Rico Yan

He was the grandson of Manuel T. Yan, Sr. (1920–2008), former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Ambassador to Thailand, Indonesia, and United Kingdom, and Colonel Isabelo Ruiz Castro.

He had 3 siblings: Geraldine, Tina, and Bobby, a television host.

His parents are business owners, owning a security agency for having military background in the family.

He was the son of Roberto Yan, Sr. (1947–2015), an ethnic Filipino Chinese from Metro Manila and his Ilocana wife, Teresita Castro-Yan who hailed from Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

Ricardo Carlos "Rico" Castro Yan (March 14, 1975 – March 29, 2002) was a Filipino matinee idol, model, film and television actor, host, spokesperson and entrepreneur.

Yan was an alumnus of Xavier School for his primary education in 1988 and high school from De La Salle Santiago Zobel School in 1993.

Yan was a twenty-year-old senior student from De La Salle University when he got his first shot of popularity.

He was one of the promising commercial models of Cosmopolitan Modeling Agency, picked to be the main man on his first television commercial for Master Facial Cleanser.

It so happened that in screening committee was Johnny Manahan the Talent Center head.

Manahan asked Yan if he wanted to be in the movies.

Yan was reluctant in joining showbiz and was managed by Biboy Arboleda.

He was then launched as one of the members of Star Circle Batch 1, composed of eight talents.

While Yan was finishing his marketing thesis and trimesters in college, he was also enthralling public attention through his commercials and most magazine covers.

He was an alumnus of Star Circle Batch 1 now ABS-CBN Corporation's Star Magic in November 1995.

He started as commercial model under Cosmopolitan Modeling Agency and then became an actor.

He was discovered while falling in line in one of the fast foods on his school De La Salle University when a talent scout asked him if he wanted to be a commercial model.

Though surprised, Yan auditioned and got the part of his first television commercial debut in 1995.

His preppy rich persona was used to effect in subsequent films such as Radio Romance, Ama, Ina, Anak and Madrasta.

After several television and movie parts, Yan became a household name when he played Ricky Salveron in Gimik (1996) and Gabriel Maglayon in Mula Sa Puso (1997).

He had then spawned highly rated television shows amongst these are Mara Clara (1996), 'Sang Linggo nAPO Sila (1996), Saan Ka Man Naroroon (1999), Magandang Tanghali Bayan (2001) and Whattamen (2001).

1996 marked as a compelling period on Yan's career; he became notable.

As a matinee idol, he was most charming.

In June 1996, Yan played the boy next door character in youth-oriented show Gimik, named Ricky Salveron directed by Laurenti Dyogi shown on The Filipino Channel (TFC).

The show was about the lives of a solid bunch of juvenile living in an imaginary village that tackles the experiences and fun of being young, alongside Judy Ann Santos, Jolina Magdangal, Giselle Toengi, Mylene Dizon, Patrick Garcia, Diether Ocampo and Marvin Agustin.

Yan graduated from De La Salle University in 1997 with a degree in Marketing Management.

Yan's remarkable films on Star Cinema add Paano Ang Puso Ko? (1997), Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay (1998), Dahil Mahal na Mahal Kita (1998), Gimik: The Reunion (1999), Mula sa Puso: The Movie (1999) and Got 2 Believe (2002).

In 1997, Yan played the protagonist Gabriel Maglayon in successful primetime television drama Mula sa Puso, an assiduous cab driver who is willing to give up everything for the family and loved one, alongside Claudine Barretto.

He was the first official youth spokesman for the Department of Education, Culture and Sports in 1998, touring the Philippines for free to promote education among youths.

As well as establishing Pinoy Yan Movement, a non-profit organization that aims to make young people stay in school and value education, Yan assisted the Are You a Forest King?

Yan was also the first Philippine National Red Cross Pledge 25 spokesperson in 1999.

The show ran tremendously for three years and was adapted in motion picture release, GIMIK: The Reunion in 1999, because of the outpouring on screen chemistry of Yan and Santos on Gimik the team up continued on television drama Mara Clara, he played the young medical intern named Derrick Gonzales.

In the same year, Yan became a co host on 'Sang Linggo nAPO Sila, a noon time variety show where he had a portion called Ricollection.

The series ran auspiciously for 2 years and was adapted for motion picture release, Mula sa Puso: The Movie in 1999.

Foundation, visiting many schools to promote the importance of tree growth and was associated in various foundations and initiatives that furthered the interests of the youth and leadership formation and studies, among them are the One Dream Foundation, the Blue Eagle Foundation for Sports Development, the Blue Eagle/KIDS/ODF Leadership, Athletic and Spiritual Summer Training, the Youth Study 2001 and the Leadership Research Center.

In 2014, Star Cinema ranked him the No. 5 in the List of "The Kings of Star Cinema", twelve years after his death.

Yan starred in commercially successful television and films with pairings opposite Judy Ann Santos and Claudine Barretto.

Yan was also a successful strategist entrepreneur and owned several businesses, including Orbitz Pearl Shakes, Java Hut, Buddy Burger, Timbuktu Cafe and Tequila Joe Grill and Restaurants.

Yan had a column on Manila Bulletin titled "C'est la Vie".

Ricardo Carlos Castro Yan was born at The Medical City, which was then located in Mandaluyong, Philippines.

Yan grew up in a family of soldiers and business men.