Even after nearly two decades in the industry and an already rich acting résumé, Zaijian Jaranilla continues to take on roles that push his craft even further. This time, he marks his 21st appearance in “Maalaala Mo Kaya” with a weighty portrayal in the season finale episode titled "Youth in Chains," where he plays Venerando “Andot” Ebarita Jr.—a young man whose desperate attempt to help his family leads him down a dangerous path.
The episode, based on a true story, tells the harrowing yet redemptive journey of a boy born into poverty as the 11th of 13 siblings, who tries to ease his family’s burdens but ends up rebelling when his efforts are shut down. He turns to gambling, falls in with a group of snatchers, and accidentally kills a victim during a theft. Arrested and sent to a youth rehabilitation center, he slowly begins to rebuild his life from there.
While Zaijian is no stranger to portraying complex characters, he admits that the demands of this role were unlike any other he’s tackled recently. Given the emotional weight of the material, Zaijian made sure to come prepared. He knew that because "MMK" deals with real-life stories, it demands not only acting but a deep understanding of the character’s inner life. The script had to be studied carefully, scenes discussed thoroughly with director Raz de la Torre, and his mindset aligned with the role before stepping on set. Since the taping usually doesn't follow a chronological sequence, he had to internalize Andot’s entire journey beforehand, which took effort and discipline on his part.
It was a demanding process, but one he describes as “sobrang worth it.” And so far, the feedback has made the hard work even more rewarding. Following the release of the episode trailer and the Director’s Cut on iWant last Thursday, Zaijian has received good comments, which he treats as fuel to keep growing and improving, especially when given the chance to portray impactful stories like this.
He describes Andot as a simple, family-oriented boy whose desire to help his loved ones turned into rebellion. He wanted to prove he could survive on his own, only to realize that the world outside is much bigger and harsher than he had imagined.
For Zaijian, the word that best captures the heart of the story is “hope.” Andot simply had big dreams for his family, which Zaijian personally relates to. The only difference, he points out, is that Andot made a mistake by not listening to his parents. Through this episode, he hopes that young viewers who are also determined to help their families will understand that there is wisdom in the guidance parents try to give.
Beyond the emotional weight of the story, the episode also draws attention for its casting. Zaijian reunites with Dominic Ochoa, who played Father Jose—the father figure to his iconic role as Santino in "May Bukas Pa." Years may have passed, but the connection between them as actors remains just as strong, which made portraying father and son in this "MMK" installment feel natural. He was particularly amazed that Dominic still remembers his little quirks as a child, and would even recount them on set, prompting moments of nostalgia for him.
Playing his mother in the episode is Rosanna Roces, whom he also worked with in "May Bukas Pa," where she appeared in a guest role.
It’s hard to separate Zaijian from the image of Santino, the saintly boy who once captured the hearts of Filipino viewers, and when asked about transitioning from child wonder to more mature roles, he admits that it was difficult at first. Shaking off such a well-loved character wasn’t easy, but because he’s passionate about his craft and determined to prove that he can do so much more, he continues to take on diverse roles and explore different characters to show new sides of himself.
As he puts it, he wants people to see that he’s capable of more. "Mas pinagbubutihan ko para makita nila na, 'Kaya niya palang mag-ibang roles din.' Gusto kong maging versatile as much as possible. Ayaw kong makahon sa isang role lang kaya nag-e-explore ako," he says.
As he adds another remarkable character to his growing list of portrayals, Zaijian continues to show us why he remains one of his generation’s most refined actors.
MMK “Youth in Chains" is now available via iWant. It will also air on Saturday, July 26, at 8:30 pm, on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live (KOL), and A2Z