Bangs Garcia

"Valerie Garcia" redirects here. This article uses a stage name.

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Pablo and the surname or paternal family name is Garcia.

Valerie "Bangs" Pablo Garcia-Birchmore (Tagalog pronunciation: [gaɾˈsɪa]; born May 26, 1987) is a Filipino-British former model and actress.

Bangs Garcia
Born	Valerie Pablo Garcia (1987-05-26) May 26, 1987 (age 37)[1] Philippines
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2005–2017
Spouse	Lloyd Birchmore[2]
Children	2

Early life and education

Garcia attended Ateneo de Davao University^[3], where she was part of the university's theater and dance groups. While studying for a Nursing degree, she participated in the Mindanao-wide talent search Campus Idols, in 2004, and was awarded a co-hosting stint in ABS-CBN Davao's local variety show KSP: Kapamilya Sabado Party.^[4]

Career

In 2005, upon the invitation of Close-Up, who was a major sponsor of Campus Idols; Garcia joined ABS-CBN's Close-Up To Fame talent search, where she finished a runner-up. In the same year, she appeared as the best friend of Cindy Kurleto's Greta in Daddy Di Do Du.^[4] She also auditioned for Let's Go! and the first teen-edition of Pinoy Big Brother, eventually choosing the sitcom over the reality show.^[4]

Garcia was a series regular on Let's Go! and its final season, renamed Gokada Go!^[5], where she played the emo chick Bangs. Originally credited using her real name, her character in the sitcom eventually gave birth to her screen name.^[5]

In 2009, Garcia played leading lady to Jake Cuenca's titular Palos and appeared in TV shows Katorse and Kambal sa Uma^[5] and in films Marino and Shake, Rattle & Roll XI.^[6]

In the second season of Midnight DJ, she portrayed Samantha "Samgirl"—introduced as the Midnight DJ team's researcher, resident psychic^[7] and romantic interest to Oyo Sotto's Samboy—Garcia had to leave show upon landing a lead role in Magkano ang Iyong Dangal?, taking over Roxanne Guinoo.^[8]

She appeared in the horror films Bulong and Segunda Mano, both in 2011,^[9] and was awarded Best Supporting Actress in the 2011 PASADO Awards for her performance in latter film.^[3]

Garcia played the titular character in the period drama psychological thriller Lauriana in 2013 and was awarded Best Actress in the PASADO Awards following year.^[10]

Personal life

Garcia is married to Lloyd Birchmore^[11], together they have two daughters Amelia^[12] and Isabella.^[2]

On July 19, 2024, she announced that she is a naturalized British citizen.^[13]

Filmography

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Source
2005	KSP: Kapamilya Sabado Party	Herself ― host	Credited as "Val Garcia"
2006–07	Let's Go!	Bangs	Credited as "Valerie Garcia"	[14]
2007	Your Song	Angie	Episode: "What Are the Chances"
2007–14	ASAP	Herself / Performer
2007	Lastikman	Angie	Credited as "Valerie Garcia"
	Maalaala Mo Kaya	Sheila	Episode: "Cellphone"
		Laura's cousin	Episode: "Larawan"
	Gokada Go!	Bangs
2008	Palos	Sylvia		[15]
2009	Kambal sa Uma	Ynez Ocampo
	Katorse	Shakira
2009–10	Precious Hearts Romances Presents: My Cheating Heart	Arlyn Peralta
2010	Midnight DJ	Samgirl		[7]
	Magkano ang Iyong Dangal?	Carmela
2010–11	Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Kristine	Diana Montero
2012	Hiyas	Salve
	Kung Ako'y Iiwan Mo	Mia Pedroso		[15]
2012–13	Luv U	Jessica Casimsiman
2014	The Legal Wife	Young Sandra de Villa
	Dyesebel	Prinsesa Coralia
2015	Mac & Chiz	Apple
2016	Ang Panday	Ida / Venus Virus
2017	Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin	young Victoria Quintana-Dela Vega

