UST Beach Volleyball Varsity Player, ABS-CBN Star Magic Talent Tricia Santos | Photos

The growling tigresses of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) will serve aces for season 76 (2013-2014) of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines or UAAP. Why? 'Coz their varsity is joined by a stunning and beautiful player in the persona of Tricia Santos!

Born as Patricia Mae Santos on May 18, 1995 in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila (but she grew up in Davao), she stands at a towering 5 foot 8 inches, making her a virtual wall of defense behind the nets. Here's the entire team line up (see photo below).

Even before she was discovered by talent scouts of ABS-CBN Star Magic, who cast her in the reality TV series Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Teen Clash edition, she has been a fanatic of the said sport.

She was a volleyball varsity player during her high school years (Ateneo de Davao). Now, pursuing tertiary education, she is playing for University of Santo Tomas (UST). She proudly wears its black and gold uniform at the beach or at indoor gyms.

In photos below, the beach volleyball team poses with "Sports Unlimited" hosts Dianne Castillejo and Marc Nelson:

Tricia is really pretty. She won first runner-up in the beauty pageant for the national sports fest “Palarong Pambansa”. Her favorite food is sinigang (meat in tamarind broth). Her fave show is 90210. She adores the actor Enchong Dee. She loves pink and listens to Colbie Caillat. Miss Santos lists “A Walk to Remember” as her favorite book.

Good luck to the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas (UST)! See you at the beach (or bleachers).

More photos of our featured Pinay beauty (includes newspaper screenshots and one with Ateneo de Manila University volleybelle Gretchen Ho:

source: various forum posts, facebook pages

Teleserye Queen Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo

I must admit I'm no Judy Ann fan, being among those who made fun of her "siopao" face during her early years in showbiz. Meaning, she has a fat rounded face like a Chinese steamed bun.

At the height of the Mara Clara soap opera, which ran from 1992 to 1997, I was rooting for the kontrabida Gladys Reyes rather than its heroine.

But through the years, I have come to develop a liking for Miss Judy Ann Santos. I started to take notice in 2004, the year where she had a string of critically-acclaimed works such as the drama-suspense film "Sabel" by veteran director Joel Lamangan, the sci-fi TV drama series, "Krystala", and the epic war film "Aishite Imasu 1941". I then realized she is not only a good but a great actress.

Juday's marriage to Ryan Agoncillo on April 2009, after a four-year relationship, finally forced me to reject my juvenile prejudices. Here she is on the cover of Celebrity Mom magazine (age is but numbers to her, right?).

Her radiance quickly disproves those who speculate about her breakup/annulment/separation from her husband!

So by now, I have no qualms about Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo being tagged as the "Queen of Teleserye" by ABS-CBN to help in the promotion of her new TV soap opera series, "Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala" (aired two weeks ago).

I have also come to realize why she garnered several awards, nominations and citations from various bodies such as Gawad PASADO Awards, Gawad TANGLAW Awards, Gawad GENIO Awards, Film Academy of the Philippines Luna Awards, FAMAS Awards (said to be the Philippine equivalent of the Oscars), PMPC Star Awards for TV, PMPC Star Awards for Movies, ENPRESS Golden Screen Awards, Metro Manila Film Festival Awards, Gawad Urian Awards, KBP Golden Dove Awards, Manila Festival, Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation, Gawad Amerika Awards, and the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.

More photos of our featured Pinay celebrity:

Source: Wikipedia, her official FB page.