Zaijian Jaranilla is an expert at crying!

Entering showbiz young is one challenge, but maintaining success and consistently proving oneself is a whole different ballgame. It takes a powerful combination of talent and grit to carve out a lasting reputation in the cutthroat world of entertainment.

Zaijian is truly in a league of his own when it comes to drama, as proven in his current assignment, “Senor High.” The truth is “Senor High” wouldn’t be the same without his fine performance as Tim, the student and loving son who has struggled with his identity, insecurities, and heartbreaks.

Here’s a Friday 5 video that showcases his priceless emotions in the series!

The montage opens with Tim caught in the emotional crossfire of his parents’ separation. Anger and hurt were written all over his face as he discovered that his mother, Edith (Angeli Bayani), an OFW in Canada, returned only to take him away. Conflict heightened as he grappled with the painful choice between staying with his beloved father Elmo (Gerald Madrid) in the Philippines or living with his mom in Canada. But Tim chose to stay with his dad, saying that he couldn’t survive leaving his dad with no guarantee that he’ll be fine on his own.

His breakup scene with fellow ex-child star Xyriel Manabat playing Roxy was a trending topic on social media, as it unfolded with sadness and pain that resonated with the viewers. Here, Zaijian crushed our hearts as he perfectly painted his characters’ struggle to end things with Roxy and admit that kissing another person made him confused inside.

Zaijian served up palpable emotions in that scene where his parents argued about his being gay. Viewers were deeply moved as Edith threw harsh judgments and disapproval of his sexuality; in contrast, Elmo stood as a pillar of support, defending his son and showing unwavering love and acceptance, a sentiment that Edith struggled to absorb. Without hesitation, Elmo finally agreed to sign their divorce paper, realizing that he and Tim are better off without Edith in their lives.

The montage continues with a toxic exchange between Tim and Edith, as she fails to comprehend his emotions. Edith attempts to ‘correct’ her son’s gender identity, asserting that exposure to more girls in Canada and having a typical family there will resolve his perceived ‘issues.’

Zaijian can really play with the audience’s emotions, along with Xyriel. Most of the time, they made us smile looking at their cute moments, but when they cried, their pain hurt us too. Our hearts were torn into pieces when the two had the chance to talk since their breakup, with Zaijian’s nuanced expressions bringing to life his characters’ feelings of shame and inferiority as Roxy finally discovered the real reason why he called it quits.

What’s your favorite scene of Zaijian in “Senor High,” Kapamilya?

Don’t miss the remaining episodes of “Senor High,”, shown weeknights, on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, TV5, and A2Z.