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Source
2007	Sponge Cola: Movie	Videostore Dream Girl	Video short
2009	Marino	Aya
	Shake, Rattle & Roll XI	Chari	Segment: "Lamanglupa"
2010	Cinco	Rowena	Segment: "Puso"	[5]
2011	Bulong	Ellen
	Segunda Mano	Anna		[10][9]
2012	Posas	Grace Resuello
	The Reunion	Shirley
	Migrante			[16]
	Coming Soon
2013	Burgos			[16]
	Lauriana	Lauriana		[17][10]
	Sabine	Sabine		[6]
2014	So It's You	Rose
2015	Baka Siguro Yata	Melissa	Credited as "Valerie "Bangs" Garcia"	[18]
	No Boyfriend Since Birth	Hannah
	Manila's Finest	Miriam de Dios		[19]
	El Brujo			[6]
2016	Dukot	Girlie

Awards and nominations

Year	Work	Organization	Category	Result	Source
2012	Segunda Mano	PASADO Awards	Best Supporting Actress	Won	[3]
2014	Lauriana		Best Actress	Won	[10]
2015	Baka Siguro Yata	Cinema One Originals	Best Actress	Nominated	[20]

References

1. "Bangs Garcia Marks 33rd Birthday with a Bang!". One Music Philippines. May 26, 2020. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
2. Parungao, Regina Mae (July 22, 2020). "Bangs Garcia Gives Birth to Second Baby". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
3. Calderon, Ricky L (September 6, 2013). "Bangs Garcia Braves First Title Role". The Freeman. Archived from the original on August 16, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
4. Sallan, Edwin P. (July 17, 2010). "She Bangs". Woman Today.
5. Balbuena, Vanessa A. (July 17, 2010). "Bangs Garcia: Living Wisely". The Freeman. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
6. Lo, Ricky (September 2, 2013). "Body Talk with Bangs Garcia". Funfare. The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
7. Dimaculangan, Jocelyn (February 22, 2008). "Midnight DJ Aims To Connect The Living With The Dead". Entertainment Guide/Television. The Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
8. Cruz, Marinel R. (February 25, 2010). "Happy for Roxanne". At Large. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on August 16, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
9. Jimenez-David, Rina (January 7, 2011). "Second-Hand Haunting". At Large. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on August 16, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
10. "Lauriana Winner at 16th PASADO Awards". The Philippine Star. April 14, 2014. Archived from the original on August 16, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
11. Acar, Aedrianne (January 27, 2017). "WATCH: Sexy Actress Bangs Garcia's Third Wedding in Boracay Will Leave You in Tears". GMA News Online. Archived from the original on August 16, 2024. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
12. "Bangs Garcia is Now a Mom!". GMA News Online. December 6, 2016. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
13. Acar, Aedrianne. "Bangs Garcia is now a British citizen!". www.gmanetwork.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
14. Adriano, Pamela (October 25, 2020). "Unforgettable Kapamilya Barkada Series That We All Loved Through the Years". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
15. "Bangs Garcia Cries, Fears Losing Brother". ABS-CBN News. December 9, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
16. Rañoa-Bismark, Maridol (July 13, 2013). "Bangs Garcia at Her Most Daring". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
17. Cu-Unjieng, Philip (September 19, 2013). "Film Review: Lauriana Love, Lust and the Suspicion of Murder". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on August 16, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
18. Santiago, Katrina Stuart (November 28, 2015). "A Review of 'Baka Siguro Yata'". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on August 16, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
19. Cine Mo! (September 1, 2021). MANILA'S FINEST: Jeric Raval, Bangs Garcia & Mark Anthony Fernandez | Full Movie. YouTube. Google LLC. Event occurs at 1:32:08. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
20. Calderon, Ricky L. (November 17, 2015). "Cinema One Originals 2015 Winner". BusinessMirror. Archived from the original on August 16, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2021.

External links

• Bangs Garcia at IMDb