For more than a decade, the Sunday kiddie sketch comedy show Goin’ Bulilit has been a training ground, and at the same time a stepping stone, for young kids who have been dreaming of breaking into the local entertainment scene. It has tremendously helped them not just in honing their talents and developing them into well-rounded artists, but also in scoring wonderful opportunities that, unbeknownst to them, would forever change their lives. Thus, there’s no wonder it has produced several alumni who have created their mark in the industry.
As the longest-running kiddie gag show is bound to draw its final curtain call next Sunday, let’s find out who among its innumerable amazing graduates have successfully made it big in the local entertainment years after they graduated from Goin’ Bulilit.
Julia Montes
First credited via her birth name Mara Schnittka, the Filipino-German actress was among the fourth batch of graduates. She catapulted into becoming one of her generation’s most sought-after leading ladies as she starred in several Kapamilya shows, such as Mara Clara (2010-2011), Growing Up (2011-2012), Walang Hanggan (2012), Muling Buksan Ang Puso (2013), Ikaw Lamang (2014), Doble Kara (2015), and Asintado (2018).
Besides, she appeared as well in Star Cinema films like “Way Back Home” (2011), “The Strangers” (2012), “A Moment in Time” (2013) and “Halik Sa Hangin” (2015).
She’s currently taking her time off from showbiz, yet remains active on Instagram.
Miles Ocampo
Among the sixth batch to step out of the show, she has remained omnipresent in the Kapamilya channel in the past years. She appeared in a slew of programs, such as Pablo S. Gomez’s Juanita Banana (2010), Maria la del Barrio (2011), Luv U (2012-2016), Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw (2013), And I Love You So (2015), and Sana Dalawa Ang Puso (2018), as well as in Star Cinema flicks, namely “A Very Special Love” (2008), “I’ve Fallen For You” (2009), “You’ve Changed My Life” (2009), “BFF: Best Friends Forever” (2009), “Paano Na Kaya” (2010), “Sa ‘Yo Lamang” (2010), “Wedding Tayo, Wedding Hind” (2011), “Pagpag: Siyam Na Buhay” (2013), “It Takes A Man And A Woman” (2013), “Halik sa Hangin” (2015), and “The Achy Breaky Hearts” (2016).
She has been a mainstay in the Saturday sitcom Home Sweetie Home ever since its premier in 2014 portraying the role of Gigi, the younger sister of Toni Gonzaga’s Juliet.
Kiray Celis
From being the youngest cast member of the defunct ABS-CBN noontime show Magandang Tanghali Bayan at the age of 4, she then became one of the most notable alumni of Goin’ Bulilit, finishing her stint as part of the third batch of graduates.
She was able to showcase her impressive acting prowess through her supporting portrayals in Kapamilya programs, such as Mara Clara (2010-2011), Growing Up (2011-2012), Luv U (2012-2016), and a number of Komiks Presents, Maalaala Mo Kaya, and Precious Hearts Romances narratives, as well as in Star Cinema movies, such as “BFF: Best Friends Forever” (2009),” Born to Love You” (2012), “Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy” (2013), “Crazy Beautiful You” (2015), and “Super Parental Guardians” (2016).
In 2016, she was bestowed leading lady of two films, namely “Love Is Blind” and “I Love You To Death.”
The 23-year-old actress’ most recent Kapamilya teleserye was the hit daytime series Sana Dalawa Ang Puso.
Nash Aguas
A year after being hailed as the grand questor of Star Circle Kid Quest Season 1, he became a part of the kiddie gag show and graduated as one of the seventh batch.
Due to his incredible acting talent and irresistible charm, he was able to take part in notable Kapamilya shows, like Mga Anghel Na Walang Langit (2005), Gulong ng Palad (2006), Maria Flordeluna (2007), Princess Sarah (2007), Lobo (2008), May Bukas Pa (2009), Luv U (2013-2016), Bagito (2014-2015), FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano (2015), Doble Kara (2016), The Good Son (2017), and in several episodes of Maalaala Mo Kaya and Wansapanataym. He also appeared in Star Cinema movies namely, “BFF: Best Friends Forever” (2009) and “I Do” (2010).
He made his directorial debut last year through ABS-CBNmobile’s digital sitcom “Coffee Break” and recently headlined the Dreamscape Digital flick “The Gift,” opposite his recurring loveteam partner Sharlene San Pedro, being shown on the iWant App.
