The 22-year old Kapamilya actor inked a new contract with ABS-CBN and Star Magic, last November 15.
Zaijian Jaranilla credits much of his success to his first lead acting project, May Bukas Pa, which was a breakout hit in 2009. He admitted, however, during his contract signing, that he nearly lost the role of Santino, because of his unmanageable tantrums!
“Noong nagsisimula pa lang ako, noong kinuha ako sa ‘May Bukas Pa. Kinuwento lang po sa akin ito ng lola ko na, sobrang tantrums ko noon. Tapos ‘yung direktor, si Direk Jerome Pobocam, nagagalit na sa akin kasi nga nagtatantrums ako, wala silang makuhang eksena. Sabi nya: ‘kapag hindi nyo pinatahan yang batang ‘yan, papaltan ko ‘yan, ” he told the press present during the event, which was also graced by some of ABS-CBN’s top executives.
Jaranilla recalled that it was through the Nazarene and prayers, that helped him ultimately secure the role.
“Eh di yung lola ko at manager ko, kinabahan na. Yung lola ko, nilakad po niya ko sa buong simbahan ng San Fernando. Meron po kaming laging pinupuntahan doon na Nazareno na hinahawakan ko lago ‘yung kamay niya. Nagdadasal kami doon ng lola palagi. Hanggang sa nakunan ko na ‘yung first sequence ko, ” he added.
The former child wonder shared that the top-rated show was initially intended to be just a short-lived show. “Tapos hanggang nagtuloy-tuloy na. Sabi po nila na ‘yung May Bukas Pa, filler (show) lang dapat siya na month lang siya, ganoon lang po sya kahaba. Hanggang umabot na siya ng isang taon, ” adding he totally did not expect, as most did, that the show would produce phenomenal results. Jaranilla expressed his gratitude to those he worked with in the show.
“Hindi ko po ini-expect talaga ‘yun. Sobrang thankful ko po sa experience na ‘yun. Sa lahat ng mga nakasama ko, ‘yung mga napulot kong aral, in-apply ko pa rin siya hanggang ngayon, ” he said.
Jaranilla acknowledged that although he has helped many, including his driver who was able to build a house through working for him, he too, received help from a lot of people. “Sa lahat ng natulungan ko, hindi lang ako nakatulong sa inyo, pati ako natulungan ninyo. Kaya binabalik ko lang po ‘yung favor, at lahat ng ginagawa ko… kaya ako umabot sa ganitong punto, ” he shared, adding he would not forget all the learnings he gained from them.
”At sobrang thankful talaga po ako doon, kay Tita Cris, sa ABS-CBN, sa mga bosses, and habang buhay ko po siyang dadalahin, ”.
Jaranilla currently appears in the top-rating youth oriented primetime drama, Senior High.
