I only have two daughters and both are in their 20’s. Having Zaijian Jaranilla – also known as (a.k.a.) Santino in the number one tv show nationwide “May Bukas Pa” as a co-worker is therefore not only a pleasant experience but one that for lack of appropriate words at this point I would simply describe as “hulog ng langit”. Perhaps because I did not experience raising a son, having Santino as a son even only in the set is indeed heavenly.
On our first taping day last January 18, Director Jerome Chavez-Pobocan formally introduced to us – Santino or Zaijian Jaranilla. He is seven years old. When the opportunity came for me to be able to talk to the boy, I immediately did. He was then accompanied by his grandmother and mommy. My first question to the boy was what is the spelling of his name. His mommy helped by spelling his name to me but it did not sink into my system, I did not really easily get the exact spelling of name that time. In fact, when I finally had the chance to write my blog entry on this new Project and I have to mention the name of our lead stars, I texted Rosselle (Beegee) Soldao our Executive Producer, to ask for the exact spelling of his name. For me, the closest that I could relate his name with is that it is similar to the regular characters of cyber games and animes!
The seven-year old boy who has to beg off from his schooling in favor of the role Santino is your typical playful (malikot and vivo) boy. In between takes, with not only the twelve men playing the role of priests and parents as his co-workers but the staff and crew around giving him our full attention, Santino is simply a natural growing little boy. While waiting for the take, Zaijian loves to show his older co-workers his antics specially his skill in performing a rap number. Yes, the little boy can rap with lyrics that he himself invented. In several instances, he is fun of giving us some karate chops which when I ask where he learned it from, he confided that he is undergoing formal training in martial arts.
Your Santino though is not a morning boy – I recalled on our second taping day, we had a calltime of 7:00 a.m., Director Jerome had to ask his lola and his dad what time did the little boy sleep the night before because he was still sleeping in the van and would not old even open his eyes when he was shaken to wake up. After an hour or so, the little boy was slowly energized and was ready for the days work.
His ability to easily cry is I guess a natural thing, maybe his second nature. I witness several instances when Santino would ask during rehearsals for a take, “iiyak na ba ako?”. But, when told by the Assistant Director to hold his emotions, to hold his tears because there were still some technical adjustments to be done, he obeyed, and when it was a take and he was already suppose to cry, the tears simply fell like rain on his baby face. Just as quick as he was able to cry for the take, he was also as quick to revert back to his normal emotions.
I asked his grandmother if the Jaranillas are from Cuyo, Palawan because I recalled when I was still with the Department of Agriculture where I handled a foreign-assisted project – the agriculture components of the Palawan Integrated Area Development Project, I met a local project staff with Jaranilla as his surname. Zaijian’s grandmother confirmed to me that indeed the Jaranillas are from Cuyo, Palawan.
Perhaps one of the most cherished experience that I would treasure for a long time is having met Zaijian Jaranilla our Santino.
75 Responses to “Zaijian Jaranilla:Up Close and Personal with Santino”
wow.. great! nastarstruck si direk sa galing ni zaijian.. (^-^)
Dear Ben: Maraming salamat sa pag dalaw mo dito sa blog ko. Please visit often and spread the word bout my blog.
sure po.. basahin ko po lahat toh kapag medyo hindi na busy sa skul… sana post pa po kayo ng mga blog messages for zaijian aka santino.. i really love this kid and hoping na someday mameet ko siya..
anyway kayo po ba talaga yung direk ng may bukas pa? wala lang i just want to congratulate lang po kayo for this great show.. sobrang “adik” ako sa show na ito kasi daming kapupulutan ng aral.. sana marami pa po kayong magawang shows tulad ng ganito.. more power and Godbless.. (^-^)
Dear Ben:
Correction po! I never mentioned here in my blogsite that I am the director of “May Bukas Pa’! I play the role of Father Jude, one of the 12 priests in the monastery. There are two directors of the show, the first director is Direk Jerome Chavez-Pobocan who also directed blockbusters Kim and Gerald’s Sana Maulit Muli and Kristine Hermosa’s Gulong ng Palad. The second director is Direk Jojo Saquing. Hope this clarifies your question. Egay
aw.. sorry po, may nagpost kasi sa sa thread ni zaijian sa PEX bout dito pointing na blog ito ng direk ng may bukas pa, sorry po! pero napansin q narin na iba yung name niyo sa 2 direks ng may bukas pa..
pasensiya na po..
anyway more power po sa show niyo, i really love your show.. sobrang dameng lessons na kapupulutan ng aral..
