certificate” episode of this long-running anthology series.

She is currently working on two teleseryes, “Someone Someday” and “Love is Never Gone”.

Please watch her on GMA7’s “Magpakailanman’s episode “Babae sa Larawan” to be aired on April 8, 2026 with Andrea Torres, Rafael Jose, and Simon Ibarra.

But what struck me is her recently hit Philippine Airlines video ad, “Care that Comes from the Heart” shot in Legaspi and Bacolod, where she plays a mother to a flight stewardess. In the video ad, she is against her daughter’s falling in love with a poor, country guy.

But in reality she is a great mother. As a parent, she is a dedicated mother to her son, Chico, who is on the autism spectrum. She is an active advocate for autism awareness and has been involved in promoting art exhibits (such as those at Vico’s Gallery) featuring the work of students with special needs..

To Maritess, I salute her and more blessings and more film/TV/ad projects to come her way.