Sharlene San Pedro
Just like Nash, she’s also a product of SCQ Kid Quest Season 1, in which she was his runner-up. They joined and left Goin’ Bulilit at the same time.
Because of her captivating cuteness and compelling acting chops, she was able to score a lot of television and movie projects in the Kapamilya network, in which she was mostly tapped as the lead star.
She got her first lead role through the 2005 drama Mga Anghel Na Walang Langit, followed by her portrayal of the twin titular characters in Calla Lily in 2006, and the small screen incarnation of the 90’s animated series Princess Sarah in 2007.
Despite reaching the “awkward stage” and the teenage years, she continued to become active in showbiz. She appeared in TV series, such as Momay (2010), Luv U (2013-2016), Nathaniel (2015), FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano (2015), Langit Lupa (2016), and in several episodes of Maalaala Mo Kaya, Wansapanataym, and Komiks Presents, and in the movies, like “Segunda Mano” (2011), “Corazon: Ang Unang Aswang” (2012), Must Be…Love” (2013), “Haunted Mansion” (2015), “Class of 2018” (2018), and “Mary, Marry Me” (2018).
She also served as a MYX VJ from 2016 up to the first half of 2019 and starred in the iWant Original series “The Gift” opposite perennial on-screen partner Nash Aguas.
Jane Oineza
Throughout her 18 years in the industry, we have seen how she has evolved from being a child star into becoming one of the most bankable actresses of her generation.
Although her acting career began years prior to Goin’ Bulilit, it was through her stint here that her star shone brighter and even brighter when she graduated as one of the fifth batch. She landed both special, supporting, and lead roles in the Kapamilya series Prinsesa ng Banyera (2007), Kung Fu Kids (2008), Ligaw na Bulaklak (2008), Magkano Ang Iyong Dangal (2010), Maria La Del Barrio (2011), Oka2kat (2012), Aryana (2012), Juan Dela Cruz (2013), Muling Buksan Ang Puso (2013), Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita (2015), Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Araw Gabi (2018), and in several episodes of Maalaala Mo Kaya.
She also joined the All In season of Pinoy Big Brother wherein she was among the celebrity housemates and finished as the third Big Placer.
Moreover, the celebrated young actress appeared as well in Star Cinema films like “Miss You Like Crazy” (2010), “I Do” (2010), “Amorosa” (2012), “24/7 In Love” (2012) and “The Love Affair” (2015), and “Always Be My Maybe” (2016), and snagged topbill gigs in “Bloody Crayons” (2017), “Haunted Forest” (2017), “Finding You” (2019), and “Ang Henerasyong Sumuko sa Love” (2019).
She recently showed off her gothic facet through the iWant Original series “Project Feb 14,” to which she was paired with McCoy de Leon, and currently stars in the Kapamilya Gold romance drama Precious Hearts Romances Presents: Los Bastardos (2018) as the love interest of Marco Gumabao’s Matteo.
Kathryn Bernardo
Ever since she was still a kid, the Queen of Hearts has been among the most sought-after actresses in the local entertainment scene. She has appeared in innumerable projects in and out of the Kapamilya network even prior to her stint in Goin’ Bulilit, from which she graduated as one of the fifth batch.
Among her most remarkable portrayals were her roles It Might Be You (2003), Krystala (2004), Vietnam Rose (2005), Super Inggo (2006), Prinsesa ng Banyera (2007), Magkaribal (2010), Mara Clara (2010), Growing Up (2011-2012), Princess & I (2012), Got To Believe (2013), Pangako Sa ‘Yo (2015), La Luna Sangre (2017), and in several episodes of Maalaala Mo Kaya and Wansapanataym.
Meanwhile in the big screen, she was able to capture our hearts through her appearances in “Gagamboy” (2005), “Supahpapalicious” (2008), “Way Back Home” (2011), “Shake, Rattle & Roll 13” (2011), “24/7 In Love” (2012), “Sisteraka”s (2012), and “Three Words To Forever” (2018), and got us kilig with her formidable team-up with her reel-to-real sweetheart Daniel Padilla through the blockbuster flicks “Must Be…Love” (2013), “Pagpag: Siyam Na Buhay” (2013), “She’s Dating The Gangster” (2014), “Crazy Beautiful You” (2015), “Barcelona: A Love Untold” (2016), “Can’t Help Falling In Love” (2017), and “The Hows of Us” (2018).
