Zaijian Jaranilla commonly known as "Santino" due to his role in the top-rating teleserye, May Bukas Pa

May Bukas Pa

May Bukas Pa is a Philippine drama series which started long-airing on February 2, 2009 at ABS-CBN. The show's run was extended multiple times until its end run on February 5, 2010.-Production:...

, is a Filipino

Filipino people

The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....

 child actor and television personality. He was discovered by a talent manager at the age of 5, and started out as a commercial model for such products as McDonald's, Lactum and Tide. He auditioned for Philippine entertainment network ABS-CBN

ABS-CBN

ABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...

, and was cast in the network's outfit, Komiks Presents: Tiny Tony

Tiny Tony

Tiny Tony is a Philippine fantasy series on ABS-CBN adapted from the creation of Mars Ravelo. It's the third installment of the anthology Mars Ravelo's Komiks Presents. It is directed by Dondon Santos...

, as the young Tony. Zaijian was also a part of the network's children's gag show, Goin' Bulilit

Goin' Bulilit

Goin' Bulilit is a sketch comedy show broadcasted on and by ABS-CBN in the Philippines. It is a gag show featuring children in various comedic situations. It is the rival of the now defunct GMA show "Bubble Gang Jr."....

. He is currently under contract with ABS-CBN.

Personal life

Within the Jaranilla family, Zaijian is the eldest of three. His first few years were spent in poverty, and his parents separated when he was just 5 years of age. Currently, he lives with his father, Zenon, his grandmother, and his two younger siblings, Zildjan and Zymec.

Zaijian's name is taken from the pinyin Romanization of Chinese Mandarin "再見", and means "Goodbye." The word, when pronounced properly, is supposed to sound like "Dzai Jyen," and it literally comes from the two words: "再" (Again), and "見" (To see). In Mandarin, "再見" literally means "See you again."

But in his interview with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) associate editor Rommel R. Llanes, Zaijian revealed where he really got his name. He told the editor that his name came from the cymbal brand Zildjian (click here for the video).

Career

As aforementioned, he played the role of Santino in May Bukas Pa. The story centered on a little boy who affected the lives of the residents of the fictional town of Bagong Pag-asa. Known as the "miracle boy," Santino was often visited by Jesus Christ, whom he affectionately referred to as "Bro." His faith in "Bro," and in the overall goodness of humanity, is what endeared him to those he encountered.

As an actor, Zaijian has an innate ability to pull out emotions from laughter to tears, and can do so with such spontaneity. He is a member of Star Magic

Star Magic

Star Magic, Inc., , is ABS-CBN's training and management program for its contract talents. It was designed to assist young talent in the Philippines...

, ABS-CBN's talent management division.

Jaranilla also guested in a few ABS-CBN shows such as ASAP'09

ASAP (variety show)

ASAP Rocks is a musical variety show in the Philippines broadcast by ABS-CBN in the Philippines. The show is presented by its main hosts Zsa Zsa Padilla, Gary Valenciano and Martin Nievera. The show first premiered on February 5, 1995, and airs live Sundays...

, Matanglawin

Matanglawin

Matanglawin, literally meaning "Hawk's Eye" and usually contracted as Mata, is the official student newspaper of the Ateneo de Manila University in the Filipino language. The student paper dedicates itself to discussing socio-political events in the Philippines, the plight and suffering of the...

, Ruffa & Ai

Ruffa & Ai

Ruffa and Ai is the Philippine morning talk and lifestyle show on ABS-CBN. The show is hosted by Ruffa Gutierrez and Ai Ai delas Alas.-Host:*Ruffa Gutierrez*Ai Ai delas Alas*Charlene Gonzales -External links:*...

, Wowowee

Wowowee

Wowowee was a Philippine noon-time variety show broadcast by ABS-CBN. The show premiered on February 5, 2005, and aired live on weekdays and Saturdays. The show was also broadcast worldwide through ABS-CBN's The Filipino Channel...

, Entertainment Live

Entertainment Live

Entertainment Live is a Philippine showbiz oriented talk show broadcast by ABS-CBN airing every Saturday afternoon after Happy Yipee Yehey. The show premiered August 4, 2007 and was first hosted by the Pinoy Big Brother hosts, Toni Gonzaga, Mariel Rodriguez, and Bianca Gonzales. In 2008, Luis...

