2018 Star Magic Circle: Who will make it?

Since the beginning (two decades ago), ABS-CBN’s Star Magic has launched more than 200 hopefuls. Hundreds answer the call of the klieg lights but only few are chosen. Many drop out without, well, putting up a fight (or without trying really hard) and dozens do make headway. Among those who have made a name for themselves include (at random): Piolo Pascual, Jericho Rosales, Leandro Muñoz, Carlo Muñoz, Baron Geisler, Kristine Hermosa, Kaye Abad, Heart Evangelista, Pauleen Luna, John Lloyd Cruz, Diether Ocampo, Victor Neri, G. Tongi, Regine Tolentino, Marvin Agustin, Jomari Yllana, Mylene Dizon, Jolina Magdangal, Angelica Panganiban, Carlo Aquino, Bea Alonzo, Pia Wurtzbach, Patrick Garcia, John Prats and Camille Prats.

Last Sunday, Star Magic launched a “circle” of 13 aspirants. The usual question is: who among them will make it?

Here they are (according to how they are arranged in the “family picture”):

Henz Villaraiz, 18. Talents: singing, dancing, acting, writing songs and playing the guitar. He was born in Manila, studied in Australia and then moved to Japan where his mother is based. He tried his luck on Pinoy Boyband Superstar in 2016 and, although he didn’t make it, he landed in the Top 10. Now a Star Magic contract star, Henz is in the Kapamilya daytime soap Sana Dalawa ang Puso and in an indie intended for the Cinemalaya filmfest.

Markus Paterson, 19. Talents: singing and dancing. A Fil-Brit, Markus was a football player before he became part of ASAP Chill Out. Although he didn’t make the cut on Pinoy Boyband Superstar, the show opened doors for him. He appeared in Wansapanataym and is in Sana Dalawa ang Puso, and is a Tarsier Records artist.

Donny Pangilinan, 20. Talents: performing, hosting and acting. The son of Maricel Laxa and Anthony Pangilinan, Donny first gained a following on social media and created more curiosity when he appeared with his mom on Magandang Buhay in 2016, earning endorsements and an offer to be a MYX VJ. He has two singles to his name: Did You and Different Kind of Love. He’s in the cast of the Regal movie Walwal with Jerome Ponce, Elmo Magalona and Kisses Delavin.

Karl Gabriel, 20. Talents: acting and dancing. A Mechanical Engineering student, Karl attended Star Magic’s public acting workshop two years ago before he auditioned for Pinoy Boyband Superstar but didn’t make it. He played a bully to PBB (Pinoy Big Brother) graduate Marco Gallo in Wansapanataym and hopes to work with Liza Soberano.

Tony Labrusca, 22. Talents: acting and singing. He didn’t make it even to the Top 5 of Pinoy Boyband Superstar but Tony landed a McDonald’s commercial and a role in La Luna Sangre. The son of actor-dancer Boom Labrusca (from whom he’s estranged) and former Kulay singer Angel Jones, Tony has been gaining followers with his singing-dancing talent showcased on ASAP. His debut single is titled Tanging Ikaw.

Chantal Videla, 15. Talents: acting, singing, modeling and playing the guitar and piano. Standing 5’5”, this Fil-Argentinian started as a commercial model when she was 13. She hopes to follow in the footsteps of Liza Soberano, her idol.

Leila Alcasid, 20. Talents: singing, painting, drawing and writing. The daughter of Ogie Alcasid and ex-wife Michelle van Eimeren, Leila is deadset on making a name of her own, knowing that people expect a lot from her. She recently released her first single, Completely In Love With You. “My parents are supportive,” said Leila. “I’m working on my Tagalog. Besides singing, I want to try acting.”

Daniela Stranner, 15. Talents: dancing and playing the guitar. Fil-German Daniela, the youngest member of a performing group from Pampanga, was spotted during a music festival. A football varsity player, Daniela caught the attention of Star Magic head Johnny “Mr. M.” Manahan in a VTR session. She’s attending acting workshops.

Zonia Mejia, 16. Talents: acting, singing, dancing and swimming. Inside PBB (Pinoy Big Brother) 737 in 2015, she was known as “Blossoming Beauty ng Quezon City.” She comes from a family of swimmers. She was in the youth-oriented shows LuvU and The Promise of Forever. Her dream is to play a mermaid, understandably so.

Charlie Dizon, 21. Talents: acting and dancing. The ”veteran” among the guys, Charlie has done a few films including Finally Found Someone, Loving in Tandem and Seven Sundays. She’s in the cast of Bagani, the new Kapamilya fantaserye. Despite her tight showbiz schedule, Charlie was able to tuck up a degree in Human Resource Management.

Patty Mendoza, 20. Talents: dancing, sketching, drawing and singing. The lookalike of some stars, Patty was discovered while modeling in UST where she finished college, leading to a go-see with Mr. M. She has done a number of commercials. Her dream is to do a movie with her idols, Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz.

Yasmyne Suarez, 20. Talents: acting and singing. She started training in Star Magic workshops as early as 2013, before she studied Theater Arts at New York University for two years. Back home, she continued her training under Star Magic. With one movie (the horror flick Spirit of the Glass 2) to her credit, Yasmyne hopes to be directed by Olivia Lamasan in a movie.

Anna Luna, 22. Talents: acting, singing and dancing. The “veteran” among the girls, Anna has won Best Actress (for Maestra) in the Five Continents International Film Festival in Venezuela. She started acting at 15 at PETA. Aside from Maestra, she also starred in Zig Dulay’s Paglipay and in some Star Cinema films (The Breakup Playlist, How To Be Yours and Dear Other Self, all as best friend of the main characters). It was her performance in Changing Partners that caught the attention of Mr. M.

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