Tony Labrusca
Born
Anthony Angel Labrusca Jr.[fn 1]

(1995-08-07) August 7, 1995
Houston, Texas, U.S.
CitizenshipAmerican
Occupation(s)Model, actor, and singer
Years active2016–present
AgentStar Magic (2016–present)
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Parents

Anthony Angel Labrusca Jr.[fn 1] (Tagalog pronunciation: [lɐˈbɾʊska]; born August 7, 1995), professionally known as Tony Labrusca, is a Filipino American citizen[1] actor, model, and singer based in the Philippines. Labrusca first gained his popularity via a McDonald's Philippines TV ad in 2016, Tuloy Pa Rin.

In 2016, he joined the Philippine reality search Pinoy Boyband Superstar but did not make the cut to be part of the band. He was part of horror-fantasy drama series La Luna Sangre.[2][3][4] The trailer of his latest film Glorious reached more than 5 million views on its first day of release.[5]

Early life

Labrusca was born on August 7, 1995, in Houston, Texas, in the United States.[6] He is the son of Filipino actor Boom Labrusca and Filipina singer Angel Jones. He grew up in Los Angeles, California with his mother, step father (Boom Dayupay) and sister. When he was 9, his family moved to Vancouver, Canada. He then flew to the Philippines to pursue his career in show business.

Career

Before Labrusca auditioned for Pinoy Boyband Superstar, he was already a face of various TV commercials. He became more popular when he played the guy who broke a girl's heart (Elisse Joson) in the viral McDonald's TV ad entitled Tuloy Pa Rin in 2016.

During his audition in Pinoy Boyband Superstar, he was unexpectedly reunited with his biological father, model and actor Boom Labrusca. He successfully became one of the top contenders and went up to the Top 7 for the grand finals. Unfortunately, he did not make it to the Top 5 as the final member of BoybandPH.

He made his acting debut in 2017 via TV5's Wattpad Presents with Louise delos Reyes. Later, he joined La Luna Sangre considered as his first break playing the role of Jake Arguelles. His character was set to become a third person in the love triangle between him, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla.

In June 2020, Labrusca starred in the hit Filipino BL series, Hello Stranger (web series), along with his leading man JC Alcantara. The series proved popular even among international fans, which led to the Hello Stranger film in 2021. A second season is expected to be released soon. In 2023, he played the main antagonist Lucas Buencamino in Nag-aapoy na Damdamin.

Controversies

On January 3, 2019, shortly after landing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Labrusca allegedly yelled curses at Bureau of Immigration officers after they stamped his passport for a 30-day stay only (the maximum visa-free stay in the Philippines for US passport holders). Labrusca was using his American passport at that time and had no work visa. However, he mistakenly believed that he was covered by the Balikbayan Program's one-year visa-free stay.[7][8] A spokesperson of the Bureau of Immigration explained that the Balikbayan Program "is for former Filipinos and their immediate family members who are traveling with them. If these family members are not traveling with them, then they are not qualified." Labrusca was not accompanied by an immediate family member at that time.[8][9] Labrusca was widely criticized for the incident, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. suggested his deportation.[10] The following day, Labrusca apologized to the immigration officers and admitted that he did not know the full details of the Balikbayan Program, but maintained that he did not curse or shout at any officer.[11]

In June 2021, Labrusca was charged with alleged acts of lasciviousness and slight physical injuries for an incident that happened 5 months before, on the night of January 16, 2021, where allegedly, a drunk Labrusca unstrapped a woman's top to expose her breasts before forcefully pulling her to sit on his lap. He also allegedly choked a man on that same night.[12][13] In July, the physical injuries case was dismissed by the Makati prosecutor's office since the complaint was filed "more than two months from the date of its alleged commission, the crime is already extinguished by reason of prescription."[14] In March 2022, the acts of lasciviousness case was dismissed citing no probable cause.[15]

