The year 2017 wasn’t short of surprises.
It had its fair share of news-making affairs, which included pregnancies that sometimes shocked and sometimes delighted showbiz fans.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) lists down the celebrities who made headlines as expectant mothers.
PRIMETIME SHAKE-UP
Two pregnancy news rattled the industry this year.
As early as January 9, there was wide speculation that Kylie Padilla was pregnant, and was set to be killed off in the primetime series Encantadia.
Fans were adamant about Kylie remaining as her character Reyna Amihan until the end of the series, rallying on Twitter with hashtags #HuwagSiAmihan and #KeepAmihan to voice out their plea.
But then the confirmation came on January 22: the Kapuso actress was three months pregnant, marking the final days of Kylie as Amihan.
The confirmation also came that Aljur Abrenica is the father of the child.
On January 26, Kylie and Aljur sat down with PEP.ph for an exclusive interview where they spoke about their engagement and their excitement over the future as a family.
Fast forward to August 5: Kylie gave birth to their son, Alas Joaquin.
PLOT TWIST OF THE YEAR
The second pregnancy news to shock showbiz fans was the announcement that Ellen Adarna was pregnant and that John Lloyd Cruz is the father of the child.
PEP.ph, which was first to break the news, did so on November 18.
News of Ellen's pregnancy surfaced two months after her highly-publicized Cebu vacation trip with John Lloyd and her friends.
It also came on the heels of her month-long European vacation with John Lloyd.
It was while they were in Switzerland that the couple found out for sure that they were having a baby.
They then cut short their stay to come home.
Ellen, it turned out, had a delicate pregnancy, and was advised by doctors to have a lot of bed rest.
While both stars continue to maintain a low profile away, everyone is on the lookout for the next surprise from this unlikely couple.
MYSTERY DADDY
When Maricar de Mesa revealed that she was expecting, everyone had the same question in mind: “Who is the father?”
The actress kept mum about the dad's identity, only giving the clue that he wasn’t from showbiz.
“We prefer din [to be private], kasi very private din kasi siya na tao and also his family," Maricar said during an interview with PEP.ph last December 1.
But netizens eventually got to see the man when Maricar’s baby girl, Alianna Sky, was born.
Maricar’s non-showbiz partner flew in from the U.S. for Baby Sky’s christening last October 28.
Baby Sky was born on July 17.
ANSWERED PRAYER
One of the more pleasant surprises fans witnessed this year was the news of Pokwang's pregnancy.
After two pregnancies failed, the Kapamilya comedienne confirmed that she was seven weeks pregnant on July 16, 2017.
This will be her first child with Lee O'Brian.
Like any expecting mother, Pokwang said she simply wished for a healthy and normal child.
Already on her third trimester, Pokwang and Lee are expecting a baby girl.
They will name her Malia Francine.
YOUNG LOVE
Father's Day 2017 became a meaningful celebration for the 18-year-old Buboy Villar when his American fiancée Angillyn Serrano Gorens revealed that they were expecting their first child.
Former child actor Buboy had already acknowledged that he and his fiancée were too young for the responsibilities of marriage, but said that he was determined to make things work.
In a July 2016 interview with PEP.ph, Buboy said, “Bakit pa namin patatagalin, e, nandito na kami sa puntong sobrang mahal na mahal namin ang isa’t isa?
“Oo, tama sila na mga bata pa kami para pasukin ang ganitong klaseng pagsasama at kailangan maghintay kami ng tamang panahon.
“Pero ang importante ay mahal namin ang isa’t isa.
“'Tsaka gusto ko na rin na magkaroon ng sarili kong pamilya balang-araw.”
Buboy and Angillyn welcomed their baby girl, Vlanz Karollyn, last September 1.
Honorable mention: Miss Colombia 2016 Andrea Tovar's post-pageant surprise
Six months after competing in the 65th Miss Universe competition in Manila, Philippines, second runner-up Miss Colombia Andrea Tovar announced that she was four months pregnant.
The Colombian beauty queen told Colombian entertainment TV y Novelas that she and her partner, football player Julian Guillermo Rojas, were expecting a baby girl.
Andrea has already named her soon-to-be daughter Elena.
She is currently on her ninth month of pregnancy.