Leon Miguel


Noel I. Aparilla, commonly known by the screen name Leon Miguel is a Filipino actor, model, and engineer. He recently bagged the Best Actor award from the International Film Festival Manhattan 2016 in New York City, USA for his performance in Redlights. Earlier, he gained world-wide attention and notoriety for his role as the leading villain, Visel, in a Tribeca film crime-thriller entry, Graceland: A Life for Every Lie directed by Ron Morales. Graceland's premiere in the Tribeca Film Festival mesmerized audiences in the 2012 festival and was awarded Second Place in Audience Choice Award. Graceland also had its Canadian premiere in the Fantasia International Film Festival in July 2012 in Montreal, Canada and it also won Audience Award at the Gasparilla Film Festival in Tampa, Florida.
Some of the latest works that has caught the attention of international film festivals is Leon Miguel's starring role in Mang Abe's Ube, a modern-day folktale about a Filipino ube farmer trying to protect his magical source of success from corporate crooks, directed by Paolo Bitanga. Leon Miguel is currently premiering "EJK", a timely and political film narrative by Red Carpet Philippines at Greenbelt 1, Cinema 2, Ayala Center, Makati.
Leon Miguel was featured in the November 2014 issue of Manila Bulletin titled "International filmfest veteran is proudly from Masbate".

Early career

In a span of a little over a decade, Leon Miguel's career in the entertainment world was more than the typical story of an artist struggling to survive. He was into films, theatre, television shows and television commercial ads, practically accepting every possible role that he can get his hands into concentrating rather intently in sharpening his skills as an actor and learning the ropes and nuances of the industry.
He broke into international scenes through movies and television presentations appearing in American, Japanese and Italian movies shot in the Philippines. Such American movies were: In the Name of the Queen of NCRV/TEWES Production and directed by Bram Van Erkel, portraying the “Djahat Warrior” ; Behind Enemy Lines of Philippine Film Studio, Inc. and directed by Mark Griffiths, playing as the “Vietnamese Gangster Leader;” Legacy of Star Pacific International Productions and directed by T.J. Scott, doing the role of a “Cambodian Rebel Leader,” together with David Hasselhoff and Rod Steiger; and Going Back, of GFT Films, Inc. and directed by Sydney Furie, portraying as the “Vietnamese Thief,” together with the lead actor, Casper Van Dien.

Exotic Asian roles

Leon Miguel was remarked by many, to have an exotic Asian face and notable acting fitted for various Asian and native roles, which made him greatly preferred by international directors and producers. He was involved in various notable Filipino films. Among the local films were, Mulanay Sa Pusod Ng Paraiso directed by Gil Portes, Kamada directed by Raymond Red, and My Guardian Debil. He appeared in Ara Mina's Nag-Aapoy Na Laman as “Chupon,” directed by Don Escudero, as well as in Bala Ko Ang Bahala Sa Iyo, Rosario 18, Utang Ni Tatang, Batas Ng Lansangan, Bakat, Lapu-Lapu, Operation Balikatan and Paraiso, where he did distinctive roles such as: kanto boy, siga, syndicate member, school worker, youngster’s hoodlum, snatcher, hitman, rapist, bangkero, and rebel roles.
He was the guerilla named “Juan” in Concerto, a Cinemalaya finalist directed by Paul Alexander Morales; as well as portrayed “Lobo” in Panahon Na and “Farmer” in Pendong, both directed by Sean Lim and under Oxin Films. Further, he was a “Gangster,” in Third World Happy with Sam Milby as the lead actor, of CinemaOne/Brass Knuckers Inc., under the direction of Edward James Salcedo; the “Rebel” in CinemaOne Originals, Tsardyer directed by Sigfried Barros-Sanchez; and depicted the role of “Baloy” in Isda 2011 Cinemalaya entry, directed by Adolf Alix, Jr. In July 2012, he portrayed as Guerilla in Death March, another film directed by Adolf Alix, Jr.

