Sandy Andolong

Alexandra Sandy Andolong‑de Leon, born Alexandra Pinga Andolong on January 16, 1959 in Santa Cruz, Manila, Philippines, is a veteran Filipino actress and television producer whose career spans more than four decades. She debuted in 1978 and quickly earned critical acclaim for her supporting roles in classic Filipino films such as Oro, Plata, Mata and Moral, the latter bringing her a Best Supporting Actress win at the 1983 FAMAS Awards. Over the years she became a staple on both GMA Network and ABS‑CBN, appearing in a wide range of dramas, sitcoms, and anthology series, most notably a villainous turn in Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan after a six‑month hiatus caused by recurring kidney problems in 2007. Her resilience shone through when she returned to the screen in 2008, and she later co‑starred with her husband Christopher de Leon in a 2012 episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK). From 2014 to 2019 she was a regular cast member of the popular sitcom Home Sweetie Home, before moving to the afternoon drama Dahil sa Pag‑ibig. In 2021 she earned a Gawad Urian nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her nuanced performance in Finding Agnes, and in 2024 she served as a presenter at the 72nd FAMAS Awards, underscoring her lasting influence in Philippine cinema. Personal life intertwines with her career: she married acclaimed actor Christopher de Leon in 2001, and the couple raised five children—Rafael, Miguel, Gabriel, Mariel, and Mica—while Sandy also acted as step‑mother to de Leon’s other children. Health challenges have been a recurring theme; after multiple surgeries on her kidneys, intestines, gallbladder, uterus, and pituitary gland, she underwent a successful kidney transplant in 2015. Yet she continued to work, demonstrating remarkable dedication to her craft and inspiring fans across generations.