Agoncillo, Ryan

Agoncillo, Ryan

Ryan Agoncillo (Kristoffer Lou Ryan Gonzalez Agoncillo) is a television host, actor, model, and photographer. He was born in Manila on 10 April 1979. He is one of the two sons of Luis “Chito” Agoncillo and Rowena “Nina” de los Reyes Gonzalez. He is married to film and movie actor Judy Ann Santos, with whom he has three children. The sister of Ryan’s father is Carina Agoncillo, whose showbiz name is Carina Afable, the former wife of musician-composer Raul Silos. His father’s family belongs to the clan of Felipe E. Agoncillo, a diplomat in the First Philippine Republic established by Emilio Aguinaldo and one of the defense lawyers for the journalists of El Renacimiento charged with libel by Dean C. Worcester for the editorial “Aves de Rapiña” (Birds of Prey), 1908. Felipe was the husband of Marcela Mariño de Agoncillo, the principal seamstress of the first official Philippine flag, whose daughter Maria became the second wife of Emilio Aguinaldo. Ryan’s mother traces her roots to Joaquin Gonzalez from Baliuag, Bulacan, who served as the first rector of the Universidad Cientifico-Literaria de Filipinas and representative of Pampanga to the 1898 Malolos Congress. Four of Joaquin’s sons were Bienvenido Maria Sioco Gonzalez, the sixth and eighth president of the University of the Philippines in 1939-43 and 1945-51, respectively; Augusto, father of former education secretary and former De La Salle University (DLSU) president Andrew Gonzalez; Virgilio, grandfather of popular dermatologist Dr Victoria “Vicki” Gonzalez Belo; and Francisco Javier, grandfather of Ryan’s mother and of writer Barbara “Tweetums” Gonzalez, whose daughter, TV host Panjee Tapales, married and later separated from Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III of the ABS-CBN conglomerate. Ryan finished his elementary and high school education at San Beda College in Alabang. He graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in organizational communication from DLSU in 2000.

He started his television career at age 15 when he appeared in the television commercials of Penshoppe, Greenwich Pizza, Sprite, Islacom, and later in Emperador Brandy, Swish Mouthwash, and Fitrum. Agoncillo started hosting at GMA in the daily television program Mornings at GMA, 1998-99, and the music video show Campus Video, 1999-2001. He hosted variety shows and reality TV programs in other networks, which include Breakfast, 1999-2001, and the youth-oriented debate forum Y-Speak, 2003-10, on ANC Studio 23; Review Night, 2001, on Cinema One; Talk TV, 2001-2, Magandang Umaga, Pilipinas (Good Morning, Philippines), 2001-4, Star in a Million, 2003-6, and Pinoy Fear Factor, 2008-9, on ABS-CBN; and Philippine Idol, 2006, and Talentadong Pinoy (Talented Filipino), 2008-13, on TV5. He joined the daily noontime show Eat Bulaga! (Lunchtime Peek-a-Boo!) on GMA, replacing the late rapper Francis Magalona in 2009. In 2015, he became the host aka Kuya Driver of the Philippine edition of Cash Cab, the popular UK game show aired on AXN Asia.

Agoncillo also acted in television dramas, situational comedy shows, and fantasy programs, such as Krystala, 2004-5, Maalaala Mo Kaya (Will You Remember), 2005, Bituing Walang Ningning (Star without Sparkle), 2006, Pieta, 2008-9, May Bukas Pa (Tomorrow Is Another Day), 2009-10, and George and Cecil, 2009-10, on ABS-CBN; Lady Dada, 2010, on TV5; and a cameo role in My Husband’s Lover, 2013, and a main character in Ismol Family (Small Family), 2014, on GMA.

Agoncillo appeared in the movies Kutob (Premonition), 2005, Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo (Partner, Participant, Partaker), 2006, its sequel Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo (Strangle, Perchance, Help), 2007, My Househusband, 2011, and Ano ang Kulay ng Nakalimutang Pangarap? (What Is the Color of the Forgotten Dream?), 2013, all directed by Jose Javier Reyes. His other movies include Umaaraw, Umuulan (Sun Shining, Rain Pouring), 2006, and My Kuya’s Wedding (My Older Brother’s Wedding), 2007. He produced music albums in 2006, exhibited his photographic works in 2007, and published the photography coffee-table book Ploning: The Making, a collection of images taken during the making of his wife’s movie Ploning, in 2007.

For hosting Y-Speak, he received the KBP Golden Dove Award for Best Public Affairs Program Host in 2005, 2007, and 2010, the Catholic Mass Media Award for Best Talk Show Host in 2006, and the Anak TV Seal in 2009 and 2010. For hosting Talentadong Pinoy, he won the Philippine Movie Press Club Star Award for Best Talent Show Host in 2009 and the Entertainment Press Society Golden Screen Award for Outstanding Reality Competition Program Host in 2011. He received the Hall of Fame Award for Best Male Emcee at the 2010 Aliw Awards for having won in the category in 2007, 2008, and 2009.