Kikiam: A broken heart, a promising career

"I just broke up with my boyfriend of three years."

This was the comment of Jaja Bolivar, better known as Kikiam Santiago, that caused a stir during the recently-held presscon for ABS-CBN’s latest showbiz-oriented daily talk show, Showbiz No.1, where she is a segment host. The show’s main hosts are Niña Corpus, JC Cuadrado and Ogie Diaz.

Asked about her thoughts on spending the forthcoming Christmas alone, she only has this to say, "I am sad and I feel lost. But, deep inside, I know the break-up was better for both of us." Though her relationship had already ended, the young comedienne only has good words for her estranged non-showbiz boyfriend.

"He was so good to me," she says. This was also the reason, according to her, why she got out of the relationship. "He made me his world. Somewhere along the way, I realized the relationship was going nowhere. That’s why I gave him his freedom, the thing that I feel he needs most."

At this point in her life and career, Jaja wants to focus on her career. After all, to be part of local show business has always been her lifelong dream. "Performing has always been my passion," states this UP Broadcast Communications graduate. While in UP, many doors of opportunity for her to perform opened because of her talent. The most significant was when she shared stellar billing with Rene "Ate Glow" Facunla and Tuesday Vargas in one of SAmahan ng Mag-aaral ng MASSCOM’s (SAMASKOM) variety show, Live A.I.D.S Show. "That time, nag-so-solo monologue na si Tuesday. Si Rene naman, ‘Ate Glow’ na noon. Ako naman, siyempre, inimpersonate ko na si Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago," she narrates.

Aside from performing live onstage during her college days, Jaja also had a taste of what it’s like to be in local showbiz when she did a number of guestings in ABS-CBN. "Halos lahat nagawa ko noon. May mga komedyante ako, may mga seryoso rin. Iba-iba." But Jaja had to refrain from doing guestings when she was doing her thesis. "Siyempre, studies muna ang drama ng lola mo!"

After her graduation in 2003, nobody could stop her from invading the local entertainment industry. Though she admits it wasn’t easy when she started, she sees trials as opportunities for her to prepare herself for the bigger challenges of this very public and high-profile profession.

"I realized that patience is really a virtue. You can- not get everything you want in a flick of a finger," she shares.

Jaja got her biggest break when she was asked to impersonate again Sen. Santiago in Studio 23’s hit comedy newscast Wazzup Wazzup in March 2004. This break enabled the young comedienne to penetrate the mainstream local industry. " Sobrang hit ng show, sobrang hit rin ng role ko as ‘Kikiam Santiago.’ Kaya, para sa akin, I will always be thankful to Wazzup Wazzup," she explains.

Asked how her first interview with Sen. Santiago went, she narrates, "Siyempre, noong umpisa, na-tense ako. Pero noong nakita na niya ako na naka-Kikiam Santiago attire with make-up, tumawa na siya ng tumawa. And then, ok na. Sen. Santiago is a very pleasant lady."

A few months after she joined Wazzup, she was tapped to be one of the segment hosts of ABS-CBN’s revolutionary once-a-week celebrity talk show EK Channel with Rica Peralejo, Angelika de la Cruz, Dominic Ochoa and Marvin Agustin as main hosts. She is one of the anchors of Balitang Bawal Banggitin, the blind item segment of the said show. Aside from having two hit shows, Jaja also has strings of commercials to her name. She was also a part of Star Cinema’s blockbuster romantic flick Bcuz of U. "That movie was challenging because I played a passive character."

Then, she was asked to audition for Showbiz No.1. Luckily, because of her gift of gab, Jaja passed the audition and was tapped to be a part of the show’s group of segment hosts alongside SCQ Questor Neri Naig, commercial model Ardy, TV idol JE Sison, WRR DJ Billie and theater actor Franco "Jasper" Mabanta. "Here in SN1, I am tagged as the showbiz socialera," she says. Indeed, this young comedienne epitomizes what a "showbiz socialera" ought to be- flambuoyant, lively and perky.

With all the good things that have come early in her budding career, she says, "I am very, very happy and proud to be a Kapamilya. I know ABS-CBN is really taking care of me." In her more than a year’s stay in this business, she considers this journey as a "happy roller coaster ride."

Though she admits she gets flattered whenever fans compliment her for the wonderful job she is doing, she admits being in high heaven whenever people tell her, "Ay! Maganda ka pala!" Amused, Jaja asks, "di ba ibang level pag ganun ang mga comments?" Well, with her slim frame, warm smile and flawless skin, she is, undeniably, one of the prettiest comediennes in the boobtube.

With all the success that came early in her career, Jaja never forgets to credit her family as a sign of gratitude for all the support they have given her over the years. In fact, she voluntarily helps in her family’s daily needs."Everything kasi is fleeting. In one’s lifetime, what matters the most are the kindness, compassion and love you have shared to others. Pero, sa lovelife, pass muna ako." she says in jest.

As for her career, Jaja worries that she "cannot tap all my potentials." She clarifies that her fear is not about fame, money or power. "It is, basically, a sense of self-fulfillment."

With a sunny disposition, gift of gab and impressive sense of humor, there is no way Jaja can’t reach for the stars, no matter how high they are.