Five Magalona siblings brighten local show biz scene

THE MAGALONAS. Continue to chalk up performing credits.

For months now, we’ve been keeping tabs on an emerging “phenomenon” on local TV. The reason we’ve taken so long to unveil it is because it first sort of just crept into our consciousness, and only recently has acquired enough undeniable psychic force for us to realize how truly unusual it is.

What are we talking about? In Hollywood, a big deal has been made over the existence of “multiple performing siblings” like the Baldwin brothers, the Culkins (Macaulay, Kieran and Quinn) and River and Joaquin Phoenix.

But, they don’t hold a candle to their most ubiquitous Philippine counterparts, the Magalona kids! The late Francis and his lovely wife, Pia, had eight kids one after another – and, don’t look now, but five of them are currently in show biz!

Maxene, the ate, started the ball rolling very early on – she was still a child when she performed on “Ang TV” and “5 and Up.” Now in her mid-20s, she’s chalked up a lot of performing credits on TV and in the movies, including recent teleseryes like “Captain Barbell,” “My Lover, My Wife” and “Trudis Liit.”

Younger sister, Saab, “went show biz” much later, in 2007, with roles in “Kamandag,” “Lipgloss” and “Koreana.”

The oldest boy, Frank, has been making his mark on TV only recently, as Kylie Padilla’s leading man in “Blusang Itim.”

The second boy, Elmo, acts, sings and raps like his late dad, and has been busy ever since entering the biz in 2009. His recent and/or current shows include “Tween Academy,” “Andres de Saya” and “Party Pilipinas.”

The fifth Magalona in show business is Arkin. He played the young Dingdong Dantes in “Dyesebel” and “Ang Babaing Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang.”

Performing bug

That’s five Magalonas in the biz, out of eight siblings! At this point, it isn’t clear if any of the remaining kids in the brood (Unna, Niccolo and Clara) will eventually be bitten by the performing bug, as well.

Even if they don’t officially become performers, five siblings in show business could still be a record locally, if not internationally!

Yes, we know that Robin Padilla and his performing siblings are also all over the place, but only Robin and the former Rustom (now BB Gandanghari) have had viable careers of late, while all five performing Magalonas have continued to chalk up career credits.

How amazing is that? Parents Francis M and Pia and grandparents Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran must be right proud of their photogenic and productive progeny!