Gina Alajar

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Liguid and the surname or paternal family name is Alatiit.

Regina Liguid Alatiit (born June 28, 1959), known professionally as Gina Alajar (Tagalog pronunciation: [alaˈhar]), is a Filipino film and television actress and director. One of the most awarded actresses in Philippine cinema,^[1][2] she has won the Philippine movie grand slam, receiving several Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress wins at FAMAS, Gawad Urian and Luna Awards.

Gina Alajar
Alajar in 2023
Born	Regina Liguid Alatiit (1959-06-28) June 28, 1959 (age 66) Tondo, Manila, Philippines
Occupation(s)	Actress, television director
Years active	1968–present
Spouse	Michael de Mesa ​ ​ (m. 1978; ann. 2006)​
Awards	FAMAS Award – Best Supporting Actress 1997 Malunay, Sa Pusod ng Paraiso 1991 Biktima Gawad Urian Award – Best Supporting Actress 1991 Biktima 1997 Malunay: Sa Pusod ng Paraiso Gawad Urian Award – Best Actress 1981 Brutal 1982 Salome 1983 Moral 1986 Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim – Best Supporting Actress 2011 Amaya

Career

Since appearing as a child actress in the early 1970s,^[3] Alajar has been a critically acclaimed actress.^[4] She has appeared in films such as Playgirl, Bayan Ko, Brutal, Salome, Mulanay, and has collaborated with directors such as Lino Brocka, Ishmael Bernal, Maryo J. de los Reyes, Chito S. Roño, Gil Portes, Marilou Diaz-Abaya, her directorial work has been enhanced in the 2000s in television work for GMA Network dramas.

From 1997–2009, she was seen mostly in television soap operas on GMA and in 2009–2010, she was seen in ABS-CBN dramas such as Kambal sa Uma and 2010's Habang May Buhay. In 2012, she received more massive acclaim for the TV series Hiram na Puso, a comeback feat in her TV career on GMA Network.

In 2016, she came back to television in the fantasy afternoon drama Magkaibang Mundo as a main antagonist. In 2018, she starred in the daytime drama Hindi Ko Kayang Iwan Ka as an antagonist-protagonist role of Adelaida "Adel" Angeles.^[5]

In 2021, she was back in the remake of 1988 movie Nagbabagang Luha as Calida Montaire originally played by Gloria Romero as Imelda Montaire, she went viral a backhanded slap to Claire Castro which portrayed Cielo and dragged into the red cake and pouring liquid on flower to Claire.^[6]

Personal life

Alajar was part of Dulaang UP. She has three sons with Michael de Mesa, from whom she is separated:^[7] Ryan, Geoff and A.J. Eigenmann.^[8]

Filmography

Film

• Kaibigan Kong Sto. Niño (1967) – Oreng
• Donata (1968) – Donata
• Pinagbuklod ng Langit (1969) – Irene Marcos
• Si Darna at ang Planetman (1969) – Narda
• Mga Anghel Na Walang Langit (1970)
• Wanted: Perfect Mother (1970)
• Mag-inang Ulila (1971)
• My Little Brown Girl (1972)
• Zoom, Zoom, Superman! (1973) – The Possessed
• Cofradia (1973)
• Big J (1975)
• Mahiwagang Kris (1977)
• Malayo Man, Malapit Din (1977)
• Boy Pana (Terror ng Maynila '63) (1978)
• Diborsyada (1979) – Gina
• Anak ng Maton (1979)
• City After Dark (1980)
• Brutal (1980) – Cynthia
• Caught in the Act (1981) – Rowena
• Salome (1981) – Salome
• Playgirl (1981)
• Ako ang Hari (1981)
• High School Scandal (1981)
• Wild (1981)
• Brother Ben (1982) – Lina
• Moral (1982) – Kathy
• Caged Fury (1983) – Nguyet
• Ganti (1983)
• Bukas... May Pangarap (1984) – Mering
• Pieta, Ikalawang Aklat (1984)^[9]
• Kaya Kong Abuting ang Langit (1984) – Nancy
• Sister Stella L. (1984)
• Condemned (1984) – Mayette
• Bulaklak sa City Jail (1984) – Juliet
• Bayan Ko: My Own Country (1985) – Luz
• Ano ang Kulay ng Mukha ng Diyos? (1985)
• Hindi Mo Ako Kayang Tapakan (1986) – Josephine
• Tatlong Ina, Isang Anak (1987) – Belle
• Hiwaga sa Balete Drive (1988)
• Birds of Prey (1988)
• Babaing Hampaslupa (1988) – Desiree
• Fight for Us (1989) – Esper
• Biktima (1990) – Laura Malicat
• Andrea, Paano Ba ang Maging Isang Ina? (1990) – Joyce
• Kailan Ka Magiging Akin (1991) – Shirley
• Emma Salazar Case (1991)
• Shake, Rattle & Roll III ("Ate" segment, 1991) – Rowena^[10]
• Lucia (1992)
• Shake, Rattle & Roll IV ("Ang Madre" segment, 1992) – Puri
• The Wild Cowboys (1992) – Regina Smith
• Teenage Mama (1993)
• Victim No. 1: Delia Maga (Jesus, Pray For Us!) – A Massacre in Singapore^[11][12] (1995) – Delia Maga
• Campus Girls (1995) – Mrs. Rosales
• Ipaglaban Mo: The Movie (1995)
• Dead or Alive: Arrest the King of Carnappers (1996)
• Mulanay: Sa Pusod ng Paraiso (1996)
• Frats (1997) – Oning
• Tatlo... Magkasalo (1998)
• Mother Ignacia – Ang Uliran (1998) – Mother Ignacia (younger years)
• José Rizal (1998) – Saturnina Rizal
• Sa Piling ng Mga Aswang (1999) – Lola Munda
• The Debut (2000) – Gina Mercado
• Bahay ni Lola (2001)
• Small Voices (2002) – Chayong
• Singsing ni Lola (2002) – Esper
• Ang Agimat, Anting-anting ni Lolo (2002) – Clarita
• Mano Po (2002) – Gina Go
• Sanib (2003)
• Pinoy/Blonde (2005)
• Lovestruck (2005)
• Mainit Na Tubig (2006)
• Batad sa Paang Palay (2006)
• Mano Po 5: Gua Ai Di (I Love You) (2006)
• Desperadas (2007) – Patrick's mother
• Shake, Rattle and Roll 9 (segment "Christmas Tree", 2007) – Myrna
• Grandpa Is Dead (2009) – Marieta "Mameng" Hernandez
• Fuchsia (2009) – Nena
• Shake, Rattle & Roll XI (segment "Diablo", 2009) – Tita Beth
• Sigwa (2010)
• Guni Guni (2012) – Mrs. Arevalo
• Mater Dolorosa (2012)
• The Reunion (2012) – Joanne
• Dark Is the Night (2017) – Sara
• Pastor (2017) Mildred Aguila
• Last Fool Show (2019) – Joanna Lee
• Big Night! (2021) – Dharna's mother
• Monday First Screening (2023) – Lydia^[13]
• Pieta (2023) – Beth
• When I Met You in Tokyo^[14] (2023) – Susan
• The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma (2025) – Charito Solis^[15][16]

