Teens on the loose

MANILA, Philippines - In the mid-’80s to the early ’90s, a wave of young teen talents burst into the limelight. Manilyn Reynes, Sheryl Cruz and Tina Paner were matched with equally cute young teens Keempee de Leon, Romnick Sarmenta and Cris Villanueva.

These days the cycle has resurfaced as the entertainment industry seems to be cashing in on the teen market again. TV5 recently came up with Star Factor, an artista reality search seemingly patterned after Star Search and Star Circle Quest from its competing networks. As necessity dictates, the budding network is fast-tracking a search for its first batch of young homegrown talents. With hard work and determination, week after week, a steadily growing audience seems to be taking an interest in their pilot venture on a youth-oriented show.

From left: Sam Concepcion, Tippy Dos Santos, Aria Clemente, Marco Mañalac and Enrique Gil

ABS-CBN is certainly not taking it sitting down. It has lined up new teen shows starting off with the revival of Mara Clara, popularized by the famous rivalry between Judy Ann Santos and Gladys Reyes. Even in the clips, the Kapamilya network made an effort to show the cast then and today’s younger performers.

Playing Mara is Kathryn Bernardo while Clara is Julia Montes.

But that’s not all. ABS-CBN also cast another new teen drama highlighting a group of candy cuties Sam Concepcion, Enrique Gil, Aaron Villaflor, Ivan Dorschner, James Reid and Chicara Nawa. Good Vibes is a weekly drama created to capture a growing teen market that is into street dancing. The other big show in the works is a daily musical variety that echoes the famous That’s Entertainment of the ’80s. From most of Star Magic teen stable they will be divided into groups to fill in slots for a daily musical variety show.

Stars of TV5’s Star Factor

GMA 7 also highlighted its own teens in Party Pilipinas. The network experimented on a three-part short film series called Red Mask. The other teen show is Tween Hearts starring Joshua Dionisio and Barbie Forteza. In fact, one of Kapuso’s fast-rising teens, Elmo Magalona is juggling three shows each week for Bantatay, Kaya Ng Powers and Party Pilipinas. Elmo was also paired with Julie Anne San in Red Mask.

In the big screen is a youth-oriented independent film titled Pinoy Scout with Sam and Marco Mañalac.

For theater, Repertory Philippines’ latest musical titled Little Women will be staged this month. Based on a novel by American author, Louisa May Alcott, it deals with childhood experiences of sisters Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy all played by budding young talents taking on teen roles.

The industry is certainly on the same wavelength, looking and staying ahead of the game as far as nurturing young talents are concerned.

These “teens on the loose” are destined to be the next generation stars to look out for. For these teens, the secret ingredient for lasting stardom, through the years, has always been the same: Good looks, great talent and the right breaks, in that order.