At present, she’s busy promoting her latest film project “Hello, Love, Goodbye,” which she topbills opposite Alden Richards and will be shown in theaters beginning July 31, 2019.
Kristel Fulgar
Throughout her 14 years in the show business, she was able to showcase not only her capabilities as an actress, but as an outstanding singer as well.
She had her fair share of protagonist and antagonist portrayals in the teleseryes she starred in, such as Maria Flordeluna (2007), Dahil Sa Pag-ibig (2012), Got To Believe (2013), Bagito (2014), Pangako Sa ‘Yo (2015), La Luna Sangre(2017), Doc Ricky, Pedia (2017), Ngayon at Kailanman (2018), and several episodes of Wansapanataym and Maalaala Mo Kaya, as well as in the Star Cinema movies she got cast, like “Dalaw” (2009), “Wayback In Love” (2011), and “Can’t Help Falling In Love” (2017).
Apart from being a talented actress, she’s also lauded as a great singer, covering popular songs which she uploads in her self-titled YouTube channel. At the same time, she maintains another channel dubbed “KrisTells Vlogs” wherein she shares her adventures that are mostly Hallyu-related.
Mika Dela Cruz
Despite having premiere actress Angelika Dela Cruz as a sister, she didn’t use this as an advantage to break into the industry. Instead, she joined SCQ Kids Season 2, where she finished as a second placer, then later on became a part of Goin’ Bulilit.
Because of captivating charm and notable acting prowess, she was cast innumerable times in various television and movie projects, catapulting her into becoming a sensational child star.
Among the series she got involved in were Maria Flordeluna (2007), Eva Fonda (2008), Ikaw Ay Pag-ibig (2011), Luv U Season 2 (2013), Mirabella (2014), and You’re My Home (2015). She then had her big screen gigs, such as the 2009 horror movie T2, where she was recognized as PMPC Star Awards Best Child Film Actress, the 2010 Pinoy animated film RPG Metanoia.
Alexa Ilacad
Far from the dainty and playful characters she used to play in her past on-screen projects, we’ve witnessed how she gradually matured not only as an individual and an artist, but when it comes to her roles as well.
She had her showbiz debut as a Goin’ Bulilit cast member, wherein her flair in acting got noticed and given her various acting jobs both in film and television. Among the movies she was in were For “The First Time” (2008), “The Reunion” (2011), “Everything About Her” (2016), “Extra Service” (2017), “Finally Found Someone” (2017), and “Open” (2018).
Meanwhile, some of her remarkable TV appearances were in Nasaan Ka Elisa? (2011), Luv U (2013), Toda Max (2013), Maria Mercedes (2013), Bagito (2014), Doble Kara (2016), and The Good Son (2017).
Aside from acting, she has also been pursuing a career in music. We’re going to see her again in the forthcoming Maja Salvador-starrer The Killer Bride as the supporting character Luna Dela Cuesta.
Trina Legaspi
Among the pioneer batch of the kiddie gag show, she’s arguably one of the most notable cast members not just because of her oozing cuteness and talent, but of her catchy nickname-slash-screen name as well – Hopia. Besides, we were all amused with her as she impersonated the Queen of All Media Kris Aquino opposite her co-star EJ Jallorina, who took on the shoes of the King of Talk in their parody of one of their popular talk shows.
She remained active in the industry even beyond her stint Goin’ Bulilit as she appeared in various Kapamilya dramas, such as Pablo S. Gomez’s Juanita Banana (2010), Oka2kat (2012), Precious Hearts Romances Presents Pintada (2012), Nathaniel (2015), A Love To Last (2017), and several episodes of Ipaglaban Mo, as well as in Star Cinema hits “Close To You” (2006), “Dalaw” (2009), “Way Back Home” (2011), “All You Need Is Pag-ibig” (2015), and “The Third Party” (2016).
At present, she continues to do her creative endeavors, while working as a financial advisor in a reputable insurance company.
Goin’ Bulilit alumni might be currently treading on different paths, but one thing’s for sure – we’re so proud of how far they’ve gone from being the wacky kiddos we used to see every Sunday evening, up to now that they’re conquering the real world as accomplished adults in their own terms. They brought with them the teachings, trainings, and discipline they acquired from working in it for some years.
Are the graduates going to have a surprise appearance on the show before it completely close curtains? Let’s find out by not missing the last Episodes of Goin’ Bulilit, 6:15 pm on ABS-CBN Yes Weekend!