Filmography

Television / Digital

YearTitleRoleNetwork
2016–presentASAPHimself / Performer
2016–2017Pinoy Boyband SuperstarHimself
2017Wattpad Presents: I'm Making Out with the Payboy at SchoolDamon Lawrence
2017–2018La Luna SangreJake Arguelles
2019Sino ang May Sala?Andrei Joseph "Drei" Montelibano
2019 Ipaglaban Mo: SaltikJerome
2019Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 3: The Real Untold Story of Josephine BrackenJosé Rizal
202024/7Xavier Agbayani
2020I Am UKyle
2020Hello StrangerXavier De Guzman
2020Bagong UmagaRaphael "Ely" Florentino / Raphael "Ely" Ponce
2021Click, Like, Share: Altered[16]Homer
2023–presentNag-aapoy na DamdaminLucas Buencamino

Film

YearTitleRoleProduction
2021Hello, Stranger: The MovieXavier De GuzmanBlack Sheep
2020U-TurnRobinStar Cinema
Love LockdownDarrenDreamscape Entertainment
Hindi Tayo PwedeGabriel F. Del RosarioViva Films
2019The Mall, The MerrierGardoStar Cinema, Viva Films
Ang Henerasyong Sumuko Sa LoveKurt Adam AgapitoRegal Entertainment
2018GloriousNikoDreamscape Digital Entertainment
MLCarloCinemalaya official entry
Double Twisting Double BackBradleyCinema One Originals official entry
2017Loving in TandemVinceStar Cinema

Awards and nominations

Year Film awards/critics Award Nominated work Result
2018 LionhearTV RAWR Awards Breakthrough Artist of the Year Won
2018 Cinema One Originals Film Festival Best Actor Double Twisting Double Back Nominated
2018 MOR Pinoy Music Awards MOR Best New Artist Tanging Ikaw Nominated
2017 PMPC Star Awards for TV Best New Male TV Personality La Luna Sangre Won

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Tony Labrusca was born in the United States of America. Thus, he does not possess his mother's maiden name which is Jones.

References

  1. ↑ "Tony Labrusca itinangging 'pinagmayabang' ang pagiging artista sa Immigration". ABS-CBN News (in Filipino). January 5, 2019. Archived from the original on January 26, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2022. Si Labrusca ay isang US citizen na may American passport
  2. ↑ Cagape, Kristhoff. "5 Things You Need to Know about La Luna Sangre's Tony Labrusca". Push. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Hottie Alert: Tony Labrusca, The 'La Luna Sangre' Actor Who Trended Recently Is Definitely A Looker". lifestyle.abs-cbn.com. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Tony Labrusca "Completely Appalled" To Cyber Bullying Of KathNiel Fans". Philippine News. July 10, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  5. ↑ "WATCH: Tony Labrusca, Angel Aquino face challenges of May–December romance in steamy trailer". CNN Philippines. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Who is Tony Labrusca, the internet's latest obsession?". Rappler. November 7, 2018. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  7. ↑ Severo, Jan Milo. "Tony Labrusca under fire for allegedly cursing at immigration officers". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  8. 1 2 Buan, Lian (January 4, 2019). "Tony Labrusca prompts immigration warning on limits of Balikbayan privilege". Rappler. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  9. ↑ Macairan, Evelyn (January 4, 2019). "Bureau of Immigration warns Tony Labrusca after making a scene at NAIA". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on February 8, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  10. ↑ Cepeda, Cody (January 7, 2019). "Tony Labrusca chided by Lolit Solis for his NAIA outburst: 'Sa bayan niya, sino ba siya?'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Tony Labrusca apologizes to immigration officer over airport incident". Rappler. January 4, 2019. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Actor Tony Labrusca charged with acts of lasciviousness, slight physical injuries". CNN Philippines. June 4, 2021. Archived from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  13. ↑ Biong, Ian (June 4, 2021). "Tony Labrusca facing charges for allegedly molesting woman, choking man". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  14. ↑ Severo, Jan Milo (July 14, 2021). "Tony Labrusca physical injuries case dismissed". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on July 15, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  15. ↑ Cruz, Dana (March 19, 2022). "Tony Labrusca cleared of lasciviousness, lawyers confirm". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Maymay, Tony, Barbie, Jerome and Janella's social media nightmare becomes reality in 'Click, Like, Share'". Manila Bulletin. August 27, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
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