Godbless..
(^-^)
kuya egay, sana post pa po kayo ng article about kay zaijian.. godbless.. (^-^)
I really love watching May Bukas Pa, Super nakakaiyak.. Lalo na pag iiyak si santino madadalaa ka talaga sa kanya. Congrats to all the staff and crew and abs for having this great show.. 2 thumbs up!!!
Dear Mitch:
Thanks! Please make it a habit to visit this blog site. Spread the word to your friends bout my blog.
Speaking of Santino or the May Bukas Pa
Do you remember that episode when Fr. Jose gave Santino an MP4? Do you know the title of that lullaby song played in that scene in that same episode?
Please tell me…. I hope you know the title of that lullaby… I heard it in other Tagalog movies… And I have been looking for the title, but could not find it…
I really love to have that on my MP4 too.
the lullaby is titled “Ugoy ng Duyan”. happy hunting for a copy of it! its available, I am sure.
I’m sure I won’t regret of having the copy in my mp4….. I hope I won’t doze off to dreamland at any place.
Anyways Thank You so much!!!
Another question please!!
Can you please tell me who is the actor playing Bro (Jesus Christ) in May Bukas Pa?
Please and thank you
his name is Love. Sorry cant give much detail. I am not authorized to do so! His identity gives that mystical factor!
Woe !! Mysterious
Well Sir, I respect that…. The revealed name is cool
hehehe…. Secret Identity…..hmmmm…. James Bond ^_^
Thank You for posting this Blog
Now I know a little about Zaijan Jaranilla..
An ordinary kid who have talents on controlling his emotions and crying.
I always watch May Bukas Pa…. I am one of your number 1 fans….. Well aside from Pet Sema†ary… the teleserye drilled a hole into my emotionless heart…. It almost made me cry… It already made my heart cry… and made me realize the “bads” that I have done…
Indeed Zaijan has a natural talent of drawing viewers with his natural ability to act. It is like when he acts he is not Zaijan no more, but Santino. He could really portray the role given to him.
I wish I can have an autographed from him ^_^
you may want to visit us on the set, in bacolor, pampanga. tell me if you are coming, I can arrange for you to have his authograph and a photo shoot.
You know visiting to the actual set is cool all….
But I just can’t I am still dependent on my mother and after the Holy Week is the start of my Summer Course… And actually I am very very far from the place….
Thanks all
wow^^ kainggit naman~
Just for curiosity!!
I noticed that all of the 7 year old kids I knew have already teeth away there milk teeth. I ask my mom and I teethed away my first milk tooth when I was 7 too… Knowing that Zaijan is 7 years of age this wandered through my mind… Is Santino wearing a false teeth? Or has he not yet teethed away his first milk tooth.
I also remembered reading one of the Hollywood child actor’s profile in the net…. If I’m not mistaken that was Jonah Bobo… he wore false teeth during the filming because 2 of his front teeth teethed off… and he was 7 years old during that time also.
this one i can reveal to you. he has a false teeth for the lost two front teeth!
^_^ hehehe…… Just as I suspected….
Kindly please tell Zaijan that
“talagang hina-hangan ko ang galing niya sa pag-arte”
and I am not the only one my family, friends and classmates really are astounded by the simplicity of his acting…. and his ability to easily let out his tears.
And oh also please kindly tell that kid who played Rico
that I am a fan of him… he can really do the “bady” pretty well
Oh what’s his name by the way?
