Pinaka-nagtagal na child star Ate Vi sa showbiz na nagka-edad!

Guess kung ano ang foremost problem ng mga child performer?

Well, they quickly come and go. And for the simple reason that most of them grow up fast.

And once they are grown, hindi lahat sila ay nananatili sa show business. Some decide to study full time. Ang iba naman, venture into something else.

From among those who have decided to continue their showbiz careers, definitely, isa sa mga successful si Vilma Santos. Although no longer full time ang kanyang pagiging artista.

Currently, sa kanyang ikatlong term bilang Batangas Governor, Ate Vi (as she’s addressed most in showbiz) occasionally still do films. Right now, in fact, nakatakda siyang gumawa ng pelikula kasama si Angel Locsin, hopefully mai-release for Mother’s Day, which is in May.

Direk Joyce Bernal will be at the helm.

Siyam na taong gulang si Ate Vi when she presented herself to the late Starmaker, Dr. Jose Perez, and told him she wants to be an actress.

And what can you do little girl? Then, the top producer and owner of Sampaguita Pictures, asked Ate Vi.

‘‘Well, tell me ho. And I will do it”

After that cute scenario, so to speak, Dr. Perez immediately gave Ate Vi ang kanyang unang starrer as a child performer, Trudis Liit.

Henceforth, there was no turning back for Ate Vi.

Pelikulang Cofradia hindi pa rin nalilimutan ng fans ni Direk Gina

Si Gina Alajar naman ay kilala na ngayon bilang TV director, was herself a child star discovery ng Sampaguita Pictures. She was in several films, the most memorable, to date, her existing fans hanggang ngayon consider, ay ang Cofradia.

Gina, formerly married to fellow actor Michael de Mesa (their marriage is now kaput), is mom to current actors na sina Geoff at Ryan Eigenmann.

Nagsimula naman si Roderick Paulate sa showbiz exactly at the same time ni Gina Alajar. But he was never a Sampaguitan, according to Roderick.

Nagtagpo, kumbaga ang landas nila when they were a little older and did some films with the then existing Lea Productions.

Although, from time to time, may mga hosting job si Roderick, like in the recently-concluded The Singing Bee, which he co-hosted with Amy Perez, Roderick is now in politics as well.

He is now a councilor of Quezon City.

Magkakasama na noon pa Snooky, Maricel, Janice at Sheryl walang suwerte sa lalaki

Snooky Serna herself was a child star talent ng Lea Productions, na nagbigay sa kanya ng unang pinagbidahan na Wanted Perfect Mother with Boots Anson Roa and directed by the late Lino Brocka.

Snooky, now mom to two grown children with estranged husband at fellow actor na si Ricardo Cepeda, Snooky appears pa rin in mother roles.

Halos kasabayan ni Snooky si Maricel Soriano, now Mom too, to two boys, na pareho ring mga binata na.

At one time, naging pareho ring Regal Babies sila Sheryl Cruz at Janice de Belen.

All four suffered the same fate sa kanilang marriages. Kung si Snooky, sa aktor na si Ricardo Cepeda, sina Maricel at Janice kina Edu Manzano at John Estrada, na tulad nila ay mga aktibo pa rin sa showbiz.

Si Sheryl of course, non-showbiz ang ama ng kanyang nag-iisang anak na babae, na almost a teenager na.

Noong teen star pa lang si Sheryl ay na-link siya kay Romnick Sarmenta and their team-up then was one to reckon with.

Romnick himself ay kasal to fellow child star, Harlene Bautista, whose elder brother, Herbert, currently the Quezon City Mayor, ay isang former child actor din.

May tatlo nang anak sina Romnick at Harlene.

Raymond at Richard magkaiba ang naging landas sa lovelife

Sina Richard at Raymond Gutierrez naman ang first twin child actors to join showbiz. Their cute team-up was discovered by Direk Carlo Caparas,  na kasama ang asawang si Donna Villa, ay pag-aari ang Golden Lion Films.

Nang magbinata ang dalawa, only Richard chose to continue with his acting career, Raymond chose a different career path naman, hosting.

Though not yet married, Richard is Dad to nearly two-year-old na si Zion, na ang aktres na si Sarah Lahbati ang ina.

Si Raymond naman is still a bachelor.

Camille, John, Angelica at Paolo iisa ang pinagmulan

Another brother and sister na gumawa rin pareho ng pangalan bilang child performers sina Camille at John Prats.

Both were on Ang TV, which was the program at ABS-CBN kung saan naging training ground nga mga child talent who aimed na maging artista.

With them, both Camille and John remember, were Angelica Panganiban and Paolo Contis.

Balo na si Camille at may isa silang anak na six years old. Talent na siya ngayon ng GMA-7, samantalang nanatiling Kapamilya ang kuya nitong si John.

John will soon get married too to Isabel Oli. Yes, this year.

And guess what? At one time, naging sina Paolo at Isabel.

May dalawang anak na babae si Paolo with Lian Paz, samantalang happily in love si Angelica sa kanyang fellow Kapamilya na si John Lloyd Cruz.

Shaina, Ella at Francis hindi sinuwerte sa GMA

Sina Anne Curtis at Lea Salonga naman ay both Viva Films talents as child performers. Utang na loob naman daw ni Shaina Magdayao, ganundin nina Ella Cruz at Francis Magundayao, kung anuman sila ngayon sa GMA-7.

All three were former child talents ng Kapuso.

Sa ngayon, all of them are with ABS-CBN. Kasalukuyang ginagawa ni Shaina ang Nathaniel kasama ang child actor na si Marco Masa playing the title role.

Last Friday nang mag-bade goodbye sa himpapawid ang Bagito, which co-starred Ella with fellow child performers Nash Aguas at Ale­xa Ilacad.

Kasama naman ni Francis sina Bea Alonzo at Paulo Avelino sa katatapos na series na may titulong Sa Sandaling Kailangan Kita.

Friendship nina Judy Ann and Gladys hindi natinag

Judy Ann Santos at Gladys Reyes keep their friendship hanggang ngayon. Pareho silang former child actresses.

Now both married, Judy Ann kay Ryan Agoncillo at si Gladys Reyes naman kay Christopher Roxas, pareho na silang happy mothers.

TV goers remember them most, of course, in their series together na Mara Clara.

Now between them, more active sa kanyang acting career si Judy Ann. Si Gladys naman ay sa hosting. She has this long running program, Moments.

Aktibo rin si Gladys na member ng MTRCB (Movie and Television Review and Classfication Board).

Now more of a full time father than an actor, Niño Muhlach is eager to have his current child actor son, five-year-old Alonzo, na lumaking kasing husay at tanyag niya noong kanyang panahon he was considered Child Wonder ng local showbiz.

And as it is, matutupad ang pangarap ni Niño sa anak. Bibo at marunong umarte si Alonzo at his age, tampok siiya sa dalawang projects ng ABS-CBN na Inday Bote kasama si Alex Gonzaga, at Wansapanataym Presents: Yamishita Treasures, kasama naman sina Coco Martin at Julia Montes.

Of Julia, she sees herself daw in Alonzo, noong nagsisimula pa lang siya sa kanyang showbiz career as a child star in Goin’ Bulilit.

Guess kung sino ang kasabayan niya noon?

Si Kathryn Bernardo na tulad niya ay 19 years old na rin ngayon at siyang tinaguriang other half of the Kathniel team-up.

Kathniel of course stands for Kathryn and Da­niel Padilla.