Alex Castro

{{About|the Filipino singer and politician|the Spanish footballer|Álex Castro|the Colombian footballer|Alex Stik Castro Giraldo}} {{Philippine name|Collera|Castro}} {{short description|Filipino singer, actor, model, and politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = [[Honorable|The Honorable]] | name = Alex Castro | image = VG Alex Castro official portrait 2025.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2025 | office = Vice Governor of [[Bulacan]] | term_start = June 30, 2022 | term_end = | governor = [[Daniel Fernando]] | predecessor = [[Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado]] {{Collapsed infobox section begin| Concurrent positions}} | office1 = Regional Chairman of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines for [[Central Luzon|Region III]] | term_start1 = July 2022 | term_end1 = | office2 = National Chairman of the [[National Movement of Young Legislators]] | term_start2 = July 1, 2022 | predecessor2 = [[Jolo Revilla]]  {{Collapsed infobox section end}} | office3 = Member of the [[Bulacan Provincial Board]] from the [[Bulacan's 4th congressional district|4th District]] | term_start3 = June 30, 2016 | term_end3 = June 30, 2022 {{Collapsed infobox section begin| Concurrent positions}} | office4 = Assistant Secretary General of the [[National Movement of Young Legislators]] | term_start4 = July 1, 2019 | term_end4 = June 30, 2022 | office5 = President of the [[National Movement of Young Legislators]] for [[Central Luzon|Region III]] | term_start5 = July 1, 2016 | term_end5 = June 30, 2019 {{Collapsed infobox section end}} | office6 = Member of the [[Marilao]] Municipal Council | term_start6 = June 30, 2007 | term_end6 = June 30, 2013 | office7 = [[Sangguniang Kabataan]] Federation President of [[Marilao]] Sectoral Representative at the [[Marilao]] Municipal Council | term_start7 = August 15, 2002 | term_end7 = November 30, 2007 | office8 = Sangguniang Kabataan Chairman of Barangay Lias, Marilao, Bulacan | term_start8 = August 15, 2002 | term_end8 = November 30, 2007 | birth_name = Alexis Collera Castro | birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1985|09|27}} | birth_place = [[Quezon City]], [[Philippines]] | alma_mater = [[Far Eastern University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]]) | death_date = | occupation = Model, Actor, Singer, Politician | party = [[National Unity Party (Philippines)|NUP]] (2018–present) | other_party = [[Nationalist People's Coalition|NPC]] (2015–2018) [[Liberal Party (Philippines)|Liberal]] (2007–2015) | spouse = {{marriage|Sunshine Garcia|2019}} | children = 2 | homepage = }} '''Alexis Collera Castro''' (born September 27, 1985) is a Filipino model, singer, actor and politician currently serving as the Vice Governor of [[Bulacan]] since 2022. He is previously a member of the [[Bulacan Provincial Board]] from the [[Legislative districts of Bulacan#4th District|4th]] district from 2016 to 2022. He also served as a municipal councilor of [[Marilao]] from 2007 to 2013 and chairman of [[Sangguniang Kabataan]] in Barangay Lias, Marilao from 2002 to 2007.<ref name="bm">{{cite web|url=https://sp.bulacan.gov.ph/about/bm_acastro.php|title=Hon. Alexis C. Castro, Board Member - Fourth District|website=Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Bulacan|access-date=January 10, 2022}}</ref> As a talent, he signed with [[GMA Network]], yet later transferred to its rival network [[ABS-CBN Corporation|ABS-CBN]], then returned to GMA after eleven years.

==Early life== Castro was born on September 27, 1985, in [[Quezon City]] to Angel Gonzales Castro and Susan Collera Castro. His family moved to [[Marilao]], [[Bulacan]] during his childhood. He graduated from pre-school and elementary school at the St. Michael School of Marilao. He later completed his high school education at the Jesus is Lord Colleges Foundation in [[Bocaue]].<ref name="vg">{{cite web|url=https://bulacan.gov.ph/government/elective-officials/vg-acastro/|title=Vice Governor Alexis C. Castro|website=Provincial Government of Bulacan|accessdate=June 17, 2023}}</ref>

