Zaijian Jaranilla

Zaijian Godsick Lara Jaranilla (born August 23, 2001) is a Filipino actor and dancer who is best known for his role as the orphan Santino in May Bukas Pa, a 2009–2010; 2013 religious-themed teleserye based on and Philippine adaptation of 1955 Spanish movie Miracle of Marcelino and a revival of the 2000–2001 series of the same name. Zaijian was also a cast member in the children's sketch comedy show Goin' Bulilit. He portrayed "Ding", the brother of the iconic Filipino superhero Darna in the TV series of the same name under ABS-CBN from August 15, 2022, to February 10, 2023.

Zaijian Godsick Lara Jaranilla was born on August 23, 2001, in Gloria, Oriental Mindoro, to Glendelle Lara Jaranilla from Lucena, Quezon and Zenon Louis Jaranilla from Marinduque, grew up in Roxas District, Quezon City, Metro Manila, and spends his vacation days in Boac, Marinduque.^[2] He is the oldest in the family and has two younger brothers, Zildjian Godweevil and Zymic Demigod Lara Jaranilla.^[2] His parents separated in 2006 when he was only five years old, and residing currently with his father.^[2][3]

He was fond of Hot Wheels scale model car toys which made him inspired to start owning a personal vehicle in 2011 with the first is Toyota Hiace Super Grandia, and then later acquired a Geely Coolray where ABS-CBN Studios and Star Magic head Laurenti Dyogi took a ride on March 26, 2023.^[4][5][6] He developed his driving skills since his child star days at the age of 11 in 2012, and then ten years later on May 17, 2022, he obtained a LTO non-professional driving license.

Jaranilla is also fond of gaming, such as playing PC games like Defense of the Ancients (DotA), Final Fantasy, and Plants vs. Zombies, and various PSP, PS2 and recently mobile games like Mobile Legends.^[7][8][9]

He has a personal driver named Eduardo Mejos.

Jaranilla studied at General Roxas Elementary School in Roxas District, Quezon City until he finished Grade 1 in 2009 where he was one of the 40 pupils and top 9 in the class. He transferred to Angelicum College where he was a student there for eight years from June 2010 until his second or sophomore year at junior high school in 2018. He entered school regularly as a Grade 2 student at Angelicum in June 2009 but was not able to do so for a year due to the ongoing schedule of taping of the drama series May Bukas Pa, where it is still in production during that time. Instead, he attended home study program to take the lessons and activities of a grade level where he was supposed to belong with. Jaranilla also attended classes at Headway School for Giftedness from 2009 to early April 2010.^[10][11]

He resumed entering school regularly in June 2010, still at second grade, four months after May Bukas Pa ended on February 5 of the said year and one month before the premiere of his next on-screen appearance on a drama series which is Noah on July 12 of that year for the lessons that he did not yet take during his pause from regular school.

After his sophomore year in 2018, he stopped schooling due to him struggled to juggle his requirements, and for him to continue his studies in the year level he was supposed to be in, Zaijian had to pass the Philippine Educational Placement Test of PEP Test from the Department of Education. He passed the exam allowing him to go straight to Senior High School. He studied SHS at Colegio de San Juan de Dios in the said municipality of San Rafael, Bulacan from 2021 to 2023, and announced that he had graduated on May 31, 2023, under the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand.^[12][13]

Before joining ABS-CBN/Star Magic in 2008, he was discovered by a talent manager from RDB Talents and Events Management named Bryan Ancheta in 2004. His grandmother Maria Dulce Jaranilla, who worked on Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society Foundation, Inc., accompanied Zaijian after a doctor approached her about his interest in doing commercials. Zaijian and Maria went to Makati for the audition, which turned out to be successful marking for his debut as a commercial model. He made his first appearance on a commercial in McDonald's: Good Kuya in 2006. He then appeared on Lactum MTV (With Supers) commercial in 2007 and a TV advertisement of Tide in 2008.^[14]

In 2008, he joined ABS-CBN where he became a contract artist of the network's talent management agency Star Magic. He appeared as guest cast on Goin Bulilit.^[15] He made his first appearance on anthologies on Mars Ravelo's Komiks Presents in 2008. He also became a regular performer for a Sunday variety show, ASAP and had multiple appearances on It's Showtime and Maalaala Mo Kaya.^[2]

