Bangs Garcia Unlocks Dual Citizenship: ‘Officially Filipino Again’

Courtesy: Valerie Bangs Garcia (Facebook)

Former Filipina actress and model Valerie "Bangs" Garcia-Birchmore has officially reacquired her Philippine citizenship, completing her status as a dual citizen of both the Philippines and the United Kingdom.

The UK-based celebrity shared the milestone with her followers on Instagram, uploading a photo of herself posing next to the Philippine flag.

"Dual citizenship: unlocked today!" Garcia wrote in her caption. "Officially Filipino (again) & British!"

The Journey to Dual Status

Garcia previously made headlines when she became a naturalized British citizen, a milestone she completed after pledging allegiance to King Charles III and the United Kingdom.

Under Philippine law, natural-born Filipinos who acquire foreign citizenship through naturalization lose their Philippine citizenship but can formally petition to reacquire or retain it under the Republic Act No. 9225, also known as the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003. By taking her oath, Garcia successfully reinstated her rights and status as a Filipino national.

Life in the United Kingdom

Born Valerie Garcia in Davao City, she rose to prominence in the mid-2000s after starring in the ABS-CBN youth sitcom Let's Go, where her character's iconic hairstyle permanently inspired her screen name, "Bangs". She went on to achieve a successful career in Philippine television and film before stepping away from the local entertainment spotlight.

Garcia relocated to the United Kingdom in 2017 after marrying her Filipino-British husband, businessman Lloyd Birchmore. The couple, who celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary, now resides permanently in England. They have two daughters: Amelia, born in 2017, and Isabella, born in 2020.

While currently focused on motherhood, Garcia continues to connect with her fans online and frequently showcases her talent as an abstract painter.