And also
I would like to say thank you to all the cast and crews, film producers and directors for this wonderful soap…..and also especially to you Sir Egay for making this blog and replying to me and everything…
I’m gonna forever support “May Bukas Pa” by watching it every night
More power to you all
God Bless and Keep You all
And happy filming there
Santino made me cry for three days on its encore special last holy week ..superb cast, superb story~~ ** I love this talented kid!so cute!!! bilog na bilog ang inosenteng mga mata ^^
dear rivergili:
I will extend your nice words to Ziajian! Please visit us sa set!
^^ wow thanks ~~ saan po ba ung set??
San Guillermo Church, Bacolor, Pampanga. For details, read my blog entry on this here.
The blog entry title is “Sharing Horror Stories on the set of May Bukas Pa which I posted in February.
papromote po..
kindly visit http://www.santino.tk
hello po Sir Egay, Happy Easter! can i link this page to http://www.santino.tk? para po mabasa pa ng iba yung blog nyo about po kay zaijian.. ok lng po b?
anyway im planning to visit one of your tapings in bacolor, sana po mameet kp po kyo, lahat ng casts and lalo na po si Zaijian.. cge po Godbless.. (^-^)
Dear Ben:
Sure! you may link this blog to the page on santino!
tnx sir Egay! Godbless.. (^-^)
hi po sa inyo, just wanna thank you for inspiring us, especially si zaijian kasi everytime na napapanood ko sya nagkakaron me ng hope sa buhay na everytime na may problema ako, lumalakas ang faith ko kay bro., and iyon yung dahilan kung bakit nakikita ko ang magagandang bagay na hindi ko nakikita dati, pakisend naman po ang greetings ko kay santino and pls po sana pagbakasyon ko sa december makita ko sya in person kasi talagang idol ko sya and excited po talga ako makita sya,at magpapicture kahit 1 lang po kasama sya…salamat po and sana po matupad ang wish ko s december…more power po at sana po tumagal pa ang may bukas pa para maraming katulad ko ang mainspire at makita na maganda pa din ang buhay kahit dame problema…god bless po…
san po mkareceive me ng reply galign sa inyo at kay santino…thanks po again and more power
Maraming Salamat sa pag dalaw mo sa blogsite ko. makakarating ito ke Santino. Salamat at na inspire ka ng show. God Bless!
Hey Ben thanks for the link
hi pet.. welcome! pls do visit the site ha, and dont afraid to post.. Godbless.. (^-^)
gudmorning Sir Egay! nalink ko na po itong blog nyo bout kay Zaijian sa http://www.santino.tk, and i used Edgar Sandalo po for your name.. Tnx po sa permission. Hope to see you po kapag nagvisit ako sa isa sa mga tapings niyo kapag free.. Godbless..
dear ben:
you are welcome! na dalaw kom na ang site nyo! maganda! will tell the cast about it!
tnx po Sir Egay! baka this Sunday punta po ako sa taping nyo with the other zaijianatics.. ayun po.. kitakits na lang po, sila sure na punta pero ako hindi pa, if ever pakilala na lang po ako senyo kapag makapunta ako, busy po kasi ako kaya hindi pa ako makapagdecide na sasama dun sa mga pupunta po jan sa sunday.. Ingat po.. Godbless.. (^-^)
sigue. sana may calltime din ako sa sunday kasi nag taping na ako last thursday.
Matutuloy ba kayo mamaya? alas 4pm pa calltime ko.
hindi na po natuloy, sorry! hindi ko po agad nasabi. wala po kasi ata tape si zaijian kaya hindi na tumuloy yung mga kasama ko.. sayang naman! inform ko na lang po kayo kapag may balak sila ulit pumunta.. sabit lang po kasi ako dun.. hehe.. anyway eto po pla no. ko 09159837820.. para text text din po minsan.. sana andun din maja kapag nagpunta kme, hehe.. ingat.. Godbless po.. (^-^)
Sir egay tnx po sa info, sana hindi ako maligaw.. Godbless..
Taga rito sa Marinduque ang Tatay ni Santino sa katunayan malimit siyang pumunta d2 sa GASAN, MOGPOG and BOAC.
Tama po. nag vacation nga po si Zaijian sa Marinduque nung Semana Santa.
