Since his stint on ABS-CBN's Little Big Star, Makisig Morales has gone on to become one of the most popular young entertainers today.
Apart from having a successful career as a recording artist, the young star has also branched out into acting, appearing in a handful of blockbuster movies and even starring in his own fantaserye, Super Inggo. With these accomplishments under his belt, Makisig paints the perfect portrait of a confident child.
As with most child protégés, Makisig's talent was recognized and nurtured early on. Even at the age of three, he already displayed considerable skills in singing and acting, something which his parents, Uldrico and Jacqueline, immediately recognized and developed despite having limited means.
"Even though we didn't have a lot of money, my parents supported my interests and helped me believe in my own abilities," remembers Makisig. "They let me put on presentations at home with my sisters and brothers. We had lots of fun staging mini-concerts and acting out scenes we saw on TV."
His parents' encouragement paid off when, at the age of five, Makisig competed with his sister Mayumi in Duet Bulilit, a segment in ABS-CBN's noontime variety show MTB. However, his big break would not come until several years later when he auditioned for-and was accepted to-Little Big Star, an American Idol-style singing competition for kids.
Although he eventually only finished second, Makisig exhibited stage presence and confidence beyond his years, something that was immediately recognized by ABS-CBN executives and paved his way to stardom.
"I actually felt confident during the times I performed on stage," recalls Makisig. "I didn't suffer from stage-fright at all."
After his talent show gig, offers started to pour in and Makisig soon found himself constantly in-demand. It was during this hectic period that he was offered the titular role ofSuper Inggo.
Playing a young boy who discovers he has superpowers, Makisig charmed TV audiences every night with his astute acting skills and soon became a household name. However, looking back, Makisig admits to being a little intimidated by the whole endeavor when he first started. Although he had always loved acting, he never received any formal training. As such, he confesses to being a bit nervous during the show's first few days of shooting.
"I wasn't sure if I could deliver my lines properly or if I could really act," he says.
However, after a few days, Makisig's jitters subsided and the young star soon found his form, eagerly taking acting challenges head on.
"I just told myself that I could do it," smiles Makisig, who now adds being the endorser of Bonakid Pre-school to his resume.
Asked how he's been able to achieve so much in his young career, Makisig beams a huge smile and points to his parents.
"They've taken really good care of me and helped me believe in myself," he says. "Most importantly, they've never pressured me."