Coney Reyes:
A Woman of Faith

Coney Reyes opens up about the early days of her showbiz career, how she managed being a public figure and a mom, and the legacy she wants to leave behind for the next generation.

That’s why you have to value talaga what you have. You have to understand why you’re there. You have to know your purpose – why God has put you there.

Constancia Angeline Reyes Nubla, more popularly known as Coney Reyes, has been in the entertainment industry for a long time that people from different generations have at least seen one of her television series and films.

In an exclusive interview with GMANetwork.com, Coney looked back at her showbiz journey that began in 1974 when she saw an announcement about the beauty pageant called Baron Travel Girl, in which she joined and became a part of the finalists.

“They put the five Baron Travel Girl finalists for that year – that was 1974 – on the cover of, I think, the Daily Express. ’Yun pa lang ’yung nauuso pa lang ’yung colored na pictures. Tapos nakalagay siya sa taas. ‘Di ba when you fold a newspaper, ’yung taas, talaga kaming lima doon. So ang daming nag-inquire about me… if I wanted to be [an] artista. Though, high school pa ako, may mga nag-aalok pero takot ako kasi ang Papa ko, hindi ako papayagan. Kailangan daw matapos ng college, gano’n ’yung feeling ko. So ’yung feeling ko, kapag tapos na ako ng college, puwede na. Eh, few months na lang. One month na lang yata ga-graduate ako ng college, gano’n. So, noong inalok ako, I accepted it, and I was given a screen test in the Return of the Dragon,” she said, referring to the 1974 Celso Ad. Castillo movie.

“I just feel so blessed and I know that all of that would not have been possible, all these blessings, if not for the gracious hand of God. God's grace is sufficient for us.”

Coney also shared that she was one of the ladies introduced in the ’70s film 7 Crazy Dragons, where she had the opportunity to work with veteran stars Tirso Cruz III, Edgar Mortiz, Nick Romano, Romeo Miranda, Rudy Fernandez, Jay Ilagan, and Walter Navarro.

Aside from her numerous movie projects, Coney also appeared in various television programs such as the afternoon variety show Student Canteen, Coney Reyes-Mumar Drama Studio, Eat Bulaga, among others.

In her September 2024 interview with the King of Talk Boy Abunda, Coney said that being a part of the noontime show Eat Bulaga in the ’80s was one of the highlights of her career. The versatile star also revealed that it was Tony Tuviera who invited her to join the said program.

“That was another highlight in my career because I did not expect the turnout and it did something to my career. Eat Bulaga helped my career also, a lot. I’m grateful. Grateful to TVJ, Tito, Vic, and Joey,” the showbiz icon shared.

Power of Prayer

Just like any public figure, Coney had her fair share of challenges and struggles throughout her showbiz career. Whenever the veteran star encounters difficulties in life, she always communicates with the Lord through prayers.

“Ever since, talagang prayers would really mean a lot. And I would cry. Naaapektuhan talaga ako, tao lang. Minsan nagagalit ka. But prayers really did me a lot. I cried out to God, and God blessed me also with true friends na mga totoong Kristiyano, and my family was very supportive, my children were very understanding. So ayun, na-survive ko naman. ’Di ba, sa tagal ko sa industriyang ito, awa ng Diyos talaga, sobra. I’m blessed. God has really helped me, blessed me, and guided me all throughout,” she shared.

In May, Coney achieved a remarkable milestone in her professional life as she celebrated her 50th year in the entertainment industry. For the renowned star, she has learned a lot of lessons throughout her five-decade-long career in the industry. Among these are being thankful, loving your career, and choosing kindness toward others.

“Sa bawat sitwasyon na nangyayari–minsan sa bawat pelikula, sa bawat show mo–may mga nangyayari na talagang may natutunan ka. But I think it’s really to be grateful. Be thankful for what God has entrusted you. Be grateful for the people around you – the people’s blessed you with. Love your work [and] be serious about your work kasi para sa akin talagang pag-playtime, playtime, pag work time, work time. But even while working you can have some playtime, ‘di ba. Yun, talagang value the people around you, treat people with kindness.

