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John Arcilla
Arcilla in 2024
Born	Romeo Gonzales Arcilla (1966-06-24)June 24, 1966 (age 59) Manila, Philippines
Alma mater	Saint Joseph's College of Quezon City
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1989–present
Agent	Star Magic (2021–present)
Known for	Heneral Luna,On the Job: The Missing 8,FPJ's Ang Probinsyano
Height	173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Awards	Volpi Cup for Best Actor (2021) Gawad Urian Award for Best Actor (2022)
Website	sites.google.com/view/john-arcilla/home

Romeo John Gonzales Arcilla (born June 24,1966) is aFilipino film and television actor who has portrayed roles includingAntonio Luna inHeneral Luna, Hagorn inEncantadia, Carlos Fiero inDirty Linen, President Eleazar Sagrado inPamilya Sagrado, and Renato Hipolito inFPJ's Ang Probinsyano.

In 2021, he was awarded theVolpi Cup for Best Actor at theVenice International Film Festival for his role inOn the Job: The Missing 8, making him the first Filipino andSoutheast Asian actor to receive the award.^[1] He also received theBest Actor award at theGawad Urian Awards in 2022 for the same role.^[2]

Arcilla was born inManila,Philippines, and is related to formerPresidentManuel L. Quezon. Arcilla and his family moved to his mother's hometown ofBaler, Aurora in 1972 after themartial law declaration in the Philippines.^[3][4] He began to show an interest in acting at the age of seven.^[5][6][7][8]

Arcilla was a member of the community-basedPhilippine Educational Theater Association - Metropolitan Teen Theater League (PETA-MTTL).^[9][10] In 1986, he graduated fromSaint Joseph's College of Quezon City (SJCQC).^[5] He was also an acting scholar of the Actors Workshop Foundation underLaurice Guillen,Johnny Delgado, andLeo Martinez from 1987 to 1990.^[4]

Arcilla was a member of Dulang University in the Philippines from 1988 to 1989 and was trained by stage director andNational Artist for TheatreTony Mabesa.^[11] From 1989 to 1990, Arcilla worked as a casting director forFoote, Cone & Belding.^[12]

From 1991 to 1997, Arcilla was a resident actor and senior member of the Tanghalang Pilipino Actor Company, the resident theatre of theCultural Center of the Philippines.^[13][4] At the Cultural Center, he played lead roles in productions includingOrosman and Zafira,Walang Sugat, andRyan Cayabyab’sRizal musical trilogy:El Filibusterismo (1993),Noli Me Tángere (1995), andIllustrado (1996).^[14][4][15] Arcilla was also part of the main cast ofRama at Sita, a 1999 Filipino musical adapted from the Indian epicRamayana.^{[citation needed]} In 2000, he appeared withRepertory Philippines as Valentin inKiss of the Spider Woman.^[16][15]

Arcilla also appeared in television commercials for brands includingTide,Gold Eagle, theNational Steel Corporation, and theDevelopment Bank of the Philippines.^{[citation needed]} He appeared in a 1994 commercial forPure Foods with the slogan "Coffee na lang, dear" ("Just coffee, dear"), which lead to more opportunities in narrative television.^[17][4] In 1987, he appeared in television programs including the variety showGoin' Bananas and the drama anthologiesLovingly Yours, Helen andStar Drama Theatre Presents.^[18]

From 1992 on, he acted in a number of films, includingMulanay (1996).^{[citation needed]} In 1997, he appeared inLigaya ang Itawag Mo sa Akin.

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From 1998 to 2005, Arcilla played supporting roles in film and television, includingPangako sa 'Yo (2000),Basta't Kasama Kita (2003), andSugo (2005).^{[citation needed]} He starred in the film adaptation of Tony Perez's playSa North Diversion Road withIrma Adlawan.

In 2010, Arcilla starred inHalaw,^[19] and afterwards returned to television inMagkaribal.^{[citation needed]}

In 2012, Arcilla had a cameo inThe Bourne Legacy as a head security guard.^[20] In 2013, Arcilla appeared inMetro Manila, which was selected as the British entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the86th Academy Awards.^[21]

In 2015, he portrayedGeneral Antonio Luna inHeneral Luna; for the role he studied Luna's temperament and vulnerabilities.^[22][23] The film was reported as the highest‑grossing Filipino historical film at the time.^[24] He later reprised and parodied the role in television commercials.^[25]

In 2016, Arcilla appeared inMikhail Red’sBirdshot as police officer Mendoza.

From 2017 to 2022, Arcilla played Renato “Buwitre” Hipolito, a government official and antagonist inFPJ's Ang Probinsyano.^[26] In 2019, he appeared in the comedy filmThe Panti Sisters and in the Filipino adaptation ofMiracle in Cell No. 7.^[27]

In 2020, Arcilla portrayedFernando Suarez inSuarez: The Healing Priest, and in 2021 was inOn the Job: The Missing 8. Arcilla won theVolpi Cup for Best Actor at theVenice international Film Festival for his performance inOn the Job: The Missing 8 (2021).^[1]

He also appeared inBig Night! andA Hard Day, both selected for the2021 Metro Manila Film Festival. In A Hard Day, he played the villain Lieutenant Ace "Alas" Franco. In 2023, Arcilla played Carlos Fiero inDirty Linen and later appeared inJun Lana’s filmTen Little Mistresses.^[28][1]

In September 2023, Arcilla became host of theTV5 game showSpinGo.^[29] In 2024, he appeared inFuchsia Libre from Mavx Productions, playing the father of a gay wrestler.^[30]

Arcilla has received awards and nominations in the Philippines and internationally. In 2013, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at theBritish Independent Film Awards forMetro Manila. In 2016, he received a Best Actor nomination at theAsian Film Awards forHeneral Luna.

In 2017, Arcilla received a Best Supporting Actor Craft Award from the First Run Festival for the short filmSupot. In 2021, he received theVolpi Cup for Best Actor at theVenice International Film Festival forOn the Job: The Missing 8.

Arcilla received the Best Supporting Actor award from theGawad Urian in 1997 forLigaya Ang Itawag Mo Sa Akin. DirectorJerrold Tarog cast Arcilla in the leading role ofHeneral Luna after seeing his performances inAnino andMetro Manila.^{[citation needed]}

Arcilla was awarded theDangal ng Aurora (Aurora's Honor) by his home province in 2005 for his work in theatre, film, and television.^[37] In 2009, he received an Outstanding Citizen Award from the municipality ofSan Luis, Aurora for achievements in the performing arts.^{[citation needed]}

• John Arcilla atIMDb

• 1966 births
• Living people
• ABS-CBN people
• Filipino male comedians
• Filipino male film actors
• Filipino male stage actors
• GMA Network (company) people
• People from Aurora (province)
• Comedians from Quezon City
• Volpi Cup for Best Actor winners
• Male actors from Quezon City
• Actors of Asian descent

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