From February 2, 2009, to February 5, 2010, he was cast as the main role for May Bukas Pa, the highest-rated Philippine television program nationally of all time, as its protagonist Santino Guillermo, a boy who met Jesus Christ.^[16] His portrayal for the role pushed his name to fame, wherein he became a household name.^[17][2][16] This series received a special award at the 2009 Catholic Mass Media Awards, given by Cardinal Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales. The special award was received by Jaranilla together with his supporting actors.^[18] The series was also awarded an Anak TV Seal Awards twice and Jaranilla was given the Male Makabata Awardee and 2010 Anak TV Roster of Makabata Stars (with the latter along with Noah).^[19] The series gave Jaranilla the "Best Male New TV Personality" for 23rd PMPC Star Awards for Television, "Natatanging Gawad Tanglaw para sa Sining ng Telebisyon" at the 2010 Gawad Tanglaw Awards, "Students' Choice of Actor in a Daily Soap Opera" at 6th USTv Awards, Pinakapasadong Simbolo sa Kagandahang Asal at 12th Gawad PASADO Awards, and Most Favorite Child Personalities at the 1st Lingkod TV Awards awarded in 2010 and announced through television in 2011.^[20][21]

On November 4, 2009, the "Bro, Ikaw ang Star ng Pasko" campaign kicked off with the launch of the Christmas station ID, and the lighting of an 18-foot parol led by ABS-CBN executives including chairman Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III and president Charo Santos-Concio, and ABS-CBN talents, including Zaijian himself. With several departments, divisions and subsidiaries contributing their ideas to the station ID this year’s campaign not only unites ABS-CBN employees for the common goal of bringing cheer to the Filipinos and infecting them with the Christmas spirit. It also inspires and uplifts a nation in need of healing after the double whammy inflicted by tropical storms Ondoy and Pepeng. The way to “Bro, Ikaw ang Star ng Pasko” started as early as June, when teams from Sales, Marketing, Creative Communications Management (CCM), Licensing, Production, and Property pitched concepts to the leadership committee composed of Channel 2 head Cory V. Vidanes and department heads. Vidanes suggested merging all the concepts—including Marketing’s company-wide Christmas tree lighting activity, Licensing’s Parol ni Bro, CCM’s tagline and station ID, a Christmas bazaar and the Win sa Bituin viewers’ promo—into one big campaign.^[22]

In 2011, he made his first movie on-screen appearance alongside Vic Sotto and Bea Alonzo on Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak! portraying as Angelito, an angel that has fallen from heaven.^[23] The movie has similarities with May Bukas Pa where Jaranilla (who portrays as Angelito in the movie) can able to do miracles to help other people such as healing the sick as well as communicating with spiritual beings (Bro/Jesus Christ and Satan (in the form of a red light) in May Bukas Pa, and God (as a white light). It was released on April 14, 2011.

On May 22, 2011, Jaranilla reprised his Santino role on a documentary entitled Banál (Tagalog for "holy") on the occasion of the beatification of Pope John Paul II. Zaijian Jaranilla and Jaime Fabregas reprised their roles as Santíno and Father Anthony as they present the life of John Paul II and his significance for Filipinos.

From March 11 to December 5, 2013, an uncut airing version of May Bukas Pa was aired on Jeepney TV where a deleted scene of the show's finale episode was released.

Nine years and four months after production of May Bukas Pa ended and six years after the airing of its uncut version, Jaranilla returned to Bacolor Church in June 2019 as part of the year-long 65th anniversary celebration of ABS-CBN. The 2009 Christmas ID Star ng Pasko were used on two station IDs that were released at the first and last year of the 2010s decade and after the series ended which are the 2010s Ngayong Pasko Magniningning Ang Pilipino (lit. 'This Christmas, the Filipinos will Shine' and 2019's Family is Forever with the former is due to May Bukas Pa was still the highest-rating television series in Philippine television during that time and before the 2010–2011 series Mara Clara overtook the title on June 3, 2011, and the latter as part of the network's 65th anniversary both feature Jaranilla, signifying that the series currently stands as the country's highest-rated show of all time since Philippine television switched to a nationwide TV ratings system in the opening day of 2009 and the Star ng Pasko is famous and well-known since its release on November 4, 2009.^[24][25][26]

On February 11, 2020, Jaranilla was interviewed about the comparisons between his answers when he still played the role of Santino and a grown-up and teenage actor named "Same Interview, Ten Years Apart".^[27]

In 2009, Jaranilla pleaded to everyone, candidates and voters alike, to support Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4 which is to reduce child mortality. Millennium Development Goal No. 4 aims to reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the mortality rate of children, under-five years old.

