Amy Perez: Filipino TV Host, Face to Face and It’s Showtime
Amy Perez — Maria Armida Parale Perez-Castillo, known to viewers as Tyang Amy — is a Filipino television and radio host whose career runs from the noontime show Magandang Tanghali Bayan in the late 1990s to Face to Face and, since 2016, It’s Showtime. Her personal story is almost as well known as her hosting: a first marriage to South Border singer Brix Ferraris, a long annulment fight, and a second marriage to radio host Carlo Castillo in 2014.
Contents
The Early Days and Breakthrough
Perez was born, as widely listed, on 5 September 1969 in Manila. Her documented breakthrough came as co-host of Magandang Tanghali Bayan from November 1998 to February 2005, a noontime show that made her a familiar face in Filipino households.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Maria Armida Parale Perez-Castillo |
| Known as | Amy Perez, Tyang Amy |
| Born | 5 September 1969, Manila (widely listed; no primary source confirms the exact day and month) |
| Profession | TV and radio presenter, actress |
| Breakthrough | Co-host, Magandang Tanghali Bayan, November 1998-February 2005 |
| Later shows | Face to Face (TV5), The Singing Bee (2013, with Roderick Paulate), It’s Showtime main host from 2016 |
| First husband | Brix Ferraris (South Border frontman), married 1995, son Adi, separated years later, annulment finalised 2014 |
| Current husband | Carlo Castillo, married 12 November 2014 at The Mango Farm, Antipolo, Rizal |
| Children | 3 sons — Adi (with Ferraris), Kyle and Isaiah (with Castillo) |
| Education | Sienna College of Quezon City (secondary source) |
| Family note | Cousin of actress Lorna Tolentino |
Amy’s Rise to Fame
After her breakthrough on Magandang Tanghali Bayan, Perez built a long hosting career. Face to Face, the reality tabloid talk show on TV5, gave her a platform for tough, personal topics, handled with directness and empathy. She also worked in radio, and her reputation as Tyang Amy — a warm, plain-speaking presence — grew with each show.
The Singing Bee and Beyond
In 2013, Perez teamed up with Roderick Paulate to host The Singing Bee. In 2016, she became a main host of It’s Showtime, returning to the noontime format where she had first become widely known.
Love, Loss, and New Beginnings
Perez married Brix Ferraris, the South Border frontman, in 1995, and they had a son, Adi. The marriage ended in separation years later, but the annulment was not straightforward. As Philippine press has told the story, her petitions were repeatedly denied, and the annulment was finalised only in 2014. Per her own 2014 account, the annulment came the day her second son, Isaiah, was born, and Carlo pursued it after her petitions were denied.
Perez married radio host Carlo Castillo on 12 November 2014 at The Mango Farm in Antipolo, Rizal. They have two sons together, Kyle and Isaiah, making three sons in all.
Per her Philstar/Ogie Diaz interview, she and Adi tried to locate Ferraris, last seen by Adi at age 3-4. That detail, and the long annulment, help explain why questions about her ex-husband remain among the most searched topics about her.
The Tyang Amy We Know and Love
Viewers know Perez as Tyang Amy, a term of endearment that captures her role as a familiar, outspoken presence on Filipino television. Her appeal has rested less on image than on directness: she says what she thinks, on air and in interviews, and that candour has kept her relevant across changing formats and networks.
FAQs
How did Amy Perez become famous?
Her documented breakthrough was as co-host of the noontime show Magandang Tanghali Bayan from November 1998 to February 2005. She later hosted Face to Face and, from 2016, became a main host of It’s Showtime.
What is Amy Perez known for?
Amy Perez is known for her work as a television and radio presenter, as well as an occasional actress. She is noted for her strong opinions and distinct brand of hosting, and she is a main host of It’s Showtime.
Is Amy Perez still married?
Yes, Amy Perez is currently married to Carlo Castillo, whom she married on 12 November 2014. Her first marriage, to Brix Ferraris in 1995, ended in separation, with the annulment finalised in 2014. She is a mother of three sons: Adi, Kyle and Isaiah.
