BY GAY ACE DOMINGO
As 2024, the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese Zodiac, is upon us, we dare predict which local actors and actresses will make waves in the coming 12 months. Our list has four. All of them are familiar names and, hence, are not exactly new. Yet we believe that 2024 is the year their careers will soar based on the achievements they’ve made, the response of viewers and the observations of their collaborators.
Here they are in alphabetical order:
Tommy Alejandrino
This alumnus of the Philippine High School for the Arts won Best Actor in the 2022 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival for playing the title role in “The Baseball Player.” In the citation, the judges described Tommy’s performance as “poignant and engaging.”
“The Baseball Player” wasn’t his first movie though. In 2018, Tommy was also in “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral.”
A year after the Cinemalaya win, Tommy received offers to be part of several shows and movies. “My career really advanced after that,” says Tommy. He was in “The Day I Loved You,” and he is currently playing Kenji in ABS-CBN’s popular youth series “Senior High.”
In the past Metro Manila Film Festival, the actor played pivotal roles in not just one but two film fest entries: the historical drama “GomBurZa” and the horror “Mallari.” Tommy remarks, “I was blessed to be nominated as Best Supporting Actor in the latter. Mas maikli ang appearance ko sa ‘Mallari’ pero grabe, na-nominate pa ako.”
Tommy made other projects in 2023 that are eyed for release in 2024. For instance, he is in “Pieta” where he joins a star-studded cast headed by Nora Aunor, Alfred Vargas, Gina Alajar, Ina Raymundo, Angeli Bayani, Bembol Roco and Jaclyn Jose. “I am just looking forward to being excited about whatever new roles land on my lap… I work best when I really believe in the story and the vision behind the project,” Tommy tells Malaya. “My biggest and recurring wish for my career is that I continue to find myself surrounded by people with artistic integrity, creating more meaningful projects together.”
It is worth noting that Tommy has made strides as an actor mainly on his own. “I am managing my own career right now as I enjoy the challenge of it,” he explains. “I am open to being managed in the future but I would like to see how far I can go on my own.” Journalist Kat Llemit, who covers quite a lot of the entertainment beat, believes the best is yet to come for this brave actor. “Good job to Tommy! I hope he gets more big breaks. He is such a natural.”
Donna Cariaga
The 1.4 million Facebook followers of Donna Cariaga have chosen wisely. As one veteran entertainment journalist puts it sincerely, “Nagagalingan talaga ako sa kanya, 2021 pa.”
In the year 2023, Donna, 2017 winner of the Funny One competition of “It’s Showtime” really leveled up. She made five movies, “Third World Romance,” “Ten Little Mistresses,” “A Very Good Girl,” “Shake, Rattle & Roll Extreme,” “Family of Two,” and two TV series, “Batang Quiapo” and “Regal Presents.”
In an Instagram post, Donna thanked the producers and creatives who chose her to play important characters in the mentioned projects. “Karangalan ko po ang bigyang buhay sila sa gabay ninyo. Mahal ko sila at mahal ko po kayo!”
For those who’ve worked with Donna, the feeling is mutual.
Richard Somes, her director in the “Glitch” segment of “Shake, Rattle & Roll Extreme” has nothing but good words. Richard tells us, “When Regal informed me that Donna is part of my cast, I got excited because I know how talented she is… She is truly a gem and her acting prowess is just so exceptional. I am very glad I had the chance to work with her.”
For her role as nanny Hasmin, Donna willingly endured the gore that has come to be associated with the horror franchise. “Seeing her commitment to her character was just so surprising,” added Richard.
The award-winning director-production designer believes there’s more to this lady who is mostly known for her comedic prowess. “She’s unique because she is comfortable with such uncomfortable scenes. Her dedication is truly inspiring and captivating. The industry needs a talent like her now. She is a true artist and a gifted actress.”
Kaila Estrada
With one memorable line uttered by her character Sylvia in the Prime Video series “Linlang,” Kaila Estrada went from being known as a showbiz heir to being a household name.
Viewers of the show were amazed with how Sylvia confronted her husband’s mistress Juliana (played by Kim Chiu). Sylvia’s statement to Juliana, “Kung mayroong kailangang isusi, i-padlock at itali ng barbed wire yan ay ang panty mo!” was both a delight and an instant hit.
In spite of being one of the newbies in “Linlang,” Kaila established herself at par with her seasoned co-stars Kim, Paulo Avelino, Maricel Soriano and JM de Guzman.
Writer Rose Garcia Fabregas exclaimed, “Ang husay ni Kaila Estrada! Anak nga siya nina Janice de Belen at John Estrada…”
“Linlang” only highlighted what Kaila had already shown in her other projects such as “Viral Scandal” and her moving portrayal of DJ Karen Bordador in “Maalaala Mo Kaya.”
Yet “Linlang” was not the only high point of Kaila’s 2024. She continues to draw raves as Bettina, the half-sister of Caroline (played by Belle Mariano) in “Can’t Buy Me Love.”
It’s not only Kaila’s talent that impresses. Her sincerity and calm during interviews are just as praiseworthy. When her “Linlang” co-star Anji Salvacion was critiqued for a lack of acting skills, Kaila defended Anji and appealed to netizens to be kinder and nicer, saying, “Hindi natin alam ‘yung magiging effect n’un sa kanya.”
Now, that’s a hallmark of a mature actress.
Anthony Jennings
Anthony Jennings’ story is the stuff of teleseryes. Born to a Filipina mother and a British father, Anthony had to move from one house to another with his family because they couldn’t afford to pay the rent. He quit school to support his mother and send his two younger brothers to school. Stints in commercials led to a call from ABS-CBN’s Star Magic who helped bring out the natural talent that Anthony had within. Only recently did the young actor reveal that the highest educational level he achieved was grade two and that he learned to improve his literacy skills (reading and writing) on his own. So amazing is Anthony’s story that his 25-minute interview with Ogie Diaz has gotten more than 1.2 million views on YouTube.
As Anthony elicits praise for playing the kooky Snoop in “Can’t Buy Me Love,” Third World Cinema Club’s reviewer Princess Kinoc declares there’s something about the guy’s onscreen presence. Princess has closely followed Anthony career and has a lot to say about what makes him a genuine star.
She says, “It’s more than his mestizo looks. I don’t think he actually cares that he’s a tall mestizo actor that grandmothers once ask us to vouch for in life.
“Anthony breaks down that matinee idol trope and brings us nuanced performances, whether as the sweet street boy Rhamboy in TV’s ‘Make it with You,’ as the brooding breadwinner that completes such a wonderful ensemble cast in Cathy Garcia-Sampana’s ‘Love at First Stream’, and now as Snoop in ‘Can’t Buy Me Love.’ His comedic timing is also a big plus, he was probably trained well from the numerous supporting roles he’s been in before bagging those three memorable performances. Add to that his seemingly inspiring passion to work hard in the business despite not being our typical leading man potential. There’s more to him than being boxed as that.”
Princess isn’t alone when she says Anthony deserves to be given lead roles. The actor’s chemistry with “Can’t Buy Me Love” co-star Maris Racal, who plays the bratty Irene, has garnered plenty of fans who are now clamoring for a rom-com for the two. Here’s hoping producers will take heed.