Television commercials

Leon Miguel also did several television commercial advertising as a Katipunero in KKK , and Isang Bandilla for the Philippine Centennial Celebration. He was also the lead actor Katipunero in the Duty Free Centennial Presentation directed by Raymond Red. He also appeared in San Miguel Beer, SMB Vietnam Setting commercial, Metro Bank, Blend 45, SMB Walng Kupas, Oracle and Touch Mobile. He as well portrayed as a Chavacano Fisherman, in an intrusion project of GMA Channel 7 and Globe Company, in the music video Believe used as a Station ID for the Peace and Unity information-dissemination drive.
He was also featured in a Talk & Text commercial, Snitch Choco Bar , Head & Shoulders, Project Building Medicine TVC, and Ayos Dito Rocker TVC.

Filmography

Film

Commercials
YearTitleRoleDirector
2014Dynamic Trio Voltplex KQ, Reload Plus & Respigen 15Cock FighterBuddy Gargancia
2014Ayos DitoRockstarAlex Breckman
2014Amtyl 500Farm OwnerBuddy Gargancia
2014BDOMusic Store Owner - DjJoel Limchoc
2013EQ DiaperLead Actor - Lapu-LapuMike Alcazarrel
2010Project Building Medicine TVC - SaridonCarpenterJoel Limchoc
2010Head And ShouldersBusiness manJoel Limchoc
2010Snicth Choco BarRockers DreamCarlo Derecto
2010Talk And TextStore Owner
2008BelieveAbu Sayaff
2006OracleHackerRaffy Dejada
2005Blend 45FarmerDindo Angeles
2004San Miguel BeerFarmerPeque Galyaga
2004Metro BankBusiness manVitorio Romero
1998Isand Bandila KatipuneroVitorio Romero
1998KKKKatipuneroVitorio Romero

Television
YearTitleRoleDirector
2012Broken VowArtemioOmar Deroca
2011AmayaBalongMac Alejandre
2011Pueblo SombraFisher manLori Reyes
2010Panday KidsShamanMark Reyes
2010Pidol’s WonderlandHectorErik Quizon
2010Barangay AswangCamera manLori Reyes
2010Halimaw sa TuodLori Reyes
2010Nag-Simula sa PusoBen
2010Daisy Syete – Bebe & MeRomanRowel Camen
2010Hoy!Hoy! SyokoyFishermanLori Reyes
2009TinderellaRowel Camen
2009ZorroPirateMark Reyes
2009Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa aking TadyangCar DealerDomique Zapata
2009Multo Sa PabrikaShoe MakerLori Reyes
2009Nuno sa PunsoConstraction ForemaLori Reyes
2008Daisy Syete – Ulingling Hit manRowel Camen
2007Fantastic ManRobberLori Reyes
2007Fantastic kidsShamanMark Reyes
2007KamandagTadikMark Reyes
2007Maalaala mo kayaManobo WarriorRicky Davao
2006Babangon ako’t dudurugin kitaFredoJoel Lamangan
2005EncantadiaWarriorMark Reyes
2005NBI FilesMuslinAlbert Cortez
2004Te AmoBertoKhris Adalia
2004Philippine Most WantedGangsterJon Red
2003Forever in my heartFisher manKhris Adalia
2003KabalikatFisher man
2002GMA True StoriesXoxi Topacio
2001Habang kapiling ka
2000Mother Studio PresentsNPAMario Jay Delos Reyes
2000DiwaErmano PuliMel Chonglo
2000Hiraya ManawariKalikasanNoel Anonuevo
2000Twin HeartsKidnapperGil Tejada
2001KiraraManoahRowel Camen
2000DeltierroLeonRowel Camen
1994Bisperas ng KasaysayanKatipuneroLupia, Yashiwara

Theater
YearTitleRoleDirector
2009SakaySakayGeorge Vail Kabrestante
2006Lapu-lapuLapu-lapuJoe Gruta
2005No ExitKamatayanAbdel Langit
2003Indio AnakbanuaIndioAbdel Langit
2002-2004Noli Me TangereEliasXoxi Topacio
2001SenakuloChristRaffy Tejada
1999El FilibusterismoKabesang TalesJake De Asis