Anne Curtis, Kim Chiu, Paulo Avelino lead Filipino nominees at Seoul International Drama Awards 2026

By Jonathan Hicap

Published Jun 15, 2026 05:05 pm

Filipino stars are once again making their mark on the international stage as several local actors earned nominations at the 2026 Seoul International Drama Awards (SDA), one of Asia's most prestigious television awards events.

Among the biggest Filipino names nominated for the Outstanding Asian Star category are Anne Curtis, Paulo Avelino, Kim Chiu, Dingdong Dantes, Joshua Garcia, Gerald Anderson, Carlo Aquino, Angelica Panganiban, Bela Padilla, and Shaina Magdayao.

The nominations come as the SDA announced a record-breaking year, receiving 352 drama entries from 46 countries and regions—the highest number of submissions in the festival's history. The figure surpassed the previous record of 346 entries set in 2024 and is significantly higher than last year's 276 submissions.   

For Filipino fans, the spotlight is now on the Outstanding Asian Star voting, which officially opened on June 15 and will run until July 14 through the IdolChamp app.

A total of 23 Filipino actors and actresses are competing in the category, representing some of the country's most talked-about television projects.

The Philippine nominees are:

• Paulo Avelino ("The Alibi")
• Kim Chiu ("The Alibi")
• Anne Curtis ("It's Okay To Not Be Okay")
• Carlo Aquino ("It's Okay To Not Be Okay")
• Joshua Garcia ("Love Is Never Gone," "It's Okay To Not Be Okay")
• Dingdong Dantes ("The Master Cutter")
• Gerald Anderson ("Sins of the Father," "Blood vs Duty")
• Angelica Panganiban ("The Silent Noise")
• Bela Padilla ("Blood vs Duty")
• Shaina Magdayao ("Sins of the Father")
• Charlie Dizon ("What Lies Beneath")
• Kaila Estrada ("What Lies Beneath")
• JM De Guzman ("What Lies Beneath")
• Jake Cuenca ("What Lies Beneath")
• Ivana Alawi ("Love Is Never Gone")
• Zanjoe Marudo ("The Silent Noise")
• Amy Austria ("The First Vote")
• Anton Vinzon ("The Fist")
• Katrina Halili ("The Fist")
• Roi Vinzon ("The Fist")
• Max Collins ("The Master Cutter")
• JM Ibarra ("Ghosting")
• Sofia "Fyang" Smith ("Ghosting")

(Clockwise from top left) Doh Kyung-soo, Anne Curtis, Win Metawin Opasiamkajorn, Dilraba Dilmurat, Kazuya Kamenashi and Jisoo (Photos from SDA)

The Outstanding Asian Star award recognizes performers who have made a significant impact in six participating territories: the Philippines, South Korea, China, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand.

Meanwhile, South Korea's nominees include some of the biggest names in Hallyu today, including Jun Ji-hyun, Gang Dong-won, Kim Seon-ho, Go Youn-jung, Ji Chang-wook, Doh Kyung-soo, Kim Woo-bin, Suzy, Lim Yoon-a, Park Bo-young, and BLACKPINK member Jisoo.

Thailand is also strongly represented with nominees such as Win Metawin, Gemini Norawit, Milk Pansa Vosbein, Love Pattranite Limpatiyakorn, Namtan Tipnaree, Film Rachanun, and Rebecca Patricia Armstrong.

Beyond the fan-voted categories, this year's Seoul International Drama Awards showcases productions from across Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, Oceania, and Africa. Organizers also noted a growing number of short-form drama submissions and increased participation from African countries, with Algeria, Rwanda, and Togo joining the competition for the first time.

The 21st Seoul International Drama Awards will be held on Oct. 8 at KBS Hall in Seoul, with the official list of nominees for the international competition expected to be announced later.

Kim Chiu marks 17th year in showbiz

 BY STEPHANIE BERNARDINO

  

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Grateful.

This is what actress Kim Chiu reiterated in her recent post as she celebrated her 17th year in the entertainment scene.

In a lengthy post, Kim expressed gratitude for all the opportunities that were given to her for almost two decades.

She related: "When I entered showbiz, I had no weapon in my pocket. All I have is my dream to provide for myself and especially for my family."

"In a few days, I’ll be a year older plus 17 years in showbiz. Looking back, I am just extremely grateful, most especially to my #ASAP FAMILY. They’ve been with me since day one, the time that I don’t know how to perform on stage; shy girl, often nervous," she added.

