Raymond Martin Legaspi Santiago (born July 20, 1973) is a

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

, TV host, actor, and comedian.

Career

After making his movie debut in Viva Films' youth comedy ''Estudyante Blues'' (''Student Woes''), Santiago became a Viva contract artist and began making guest appearances on television programs while continuing in high school. Among the comedy movies he appeared in were ''Wooly Booly: Classmate kong Alien'', ''Wooly Booly 2: Ang Titser kong Alien'' and ''Paikot-ikot''. Not long after, Viva launched him as a junior comedian in the movie ''Rocky en Rolly'', in which he starred opposite Jimmy Santos. The movie was a success, and he went on to ''Tootsie Wootsie'', where he worked with

Herbert Bautista Herbert Constantine "Bistek" Maclang Bautista (born May 12, 1968) is a Filipino actor and politician who served as mayor of Quezon City, the Philippines' largest city by population, from 2010 to 2019. Bautista has starred in numerous films and T ...

and

Keempee de Leon Joseph Joachim Tugas de Leon (born January 8, 1973), better known as Keempee de Leon, is a Filipino actor, comedian, singer, songwriter and TV host. He is the son of Joey de Leon and Daria Ramirez. Career Keempee de Leon started his career in ...

. Sometimes afterward, Santiago transitioned to action films with ''Angelito San Miguel: Batang City Jail'', and went on to star in ''Magnong Rehas'', ''Pita: Terror ng Kalookan'', ''Noel Juico, Batang Kriminal'', and ''Dillinger ng Dose Pares''. His last major movie as an action star was ''Sgt. Santos: Batang Sundalo'' in 2001. In 1998, Santiago signed up as a contract star for

GMA Network GMA Network (Global Media Arts or simply GMA) is a Philippine free-to-air television and radio network. It is the flagship property of publicly traded GMA Network, Inc. Its first broadcast on television was on October 29, 1961. GMA Network (f ...

, which gave him his first action-sitcom, ''

Kool Ka Lang ''Kool Ka Lang'' () is a Philippine television situational comedy series broadcast by GMA Network. Starring Raymart Santiago, it premiered on October 19, 1998 on the network's KiliTV line up replacing ''Ibang Klase''. The series concluded on Oc ...

''. The sitcom was initially directed by his brother Randy who gave it up after signing on as lead host of

ABS-CBN ABS-CBN (an initialism of its two predecessors' names, Alto Broadcasting System and Chronicle Broadcasting Network) is a Television in the Philippines, Philippine Commercial broadcasting, commercial broadcast broadcast network, network tha ...

's noontime show ''

Magandang Tanghali Bayan ''MTB'', fully spelled as ''Magandang Tanghali Bayan'' () and ''Masayang Tanghali Bayan'' (), and later known as ''MTB Ang Saya Saya'' ( or ), is a Philippine noontime variety show broadcast by ABS-CBN. The show aired from Mondays to Saturdays a ...

''. ''Kool Ka Lang'' aired through 2003. Santiago then teamed with

Joey Marquez Joselito Perez Marquez (born Artemio Perez Marquez Jr.; October 7, 1957) better known as Joey Marquez, is a Filipino actor, comedian, politician and former professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. He was born to ...

Richard Gomez Richard Frank Icasiano Gomez (; born April 7, 1966) is a Filipino actor, television presenter and director, politician, and épée fencer. He has been serving as the Representative of Leyte's 4th district since 2022, and was mayor of Orm ...

and

Benjie Paras Venancio Johnson Paras Jr. (born October 2, 1968), better known as Benjie Paras, is a Filipino actor, comedian, and a retired professional basketball player who played for Shell Turbo Chargers and San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Basketb ...

in '' Lagot Ka, Isusumbong Kita''. Santiago later starred in his third GMA sitcom, ''

Who's Your Daddy Now? ''Who's Your Daddy Now?'' is a 2007 Philippine television situational comedy series broadcast by GMA Network. Starring Joey Marquez, Raymart Santiago and Ynna Asistio, it premiered on April 16, 2007 on the network's KiliTV line up replacing ''L ...

