MAKISIG Morales as the Filipino saint in a musical recently staged at Meralco Theater
Former child actor Makisig Morales, now 15 years old, had his first taste of musical theater when he portrayed the role of Saint Pedro Calungsod in a recent musical play staged at the Meralco Theater.
Makisig said he felt deeply honored and happy to play the lead role in “Teen St. Pedro, the Musical”—a stage play on the young life of St. Pedro Calungsod of Cebu, the second Filipino saint who was canonized on October 21 in the Vatican City.
“I could not explain the joy [of playing the role],” he recalled. “I motivated myself [to feel] I was Pedro and I was doing this for him.”
He said he did not have second thoughts about accepting the role since he belongs to a family of devout Catholics. His parents are active members of Couples for Christ, an international Catholic organization, while Makisig is a Youth for Christ member of the same group.
Makisig donated the prize money from the first singing contest he had won to the nation-building movement Gawad Kalinga—his way of giving back to God the success he had reaped.
Now a senior high school student at St. Augustine International School, Makisig is the second of 10 siblings of Uldarico and Jacqueline Morales, both from Davao.
He has appeared in films like “Supahpapalicious,” “Caregiver” and “Petrang Kabayo,” as well as in a number of TV series, most notably as the lead character on ABS-CBN’s “Super Inggo.” He has also hosted several TV shows, and recorded some songs.
Music lover
“I love music,” he said. “I started as a singer at 8 years old when I joined the ABS-CBN singing contest ‘Little Big Star.’”
A production staffer of the Kapamilya network spotted him and the next thing he knew, he was cast as the lead star in “Super Inggo.”
“That was six years ago,” he fondly reminisced.
Makisig, a Viva contract artist, plays the guitar and often jams with his eldest sister, Mayumi, a college student at the University of the Philippines Conservatory of Music.
He dreams of becoming a famous film director someday. He plans to take up a filmmaking course at UP Diliman.
He said his parents have instilled in him the value of education: “My parents keep telling us that a show business career is just temporary, while education is permanent. So, I focus on my studies, even if I have shows.”
He went on: “I have learned the proper use of time management early in life, and I always pray through the intercession of St. Pedro Calungsod,” he concluded with a sweet, wide smile.
Aside from Makisig, among the cast members of the musical were Bubi Camus as Padre Diego, Emer Guingon as Choco, Dayloe Ranario as Upe, Panyong Umaguing as Matapang and the 29 AD Musicionaries. Music and lyrics were by Bob Serrano and Nonong Sampang, with most of the songs coming from the musical “Scenes From a Martyrdom” by Monsignor Rudy Villanueva.