{{short description|Filipino singer and actress (born 1977)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}} {{mi| {{notability|bio|date=August 2017}} {{BLP sources|date=September 2024}} {{Unreliable sources|date=September 2024}} }} {{Infobox musical artist | image = Bituin Escalante 2021 - Metropolitan Theater 90th Anniversary (cropped).jpg | caption = Escalante in December 2021 performing at the 90th anniversary of the Manila Metropolitan Theater | birth_name = Bituin Escalante Aguilos | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|4|23}} | birth_place = Manila, Philippines | genre = Pop | occupation = Singer | label = Viva Records | years_active = 2000–present }} '''Bituin Escalante''' (born April 23, 1977) is a Filipino singer, actress and host. She is considered the Philippines' best female vocalists having been active since 2000, and notably due to the success of her Himig Handog entry "Kung Ako Na Lang Sana".<ref name="KALNS">{{cite web|url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/02/27/21/behind-the-music-kung-ako-na-lang-sana-by-bituin-escalante |title=Behind the Music: 'Kung Ako Na Lang Sana' by Bituin Escalante|date=27 February 2021|first=Leah C.|last=Salterio|website=ABS-CBN News|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref>
==Career== Before her eventual rise through Metropop and Himig Handog, Escalante has been active in the theatrical scene since 1996, and has appeared in some television shows.<ref name="KALNS" />
===Discovery=== Escalante rose to popularity after her first appearance in the 2000 Metropop Song Festival with her interpretation of "Paano Na", written by Arnold Reyes where she received the festival's second prize. In the following year, Bituin won awards as a new artist in the Philippine music industry.
Her 2002 song, "Kung Ako Na Lang Sana" written by Soc Villanueva, is the 2002 ABS-CBN Himig Handog Music Love Song Festival grand prize winner.{{cn|date=February 2024}} She was also awarded Best Interpreter for this song and was later on given a platinum award for said album.{{cn|date=February 2024}} She is one of the singers in ASAP.{{cn|date=February 2024}}
==Current career and the first movie== Her debut film was Isang Himala, an official entry to the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival. A musical drama based on the classic film Himala, it stars National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Nora Aunor in the original version, while the remake features singer, actress, pianist, and television host Aicelle Santos in the lead role.
==Discography== ===Theater=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Title !! | Role !! Producer !! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- | 2008 || ''Dreamgirls'' || Effie White || || |- | || ''Once on This Island'' || Asaka || || |- | || ''Death and the Maiden'' || Paulina Escobar || || |- | || ''Alice in Wonderland'' || Queen of Hearts || || |- |2018 |''Waitress'' |Becky | |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/philippines/article/Bituin-Escalante-Joins-the-Cast-of-WAITRESS-Show-Premieres-1110-20180523 |title=Bituin Escalante Joins the Cast of WAITRESS; Show Premieres 11/10|date=23 May 2018|first=Oliver|last=Oliveros|website=Broadway World Philippines|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref> |- |}
==Filmography== *''Isang Himala'' (Official entry of the Metro Manila Film Festival 2024, Bituin's 1st debut movie)
==Awards== * 2001 ALIW Awards: Most Promising Female Artist * 2001 Who's Who in the Philippines: Best Female Performer * 2002 ABS-CBN Himig Handog Love Song Competition: Best Interpreter (song "Kung Ako na Lang Sana") * 2003 Awit Awards: Song of the Year (Kung Ako Na Lang Sana) * 2003 Awit Awards: Best Performance by a Female Artist * 2007 Awit Awards: Best Performance by a Duo or Group (with Mon David)
==Personal life== Escalante is married to Reymund "Mano" Domingo. They have two children Tala and Luna.<ref>{{cite news |last1= Salterio |first1= Leah |title=Bituin enjoys being a mother|url= https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2020/02/20/1994441/bituin-enjoys-being-mother|accessdate=December 24, 2024 |work=The Philippine Star |date=February 20, 2020}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}} * {{commonscat-inline}} * https://web.archive.org/web/20110721085515/http://www.pahk.com.hk/BITUIN%20write-up.htm
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Escalante, Bituin}} Category:Living people Category:1977 births Category:Filipino women pop singers Category:Viva Records (Philippines) artists Category:21st-century Filipino singers Category:21st-century Filipino women singers Category:Actresses from Manila Category:Singers from Manila Category:Filipino film actresses