The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
From being a film actor in Lino Brocka’s “Hellow Soldier,” a segment in the trilogy “Tatlo, Dalawa, Isa” (1974) to a publicist of Sharon Cuneta, Rey Valera, Freddie Aguilar, Imelda Papin etc. in Vicor Recording Company and Blackgold Records to a print and TVC ad model for GE Refrigerator and Diners Card, the virile Edgar Santiago is very much on the go.
Santiago is an alumnus of the Faculty of Arts and Letters of the University of Santo Tomas.
He was a campus journalist having edited the Pilipino section of The Varsitarian, UST student paper and an active member of Phi Chi Rho, the only recognized frat of Artlets.
During his showbiz stint, Ed, as he is also known for, had guested in such TV raters like “Twelve O’clock High,” a daily noontime variety show and “Ariel Con Tina,” a talk TV, both programs were hosted by Ariel Ureta and Tina Revilla aired in Banahaw Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Channel 2 and “Rhoda and Me,” a dating show emceed by Ronald Remy in Channel 11.
Edgar is now US-based but while he’s abroad, he doesn’t forget his roots for something culturally Filipino by joining the Amihan Philippine Dance Society in Houston, Texas and a penchant for socio-civic leadership by participating in orgs like the North Texas Asian American Cultural Association (NTAACA) which aims to gather different members from diverse cultural descent like Japanese, Laotian, Thais Taiwanese, Mexican, Chinese, Filipinos, Indonesians, Indians, Nepalese, Koreans, among other and display their respective cultural heritage, its presidency he held in 1997 and 2016.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the group which met on August 22, 2026 at the Dallas-Fort Worth in Texas.
Moreover, Ed’s diasporic journey combines it with a vision of compassion, especially a concern for wellness.
Edgar manages a healthcare virtual facility called Maximino Plus which caters to the medical and wellbeing needs of patients across the US.
“Maximino Plus provides healthcare professionals through American Housecall and American Personal Care. Through our virtual assistants, we know where to send health care services like physicians and other medical practitioners. At the American Housecall, we provide personalized care to the comfort of the patient’s home like routine check-up, chronic disease management, or post-hospitalization care and many more medical attentions.
“While at American Personal Care, we serve healthcare for all, especially our loved ones like our grandparents and other Senior Citizens. I am looking for virtual assistants for them. You can get in touch with me through edgar@maximinoplus.com or www.maximinoplus.com,” Santiago informed.
How does he manage his time shuttling from culture to social life to healthcare?
“I can handle them simultaneously. I can dance in one instance and attend to the medical needs of people the next,” Ed confidently shared. (Boy Villasanta)