Ang galing talaga ni Zaijian umarte, very effective siya as an actor, sobrang naiyak ako dun sa episode n’yo nung kinukuha sya ng mga representatives from DSWD. Ang ganda ng mga stories, may lesson lagi natututunan. Sana lang po makilala na ni Santino yung nanay nya.
Congratulations po sa lahat ng involve sa May Bukas Pa, you guys are doing a great job especially kay Zaijian. God bless and more power
Hello po ulit Mr. Egay Sandalo. Nabasa ko nga po pala na inspired sa Marcelino Pan y Vino ang May Bukas Pa pero sana po hindi sila magkaparehas ng ending kasi nakakalungkot yung ending ng Marcelino Pan y Vino kasi di ba hiniling ni Marcelino kay Jesus na sana makita nya nanay nya? Kaya pinagbigyan ni Jesus yung hiling nya, kaya namatay sya sa ending. Sana po pag mag-fi-finale na ang May Bukas Pa eh hindi sana ganun ung mangyari rin sa bida.
sir egay.. tnx tnx po ng marami.. slamat sa pagentertain po sakin.. kakatouch ung care nyo knina.. hehe.. and pde tito egay nlng po call ko senyo, kulet kasi kpag sir.. hehe..
sobrang enjoy po aq kanina, kasi makapagpic lng po tlga kay zaijian ung pinunta ko dun and syempre to meet the casts and kayo.. salamat po tlga h.. next time po ulet visit ako..
more power to may bukas pa, sana po mas lalong tumagal p ang show.. ingat po plage.. tnx GOD.. tnx BRO.. Amen!
Godbless.. (^-^)
anyway yung pictuere po natin with the fathers, rayver and yung tayo pong 3 ni zaijian send ko nlng po sa email nyo, txt nyo nlng po kung anu email add nyo po.. Godbless.. (^-^)
hi gud day! fan rin po aq ng “may bukas pa” meron po bang mall tour or fans day si Zaijan?? gusto ko po sana mag pa picture.. sobrang cute kc ng batang yan.. o kaya naman sana makahingi aq ng picture nya with dedication. thanks po
Dear Gray-C:
I will ask the staff about it. but as of now, we are very busy taping 3 times a week. baka di pa ngayon kaya mag mall tour.
Papromote lang:
Watch Dominique Ochoa (Father Jose in MBP) on Pinoy Bingo Nights
this coming thursday, may 14
andun din ibang fathers to cheer him:
Egay Sandalo (Father Jude), Jaime Fabregas (Father Anthony),
Badji Mortiz (Brother Paul), Ruben Gonzaga (Father Patrick),
Aloy Norona (Father Thomas) and David Chua (Father Chi)
Tnx.. GODBLESS
Hi po! Im really curious about the role of Bro. You said his name is Love. Would he be related to ex-housemate Chix?
I have not met chix. I really do not have any idea bout it. Hayaan mo dunz, I will play spy for you! Joke!
tito egay let me answer dunz question; dunz, love is chix’s boyfriend.. that is according to ate glen (zaijian’s mom) when i asked her about the mysterious bro and she answer me that he is love, boyfriend of the ex-pbb housemate chix.
that’s all folks..
GODBLESS
Cool! I knew it! His features remind me of Love. I just had to confirm my hunches. Thanks Ben! Nice one Love!
I just would like to commend everyone for keeping our values alive through MBP. I have never moved from series like this which made me cry tons of tears last Holy Week. I appreciate it! I hope ABS-CBN won’t stop airing different episodes and learn every bit of it. I’m so glad that the concept was about typical Filipino values, culture, and society which makes the heart of every Filipino touched.
Good job everyone!
More power!
Sir Egay, Si Mr. Diomer Dela Rosa Dy po ito ng Marinduque, Isang Guro at fan kami ni Santino.. sa ipakumusta mo kami sa kanya… or itxt/call sna kami 09206031003… ipinagmamalaki namin siya na maging kababayan dito sa Boac, Marinduque!!