Television

Year	Title	Role
1980–1996	Lovingly Yours, Helen
1988	Evelio	Alyssa
	Hello, Uncle Sam?
1992	Cebu
	De Buena Pamilya
1993	GMA Telecine Specials
1994	Bisperas ng Kasaysayan	Isabel[17]
1998	Maalaala Mo Kaya: Kinky Hair
	Mula sa Puso	Elena
	GMA Telecine Specials: Pasada
2001–2002	Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin	Lilian Delos Santos
2004	Magpakailanman: "The Jennylyn Mercado Story"	Thelma
2005–2006	Vietnam Rose	Amanda Hernandez
2006	Noel	---
	Majika	Adana
2007	Asian Treasures	Elvira
	Sine Novela: Sinasamba Kita	Corazon
2007–2008	Sine Novela: Pasan Ko ang Daigdig	Metring Velez
2008	Carlo J. Caparas' Joaquin Bordado	Doctora Regina
	Sine Novela: Una Kang Naging Akin	Luisa Yumul
2009	Jim Fernandez's Kambal sa Uma	Celeste Miranda-Ledesma
	SRO Cinemaserye Presents: Carenderia Queen	Waray
2009–2010	Sana Ngayong Pasko	Felicidad "Fely" Dionisio
2010	StarStruck (season 5)	Herself/Mentor
	Habang May Buhay	Rose Alcantara-Caparas
	Sine Novela: Trudis Liit	Lollipop "Lolly" Toledo-Ferrer
2011	Pablo S. Gomez's Machete	Elena
2011–2012	Amaya	Dian Lamitan
2012	Valiente	Iluminada "Luming" Soledad- Valiente
	Hiram na Puso	Zeny Banaag
	Luna Blanca	Linda De Jesus
	Protégé: The Battle For The Big Artista Break	Herself/Mentor
	Magpakailanman: "The Mirriam Castillo Story"	Mirriam Castillo
2016	Magkaibang Mundo	Noreen Sandoval-Perez
2017	D' Originals	The 4th Original (Guest Appearance)
	Magpakailanman	Co-lead role
	Alaala: A Martial Law Special	Sara Ilagan
2018	Hindi Ko Kayang Iwan Ka	Doña Adelaida "Adele" Angeles
	Sirkus	Lola Waya
2019	Sahaya	Almida Caliste
2021	Nagbabagang Luha	Calida Montaire
2022	Start-Up PH	Ligaya "Joy" Sison[18]
2024	Asawa ng Asawa Ko	Carmen Salcedo
	Lilet Matias: Attorney-at-Law	Hon. Liberty Villaroman

Television (as director)

Year	Programs	Note
1995	GMA Telesine Specials: Sa Pagdating ng Bagong Umaga	Director
1995–1996	Kadenang Kristal
1999–2001	Rio Del Mar
	Kirara, Ano ang Kulay ng Pag-ibig?
2003–2004	Narito ang Puso Ko
2003	Hawak Ko ang Langit
2003–2004	Walang Hanggan
2005	Tahanan: Eat Bulaga Special
2010–2012	Reel Love Presents Tween Hearts
2011	Machete
2012	Luna Blanca	2nd Unit Director
2012–2013	Magdalena: Anghel sa Putikan	Director
	Temptation of Wife	2nd Unit Director
2013	Unforgettable	Director[19]
	Anna Karenina
2013–2014	Villa Quintana
2014	Eat Bulaga! Lenten Special: Kulungan Kanlungan
2014–2015	Yagit
2015	Let the Love Begin
2015–2016	The Half Sisters
	Destiny Rose
2017	Pinulot Ka Lang sa Lupa
2018–2019	Onanay
2019–2022	Prima Donnas
2023	Magpakailanman Episode: Sa Puso't Isipan:The Cantillana Family Story	Director Won for Best Single Drama/Telemovie/Anthology—Asian Academy Creative Awards[20][21]

Film (as director)

• Angels (segment "Angel's of Mine", 2007)