Before we see him as Anton in Walang Hanggang Paalam, let’s take a look back in the impeccable portrayals of Zanjoe Marudo in Kapamilya series through the series.
Would you believe that it has already been 14 years since the very first time we met Zanjoe Marudo through his remarkable stint in Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition 1 in 2006, wherein he finished as the 4th Big Placer? From being a fashion model, he has gloriously flourished into becoming one of the in-demand heartthrobs of Philippine showbiz.
And now that he’s yet to capture our hearts anew via his starring stint the upcoming Kapamilya Channel series Walang Hanggang Paalam, let’s take a look back on his notable television portrayals through the years in this feature!
With his swooning good looks, unmistakable charm, and promising acting chops, it didn’t come as a surprise when a slew of TV projects was entrusted to him just on his freshman year.
The hunk heartthrob had his acting debut in the sitcom Aalog-alog, through which he was able to develop and expose his prowess in comedy as Banjoe Rosales, alongside fellow PBB alumni John Prats, Jayson Gainza, Keanna Reeves, Kim Chiu, and Gerald Anderson and comedienne Pokwang.
In 2008, he was able to score his first-ever starring role in a teleserye through Dyosa, portraying the comic illustrator named Mars, who created the masterpiece “Dyosa” and later on fallen in love to the mortal figure of the titular character Josephine (Anne Curtis) and her another persona Dyosa Cielo.
A year after, he went back to comedy and got reunited with John Prats and Jayson Gainza in the sitcom Pare Koy, wherein he amused us with his depiction of the dashing playboy Mario.
2009 was apparently a productive year for Zanjoe as he appeared in three teleseryes as the love interests of its respective leading ladies.
The Wedding served as his reunion project with Anne Curtis, wherein he played the lowly yet hardworking contractor Marlon Mañalac who got engaged in a business agreement-turned-romantic engagement with her affluent character Candice. And in the TV adaptation of the 1973 Susan Roces flick Florinda, he was tapped to take on the role of Archie, the love interest of Roxanne Guinoo’s character Rachelle.
He made us kilig in his portrayal of the happy-go-lucky and boy-next-door band drummer Martin, originally played by Korean actor Lee Dong-gun, in the Filipino remake of the hit 2004 K-drama Lovers In Paris,wherein he figured in a love triangle with Piolo Pascual and KC Concepcion (who played Carlo and Vivian respectively).
The 38-year-old actor then made our afternoons hotter and fierier as he top-billed Precious Hearts Romances Presents Hiyas with his portrayal of Silang, native warrior whose intense admiration for his childhood sweetheart and concern for their tribe drove him to go the distance in order to bring back the missing Gem of Tanah and find his one true love along the way – Sapphire (Megan Young).
Even though he already had played the role of being father in the 2006 adventure series Super Inggo as Super Islaw, his reputation as an in-demand on-screen dad began in 2013 when he was bestowed daddy characters in his next teleseryes.
The first one was as Gideon “Guido” Querubin in the remake of the 80’s drama Annaliza, the doting father of the titular character depicted by Andrea Brillantes, who devotedly took care of her in spite not having biological connections.
That same situation went on to his character Sebastian “Baste” Javier in Dream Dad, where he assumed the responsibility of being a dad to Baby (Jana Agoncillo), who was then yearning for familial affection after her biological mom Bebeth (Yen Santos) turned her over to the same orphanage where he scouted her as the face of their company’s flagship brand Wink Milk. Even though Baby got reunited with her mother and it was proven that he was not her real dad, he remained as her legal guardian in the end.
In 2016, he landed the role of Renato “Natoy” Villadolid in the soap opera Tubig at Langis, whose marriage with his wife Irene (Cristine Reyes) was put to the test after the interference of the third-party Clara (Isabelle Daza), who did everything just to tear their relationship apart. Amidst of all his shortcomings and mistakes as a husband, the series bared his love towards Mico (Miguel Vergara), Irene’s son with another man and their own children Nathan and Emily.
A year after, Zanjoe warmed our hearts anew with his paternal role in the primetime series My Dear Heart as the responsible adoptive father to Heart (Nayomi Ramos), Jude de Jesus. Initially, we thought that the story of his character would be the same in his past portrayals, but it was later on revealed that the sick kid he’s taking care of was actually his lovechild with his ex-girlfriend Gia (Ria Atayde).
Last year, he once again portrayed the role of a foster dad in the daytime drama Playhouse, as his character Marlon stood as a loving father figure to the orphaned godson of his ex-wife Patty (Angelica Panganiban).
Aside from these teleseryes, Zanjoe also lent his impressive acting chops in several episodes of Maalaala Mo Kaya, Love Spell Presents, Komiks, Your Song, Star Magic Presents, and Precious Hearts Romances Presents.
And beginning on September 28, brace yourselves to see him in a different light as he plays Anton in the newest teleserye offering of Kapamilya Channel and Kapamilya Online Live – Walang Hanggang Paalam!