, Rated K

Rated K

Rated K is a magazine show broadcast on ABS-CBN. It is hosted by Korina Sanchez. The program is similar in style and presentation with the defunct magazine program Balitang K which was also hosted by Sanchez.-Awards and nominations:...

, Sharon

Sharon (Talk show)

Sharon is Philippine TV's Sunday night musical talk show that airs on ABS-CBN. It stars multi-media Megastar Sharon Cuneta.The musical gab fest served as Cuneta's TV comeback in 1998 after a year of hiatus from show business...

, The Buzz

The Buzz (talk show)

The Buzz is a weekly entertainment news and talk show in the Philippines. Premiering in 1999, it is the longest-running weekly entertainment news and talk show on ABS-CBN. It features local celebrity gossip and news.-Casting:...

, and SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon

SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon

SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon is a Philippine primetime entertainment news program broadcast by ABS-CBN and is currently presented by Boy Abunda and Bianca Gonzales. The show premiered on February 16, 2009. On September 9, 2011, SNN aired its final broadcast...

.

In 2010, Jaranilla starred in Noah

Noah (TV series)

Noah was a teleserye Philippine action-fantasy series produced by ABS-CBN. The series premiered on July 12, 2010.-Synopsis:Gabriel lost his 2 year old son, Jacob in an accident brought by his job as a police officer. It also placed him in a coma for 5 years...

, a TV series on ABS-CBN where he portrayed the role of Jacob/Eli, son of Gabriel Piolo Pascual

Piolo Pascual

Piolo Jose Pascual is a Filipino film and television actor, musician, model, and producer.-Biography:...

 and Ruth Jodi Sta. Maria. The family was involved in a car accident where he drifted off to a mysterious island, Noah. Unknown to Gabriel and rest of the world that apes called Unta took care of him and renamed him Eli but as the story progressed he was given back to his real parents, Gabriel and Ruth. Judah Joem Bascon

Joem Bascon

Joem Bascon is a Filipino actor. He is currently under ABS CBN's talent management arm, named Star Magic....

, ex-husband of Ruth, hated Jacob and Gabriel and with a passion, he got in the way of Jacob/Eli and his father's quest to save the Island of Noah. In the end, Gabriel and Jacob/Eli save the mysterious Island of Noah prevailed over Judah. His best friend Xyriel Manabat

Xyriel Manabat

Xyriel Anne Bustamante Manabat is a Filipina child actress. She joined Star Circle Quest: Search for the Next Kiddie Idol in 2009 and became the 3rd runner up. It served as her stepping stone as she plays different minor roles on various TV shows after that...