==Political career== In 2002, at age 17, Castro was elected [[Sangguniang Kabataan]] (SK) chairman of Barangay Lias, Marilao, Bulacan. Not long after, he was elected as the SK Federation president of [[Marilao]], making him an ex-officio member of the [[Sangguniang Bayan]] of Marilao. He was awarded as the “Most Outstanding SK Federation President” and with the Gintong Kabataan Award in the Gintong Kabataan Awards in 2005. While fulfilling his duties, he obtained his Bachelor of Science in [[Mass Communication]] degree from the [[Far Eastern University]] in 2006.<ref name="vg" />

In 2007, he was eventually elected as the youngest municipal councilor of Marilao. He was re-elected in [[2010 Marilao local elections|2010]], the same year that he was conferred as 2010 Gawad Galing Sanggunian's “Outstanding Councilor in Bulacan”. Two years later, he was again recognized as “Outstanding Councilor in the Philippines” by the People’s Choice Awards for 2013.<ref name="bm" /> In [[2013 Marilao local elections|2013]], he unsuccessfully ran for vice mayor of Marilao as the running mate of Tito Santiago, the outgoing vice mayor who was eventually elected as mayor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/08/20/12/alex-castro-running-marilao-vice-mayor|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125202915/https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/08/20/12/alex-castro-running-marilao-vice-mayor|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 25, 2020|title=Alex Castro running for Marilao vice mayor|work=ABS-CBN News|date=August 20, 2012|access-date=January 10, 2022}}</ref>

He was elected to the [[Bulacan Provincial Board]] as a member from the [[Legislative districts of Bulacan#4th District|4th]] district in [[2016 Bulacan local elections|2016]]. During his first term, he was concurrently serving as the President of [[National Movement of Young Legislators]] (NMYL) for [[Central Luzon|Region III]]. He was then re-elected in [[2019 Bulacan local elections|2019]] and was named as NMYL's National Assistant Secretary General early in his second term. He was awarded by Gawad Filipino as the Outstanding Public Servant of the Year in 2021.<ref name="vg" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://centralluzon.politics.com.ph/bulacan-bm-alex-castro-named-outstanding-public-sevant-of-the-year/|title=Bulacan BM Alex Castro named Outstanding Public Sevant of the Year|date=December 28, 2021|accessdate=June 17, 2023|website=Politiko Central Luzon}}</ref>

[[File:Solemn_Dedication_of_Saint_Padre_Pio_Chapel_05.jpg|thumbnail|left|Castro and [[Baliuag]] Mayor [[Ferdie Estrella]] during the solemn dedication of Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina Chapel in 2024]] He ran for vice governor of [[Bulacan]] in [[2022 Bulacan local elections|2022]] as the running mate of incumbent [[Governor of Bulacan|governor]] [[Daniel Fernando]] and they both won.<ref name="vice">{{cite news|url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/10/07/21/alex-castro-files-coc-for-vice-governor-in-bulacan|title=Alex Castro files COC for vice governor in Bulacan|work=ABS-CBN News|date=October 7, 2021|access-date=January 10, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/05/10/news/fernando-castro-win-in-bulacan/1843138|title=Fernando, Castro win in Bulacan|first=Frederick|last=Silverio|work=The Manila Times|date=May 11, 2022|accessdate=May 15, 2022}}</ref> He was named as the National Chairman of NMYL and the Regional Chairman of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines for [[Central Luzon]] for 2022–2025.<ref name="vg" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://newscorebulacan.net/bise-gob-alex-castro-bababa-ako-sa-mga-bayan-hindi-lang-dito-sa-bulawagan/|title=Bise Gob. Alex Castro: Bababa ako sa mga bayan, hindi lang dito sa bulwagan|first=Anton Luis Reyes|last=Catindig|date=July 19, 2022|accessdate=June 17, 2023|language=Filipino|website=News Core Bulacan}}</ref>