“You always hear them saying that the same people that you meet on your way up will be the same people that you will meet on your way down. What breaks my heart is many of the people who saw me on my way to getting through with my career, many of them are already gone. But I’m still very grateful for all of them and for the lessons they’ve taught me. All the actors that I’ve worked with, all the production people that I’ve worked with, I value them, I’m grateful,” she said.

According to Coney, whenever she’s asked by younger artists for pieces of advice, she would tell them, “I always say make hay while the sun shines, make the most of what you have, value what you have, work hard, improve your craft.”

Coney also stressed for the younger generation of artists to not rush into love, value what they have at present, and know their purpose.
“That’s why you have to value talaga what you have. You have to understand why you’re there. You have to know your purpose – why God has put you there. Value is the word – what God has given you, what God has entrusted you, and value what you have even right now, and make sure that you somehow leave a legacy of professionalism,” she said.

In 2024, Coney has finally returned to Afternoon Prime through the Philippine adaptation of the hit Korean drama series, Shining Inheritance, where she plays the role of Aurea De La Costa.

In her interview with the King of Talk Boy Abunda in the September 2024 episode of Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, Coney revealed why she decided to take on the project.

“My character, Aurea De La Costa, is a restaurateur, she’s an affluent woman. Nagka-dementia ako rito and Alzheimer's. I’m always open to a challenge. Sabi ko, ‘Paano ko kaya gagampanan ’yon?’ I’ve played practically every kind of role, from mabait, to mamasan, to [a] bar dancer, all [those] kinds in my show. So I wanted a new challenge. And siyempre, may edad na rin ako, so papunta na rin tayo sa mga age na mga, gano’n gano’n. So gusto kong makita kung paano ko ba i-a-attack iyon.

Then I started reading up on it and I started, even, looking for reels,” she shared.

In Shining Inheritance, Coney had the opportunity to work with the young generation of actors such as Kyline Alcantara, Kate Valdez, Paul Salas, Michael Sager, Roxie Smith, Seth Dela Cruz, and more. While their personalities and acting styles are different, Coney can see the same determination and hunger to achieve their goals in their eyes.

“Iba-iba ang personalities nila. I could see that they’re hungering for something. They have goals, they’re trying to reach out and see their goals materialize in different ways,” she said.

Family Woman

Apart from being a showbiz icon, Coney Reyes also has a big role behind the limelight–being a loving mother to her three accomplished and intelligent children: Laurence Anthony, or “LA,” and Carla Lumar, and Vico Sotto.

LA and Carla are the veteran actress’ children with her ex-husband and late professional basketball player Larry Mumar, while Vico, who serves as the mayor of Pasig City, is her son with seasoned actor and host Vic Sotto.

The 71-year-old star revealed that it was hard for her to balance her career and parenthood when she was younger, but everything became easier with the help of her late househelper, or yaya, named Emmy, whom her children considered as their second mom.

“When I was much younger, it was really hard. It was tough to balance both. I was just blessed to have a yaya. She passed away already a couple of years ago, who was there for us. So I would check on her. Hindi pa kasi uso ’yung mga mobile phone. Although later on, meron na, pero I mean noong bata pa ‘yung dalawang older children ko, sobrang hirap. Sobrang hirap umalis,” she said.

Coney revealed that she even had to let go of a big project because her children were her utmost priority. It was also a blessing for the renowned artist to have her daily shows, which only took a few hours off her day, allowing her to spend more time with her kids at home.

“If you're a good steward of what God has entrusted you, He will entrust you with much more.

“So blessing sa akin na daily ’yung show ko because I go home after the daily show. Blessing din na I was already producing my show. So when things go really really crazy, ako ’yung producer, nagpapapalit ako. I get somebody to replace me, gano’n. So ’yun talaga blessing. With the help of, actually her name is Emmy and even if she has passed away, I just want to honor her also. She really helped me, she really stayed with us for more than 34 years and if she was still alive now, 40 years na siguro sa amin kasi she passed away na, she got sick. We love her. My children consider her like a second mom. So it’s my way of honoring her also.”