He became an endorser of clothing brands after joining ABS-CBN/Star Magic which are Bench from 2009 to 2012 and Moose Gear from 2012 to 2016. He also became an endorser of Globe Telecom from 2009 to 2010, various Nestle products from 2009 to 2011, Argentina Andale Hotdog in 2011, and Converse. Jaranilla also appeared in a commercial of Morningfields at Carmeltown in 2009.

After May Bukas Pa ended on February 5, 2010, and as a result of the series' success, Jaranilla was given another roles for the rest of his 17-year child and teenage actor period from 2010 to 2021.

He voiced the fish Otep in Agua Bendita, immediate successor to May Bukas Pa and another religious-oriented series, and in a fantasy-adventure television series, Noah alongside Piolo Pascual and Jodi Sta. Maria, with the latter is where he made his next on-screen appearance on a drama series five months after May Bukas Pa ended and aired until February 4, 2011. Jaranilla was given a wig in June 2010 for the preparation of his character Eli/Jacob Perez of the latter, making his hair became longer until restoring the usual shorter one five months later in November 2010 throughout Noah's airing.^[28][29] He voiced Nico in his first ever film RPG Metanoia on the latter part of that year.^[30]

ABS-CBN launched infomercials for the "Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig" project in 2010, directed by award-winning director Brillante Mendoza spearheaded by ABS-CBN Foundation.^[31] Jaranilla participated in the project along with fellow talents Coco Martin, Kuya Kim Atienza, Karen Davila and Efren Peñaflorida.^[31] This was led by environmentalist, Gina Lopez and aims to promote the seven-year clean-up campaign of the Pasig River, a river in Metro Manila infamous for its dark and murky waters.^[32][33]

In 2011, he made his first movie on-screen appearance alongside Vic Sotto and Bea Alonzo on Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak! portraying as Angelito, an angel that has fallen from heaven.^[23] Jaranilla took stage in GMA Network's noontime show Eat Bulaga to play for the segment "Pinoy Henyo" together with co-actors Xyriel Manabat and Bea Alonzo while promoting the movie.^[34] The appearance aimed to promote the movie and as well as donate the winning prize to fund "Silid-kaalaman", an Eat Bulaga! Library Project for underdeveloped schools in the Philippines.^[34] Later that year, he appeared in the Christmas-themed TV series Ikaw ay Pag-Ibig along with fellow child stars Mutya Orquia, Louise Abuel, and Xyriel Manabat and aired until January 27, 2012.^[35] In 2012, Jaranilla once again taken the lead role for melodrama series Lorenzo's Time alongside Carmina Villaroel.^[36][37][38] In 2013, he starred in the TV series Juan dela Cruz as Tonton.^[39] In 2014, Jaranilla was also starred in a TV series Ikaw Lamang as Young Samuel Severino.^[40]

On July 21, 2014, one month before Jaranilla became a teenage actor, he starred on Hawak-Kamay as Raymond "Emong" Agustin.^[41][42] A month later, Jaranilla became a teenage actor upon reaching his 13th birthday.^[2] The drama series Hawak-Kamay is in production when Jaranilla reached the age of 13, making the first series that is in production during his teenage years.

In November 2014, Jaranilla revealed that he was eager to be a part of teenager-oriented shows after his stint at the family-oriented drama "Hawak Kamay". He stressed that he was willing to accept more matured project offered by ABS-CBN.^[43][44] He continued to appear on various anthologies during this time, with various episodes for Maalaala Mo Kaya in 2015. In same year, he appeared in the film Hamog portraying as Rashid, a Muslim boy who spent 48 hours of his young yet hurried life seeking help for his Christian friend who died in a cruel test of fate.^[45] The film was one of the 12 entries for Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP).^[45] Jaranilla was praised on his acting skills as this film won the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Golden Goblet Award at the 2016 Shanghai International Film Festival,^[45] and earned him his first ever "Best Actor Award" nomination for Cinema One Originals Award.^[46] The film was also screened at the 15th New York Asian Film Festival.^[46] In the same year, Jaranilla returned to television on a minor role for FPJ's Ang Probinsyano as Cocoy Amaba, and The Story of Us as Young Macoy in early 2016.^[47]