 also starred in this television show as Nica

Television

Year	Title	Role	Network
2008	Goin' Bulilit Goin' Bulilit Goin' Bulilit is a sketch comedy show broadcasted on and by ABS-CBN in the Philippines. It is a gag show featuring children in various comedic situations. It is the rival of the now defunct GMA show "Bubble Gang Jr."....	Various roles	ABS-CBN ABS-CBN ABS–CBN Corporation is a Philippine-based media conglomerate. It is the Philippines' largest media and entertainment conglomerate. The corporation was the merger of Alto Broadcasting System which at that time owned by James Lindenberg and Antonio Quirino, and the Chronicle Broadcasting Network ...
2008	I Love Betty La Fea	Young Nicholas
2008	Komiks Presents: Tiny Tony	Young Tony
2009	May Bukas Pa May Bukas Pa May Bukas Pa is a Philippine drama series which started long-airing on February 2, 2009 at ABS-CBN. The show's run was extended multiple times until its end run on February 5, 2010.-Production:...	Gabriel "Santino Guillermo" M. Policarpio/Rodrigo
2009	Maalaala Mo Kaya: Bisikleta Maalaala Mo Kaya Maalaala Mo Kaya is a Philippine drama anthology series broadcast on ABS-CBN every Saturday evening and being hosted by Charo Santos-Concio. Currently, it became the longest-running drama anthology on Philippine television and on Asia...	Young Joross
2010	Maalaala Mo Kaya: Xylophone Maalaala Mo Kaya Maalaala Mo Kaya is a Philippine drama anthology series broadcast on ABS-CBN every Saturday evening and being hosted by Charo Santos-Concio. Currently, it became the longest-running drama anthology on Philippine television and on Asia...	Charles
2010	Agua Bendita	Otep (voice)
2010	Noah Noah (TV series) Noah was a teleserye Philippine action-fantasy series produced by ABS-CBN. The series premiered on July 12, 2010.-Synopsis:Gabriel lost his 2 year old son, Jacob in an accident brought by his job as a police officer. It also placed him in a coma for 5 years...	Jacob Perez/Eli
2011	Mara Clara Mara Clara (2010 TV series) Mara Clara is a Philippine television drama which aired on ABS-CBN from 2010 to 2011. It is a remake is based on the 1992 original television series of the same name.-Adaptation:...	Guest appearance
2011	Your Song Presents: Kim Your Song (TV series) Your Song is a weekly musical anthology series of ABS-CBN in the Philippines, broadcast every Sunday after ASAP. The show premiered on February 12, 2006....	Miggy Moreno
2011	Wansapanataym: Bully-Lit Wansapanataym Wansapanataym is a Philippine fantasy-drama anthology produced and aired by ABS-CBN. The series aired in 1997 until 2005 and it was re-aired in 2006 until 2007...	Elmer
2011	Maalaala Mo Kaya: Callao Cave Maalaala Mo Kaya Maalaala Mo Kaya is a Philippine drama anthology series broadcast on ABS-CBN every Saturday evening and being hosted by Charo Santos-Concio. Currently, it became the longest-running drama anthology on Philippine television and on Asia...	Andoy
2011	Wansapanataym: Dirty Larry Wansapanataym Wansapanataym is a Philippine fantasy-drama anthology produced and aired by ABS-CBN. The series aired in 1997 until 2005 and it was re-aired in 2006 until 2007...	Larry
2011	Ikaw Ay Pag-Ibig Ikaw Ay Pag-Ibig Ikaw Ay Pag-Ibig is a Philippine television mini drama series which airs on ABS-CBN. It topbills child actors Zaijian Jaranilla, Xyriel Manabat, Mutya Orquia & Louise Abuel. The show's previous name was Diyos Ay Pag-Ibig which is revert as a theme song of the said series...	NoNoy Reyes/Julius Alvarez

Film

Year	Title	Role	Network
2010	RPG Metanoia RPG: Metanoia RPG Metanoia is a Filipino computer-animated adventure film produced by Ambient Media, Thaumatrope Animation and ABS-CBN Film Productions Inc. Star Cinema. It is the first full length Philippine animated film presented in 3D...	Nico	Star Cinema Star Cinema ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc. , is the wholly owned film production subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corporation. It is the Philippines' largest film production, producing most of the highest grossing films in the Philippines.-1994:...
2011	Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak! Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak! Pak! Pak! My Dr. Kwak! is a 2011 Filipino comedy film starring Vic Sotto and Bea Alonzo and produced by OctoArts Films, M-Zet Films, and APT Entertainment and released by Star Cinema....	Angelito

Nominations & Awards

Year	Award Giving Body	Category	Results
2009	PMPC Star Awards for Television	Best Male New-TV Personality (for May Bukas Pa)	Won
2009	Anak TV Seal Award	Mala Makabata Awardee
2009	ASAP Pop Viewer's Choice Awards ASAP (variety show) ASAP Rocks is a musical variety show in the Philippines broadcast by ABS-CBN in the Philippines. The show is presented by its main hosts Zsa Zsa Padilla, Gary Valenciano and Martin Nievera. The show first premiered on February 5, 1995, and airs live Sundays...	Pop Kapamilya New Face (for May Bukas Pa)
2010	8th Gawad Tanglaw	Natatanging Gawad TANGLAW para sa Sining ng Telebisyon (for May Bukas Pa)
2010	6th USTv Awards	Students' Choice of Actor in a Daily Soap Opera