After taking a six-year hiatus, Yen Santos is making a grand teleserye comeback via the highly anticipated psychological drama “The Loyalty Game: Level Up,” where she stars as Diane Martinez, one of the so-called “loyalty testers,” or freelance professionals or groups hired to test romantic partners’ loyalty through online exchanges and real-life setups.
But before we get to see her again across ABS-CBN's TV and online platforms, let us first revisit her remarkable acting performances through the years in this episode of Kapamilya Spotlight!
Just like some of the personalities that we look up to and admire, Yen is actually a product of the highly successful reality program, “Pinoy Big Brother.” She was among the alumni of the “PBB Teen Clash of 2010” edition and was given the moniker “Ang Little Miss Sunshine ng Nueva Ecija.” Even though she didn’t make it to the Teen Big 6 after getting evicted on Day 43, a stream of opportunities welcomed her in the outside world.
She scored her first-ever acting gig via the “Darmo Adarna” episode of the fantasy anthology series “Wansapanataym” aired in 2011, where she appeared as supporting character Lucy. A slew of projects followed, making her truly booked and busy that year.
Despite being a newbie, she was entrusted to headline the teen dance-musical drama series "Good Vibes," alongside Sam Concepcion, Enrique Gil, James Reid, among others. She portrayed Dayanara "Ara" Gonzales, a popular girl in school who serves as the manager of the dance troupe led by her best friend Marc (Sam Concepcion), with whom she harbors unrequited feelings.
This was followed by Yen's supporting role in the fantaserye "Mutya" as Melinda, then by her "Maalaala Mo Kaya" debut via the "Sulat" episode, where she played Arlyn, the sister of letter sender Edlyn (Sharlene San Pedro). She once again starred in another youth-oriented drama, "Growing Up," as main character Cassie Soriano, then landed the secondary role of Michelle Alvarez in the Christmas-themed kiddie serye "Ikaw Ay Pag-ibig."
She also worked on a string of TV acting projects in 2012, beginning with her special participation in the science fiction series "E-Boy," where she played young Karla Mariano, originally portrayed by actress Valerie Concepcion. This was succeeded by her guest appearance in the horror-fantasy series "Oka2kat" as a spirit entity called Kimana, then in the "Dollhouse" episode of "Wanspanataym" as a dollhouse nanny.
Yen went on to portray two different women in two different episodes of "MMK" that year. First was in the "Cellphone" episode, where she portrayed letter sender Lyn, who bases her choices and decisions on traditional sayings and old beliefs learned from her mother. The second was in the "Lubid" episode, where she took on the role of a young cowgirl from Masbate. She was then cast in "Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Pintada" as Samantha, who developed one-side admiration to her friend, male lead character Sev (Martin del Rosario).
In 2013, she had a limited stint in the "Teacher's Pest" episode of "Wansapanataym," as well as in the Kapamilya drama series "Carlo J. Caparas' Dugong Buhay." She also appeared in two episodes of "MMK," namely, "Sanggol" and "Telebisyon."
The following year, she scored her first breakthrough role via "Pure Love," the Philippine adaptation of the South Korean drama series titled "49 Days." She portrayed Ysabel Espiritu, a dispirited average working girl whose body was possessed by Diane (Cathy Gonzaga), an optimistic rich girl who was placed in comatose after a fateful accident that involved both of them.
After that, Yen was seen in "Dream Dad," where she played supporting character Maribeth "Bebet" Morales, the biological mother of main child character Baby (Jana Agoncillo). She also starred in two episodes of "MMK," namely, "Notebook" and "Liham," through which she impressed us with her performances of two totally different characters Kay and Joanna, respectively.
In 2015, she was cast in two huge ABS-CBN Studios productions. She spent the first half of the year working on the daytime faith-based drama "Oh My G!," where she played Sister Marie Paul Cepeda, who was revealed to be Anne Reyes, the long-lost sister of main character Sophie Cepeda (Janella Salvador). Meanwhile, she allotted the second half of 2015 in the afternoon soap opera "All of Me," through which she scored her second breakthrough role, Lena Dimaculangan-Figueras, the love interest of lead character Manuel Figueras (Albert Martinez/JM de Guzman).
The Kapamilya actress made her debut in the long-running legal drama anthology "Ipaglaban Mo!" in 2017 via the "OFW" episode, where she delivered an impressive portrayal of Libay, an overseas Filipina worker in Hong Kong who lost her job after a Pinoy colleague painted her in a bad light. She was eventually cast in the romantic drama series "Magpahanggang Wakas" as supporting character Issa, who long pined for lead male character Waldo (Jericho Rosales).
Yen then became part of the highly successful revenge primetime series "Wildflower" as Ana, as well as of the weekly sitcom and commentary show "Doc Ricky Pedia" as lead character Teacher Julia. She also headlined the "Pasaway" episode of "Ipaglaban Mo!" as Zoe Vargas, a young woman who decided to run away to Cebu with a man she had just met following an intense argument with her parents.
Her third milestone—and her last teleserye—project came in 2018 via the controversial series "Halik," where she astounded viewers with her portrayal of Jacky Montefalco-Corpuz, a dutiful wife whose philandering husband, Ace (Sam Milby), cheated on her.
It was in 2019 when she made her last TV appearance. She headlined the "Dyip" episode of "MMK," where she amused viewers with her portrayal of letter sender Rodelyn, who found not only opportunities during her first trip to Manila but also true love in Vincent (Rafael Rosell), a foreign tourist who unexpectedly captures her heart. She did the same in the "Paninira" episode of "Ipaglaban Mo!" through her portrayal of Grace, who let a man and malicious rumors ruin her friendship with former bestie, Gina (Chai Fonacier).
And six years after taking a break from the entertainment scene, Yen marks her comeback with not just one but two acting projects.
We first saw her in the 28-episode vertical micro-drama series "Twist of Fate," now streaming exclusively on iWant. She played the role of Ginny, a woman who courageously sought revenge against her abusive and unfaithful husband Sam (Rafael Rosell).
And soon, more Kapamilya viewers are going to see her again in the much-awaited TV broadcast of “The Loyalty Game: Level Up,” where she’s taking on a different role in an infidelity story as Diane Martinez, one of the loyalty testers whom lead character Ana (Janine Gutierrez) hires to confirm her suspicions about her husband, Ben (Jericho Rosales).
How significant will her role be to the lives and relationship of the couple?
Let's find out by not missing an episode of the expanded story of “The Loyalty Game: Level Up” beginning October 5 on ABS-CBN sa ALLTV2, A2Z, TV5, Kapamilya Channel, and Kapamilya Online Live (KOL) on Facebook and YouTube. The series will also be available on TFC, while iWant viewers can stream episodes seven days ahead of their television airing.
“The Loyalty Game: Level Up” unlocks new scenes, untold stories on free TV, and iWant this October 5
Yen Santos marks acting comeback in iWant’s sizzling vertical drama, “Twist of Fate”
Throwback: Jericho Rosales, Yen Santos, Sam Milby and Yam Concepcion in “Halik” (2018)
Throwback: Albert Martinez, Yen Santos and JM de Guzman in “All of Me” (2015)