Kean Cipriano

• Name — Kean Cipriano • Birth Name — Kean Edward Uson Cipriano • Born — 11 June 1987 • Birthplace — Pasig, Metro Manila, Philippines • Occupation — Singer • songwriter • actor • music video director • musician • Years Active — 1995–present • Children — 2

Kean Edward Uson Cipriano was born on June 11, 1987, in Pasig, Metro Manila. He has two younger brothers, Keno and Keano. He completed his high school education at Lourdes School of Mandaluyong. Cipriano later studied at the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music and also pursued business administration at the Entrepreneurs School of Asia.

Cipriano first appeared on ABS-CBN's noontime show Magandang Tanghali Bayan, where he won the "Luv Idol" segment alongside Trixie Cacho. In 2005, Cipriano became the lead vocalist of the pop-rock band Callalily, which rose to prominence with the release of their debut album Destination XYZ in 2006. The band gained mainstream popularity in the mid-2000s with hit singles such as "Magbalik", "Stars," and "Pansamantala," which received significant airplay on local music channels like MYX.

In 2010, Cipriano made his acting debut in the TV5 youth-oriented series BFGF, opposite Alex Gonzaga, followed by a role in the sitcom Hapi Together. In 2011, he starred in the critically acclaimed independent film Ang Babae sa Septic Tank, portraying Rainier, an ambitious director. For his performance, he received a nomination for Breakthrough Performance by an Actor at the 9th Golden Screen Awards. He also appeared in the blockbuster comedy The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin and the horror film San Lazaro. Later that year, he reunited with Gonzaga for the TV5 drama series P.S. I Love You. Cipriano continued performing with Callalily during this period, with the band signing a co-management contract with Viva Artists Agency. In 2012, he appeared in the Star Cinema coming-of-age film The Reunion, alongside Enchong Dee, Enrique Gil, and Xian Lim. Cipriano maintained a freelance status, working across ABS-CBN, GMA, and TV5 before formally affiliating with ABS-CBN. In 2013, Cipriano and Dee appeared as contestants on Kapamilya, Deal or No Deal, where they won the ₱1 million briefcase. On June, Cipriano was announced as one of the interpreters, alongside Banda ni Kleggy, for the song "Space," written by Raffy Calicdan, at the second Philippine Popular Music Festival. In 2015, he collaborated with Nadine Lustre to interpret "Sa Ibang Mundo," a song written by Mark Villar and an entry in the 4th Philippine Popular Music Festival. Later that year, he joined the second season of Your Face Sounds Familiar as a celebrity contestant.

In 2017, Cipriano played Joshua, one of the titular characters in Bar Boys, which would eventually become a modern cult-classic film. He also had supporting roles in the 2017 Metro Manila Film Festival entry All of You and Seven Sundays. In 2018, Cipriano and Ortaleza co-founded O/C Records, an independent label collaborating with Viva Records. The company's lineup of artist/band roster includes former IV of Spades vocalist Unique Salonga. The following year, he released his debut solo single "Eye Contact".

In May 2021, Cipriano released his debut solo album titled Childlike. He shared that he wrote, produced, and recorded the entire album by himself. He described the album as a reflection of his personal musical identity, saying he did not feel the need to return to his established sound and instead aimed to present what he considers his own version of pop culture and artistic roots. In the same year, Cipriano won a FAMAS Award for Best Musical Score for his arrangement on On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets. He also won several other accolades for his arrangement, including Best Musical Score at the 4th EDDYS and Movie Musical Scorer of the Year at the 37th PMPC Star Awards for Movies. In a 2022 interview, Cipriano confirmed his departure from Callalily, citing creative and personal differences with the band. He expressed his intention to focus on solo projects and the further development of O/C Records. That same year, he released his first solo song since leaving the band, titled "Tayuman." The acoustic-ballad kundiman alternative track's title is a double entendre, referring both to Tayuman, a train station in Manila, and to a phrase meaning "If it's ever us." He followed up this single with "Paano na Tayo" before performing at his Pulso concert alongside Adie and Salonga. In 2023, he was introduced as a regular host for the Tawag ng Tanghalan segment on It's Showtime. Later that year, Cipriano portrayed Manual Perez in Kampon, a 49th Metro Manila Film Festival entry. He also received a nomination for Best Musical Score for his arrangement on Yung Libro sa Napanood Ko at the inaugural Summer Metro Manila Film Festival. In 2025, Cipriano confirmed that he would reprise his role as Joshua in the sequel Bar Boys: After School.

In October 2015, Cipriano confirmed his relationship with actress Chynna Ortaleza during an appearance on Tonight with Boy Abunda. The couple announced their marriage on New Year's Eve the same year. They welcomed their daughter in 2016. On March 17, 2016, Cipriano's father, Edgie Cipriano, died due to cardiac arrest.

