BACKGROUND

Lesley Martinez has a couple of things going for her. She honed her dance moves by performing with the Manoevres. She spent summers studying theater at Trumpets Playshop. She was the go-to host back when she was in school, taking over duties during campus fairs, shows and concerts in UP Diliman and De La Salle University. She also got her mom, Gina Valenciano’s strong Castilian features and her dad, Leo Martinez’s fire and gung ho spirit. It also happens that her mom, a professional jazz dancer for 15 years, was also a mainstay of “Penthouse 7,” the ground-breaking dance show on Philippine TV in the 1970’s. And her dad is, of course, the legendary actor, comedian, and director.

So Lesley has gotten a head start on genes alone.

Lesley dances hip hop and admits she has always loved performing, even when she was a kid. So when it was finally time to choose a career for herself, she chose showbiz and doesn’t mind working hard to excel. She is training in earnest – taking acting workshops, dance classes, working out for extra stamina so she can tackle difficult roles, and appearing in shows like “Eat Bulaga,” “Maynila,” and “Magandang Umaga, Bayan,” among others. She appeared in the indie movie, “Sabungero” (The Cockfighter), directed by Miguel Kaimo and Rozie Delgado, starring Joel Torre, Ricky Davao, Nonie Buencamino, Maritoni Fernandez, Leo Martinez, Mark Gil, Edwin Nombre and Sid Lucero.

To sharpen her hosting skills, Lesley watches how her favorite hosts do it – everyone from Oprah and Ellen DeGeneres to Luis Manzano and Bianca Gonzales. She admires Luis’s wit and hopes to become as versatile as Bianca is in appealing to every demographic, from the AB crowd to the CDE market. The fact that she is still in her learning curve excites Lesley. “I like being challenged,” she said. “There’s no challenge when everything’s given or spoonfed to you.” This is why she plans to work hard to deserve every opportunity that comes her way.

Viva Artists Agency, in cooperation with Manila Genesis Entertainment Management, Inc., is set to launch her very soon. Though her parents are luminaries, she doesn’t aspire to be like them. “My dad’s the best but no one can be like him,” she says. Instead, she’ll carve her own path, do some of the same things her mom and her dad may have gone through, but tailored to fit who she is … and who she’ll be in the future.

2018 marked new beginnings for Lesley with a hosting stint on Viva TV’s game show Dobol or Samting and the opportunity to work with acclaimed director Joyce Bernal for the film Miss Granny alongside Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, and Nova Villa only to name a few. Here are just a few of the brands Lesley has worked with when it comes to corporate event hosting: Robinsons Bank, Gcash, Globe, ING Bank, Bank of Montreal, Emperador, Danes, goodworkph, Nescafe, Nespresso, Zalora, and Lazada, she has also been an endorser for Facial Care Centre. In 2019 Lesley hosted VIVA Con 2019 and was chosen that same year to be one of Pantene haircare’s online ambassadors.

During the 2020 pandemic Lesley’s hosting caliber entered a whole new realm as she actively joined and hosted livestreams online with Kumu. Finding a digital sense of community with family and friends on the well-loved Filipino live-streaming app during the height of the pandemic, Kumu presented Lesley at her best when it came to bringing people together online as well as showcasing and hosting for brands with finesse. Lesley also bagged a close nomination for Kumu Host of the Year in 2020 and guested with RJ dela Fuente on a Cignal show “Exes & Whys” hosted by Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez.

Other Past Appearances / Guestings:

Lysivit Commercial (1992)
MOMS (QTV11)
Sweet Life (QTV11)
Full-time Moms (QTV11)
Eat Bulaga (GMA7)
SOP (GMA7)
Pinoy Bingo Night (ABS-CBN – Episode with Gary Valenciano and episode with Gab Valenciano)
ASAP DanceSkool (ABS-CBN)
Deal Or No Deal (ABS-CBN)
Magandang Umaga Pilipinas (ABS-CBN)
Unang Hirit (GMA7)
“Everybody Get Down” Music Video by Gary Valenciano (1999)
“When I Hear You Call” Music Video by Gary Valenciano (2008)
“Taas Noo” Music Video by Amber Davis (2009)
“And I Love Her” Music Video by Jericho Rosales (2010)
MEG Magazine (July 2007 issue with Kiana Valenciano)
YES Magazine (2006)
YES Magazine Anniversary Party (2006 & 2007)
Inside Showbiz Magazine (June 2011 - Lesley on her dad Leo Martinez)

Hosting Jobs / Live Performances:

Godspell stage play (2001 – Trumpets Playshop)
First Name stage play (2002 – Trumpets Playshop)
Footloose stage play (2003 – Trumpets Playshop)
Hosted Poveda fairs, concerts, and events (2003 - 2006)
Hosted DLSU fairs, concerts, and events (2006 - Present)
Hosted UP fairs, concerts, and events (2009 - Present)
Hosted company events (2009 – Present)
AMA Hi-Skul Idol Dance Contest (2009 – As judge and performer)
Trumpets Playshop Dance Concerts (1999 - Present) 
Trumpets Playshop mall / promo shows (2006 - Present)

Workshops Attended:

Trumpets Playshop Musical Theatre (1999-2003)
Trumpets Playshop Streetdance Advanced Class by the Manoeuvers (1999 - Present)
Dance workshop with the Manoeuvers (2009 – Present)
Philippine All-Stars Dance School (2010 – Present)
Film Academy Of The Philippines Film Gym – Filmmaking Workshop (2011)
Acting workshop with Leo Martinez (July 2011 – Present)
Hosting workshop with Pam G (July 2011 - Present)

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