===Legal issue=== On May 6, 2024, [[Whistleblowing|whistleblower]] “Francisco Balagtas” filed with the [[Samuel Martires|Ombudsman]] a 3-page [[complaint]] dated May 1, 2024, against [[Daniel Fernando]], Castro, other local officials, including TCSC Corporation’s owners-officers Dionisio Toreja, President, Engr. Bernie Pacheco, Vice President for Mining, and others. The corruption case stemmed from the alleged anomalous {{Philippine peso|500 million|link=yes}} Bulacan Flood Control and River Restoration Project, including TCSC's Bulacan [[dredging]] projects.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dumlao |first1=Artemio |title=P500-M scandal rocks Bulacan river dredging project|url= https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/05/08/2353552/p500-m-scandal-rocks-bulacan-river-dredging-project|accessdate=May 9, 2024 |publisher=[[The Philippine Star]] |date=May 8, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1= Villamente|first1=Jing |title=Graft raps filed vs. Bulacan governor, et al|url= https://tribune.net.ph/2024/05/06/graft-raps-filed-vs-bulacan-governor-et-al|accessdate=May 9, 2024 |publisher=[[Daily Tribune (Philippines)]] |date=May 7, 2024}}</ref>

==Contestant at ''Are You The Next Big Star?''== Castro contested ''[[Are You the Next Big Star?]]'' on [[GMA Network]] in 2009. He advanced to the final round alongside Camille Cortez, Geoff Taylor, and Frencheska Farr, who would eventually won the contest.

=== Performances/results === {|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- !Week # !Song choice !Original artist !Order # !Result |- | Top 16 |"[[This Love (Maroon 5 song)|This Love]]" |[[Maroon 5]] |15 |Safe |- | Top 14 |"Sabihin Mo Na" |Top Suzara |8 |Safe |- | Top 12 |"Panakip Butas" |[[Hajji Alejandro]] |11 |Safe |- | Top 10 |"[[You Are Not Alone]]" |[[Michael Jackson]] |2 |Safe |- | Top 8 |"[[Nandito Ako (song)|Nandito Ako]]" |[[Ogie Alcasid]] |3 |Safe |- | Top 7 |"Basang-Basa Sa Ulan" |[[Aegis]] |4 |Bottom 2 |- | Top 6 |"[[Narda]]" (performed with [[Gian Magdangal]]) |[[Kamikazee]] |1 |Safe |- | Top 4 |"Huling El Bimbo" "[[I'll Be There for You (Bon Jovi song)|I'll Be There for You]]" "Awit ng Kabataan" |[[Eraserheads]] [[Bon Jovi]] [[Rivermaya]] |4 2 4 |Runner-Up |- |}

==Filmography==

===Television=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role |- | rowspan="2"| 2009 || ''[[Are You the Next Big Star?]]'' || Himself / Finalist |- | ''[[SOP Fully Charged]]'' || Himself / Performer |- | rowspan="2"| 2010 || ''[[Maling Akala|Your Song Presents: Maling Akala]]'' || Lawrence Peseta |- | ''[[Wansapanataym| Wansapanataym: Zoila's Valentina]]'' || Robert / Bobot |- | rowspan="5"| 2011 || ''[[Precious Hearts Romances Presents]]: [[Mana Po]]'' || Bob |- | ''[[Mula sa Puso (2011 TV series)|Mula sa Puso]]'' || Thaddeus |- | ''[[Reputasyon]]'' || Manuel |- | ''[[Wansapanataym| Wansapanataym: Darmo Adarna]]'' || Migs |- | ''[[ASAP (TV program)|ASAP]]'' || Himself / co-host |- | rowspan="5"| 2012 || ''[[Mundo Man ay Magunaw]]'' || Mike Sarmiento |- | ''[[Kahit Puso'y Masugatan]]'' || Christian Morales |- | ''[[Maalaala Mo Kaya|Maalaala Mo Kaya: Gong]]'' || Eddie |- | ''[[Precious Hearts Romances Presents]]: [[Paraiso (Philippine TV series)|Paraiso]]'' || Albert Ramirez |- | ''[[Wansapanataym|Wansapanataym: I'll Be Home For Christmas]]'' || Joseph |- | rowspan="4"| 2013 || ''[[Wansapanataym|Wansapanataym: Si Paolo At Si Apollo]]'' || Apollo |- | ''[[Maalaala Mo Kaya|Maalaala Mo Kaya: Dream House]]'' || Luis |- | ''[[Annaliza (2013 TV series)|Annaliza]]'' || Cedrick Francisco |- | ''[[Maria Mercedes (Philippine TV series)|Maria Mercedes]]'' || Anthony Figueras |- | rowspan=2|2014 || ''[[Moon of Desire]]'' || Diego |- | ''[[Maalaala Mo Kaya|Maalaala Mo Kaya: Kumot]]'' || Crizaldu |- | rowspan=5|2015 || ''[[Maalaala Mo Kaya|Maalaala Mo Kaya: Pagkain]]'' || Clyde |- | ''[[Pasión de Amor (Philippine TV series)|Pasión de Amor]]'' || Gelo Corpuz |- | ''[[Wattpad | Wattpad Presents: Jenny and The Magic Arinola]]'' || Laxus The Genie |- | ''[[Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang#TV5 and The IdeaFirst Company|LolaBasyang.com Presents: Ang Mahiwagang Kuba]]'' || Johnny |- | ''[[Walang Iwanan (TV series)|Walang Iwanan]]'' || Father Chito |- | rowspan=2|2016 || ''[[Maalaala Mo Kaya|Maalaala Mo Kaya: Pasa]]'' || Jonjon |- | ''[[Doble Kara]]'' || Victor |- | rowspan=3|2017 || ''[[Maalaala Mo Kaya|Maalaala Mo Kaya: Tahanan]]'' || Josue |- | ''[[Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin]]'' || young Joey |- | ''[[Wildflower (TV series)|Wildflower]]'' || Rufo |- | rowspan=3|2018 || ''[[Maalaala Mo Kaya|Maalaala Mo Kaya: Manibela]]'' || Marvin |- | ''[[Precious Hearts Romances Presents]]: [[Los Bastardos]]'' || young Fausto Davide |- | ''[[Ipaglaban Mo!|Ipaglaban Mo: Abogada]]'' || Noel Valeroso |- | rowspan=3|2019 || ''[[Maalaala Mo Kaya|Maalaala Mo Kaya: Medalya]]'' || Alvin |- | ''[[The Killer Bride]]'' || young Jacobo Dela Torre |- | ''[[The Haunted (Philippine TV series)|The Haunted]]'' || Bernard Robles Jr. |- | rowspan=3 | 2020 || ''[[Ipaglaban Mo!|Ipaglaban Mo: Himlayan]]'' || Antonio Yulo |- | ''[[Ang sa Iyo ay Akin]]'' || young Francis Angeles |- |''[[Walang Hanggang Paalam]]'' || young Nick |- | rowspan=2 | 2021 || ''[[Artikulo 247]]'' || Alexander |}

