A Filipino-Chinese actress born in Manila is on Mediacorp's 31st Star Awards shortlist. Lorraine Wong, who plays Yada in the Channel 8 drama Another Wok of Life, picked up a nomination for Most Popular Rising Star. The award ceremony was held at the MES Theatre on 19 April 2026. The recognition follows a steady climb from Philippine pageants to a leading-role debut on Singapore television.
For Filipinos in Singapore, this is the kind of milestone that does not happen often. A Manila-trained, Chinese-Filipino actress crossing into Mediacorp's flagship Chinese-language drama, and being recognised by the local industry for it, says something about where the community stands here.
Who Lorraine Wong is
Lorraine Wong grew up in Manila, the daughter of a Filipino-Chinese family. Her first stage was Miss Chinatown Philippines in 2022. She finished as Second Runner-Up. The crown opened the door to commercial work and to acting auditions in both Manila and Singapore.
By 2025 she had landed a role in Another Wok of Life, the Mediacorp Channel 8 family drama that aired from late 2025 into 2026. She plays Yada, a Filipina woman who crosses borders looking for a first love. The role gave her real screen time alongside Jeremy Chan, Guo Liang and Richie Koh, three of Singapore's most recognisable Chinese-language television actors.
What the nomination means
The Most Popular Rising Star category at the Star Awards is a public-vote prize. Mediacorp's audience picks the winner from a shortlist that the network selects each year. Being on the shortlist is itself recognition that a performer has connected with Singapore viewers in their first major role.
For Wong, the recognition is layered. She is the only Filipina on the 2026 Rising Star shortlist. The role she earned the nod for is itself a Filipino character. The voting audience is largely Singapore-based, including a growing Filipino community that watches Channel 8 family dramas as much as any other group.
Why it matters for Filipinos in Singapore
Filipino representation on Singapore mainstream television has been limited. Brief appearances in supporting roles, occasional guest spots, and the long shadow of stereotype. A Filipina lead character in a Channel 8 drama, played by a Filipina-Chinese actress with a Manila-trained background, is a different kind of story.
The cultural significance is not small. Filipinos make up one of the largest expatriate communities in Singapore. Filipino-Chinese families have deep roots that connect both sides through generations of trade, migration and inter-marriage. A series that gives that history a face on prime time is the kind of visibility the community has been waiting for.
For young Filipino kids growing up here, who flip between Channel 8 dramas and Pinoy teleseryes on their lola's phone, seeing a Filipina lead in a Singapore production is the kind of small thing that opens doors in their heads.
Where to watch Another Wok of Life
Another Wok of Life is a Mediacorp Channel 8 production. Episodes are available on demand through the meWATCH streaming service at mewatch.sg. meWATCH is free to use with a Mediacorp account; the app is on the Apple Store and the Play Store.
If you do not speak Mandarin, meWATCH offers English subtitles on most episodes. The drama is a family-and-romance series with multiple storylines; Yada's arc with the Filipino character spans the middle stretch of the season.
