Zaijian Jaranilla has always been thankful to ABS-CBN for giving him his big career break.
Zaijian was the six-year-old child actor who played the lead role in the inspirational drama May Bukas Pa in 2009.
Now 20, Zaijian remains active, doing plum roles in teleseryes. His current teleserye, The Broken Marriage Vow, is about to end its run on Friday, June 24, 2022.
While the show still runs, Zaijian has started taping for the Kapamilya TV adaptation of Mars Ravelo’s Darna. where he plays the pivotal character of Ding.
With all these projects keeping him busy, Zaijian appears to be firmly Kapamilya, with or without the ABS-CBN franchise.
He told PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) during a recent press junket for The Broken Marriage Vow’s finale, “Bata pa po ako, bata pa lang ako since 6, May Bukas Pa, doon na ako nagsimula.
“Lahat na ng mga nakasama ko, lahat ng natutunan ko, dito ko napulot sa ABS-CBN.”
The young actor, however, did admit he had anxious moments when the network's fanchise was not renewed.
He said, “Aaminin ko rin noong nawalan ng franchise, natakot din ako para sa sarili ko kasi parang yun na yung naging hobby, passion ko.
"Acting na ang naging passion ko, so,= ano nang gagawin ko? Ano nang next para sa akin?
“Sobrang thankful ako kasi kahit wala nang franchise ang ABS, binigyan pa rin nila ako.
“Kahit sobrang dami nang artista ng ABS, isa ako sa napili po nilang gumanap dito sa The Broken Marriage Vow ‘tapos binigyan pa nila ako ng opportunity para maging si Ding.
“Siguro po, yung tiwala din, yung tiwala ko din sa ABS kaya naisip ko na mag-stay ako.”
JODI STA. MARIA ON ZAIJIAN AS HIS SON
Meanwhile, The Broken Marriage Vow lead star Jodi Sta. Maria only has good words about the young actor.
Zaijian played the role of Gio Illustre, the only son of Jodi’s character, Jill Ilustre, in the show.
Jodi said about Zaijian, “Napaka-generous, hindi siya talaga nauubusan ng ibibigay.
“Sabi ko nga, dumadali yung trabaho sa set kasi makita mo pa lang siya, parang, ‘I-take na natin ito!”
Jodi then made a crying face, saying that Zaijian has a way of drawing out her emotions in their scenes together.
She explained, “Kasi ganun yung presence niya, ganun siya magbigay and talagang parang noong ginagawa namin siya, ‘Shocks, anak ko siya. Anak ko siya.’
“Hindi ko siya nakikita as Zaijian my co-actor, pero anak ko siya. Yung kulang na lang ibalik ko na siya pabalik ng Maynila! ‘Ah, Thirdy, meet your new brother!’”
Thirdy is Jodi’s son with her estranged husband, Pampi Lacson.
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