TV's little darlings

MANILA, Philippines - Children always bring joy to every home. Jillian Ward, along with fellow Luna Blanca star Mona Louise Rey, has proven this all and sundry. Jillian and Mona Louise are this generation’s Flordeluna who can touch the viewer’s heart and make him shed tears as their adorable characters enter the School of Hard Knocks.

They are TV’s little darlings who have kept the tradition of Roberta celebrating young talents and recognizing children’s concerns.

“We’ll tape until this week,” says the always bubbly and full of energy Jillian in the vernacular of Luna Blanca’s first-part conclusion. “Ma, ilang tulog po ’yon?”

That means Jillian will kiss goodbye to her dark-skinned character Luna and the makeup she dutifully wears every taping day.

“I was not used to it at first,” shares Jillian. “Lagay po sila ng lagay kasi pawis po ako ng pawis. In my first taping, (the make-up made me feel hot and uncomfortable). Nangangati sa mukha pero sa kamay hindi naman po. When they put the black paint on my face, I think I have become fairer (mas pumuti po ako). Kasi pinrotektahan ang balat ko.”

Playing Luna shows Jillian’s versatility and professionalism as a child star. She is proud of having done the role with flying colors. Televiewers have seen Jillian as a doll who can talk and walk (in Jillian: Namamasko Po); and as a child who can communicate with animals (Daldalita). Luna Blanca is the most physically and emotionally challenging TV project the child star has ever done. Like any other female child stars, Jillian enjoys the make-up part, especially when the artist dabs the colors on her face. To Jillian, acting is more of play than work.

Mona Louise, on the other hand, is the fair-skinned Blanca. She has also her own dramatic moments in the GMA Telebabad show. “Iniisip ko na iniwan ako ni Mommy. Na wala na si Mommy ko. Na parang ayaw na nila sa akin (I always think that Mommy has left me and that people don’t like me.),” shares Mona Louise on why she can cry easily and on cue.

The past weeks have seen Luna and Blanca being separated from each other again. Rowena (Camille Prats) looks for Blanca as she takes care of Luna. Their neighbors in the settlement area accuse them as malignos. That’s why Luna and Rowena have to find a new place to stay. Divine (Chynna Ortaleza) devises a plan preventing Luis (Raymart Santiago) to discover that Blanca is one of his daughters.

Like in real life, Luna and Blanca will grow up and become young adults. This commences the entry of Barbie Forteza and Bea Binene as Blanca and Luna, respectively.

When the klieg lights are off and the cameras stop grinding, Mona Louise will miss her co-stars Chynna, Camille, Raymart       and Jillian. “Jillian has become a sister to me,” she says.

This is true because in between takes the two have bonded well by playing their iPads and swapping stories. They would read scripts, rehearse their lines and take a nap.

What’s admirable about the kiddie stars is that they still find time for their studies. Mona Louise is Grade 3 at the St. Monique School while Jillian is Grade 1. The former is in regular residential mode of learning. But the latter is in home study program with face-to-face sessions.

What’s next to Jillian and Mona Louise? There are reports that another show is being lined up for them with the working title BFF (Best Friends Forever). Jillian does voice over for Kap’s Amazing Stories. Mona Louise will begin shooting the indie Basement with Chynna as her mom. They will be trapped in the basement and the horror-suspense-thriller plot takes off from there.

With their talents and innocence, it is always a delight to watch Jillian and Mona Louise on the small screen — and why not on the big screen?