Apart from her late househelp, Coney is utterly grateful for her support system: her late parents, Atty. Hermann Nubla and Noemi Reyes, as well as her dear friends, for being there for her through the hardships she encountered in life.

“Nagawa ko ’yung balancing act dahil doon, at saka sa Mama ko, Papa ko, kasi lalo na nung I got separated, gumulo na ’yung life ko, nandoon ’yung family ko talaga, ’yun ’yung support system ko and some of my dearest friends, my church friends, ’yun napakalaking bagay ’yun,” she said.
Asked about how she feels about the success of her three children, Coney couldn’t help but feel emotional as she’s full of gratitude to the Lord for all the blessings she has received in life.

“I’m very proud of them and I’m really grateful to the Lord for everything in my life. I’m grateful for my three children. Now I have a daughter-in-law, my three grandsons. I just really feel–naiiyak na raw ako–I just feel so blessed and I know that all of that would not have been possible, all these blessings, if not for the gracious hand of God. God's grace is sufficient for us. In my weakness, his strength is made perfect, and I always pray ‘Lord, I acknowledge, I’m nothing apart from you, I need you, kailangan kita araw-araw.’ For everything kasi gano’n ako, dapat kasi matuto tayo na ang unang takbuhan natin si God, hindi ’yung best friend or ’yung tao. Puwede sila kasi they also help pero talagang Lord,” she expressed.

Shining Legacy

During the September 2024 media conference of the GMA Afternoon Prime series Shining Inheritance, Coney revealed that being able to still do what she loves is her “shining moment” after five decades of being in the entertainment industry.

“I guess what’s in my heart is that ang pinaka-shining moment ko talaga siguro na hanggang ngayon nandito pa ako. Naiiyak ako. Alam niyo naman iyakin ako, ever since. For those who are familiar with what I do, what I have done in my career, I’m just so blessed. I feel so grateful that God has allowed me to use what He has given me, what talent He has given me, until now that I’m 71 years old. I just feel so grateful, thankful, blessed. Glory to God talaga sa lahat ng ginawa niya sa career ko,” she expressed.

Being one of the most prominent and respected names in the entertainment industry, one would wonder what kind of legacy Coney Reyes would like to leave behind for her children, as well as for the future generation

“I want my children–this is my prayer also–I want my children, my children’s children, and the generations after us, to always love God, obey God, and honor God. Sabi ko, ‘Lord, hindi namin kayang gawin ‘yun mag-isa.’ Wala tayong kayang gawin mag-isa. Kailangan natin ng tulong ng Diyos. So Lord, I want to leave that legacy behind. That the people, my children and the generations after me, will always love God and obey and honor him. When you obey Him and we love Him, we serve Him also through the talents that He gives us. If it’s leadership, if it’s…I guess in my case it’s my acting ability, that I can serve God also through that way, that you know your purpose. If you know why God has given you that, so maging good steward ka kasi, if you're a good steward of what God has entrusted you, He will entrust you with much more. But if you’re not a good steward of the little things He has given you, how can he give you more? hanggang doon ka lang,” she said.

Coney wants to be remembered as a woman who loved and obeyed the Lord. She went on, “So I want to share whatever I’ve learned about the Lord, whatever I learned about my craft, whatever I learned in life. Gusto kong ibahagi ’yan sa willing makinig, sa willing na marinig kung ano ’yung meron akong mga stories or testimonies. So kung makatulong sa kanila, salamat sa Diyos. Kung hindi naman, siguro sa ibang pagkakataon. I want people to remember me as a woman who loves the Lord and obeyed God.”

Before the interview wrapped up, Coney was asked to complete the sentence: “I am Coney Reyes and I am ____.” The seasoned personality gave a simple yet very meaningful answer.

“I’m Coney Reyes and I’d like to say that I’m a woman who loves God, obeys him, and who wants to honor Him in my life, always.”

“I want to leave that legacy behind. That the people, my children and the generations after me, will always love God and obey and honor him.”