In the 11 years that he has been in the entertainment industry, Joshua Garcia has indeed already proven himself as a talented artist and brilliant dramatic actor, making him one of the most bankable TV and movie personalities and sought-after leading men in the country at present.
And this 2025, he’s about to once again showcase his impressive acting prowess and versatility via the newest ABS-CBN Studios series “It’s Okay To Not Be Okay,” the Philippine adaptation of the hit Korean drama with the same title. But before he gets to charm us with another sure-fire portrayal, let us first look back on his glorious television journey in this edition of Kapamilya Spotlight.
Just like some of the celebrities who we’ve been admiring and idolizing in the past decades, Joshua’s ticket to the show business was by joining a reality program, specifically the highly successful “Pinoy Big Brother” franchise. He was part of the “All In” season, in which he was dubbed as the “Tatay’s Boy ng Batangas” and was housemates with now-fellow thespians Maris Racal, Loisa Andalio, Jane Oineza, among others.
Even though he fell short in his bid to becoming part of the Big 4, he was still a Big Winner after his “PBB” stint for he has been booked and busy ever since he stepped into the showbiz arena. He marked his acting debut via the 2015 afternoon soap opera “Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita,” which he co-starred alongside Loisa and Jane.
In 2016, he appeared in not just one but two episodes of “Maalaala Mo Kaya,” namely, “Itlog” and “Puno,” through which he was able to initially showcase his versatility, especially in the latter wherein he astonished us with his portrayal of the lead gay character. He also scored an acting gig in the legal drama anthology “Ipaglaban Mo” via its “Lason” episode, and was included in the powerhouse ensemble cast of the family drama “The Greatest Love” that same year.
Following the success of his first-ever team-up with actress Julia Barretto on the big screen, they were tapped to play the teen couple in the “Bituin” episode of “MMK” in 2017, who touched viewers with their endearing story of unconditional love.
He was then among the headliners in the primetime crime drama series “The Good Son,” alongside Nash Aguas, McCoy de Leon, and Jerome Ponce. His portrayal of Joseph Buenavidez was so compelling that it won him acting recognitions from various award-giving bodies, including the "Best Drama Actor" award in the 32nd PMPC Star Awards for Television.
After four blockbuster hits together, Joshua and Julia finally had their first-ever teleserye project together in 2018 via “Ngayon At Kailanman,” wherein they played star-crossed lovers Inno Cortes and Eva Mapendo.
The following year, he captivated us with his portrayal of charming barrio lad Elias in the gothic drama series “The Killer Bride,” which also starred Maja Salvador and Janella Salvador. It was also in 2019 when he made an appearance on “MMK” for the fourth time via the “Medalya” episode, portraying the life of valiant fallen soldier Ian Paquit.
In 2020, he appeared in two episodes of “MMK.” The first one was the “Tren” episode, in which he and Janella delivered kilig vibes through their portrayal of couple Jason and Aira, while the second one was the “Notebook” episode, wherein he astounded us with his dramatic flair as Maro, a young man who strived to finish his education in order to provide a better life for his family. His heart-rending performance in the latter earned him the “Best Single Performance by an Actor” trophy in the 35th PMPC Star Awards for Television.
Joshua then made a comeback to primetime television in 2021 via the drama series “Viral Scandal,” in which he was paired with award-winning actress Charlie Dizon. The following year, he became the common love interest of Jane de Leon and Janella Salvador, who played iconic rivals Darna and Valentina in the latest TV adaptation of “Mars Ravelo’s Darna.”
He was among the Kapamilya stars chosen to be topbill the ensemble cast of ABS-CBN Studios’ historic partnership and co-production with its former longtime rival GMA Network via the 2023 romantic drama series “Unbreak My Heart.”
And after two years, the bankable heartthrob returns to teleserye acting through “It’s Okay To Not Be Okay,” the Filipino remake of the popular K-Drama of the same title that became a global hit in 2020. He will take on the role of Patrick “Patpat” Gonzales, the Pinoy counterpart of the character originally portrayed by Hallyu actor Kim Soo-hyun.
Catch the most-awaited Philippine adaptation of “It’s Okay To Not Be Okay,” starting July 21 on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), A2Z, and TV5, weeknights at 8:45 PM. Watch it in advance on Netflix and iWant.