Frankly, I am a number one critic of pinoy movies or tv series cause most of them are not in good quality….but I noticed this young boy,Zaijan Jaranilla’s natural acting when my wife was watching this may bukas pa..I was really impressed ..he’s so natural..he’s so real..and I want to meet him personally…Mr.Edgar Sandalo kindly tell Zaijan that there’s a lot of pinoy here na fans niya and we’re looking forward to see him in person here in Chicago,Illinois…BRAVO!! to all the cast and the production crew and all the people behind this wonderful project..thanks TFC and ABS_CBN
I agree with you Mr. Dan Ramos.Talagang Zaijian is so natural, sobrang galing ng bata. I’m also hoping to meet him in person. Dito rin sa Los Angeles, California ang dami nya fans. Sana nga magkaroon sya ng magandang movie project in the future kasama ung iba pa magagaling na artists sa atin. God bless and more power sa iyo Zaijian at sa lahat ng casts & crew ng MBP
nakakatuwa tlaga si zaijan alam niyo po hinde ako mahilig manood ng soap opera’s pero nung napanood ko ung unang episode ng MBP naiyak ako sa galing sa pag arte ni zaijan.at lahat ng episode ng MBP may moral lesson na kasama.simula nun nag search ako sa net tungkol sa kanya..siya din pala ung batang john prats sa tiny tony at may commercial siya sa mcdo.ang ikinalungkot ko lng kc ung parents niya hinde na pala nag sasasama broken family na pla sila. peronakakatuwa pa din siya dahil kahit ganun p man nangyari sa family niya mahal niya pa din ang mama nia at ung family niya.nananatili p din siyang inosente idol ko na tlaga itong bata na ito.gusto ko nga syang makita sa personal ehh. gusto kong makita ung mga inosenteng mata ni at makapag pa autograph sa kanya.nag shooting sya sa tutuban nung nandoon namamalimos siya sa maynila.sayang hinde ko siya nakita dun malapit pa namin sa amin un.
d bali lagi ko nman siyang napapanood sa t.v.
sana lang hinde siya masyadong napapagod sa taping bata p kasi siya eh..
GOODLUCK at MORE POWER sa MAY BUKAS PA!
suportado kau ni BRO at suportado nmin kau!
tnx.
^_^
sir egay, thanks po sa blog na to, im really happy and i even cried when i read the blog and the comments.. i dont know why..actually po huli n qoh sa mga fans ni santino kasi nde po tlaga ko mhilig sa soap opera but my family always watch “My Bukas Pa” and before ini-ignore ko lang, but when i watched it grabe po sobrang nagandahan me and na-touch.. im really a fans of Zaijan, i dont know ano nasa mata ng batang e2 at tlaga pong nakakalambot po ng puso..i really wanna meet him in person,kaya im waiting na sana magka-mall shows kayo para makita ko siya in person kahit malayo..the whole staff and crews really made a good job in choosing the characters..super effective, even the fathers, u guys are really like “tatays” of Santino..and sir Egay fan neo po ako and the other father po na may bigote, kasi u remind me of my father,my bigote/balbas den po kasi..grumpy po pla role nyo dun..ung gumwa po ng toy ni santino sa 1st episode?..
more projects pa po and sana mas tumagal ang santino kung pede nga lang wag nang matapos dahil super mamimiss namen ang samahan nyo po.,thanks and Godspeed!
Yung gumawa ng toy is Robin Tolentino. Till January 2010 nag May Bukas Pa ang huling sabi sa amin.
i will always follow ur blog po sir.,i know masyado po kayo busy.sana po ingat kayong lahat sa set and pls kiss santino for me po.,thanks:)
Salamat ng marami!
Sir Egay, congrats sa continuous success ng “May Bukas Pa” … ask ko lang kung sino kinokontak para invite si Zaijian to appear in one of my educational musical plays next year… kahit sa intermission lang… could you please forward to me kung sino pwede ko kausapin. Im Michael, the Director & Playwrite of Lorenzo Ruiz, the musical and ALamat ng Bataan… here’s my nos Sir Egay 0915.4411875 and 0908.6474895. thanks and more power!
wonder lang po kung saan sya tlaga naktira kc xa mga research ko puh,iba2 ung lumalbas.ang cute po ng eyes nya!!!!
