Marvin Jay Marquez Cuyugan[1] was born on January 29, 1979,[2] in Paco, Metro Manila. He is the youngest and only son of Theresa and Danilo Cuyugan and has two older sisters.[3] His father worked as a lineman for the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), while his mother was a homemaker.
During his childhood, his father was convicted in a drug-related case and imprisoned. As the only male child, Agustin helped support his family alongside his mother and older sisters, assisting in household work and small-scale food sales.[4][5]
At age 16, Agustin began working at the Tia Maria bar-restaurant, performing various roles including waiter, bartender, kitchen staff, cashier, and marketing.[6] During this time, he was scouted for acting but initially declined, wishing to continue his studies and pursue a career in restaurant management.[7][8] He also noted that neither he nor his family had a background in the arts.[3] He later accepted the offer and made his television debut in the ABS-CBN series Gimik.[9]
Agustin completed his high school education at Sta. Rita College in Parañaque.[10][11] He later enrolled in short‑course and diploma programs, including culinary arts and hotel management at the International School for Culinary Arts and Hotel Management, though he did not complete the program.[12][13] In 2016, he finished a short course in digital filmmaking at the New York University School of Professional Studies.[14][15]
Agustin is one of the Star Magic talents during the 1990s. He started his television career in 1996 through ABS-CBN's youth oriented show Gimik and was paired with singer-actress Jolina Magdangal. He was also chosen to be one of the lead casts of soap opera Esperanza and miniseries Sa Sandaling Kailangan Mo Ako.[16] He was paired with Magdangal once again and they become the protagonists of soap opera Labs Ko Si Babe, the first Philippine romantic-comedy series.
After Labs Ko si Babe ended in 2000, he became part of the trio named Whattamen together with his real life best friends Dominic Ochoa and Rico Yan. The trio became the replacement hosts for Willie Revillame in the defunct noontime show, Magandang Tanghali Bayan from 2001 to 2003. In 2001, they were tapped to head the sitcom Whattamen. It continued until 2004 even though Yan died in 2002. His life story was featured in drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya on one of its episodes in 2005.
Agustin won his first TV and film acting awards for his performance as Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao in the episode of "Boxing Gloves" in Magpakailanman in 2004's 1st Golden Screen Entertainment TV Awards, and as a disturbed psycho Lemuel in the horror-thriller Kutob in 2005's 31st Metro Manila Film Festival.
In 2005, it was discovered that Agustin transferred to GMA Network. His loveteam with Jolina Magdangal came back in the television through I Luv NY. He also received his first villain role in 2007 through action series Asian Treasures and received another villain role in the same year through the Filipino adaptation of Marimar.
Agustin also hosted a musical variety show on GMA Network in SOP Rules and a youth oriented drama anthology Dear Friend and hosts a comedy informative show in Outrageous & Courageous. He is part on the drama mini series SRO Cinemaserye: Ganti Ng Puso.
Agustin starred in the romantic-comedy film Adik Sa'Yo and recent appears as Lando in a drama mini-series, Tinik Sa Dibdib and appeared in Panday Kids, which he plays "Lizardo", a villain of the Panday Kids. Agustin formerly hosts the variety show, Party Pilipinas and is also a former part of the cast in Pilyang Kerubin.
Agustin appeared in the series of GMA Network, Beauty Queen in October 2010. Agustin also appeared in a drama series Iglot on GMA in 2011. He later transferred to TV5 as of 2012.
In 2014, he returned to ABS-CBN along with Jolina Magdangal. His last appearance in the network is Maalaala Mo Kaya. In 2017, Agustin briefly returned with an exclusive contract to GMA Network three years later via his drama series Kambal, Karibal (originally titled as Santa Santita). As of 2021, he exclusively works for ABS-CBN again.
Other ventures
Business
Agustin is involved in numerous restaurant businesses. In 1999, as part of an endorsement deal, he received a franchise outlet of Mister Donut, marking his first business venture.[17][18] He subsequently launched Ricecapades, a chain of rice-based food stalls, which became his first entrepreneurial foray into the restaurant industry.[19]
Agustin later established Oyster Boy Restaurant, a seafood-dining concept that expanded to multiple branches in Metro Manila.[20] In December 2005, he co-founded Sumo Sam, a Japanese–American casual dining chain, with its first outlet at Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong.[3] He also holds co-ownership stakes in several other restaurants, including John & Yoko, Café Ten Titas, Marciano’s, and Samurai Chef.[20][21]
Agustin co-founded Oh Crop! in 2021, a social enterprise focused on promoting adlai— a locally grown Philippine grain, by partnering with farmers to improve their income and highlight underutilized local crops.[22]
In 2023, Agustin launched Cochi Bistro,[23] a fine‑dining concept in Bonifacio Global City that centers on roasted suckling pig (cochinillo) prepared in a Spanish style and paired with modern Filipino and international dishes.[24] The concept traces its roots to his cloud‑kitchen brand Secret Kitchen,[25] which opened a mall stall for cochinillo and baked goods in 2022.[26] He described the venture as a pandemic‑pivot inspired by his in‑garage baking experiments while developing his oven‑based cooking.[27] In 2025, Agustin's Cochi was awarded a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide Philippines.[28][29]
Aside from his food ventures, Agustin owns Futuretainment Inc., a company specializing in the production of concerts and live events. The company has produced shows for both local and international artists[30] and expanded into television content, including the singing competition Kanta Pilipinas on TV5.[31]
Philanthropy and advocacy
In a 2000 interview, Agustin stated that he had established the small foundation Kaibigan ni Marvin Agustin Inc. (KAMAI), which operated for two years. Its early activities included visits to Golden Acres to interact with the elderly and a birthday‑party outreach for street children.[10]
In 2012, he organized a birthday-party outreach for children from Operation Smile Philippines at Enchanted Kingdom, providing food and presents during the event.[32][33] The following year, Agustin expressed his intention to organize a volunteer group for relief operations following Typhoon Yolanda.[34] He also supported a children’s character‑building campaign by Bear Brand, emphasizing the importance of teaching children resilience and leadership skills in 2014.[35]
In 2016, Agustin established the Entreplab School, a senior high school focused on entrepreneurship education.[11][36]
During the COVID‑19 pandemic in 2020, Agustin urged restaurant owners to donate food to hospitals and frontline workers, suggesting that perishable stock be cooked and given to those in need.[37] He offered his restaurant kitchens to support a fundraiser for street vendors affected by the pandemic, organized by Bela Padilla.[38][39] In 2021, he marked August 10 with a food distribution event for community members, playfully referencing the meme connecting his surname with the date.[40]
In 2025, Agustin served as ambassador of WorldSkills Philippines.[44] He also took part in ABS-CBN Foundation’s Kapamilya Golf Fundraiser, Swing for a Cause.[45]
Endorsements
Agustin has endorsed numerous products throughout his career, ranging from food and beverage brands to personal care and household items. In the late 1990s, he served as brand ambassador for Mister Donut, a partnership that earned him his own franchise. In 2008, he signed endorsement contracts with clothing brand Urban Edge and Lana de Herba Oil and Ointment.[46] He has also promoted products such as Del Monte and Tupperware.[47] In 2012, he was named a celebrity ambassador for Knorr cubes[48][49] and later that year became an endorser for CarbTrim.[50]
Personal life
Agustin practiced archery in hopes of making it to the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China in November 2010.[51]
In a 2012 interview, Agustin stated that he had no plans to pursue a career in politics.[52]
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