In 2018, Jaranilla appeared in Bagani portraying as Liksi.^[48] He starred alongside Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil.^[49] He also acted on his first digital series Story of My Life in 2019 produced by Big Reveal Digital and streamed via iWantTV.^[50] Jaranilla joined the list of Filipino guest actors in the American crime drama series Almost Paradise during the "Lone Wolf" episode.^[51] He also starred in Ang sa Iyo ay Akin.

In 2020, he expressed interest on portraying a role of a gay character and had at least two films lined up for him.^[53] Jaranilla took on the challenge of playing a gay character in the coming-of-age comedy directed by Jumbo Albano under Star Cinema, titled “Boyette: Not a Girl Yet”. In an interview in ABS-CBN News, Jaranilla stated “...I agreed to do the project because I wanted to change my image. I want people to know that I can portray different roles. Boyette has given me an opportunity to prove myself to people...”. Jaranilla acknowledges that his breakout role as orphan boy Santino in the 2009–2010 inspirational teleserye “May Bukas Pa” has left an indelible ink to his image. He was able to move on from his role when the series ended on February 5, 2010, by playing various roles in other teleseryes and movies which allowed him to exclaim that it is about to give his fans a chance to see in a different light.^[54][55][56]

In July 2021, Jaranilla did not leave ABS-CBN/Star Magic and still stay with the network and talent agency despite the difficulty of filming due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines and the absence of the network's broadcast franchise.^[57][58] He starred in "Maalaala Mo Kaya Loving 2 Care" first episode "Dialysis" with Nonie Buencamino directed by veteran director Jerry Lopez-Sineneng.^[59] He received generally positive reviews on his acting skills as he played as a Nurse fighting against chronic kidney disease.^[59]

In August 23, 2021, Jaranilla became an adult actor upon reaching his 20th birthday.

In 2022, Jaranilla was portrayed as Gio Illustre in The Broken Marriage Vow, a remake of a British series Doctor Foster and the first series that was produced when he was already an adult actor.^[60] His role in the said series made him realize the importance of self-love.^[61] Later on that said year, Jaranilla was chosen by the network to portray the character of Ding, the younger brother and sidekick of the titular Filipino character, Darna, his biggest role to date.^[62][63] During the first week of the show, Jaranilla was once again praised by critics due to his acting skills.^[64] Jaranilla was also selected "Best Actor in a Supporting Role" at the Asian Academy Creative Awards for his performance on The Broken Marriage Vow and is one of the representatives for the Philippines on awards night that held in December 2022.^[65]

ABS-CBN and Star Magic launched “Tulong-Tulong sa Pag-Ahon: Isang Daan sa Pagtutulungan” campaign, to seek financial support to help survivors of tropical storm Typhoon Odette in 2022.^[66] Jaranilla, together with other celebrities battled in sports and online games to seek sponsorships and donations.^[66] Through this campaign, ABS-CBN Foundation delivered 584 home repair kits while 207,649 families in Palawan and parts of Visayas and Mindanao have received food packs and fishermen restored livelihood by receiving boats and supplies.^[66][67]

On November 15, 2023, Jaranilla renewed his contract with ABS-CBN and its talent agency Star Magic along with JM de Guzman, extending their stay with the network. Present in their contract signing are chairman Martin López, president and CEO Carlo Katigbak, CFO Ricardo B. Tan Jr. and TV and entertainment production and Star Magic head Laurenti Dyogi, and talent managers Cris Tapang and Portia Dimla. In front of them, he made his praying pose, a reference to his past drama series from 2009 to 2010 May Bukas Pa.

From Jaranilla's 23rd birthday on August 23, 2024 to August 22, 2025, he is the spiritual member of Pag-ibig sa Kapwa for one year for the spiritual and physical well-being of the member. The membership was requested by Ging Valenzuela and signed by Bishop of Lucena Mel Rey Minoga Uy.

• May Bukas Pa (Conversations Of Bro & Santino) (Star Music, 2009)

• Zaijian Jaranilla at IMDb