'', where he played a father role for the first time. The show ran 13 episodes. Santiago then signed to do a primetime TV series opposite

Dennis Trillo Abelardo Dennis Florencio Ho (born 12 May 1981), known professionally as Dennis Trillo (), is a Filipino actor, model and recording artist. He is currently a contract star of GMA Network. He was known for his role as Eric del Mundo in the firs ...

and

Marky Cielo Mark Angelo Cadaweng Cielo (May 12, 1988 – December 7, 2008), better known as Marky Cielo, was a Filipino actor, dancer, and the first known Igorot in Philippine showbiz. He was notable for his win in the reality talent competition '' StarSt ...

, titled '' Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan''. From 2008 to 2009, he starred in the action-fantasy ''

Gagambino ''Carlo J. Caparas' Gagambino'' is a Philippine television drama fantasy series broadcast by GMA Network. The series is based from Carlo J. Caparas' graphic novel of the same title. Directed by Topel Lee and Don Michael Perez, it stars Dennis ...

''. which was aired on GMA Network. In 2009, Santiago was seen in ''

Darna Darna () is a Filipina superheroine created by writer Mars Ravelo and artist Nestor Redondo. The character's first appearance was in ''Pilipino Komiks'' (Ace Publications, Inc.) #77 on May 13, 1950. Darna is a retooling of Ravelo's earlier cha ...

'', where he plays a news photographer. The following year, Santiago returned to drama via ''

Claudine Claudine may refer to: Name * Claudine (given name), a feminine given name of French origin Culture * ''Claudine'' (film), a 1974 American film by John Berry ** ''Claudine'' (soundtrack), its soundtrack album. Music by Curtis Mayfield and Gladis ...

'', a weekly drama miniseries on

, appearing with his real wife, Claudine Baretto-Santiago. In 2016, Santiago returned to comedy with ''

Tsuperhero ''Tsuperhero'' () is a Philippine television action situational comedy series broadcast by GMA Network. Directed by LA Madrijeros and Rado Peru, it stars Derrick Monasterio in the title role. It premiered on November 13, 2016 replacing '' Ismol ...

''. In 2018, Santiago transferred to

, after being with

for 2 decades. He will appear in upcoming drama entitled ''Starla'', with

Judy Ann Santos Judy Anne Lumagui Santos (born May 11, 1978) is a Filipino actress and film producer. Prolific in film and television in the Philippines since the early 1990s, she is known for her comedic and dramatic roles in independent films and blockbust ...

Controversy

On July 13, 2007, Santiago and his wife

Claudine Barretto Claudine Margaret Castelo Barretto (; born July 20, 1979) is a Filipino actress, singer, and entrepreneur. Popularly dubbed as “''The'' ''Optimum Star''” by various media outlets, Barretto has won 3 FAMAS Award including 2 Best Actress w ...

, admitted they did not know that Francswiss Investment —which accepted their money — was involved in a

pyramid scam A pyramid scheme is a business model that recruits members via a promise of payments or services for enrolling others into the scheme, rather than supplying investments or sale of products. As recruiting multiplies, recruiting becomes quickly im ...

. Their lawyer, Ellen Veza, told NBI agents that the Barrettos had invested in Francswiss, but declined to say if they recruited other investors. Francswiss duped Filipinos of almost P1 billion.Manila StandardToday - Claudine, Raymart also victims of online scam
July 13, 2007

Personal life

Santiago married actress

in 2006, in Tagaytay Highlands in

Tagaytay Tagaytay, officially the City of Tagaytay ( fil, Lungsod ng Tagaytay), is a 2nd class component city in the province of Cavite, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 85,330 people. It is one of the country's most po ...

Cavite Cavite, officially the Province of Cavite ( tl, Lalawigan ng Kabite; Chavacano: ''Provincia de Cavite''), is a province in the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region in Luzon. Located on the southern shores of Manila Bay and southwest ...

. The couple adopted a daughter, Sabina Natasha, at two months old in July 2004,.

Filmography

Television

Movies

TV specials

References

External links

Raymart Santiago
a
iGMA.tv
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Santiago, Raymart Filipino male child actors Filipino male film actors Filipino male television actors ABS-CBN personalities GMA Network personalities Living people Filipino male comedians Viva Artists Agency 1973 births