Star Magic opened its doors to new names — and some not so new ones — this week.
It wasn’t just a contract signing. It was a promise.
They called the event “Shining Now.”
It fit.
In one room stood young actors, dancers, singers. Some had famous parents. Some had none. But all of them were hungry.
But, first off, the Sarets—Coach Toni and Coach Jim.
They are fitness trainers to the stars.
They have been working with Star Magic artists for some time.
Now they carry the Star Magic name. Now they are stars in their own right.
They spoke of strength. Of health. Of bringing discipline into the heart of show business.
“We want fitness to reach everyone,” Toni said. “We want every Filipino to be stronger.”
Then came the new faces.
Carmella Ford walked in first. Her mother, Karla Estrada, walked with her.
Carmella played hard in the recent All-Star Games. She’s strong. She wants action roles. She wants to carve her own path.
“I want to grow with Star Magic,” she said. “I want to prove myself.”
Iñigo Jose followed. The son of actor James Blanco, talked of action, of romance.
He also talked about his willingness to overcome hurdles to get to where he want to be.
“When the challenges come,” he said, “I’ll face them with grace.”
Michelle Garcia is just 12 — the youngest of the bunch. But don’t her age fool you. She’s already danced on big stages. Her parents—Patrick and Nikka Garcia—stood proud.
Asked if her entry into showbiz was inspired by her parents, she said, “No one pushed me. I just watched performers, and I wanted to be one.”
Then came Ice Almeria. He danced his way here. It took nine years. He didn’t stop.
“I never let go of my small dream,” he said.
Next, the Mitra Sisters—Ezri, Julia, and Tasha.
Entertainment runs deep in that family. Their parents are Cacai and Raul Mitra.
They were honest. Real.
“We fight. We tell each other the truth. But we do it with love,” Ezri said.
Joaquin Arce stepped in too. His father, Neil Arce, makes films. Joaquin wants to be in them. He knows the weight of the dream.
“To walk beside the best means I have to keep up.”
Christof, son of Gladys Reyes, brought his own sound. He’s a rocker. He writes. He thinks hard about truth.
“We have to be authentic,” he said. “But we want that from the audience too.”
Last was Angelina Cruz . Like mom Sunshine Cruz, she is quite the looker. She has a series coming. She wants more.
“My dream is to play lead in a teleserye or film,” she said.
Shining Now wasn’t just a media event. It was a gathering of people with fire in their chest.
They all had a reason to be there. They stood at the edge of something.
They are shining now. And if they hold on to the hunger, they will shine long after.