• Destination XYZ (2006) • Fisheye (2008) • Callalily (2009) • Flower Power (2012) • Greetings From Callalily (2015)

• Ctrl+Alt+Del.Restart (2011)

• Childlike (album, 2021) - O/C Records • "Tayuman" (single; 2022)

• Year — Title — Role • 2010–2011 — BFGF — Prince Kean Prieto • 2011–2012 — P. S. I Love You — Jason Jimenez • 2012 — Maalaala Mo Kaya: Cellphone — Justin • 2013–present — ASAP — Himself (performer) • 2014 — Maalaala Mo Kaya: Train — Boyfriend • Ipaglaban Mo: Niloko Nyo Ako — Ely • 2015 — Pablo S. Gomez's Inday Bote — Jerome Santiago • Maalaala Mo Kaya: Sketch Pad — Teen Rustie • 2016 — Dolce Amore — Alvin "Binggoy" Ibarra • 2017–2020 — I Can See Your Voice — SING-vestigator • 2018–2019 — Playhouse — Renato "Ato" Payuan • 2019 — FPJ's Ang Probinsyano — Migz • 2023–present — It's Showtime — Himself (judge) • 2023–2024 — Senior High — Brandon • 2024 — High Street — Brandon • 2025 — Maalaala Mo Kaya: SIM Card — Ronald • 2025–2026 — Totoy Bato — Jasper

• Year — Song title — Artist • 2013 — "Darating" — Ney Dimaculangan, Kleggy Abaya (of Banda ni Kleggy) and Dello Gatmaitan • "Pansamantala" — Callalily • 2014 — "Walang-Wala" — Banda ni Kleggy • 2015 — "Umay" — Rye Sarmiento (of 6Cyclemind/Banda ni Kleggy) • "Lunod" — 6Cyclemind • "I Will Wait" — Gracenote (feat. Chynna Ortaleza) • 2016 — "Sana Mali" — Moonstar88 • 2017 — "Pakipot, Suplado — Alexa Ilacad • "Sa'n Ako Magsisimula — Callalily • "Naghihintay Sa'yo" — Mark Carpio • "Tanging Ikaw" — Tony Labrusca • "Labo" — KZ Tandingan • "Tunay Na Pag-Ibig" — Sam Milby • 2018 — "Litrato" — Callalily

Awards and NominationsAwards and nominations received by Kean Cipriano • Award — Year — Category — Nominated work — Result — Ref. References • Cinema One Originals Digital Film Festival — 2017 — Best Supporting Actor — Historiographika Errata • The EDDYS — 2021 — Best Musical Score — On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets • FAMAS Award — 2021 — Best Musical Score — On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets • Gawad Urian Award — 2012 — Best Actor (Pinakamahusay na Pangunahing Aktor) — Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank • 2021 — Best Music (Pinakamahusay na Musika) (shared with Brain Coat) — On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets • Golden Screen Awards — 2011 — Best Original Song (shared with Jonathan Manalo, Ney Dimaculangan, Tutti Caringal) — RPG Metanoia ("Kaya Mo") • 2012 — Breakthrough Performance by an Actor — Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank • Metro Manila Film Festival — 2010 — Best Original Theme Song (shared with Protein Shake and Ney Dimaculangan) — RPG Metanoia ("Kaya Mo") • 2014 — Best Supporting Actor — English Only, Please • 2016 — Best Actor — Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2: Forever is Not Enough • Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino — 2019 — Best Musical Score — G! • PMPC Star Awards for Music — 2011 — Music Video of the Year — RPG Metanoia ("Kaya Mo") • 2015 — Male Rock Artist of the Year — Happy Together • Duo/Group Artist of the Year (shared with Eunice Jorge) • PMPC Star Awards for Movies — 2022 — Movie Musical Scorer of the Year (shared with Brain Coat) — On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets • Movie Original Theme Song of the Year (shared with Pappel) — On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets "("F**king Circumstance") • Summer Metro Manila Film Festival — 2023 — Best Musical Score — Yung Libro sa Napanood Ko

• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref. Reference • 2011 — Ang Babae sa Septic Tank — Rainier de la Cuesta — 7th Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival entry • San Lazaro — Carlo Benedicto — 7th Cinemalaya NETPAC Finalist • The Unkabogable Praybeyt Benjamin — Emerson Ecleo — Supporting role • 2012 — Madaling Araw, Mahabang Gabi • The Reunion — Patrick "Pat" dela Torre • Of All the Things — Himself — Cameo • Kimmy Dora and the Temple of Kiyeme — Groomsman — Cameo • 2013 — Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng Crush Mo? — Edgardo Salazar • Ang Huling Henya — Dexter • 2014 — Tumbang Preso — Vito • Hindi Sila Tatanda — Diwa • The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin — Emerson Ecleo — 40th Metro Manila Film Festival entry • English Only, Please — Rico • 2016 — Love Is Blind — Yari Baltazar • Echorsis: Sabunutan Between Good and Evil • That Thing Called Tanga Na — CC • Mano Po 7: Chinoy — Denver Vera • Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2: #ForeverIsNotEnough — Rainier de la Cuesta — 42nd Metro Manila Film Festival entry • 2017 — Seven Sundays — Jerry • Bar Boys — Joshua Zuniga — 1st Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino entry • Triptiko — John — "Musikerong John" segment • Historiographika Errata — Emilio Jacinto — 13th Cinema One Originals Festival entry • All of You — Migs — 43rd Metro Manila Film Festival entry • 2020 — On Vodka, Beers and Regrets — Sam • 2023 — Wish You Were the One — Jordan • Kampon — Manuel Perez — 49th Metro Manila Film Festival entry • 2025 — Bar Boys: After School — Joshua Zuniga — 51st Metro Manila Film Festival entry

• Year — Title — Role • 2015 — Bakit Kasi Ako, Iba Na Lang