===Film=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Title !! Role |- | rowspan=4|2008 || ''[[My Best Friend's Girlfriend]]'' || Jun |- | ''[[Manay Po 2: Overload]]'' || Rainier |- | ''[[One True Love (2008 film)|One True Love]]'' || Mike |- | ''[[Desperadas 2]]'' || Norman |- | 2012 || ''[[Shake, Rattle & Roll 14]]'' || Private Hilario Tabios |- | rowspan=2|2013 || ''[[The Bride and the Lover]]'' || Matteo |- | ''[[Call Center Girl]]'' || Martin |- | rowspan=2|2014 || ''[[Maybe This Time (2014 film)|Maybe This Time]]'' || Patrick |- | ''[[Somebody to Love (2014 film)|Somebody to Love]]'' || Rainier |- | 2015 || ''[[Resureksyon]]'' || Ramil |}

==Personal life== Castro is married to former [[SexBomb Girls]] dancer Sunshine Garcia since March 2019 almost two years after their engagement. He has two sons.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://centralluzon.politics.com.ph/bm-castros-sons-are-as-pogi-as-him/|title=BM Castro's sons are as pogi as him!|website=Politiko Central Luzon|date=January 1, 2019|access-date=January 20, 2022}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}} {{Commons category}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name|2914613}}

{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Vice Governor of [[Bulacan]]|years=2022–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Castro, Alex}} [[Category:1985 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century Filipino male singers]] [[Category:Filipino male television actors]] [[Category:Filipino male models]] [[Category:Far Eastern University alumni]] [[Category:National Unity Party (Philippines) politicians]] [[Category:Star Magic]] [[Category:ABS-CBN people]] [[Category:Participants in Philippine reality television series]] [[Category:Male actors from Bulacan]] [[Category:Singers from Bulacan]] [[Category:Members of the Bulacan Provincial Board]] [[Category:Filipino male film actors]] [[Category:Filipino actor-politicians]] [[Category:GMA Network (company) people]] [[Category:Male actors from Quezon City]] [[Category:Filipino city and municipal councilors]] [[Category:Provincial vice governors of the Philippines]]