ZAIJIAN JARANILLA has really come a long way since he started acting in ‘Goin’ Bulilit” in 2008 when he was six years old. He played supporting roles in some soap and zoomed to fame when he played Santino in “May Bukas Pa”, also in 2008, which ran for one year. He then did “Noah”, “Ikaw ay Pag-ibig” and “Lorenzo’s Time”. Turning 12 on August 23, he’s now the featured star in “Wansapanataym”. He started last Saturday with the episode “Gagambuboy” after “Deal or No Deal”. This coming Saturday, the episode is “Number One Father and Son”. What’s the story? “I play the son of Epi Quizon and may rivalry kami kina Christopher Roxas and his son, Bugoy Carino,” he says. “It’s about the importance of bonding between fathers and sons. Yung next episode naman, ‘Nicolas Layas’, is about a boy who wished na mawala ang parents niya para makalayas siya anytime he wants. His wish is granted and that’s when he realized the importance of having your own family. Ang fourth episode is ‘Kapitan Liit’. I will play the country’s youngest barangay captain in a magical way.”
The eldest in a brood of three, his name is derived from a Chinese word meaning “see you again”. His younger siblings are Zildjan and Zymec. He’s now in grade 5 at Angelicum School. When he grows up, he wants to have his own business. His parents separated when he was only 5 and they haven’t seen his mom for some time now. He says he feels very sad about this.
