PUBLICATION: STAR MAGIC 25: THE COFFEE TABLE BOOK
PUBLISHING DATE: MARCH 2018
PUBLISHING DATE: MARCH 2018
It’s quite odd to encounter a constant face like Shaina Magdayao’s, someone I’ve literally seen blossom on screen for more than 20 years, and have completely no idea of who she truly is. All I have are a montage of commercials, movies, and shows playing in my head, and a handful of news snippets to shape who I think she should be. But then that one encounter, a momentary sharing of thoughts, and I realized I’ve barely scratched the surface on this person. The fortitude that radiated from every answer she spilled, the flashes of surety her eyes evinced. At only 28 years old, The multifaceted Shaina is a force in the industry who has successfully carved her own name.
“Did I miss a lot growing up? I can’t answer that question. I have no comparison, I didn’t have a normal childhood. This [industry] became my world. Sinubo ito saakin and I gladly accepted it,” Shaina divulged without a hint of regret. She appeared on a commercial at only 10 days old and was a staple in advertisements. At 6 years old, she starred in her first afternoon drama series. In 1996, she won her first award for that, the PMPC Star Awards For Televisions’ Best New Female Television Personality. She credits her role as Rina in ABS-CBN’s 1999 afternoon drama Marinella as among the stints that launched her name. It was on air for two years. “It’s fate. I never attended workshops or auditioned. People see me with my sister [Vina Morales], then one day I was offered a lead role. [We] said yes right away. It wasn’t really a choice. I just wanted to see myself on TV once, like my ate. And when Marinella was launched, I was really working,” she shared.
The story of three friends who stuck together after being separated from their families following a devastating fire, Shaina has proven that at 10 years old and acting with veterans like Rio Locsin and Eula Valdez, not to mention child prodigies Camille Prats and Serena Dalrymple, she was a rising star that will transcend the stigmas that surround being a child artist. “At first it was just play. After a few years, it became a job. And then a craft. Then passion. I realized that in showbiz it’s hard work. It’s not just fame, not just money. It’s the passion you put in. It’s how much you love this job, and that will determine if you’ll stick around. It’s all about professionalism. At the end of the day, people won’t work with you if you are unprofessional. Respect their time. Love what you are doing. And respect your own time too. Those are my secrets to staying here,” she said.
It takes a particular mentality to weather the mercurial tides of showbiz, and the steadfast actress has been equipped to overcome. She thanks Star Magic for that. “Mr. M is like my second dad, Tita Mariol is my second mom. They’re very hands-on in everything I’ve been doing. As a whole, the entire Star Magic family, from the handlers to the road managers, they really take care of you. Especially with intrigues or controversies, Star Magic is always there. One of the main reasons I’m this confident and at ease with this showbiz world is because I know no matter what happens, Magic is behind my back. Nanay and Tatay talaga sila. They’re even there to scold you,” she shared.
From her first ABS-CBN stint in the 1996 Kaybol, acting in serious shows like Mula Sa Puso, Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan, and Ikaw Ang Lahat Saakin, to starring in movies like Hinahanap Hanap Kita, Wansapanataym, and Tanging Yaman all before the millennium, hers was a face that became synonymous to primetimes and critically acclaimed Filipino movies. And that’s all in her first decade of life.
As with any child artist of her level, transitioning from kiddie roles to mature ones has always been riddled with dither. Any human entering the volatile teen years then expected to “adult” understands that. But, under the limelight, the entire experience is multiplied to a hundred. Regrettable to fame are the peering eyes of many that happen to scrutinize all the more at every critical turn in these artists’ careers. Despite amassing awards, from her first with the Star Awards and later as Best Child Performer from the Parangal ng Bayan, Best Child Actress from FAMAS, and Most Popular Child Actress Award from Guillermo Mendoza Foundation Awards, Shaina admits that she wasn’t completely safe from the shift.
“When I turned 18, I started trying to transition. There’s the effort to do mature roles. At the same time, it was that year when you turn 18, you’re expected to pose for a men’s magazine. That was kind of my struggle. I wanted to express [the change] through a role, and not through a billboard or a magazine. I respect those who took that path. Don’t get me wrong. I just didn’t want to take that. I hoped to portray it [instead],” she cleared. She was probed as to why she didn’t want to pose. She just knew that she was made to do things differently. “I prefer going against the waves. I wasn’t into whatever is uso. I’m carving my own path, and it’s not easy. In a way, I am expressing who I really am. I am setting myself apart.”
So she did. Her performances in those years like in Lobo and Kambal Sa Uma have defined the new Shaina, still the seasoned dramatic actress that dominates in her versatility.
Having Star Magic’s support, the protean actress is given the means to discover herself as well. “I started as an actress first. It’s only when I joined ASAP 10 years ago that I discovered my passion for performing. I owe it all to Mr. M, my ASAP mentor Teacher Georcelle, and the G-Force. I didn’t know I could dance. I didn’t have formal lessons. I rehearsed three to four times a week for a production number. The title of the show was Full Circle, and it will always be an honor to be a part of that. Abot langit and kaba because everyone looks forward to it,” Shaina said. She’s done everything from Flamenco, Lyrical, to Hip Hop. Being exposed to talented mentors and given the chance to translate what she’s learned onto a distinguished stage have become fuels for Shaina’s inspirations.
It’s not only the doors to opportunities that Star Magic leaves wide that have dubbed them as the groomers of stars, but the doors they keep unbarred to a home. Hardworking young artists like Shaina have embraced it as their own. “With Star Magic, they ask you how you are. Not just as a talent but as part of their family. They sincerely care. In this world where we are lacking so much sincerity, I’ve come to appreciate the genuine people around me. I’m grateful to Star Magic for that. I would be out of this business if there was no Star Magic,” she admitted.
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