According to her, there was a time she asked herself: "Why are they giving me this opportunity even if I messed up a lot??? Should I give up my dream to provide?"

Then suddenly, a thought came to her mind, relating that even if she didn’t know how to do all those stuff meant to entertain viewers, the management believed in her.

"Seeing my supporters smiling while I was performing made me know the purpose of why I was here," she said.

"Whenever I accomplish a performance, I get giddy and excited."

She then thanked her family on the Sunday musical-variety show for allowing her the "confidence" she now posseses.

"Thank you for not giving up on me and showing me your support and love," Kim added. "Truly ASAP IS A FAMILY!!!!FAMILY that sees you grow and celebrates with you and is always proud of what you have become. THANK YOU ASAP; performer/host KIM CHIU will not be here without you."

"Indeed advance HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! #forevergrateful #giftofFAMILY," the actress, who will be 32 on April 19, ended.

Kim Chiu energized for the holiday season

Published December 15, 2022, 7:25 AM

by Robert Requintina, MB

KIm Chiu

The holiday season is one of Kim Chiu’s most favorite times of the year because it’s when she
starts decorating her house, including her much awaited Christmas tree. Growing up not having
a tree has made her want to go all out and personally put one up every year.

Her theme previously was white Christmas and decked her 12-foot tree with white ornaments because for her, the color white symbolized hope and she missed traveling to wherever there was snow.

This Christmas will be extra special because this will be the first time since the pandemic when we can all finally get together with minimal restrictions. “This holiday season is the time for get together, more reason to meet up and celebrate with friends and family, get together, exchange gifts and a lot of food!” says Kim. “Plus, I get to have my holiday vacation! Feeling excited and body must be ready for all the happenings!” 

The holidays are also Kim’s busiest time because of work commitments and projects she has to attend to. “I am doing series of projects now and that’s what makes me busy these days plus I have just started my bag business and I am very happy with the result. I can’t wait for the restock and people want more of house of little bunny bags! “she adds. “I need to spark up my energy and be prepared for the coming holiday season! Feeling good! Feeling excited!

To carry herself through all this, she makes it a point to drink Berocca to help spark her energy. Berocca boasts a unique combination of vitamins and essential minerals, like calcium, magnesium, and zinc, that work in synergy to improve your mental performance and physical energy throughout the day.

“Even if I lack sleep or have an early call time, I make sure I always have some Berocca,” Kim shared enthusiastically. “I get all the vitamins and nutrients my body needs, and it tastes great too.”

Like Kim, you can spark your energy to help you stay energized and focused throughout the holiday season.

Kim Chiu on new business: ‘It all started as a ‘what if”

by Stephanie Bernardino, MB

Kim Chiu has started a bag business.

She revealed this via social media.

“What started as a dream of having my own business venture has finally come into life,” she shared. “Months of planning, years of pushing myself, and now it is HOPpening.” 

According to Kim, with the business, she can finally share the kind of bags she deems perfect.

“They’re the perfect arm candies made of genuine leather, and comes with the perfect gold hardware,” she said.

Her House of Littlebunny Philippines had its soft launch last Oct. 16.

Kim is beyond excited that she has a business that she can call her own.

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She urged fans to support the venture.

“Your support will be greatly appreciated as I hop my way into the #HouseOfLittleBunnyPH,” she said, along with the hashtag: “#EveryoneHasToStartSomewhere.”

In another post, Kim reiterated, “One thing that I’m most proud of is that our bags are made of Epsom leather, with complementing gold hardware which I really love.”

They also offer a bag designed to be worn in three ways.

“It comes with 2 detachable straps—long and short, or you can just totally remove the strap and use it as a mini tote!!!,” she teased, relating how it’s also spacious enough for their customers’ essentials.

Well, just a few days after, Kim excitedly shared that she woke up with the news that eight of their bags have sold out—and the others are almost sold out as well.

“Feeling overjoyed by how everything is going so far,” she said.

“It all started as a ‘what if,’ and now we are making it happen! Thank you, everyone, for showing your love and support for #HouseOfLittleBunnyPH.”

She also released a disclaimer.

“We are receiving a high number of orders at the moment. Please bear with us regarding the shipping and customer service care; with any of your concerns, feel free to DM us on IG or FB.”