onemore pa pla pede po pamember po sa zaijianatics?galing mo magsayaw zaijian sa asap ang init sa bora no??hanggang don cnusundan kita ang cute mo ksi eh.hehehe………..
hello po uli!!!xenxa na po kung medio makl8 akotnong ko lang po kung bak8 genun kgaling si santino umiyak and anu po ung iniisip nia wen he was crying at tapings.tuloy po ba ung movie niya w/ piolo pascual???tnx po!!!
ang galing po ni santino umarte talagang kahit sino napapaiyak niya.nagtataka po ako kung paano niya napapagsabay yung taping at studies niya.sobrang nakakabilib siya.simula pa po tiny tony at betty la fea pinapanood ko na yan.sana marami pa siyang projects na gawin under abs(yung inspiring like may bukas pa)athis young age nadiscover agad siya and second pa ang mbp sa mga pinaguusapan ngayon sa buong mundo and ang dami niyang awards na natanggap kasi he deserved naman yun.certified fan niya ako and nung pinanood ko yung last day ng mbp napansin ko yung nabuhay siya yung ibang mga kasama niya trying hard na sa pagiyak tapos siya as in nakatitig lang parang ilog na sa pag luha yung mata niya tapos sabay smile.as in napagsama niya yung tears and joy without trying hard.parang natural na sa kanya yun.kaya kahit tapos na yung may bukas pa inuulit ulit ko sa youtube from the start.and kahit sa mgacommercialsniya hindi talaga ako makakurap kapag lumabas na siya wala yata akong namiss na palabas niya even guestings lang so sana keep it up zaijian at galingan mo pa.sana makita kita ng personal and nagpapaprint pa ako ng mga pictures niya and pati si bro nadiscover ko na kakasearch sa life at mga pictures niya.ang galing galing niya pa sa school kahit busy siya naging top pa siya sa class nila.your the best zaijian.sana si santino at si zaijian pareho.sana ibless ka ni bro lagi.bro’s boy ka nga .ang galing mo.ang tagal ko nang gustong maging member ng fan’sclub niya kaya lang di ko po alam kung pano.sana someday maging member din ako.ang dami niya kasing buhay na nabago.thank you.sana BUMALIK SI ZAIJIAN SA PRIMETIME!!!!!
sana ibalik na xa sa prime time…and sana rin my part 2 ung my bukas pa..nging inspirasyon sya ng lahat ng mga bata even other seminarians,,,na naka subaybay ng teleserye nya,, mas la lo mo pa Kaming ininspired para kay bro at inilapit mo pa kmi sa kanya tnx…
thanks abs-cbn sana maalagaan u zaijian,,,
god bless you always!!!!
This Kano would love to see the entire series released on DVD with english subtitle. I followed it on FTC Now but having extremely limited Tagalog I had to figure alot out by the plot line and missed a great deal of the storyline. If I only understood all of the words I would have cried a ton more than I did as it is. Great show!
Sir Daniel:
Thank you very much for appreciating the show despite the language. In God’s time, maybe there will be DVDs that will be released!
ang galing mo talaga zaijian walang araw na hindi ako naiiyak sayo tuwing napapanood kita sa santino before at ngayon naman ay ang noah the best ka talaga zaijian kelan kaya kita makikita i love you anak para kasing anak ko narin yang c santino este zaijian pala. take care and may god bless you always love you!
ang galing mo talaga zaijian walang araw na hindi ako naiiyak sayo tuwing napapanood kita sa santino before at ngayon naman ay ang noah the best ka talaga zaijian kelan kaya kita makikita i love you anak para kasing anak ko narin yang c santino este zaijian pala. take care and may god bless you always love you! i’m here in vancouver kelan kb pupunta dito?
Hello sir egay thank you for making this blog…sana magpatuloy ang pagbibigay mo ng update sa amin about Zaijian jaranilla,
I don’t know after may bukas pa if you are still working with Zaijian…I hope you can reply…thank you!!!
Dear Geryl:
we have not worked directly again with Zaijian after May Bukas Pa but we had met again (twice) during reunions among MBP artists and staff.
egay