From being the “Miracle Boy” we admired so much in the 2009 hit drama series May Bukas Pa, Zaijian Jaranilla is now capturing our attention as one of the promising actors of his generation.
His showbiz career kicked-off through the kiddie sketch gag show Goin’ Bulilit in 2008 and portrayed the young versions of the male leads in the programs I Love Betty La Fea and Komiks Presents: Tiny Tony.
He immediately got his breakthrough role as Santino, a young orphan adopted by priests who has the ability to talk directly to God and help other people by either healing them or giving life pointers. It ran for one year and triumphantly dominated the primetime block. He received much acclaim for his riveting performance in the drama.
Subsequently, Zaijian was offered the lead characters in the dramas Noah (2010), Ikaw ang Pag-ibig (2011), Lorenzo’s Time (2012), and Hawak Kamay (2014). Aside from that, he had frequent stints in the anthologies Wansapanataym and Maalaala Mo Kaya.
He also played as one of the street children in the internationally-acclaimed Cinema One Originals entry “Hamog” and guested in an episode of Ipaglaban Mo alongside Bugoy Cariño.
Afer this, Zaijian would get a lead role in the Liza Soberano-Enrique Gil fantasy drama starrer Bagani in 2018 as Liksi, a slave from the Trade region or “Taga-Kalakal,” who admires the Baganis so much, specifically Lakas (Enrique). His character would soon become a Bagani himself and carried the power of Kataw in protecting the Taga-Laot or fishermen.
After starring several MMK episodes thereafter, he would star in his first iWant Original Movie, the drama Story of My Life, portraying the main character Rex, the tragic and ill-fated teen, a loner neglected by his family and in search for acceptance and love.
His most recent appearance was in Ipaglaban Mo last February in the episode “Budol,” playing Reli the son of Anita (Carmi Martin), a woman fooled by a fortune teller.
Zaijian is set to appear in the major afternoon drama Ang Sa Iyo Ay Akin opposite Jodi Sta. Maria, Iza Calzado, Maricel Soriano, and Sam Milby soon on ABS-CBN.
Now even more dashing and handsome at 18, Zaijian will definitely slay more demanding roles in more dramatic stints, and maybe in rom-coms as well with an established love team. Check out more of his awesome-looking snaps now as a grown young man in this gallery.
Good luck on your future projects, Zaijian!