Zaijian Jaranilla Biography: Ex-Girlfriend, Age, Parents, Siblings, Net Worth, Height, Movies & TV Shows, Career

Zaijian Godsick Lara Jaranilla, known professionally as Zaijian Jaranilla, is a Filipino actor and dancer who gained widespread fame as a child star for his heartfelt portrayal of the orphan Santino in the groundbreaking religious-themed teleserye May Bukas Pa (2009–2010), which became the highest-rated Philippine TV program ever.

Discovered at age three, he transitioned from commercial modeling to acting under ABS-CBN’s Star Magic, earning multiple awards including a PMPC Star Award and a Gawad Tanglaw for his early work.

Over the years, Jaranilla has evolved into a versatile performer, taking on teen and adult roles in dramas like The Broken Marriage Vow and Senior High.

Profile

• Full Name: Zaijian Godsick Lara Jaranilla
• Stage Name: Zaijian Jaranilla
• Born: 23 August, 2001
• Age: 24 years old
• Birthplace: Gloria, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines
• Nationality: Filipino
• Occupation: Actor, Dancer
• Height: 1.57m
• Parents: Glendelle Lara Jaranilla and Zenon Louis Jaranilla
• Siblings: Zildjian Godweevil Jaranilla, Zymic Demigod Jaranilla
• Spouse: None
• Girlfriends: Dian Anes (ex)
• Children: None
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $1 million

Early Life and Education

Zaijian Godsick Lara Jaranilla was born on August 23, 2001, in Gloria, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines, to Glendelle Lara Jaranilla from Lucena, Quezon, and Zenon Louis Jaranilla from Marinduque.

He grew up as the eldest of three siblings, with younger brothers Zildjian Godweevil Jaranilla and Zymic Demigod Jaranilla, in Roxas District, Quezon City, Metro Manila, though his parents separated when he was five, and he resides primarily with his father and grandmother.

Jaranilla attended General Roxas Elementary School, completing Grade 1 in 2009, before transferring to Angelicum College, where he progressed through junior high but paused regular schooling due to acting commitments.

He later passed the Philippine Educational Placement Test to advance directly to senior high school at Colegio de San Juan de Dios in San Rafael, Bulacan, graduating in 2023 under the Humanities and Social Sciences strand.

He is of Filipino ethnicity, and while his personal religious beliefs are not publicly known.

Career

Zaijian Jaranilla began his career at age three in 2004, discovered by talent manager Bryan Ancheta during a family outing, leading to commercial modeling gigs for brands like McDonald’s in 2006, Lactum in 2007, and Tide in 2008.

He signed with ABS-CBN’s Star Magic in 2008, debuting on television as a guest on the children’s sketch comedy Goin’ Bulilit and in the anthology Mars Ravelo’s Komiks Presents: Tiny Tony as young Tony.

His early exposure built a foundation in comedy and drama, with guest spots on variety shows like ASAP and It’s Showtime, setting the stage for his breakout as a child performer.

Jaranilla’s career soared with his lead role as Santino Guillermo in May Bukas Pa (2009–2010), portraying an orphan boy who befriends Jesus Christ, which drew massive ratings and earned him the Best Male New TV Personality at the 23rd PMPC Star Awards and a Gawad Tanglaw for television arts.

The series’ success led to consecutive starring roles, including Jacob/Eli in the fantasy-adventure Noah (2010–2011) alongside Piolo Pascual, the time-traveling Caloy/Lorenzo in Lorenzo’s Time (2012–2013), the young hero Juan in Juan dela Cruz (2013), and Emong in the family drama Hawak-Kamay (2014).

He also voiced Nico in the animated film RPG Metanoia (2010) and appeared in films like Ang tanging pamilya (2009), while receiving Anak TV awards and contributing to PSAs for environmental causes.

Jaranilla transitioned to teen and adult roles with depth in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano (2015–2016) as a young recruit, the coming-of-age drama Hamog (2015), and the mystery thriller Senior High (2024) as Tim, earning an Asian Academy Creative Award nomination.

His work in The Broken Marriage Vow (2022) as Gio Ilustre, navigating family betrayal, showcased his emotional range, followed by voicing and acting in Mars Ravelo’s Darna: The TV Series (2022) as Ding and the sequel High Street (2024) exploring LGBTQ+ themes.

Through consistent performances across genres, he inspires young audiences and supports philanthropy like ABS-CBN’s typhoon relief efforts.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @zaigj
• Facebook Handle: Zaijian Jaranilla
• Twitter Handle: Unknown

Personal Life

Zaijian Jaranilla has no spouse or children and remains single following his breakup with non-showbiz girlfriend Dian Anes around 2022 after two years together, a split he confirmed publicly during promotions for The Broken Marriage Vow.

He balances his career with advocacy, including environmental PSAs and disaster relief, reflecting his humble roots and commitment to giving back.

Filmography

• Ang tanging pamilya (2009)
• RPG Metanoia (2010)
• Shake, Rattle and Roll 12 (2010)
• Tween Hearts: Unli Knows (2010)
• Tween Academy: Class of 2012 (2012)
• Lorenzo’s Time (2012)
• Hamog (2015)
• My Ex & Whys (2017)
• The Broken Marriage Vow (2022)
• Senior High (2024)

Net Worth

Zaijian Jaranilla has an estimated net worth of $1 million.

His earnings mainly arise from television series and film roles with ABS-CBN, along with voice acting in animations and endorsement deals for brands like McDonald’s and Lactum.