Marco "Mark" Tadeo Lapid (born February 16, 1979) is an actor and politician in the Philippines. He is a former Governor of Pampanga (2004–2007). President Gloria Arroyo appointed him as general manager of the Philippine Tourism Authority in 2008. From 2009 to 2016, he served as chief operating officer of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) under President Benigno Aquino III. TIEZA is an attached agency of the Department of Tourism (DOT) that designates, regulates and supervises tourism enterprise zones established under Republic Act 9593. Lapid returned to the government agency in 2021 after his appointment as TIEZA chief by President Rodrigo Duterte on January 5, 2021.[1]
Mark Lapid began his career in public service at a very young age. He was elected as SK (Sanggunian Kabataan) Chairman at the age of 16. Concurrently, Lapid served as the province's youth sector representative in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pampanga.
He was elected Governor of Pampanga at the young age of 24. While Governor, Lapid successfully made Pampanga one of the top ten most productive provinces in the Philippines. Lapid's tenure as Governor was marked by an increase in infrastructure spending.
Lapid filed his CoC (Certificate of Candidacy) for Senator last October 14, 2015. Lapid ran under the Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid but lost placing 19th in the polls, behind coalition mate, Jericho Petilla.[2]
In a senatorial forum held on January 29, 2016, at the University of the Philippines – Diliman, he supported peace in Mindanao and same-sex marriage, which gave him one of the best approval applause from the students of UP.
Lapid belongs to the Aksyon Demokratiko Party.
Lapid did the film Apoy sa Dibdib ng Samar (2006) with Cristine Reyes, directed by Jose Balagtas.
His film Tatlong Baraha, was an entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) in 2006. He played the role of Julio Valiente, Maynard Lapid as Zigomar, and Lito Lapid as Leon Guerrero.
Lapid produced the movie Lapu-Lapu starring Lito Lapid and Joyce Jimenez.
He is among the four children of actor and Senator Lito Lapid and Marissa Tadeo-Lapid. His siblings are Maan Krista, Mitzi Karen and Maynard.[3] He also has half-siblings such as Manuelito Lapid[4][5] and Ysabel Ortega.[6][7]
He is married to actress Tanya Garcia in a civil wedding on July 30, 2010, at Marissa Hall in Porac, Pampanga.[8] They have two daughters, Mischa Amidala (born September 21, 2007), and Matilda Anika (born October 29, 2010) in Las Vegas, Nevada.[9]