Youngest mothers in Pinoy TV shows
In terms of storytelling and casting, the depiction of mothers on television has evolved through the years.
There are some celebrities who agree to take on a mother role in Pinoy TV shows early on in their careers.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) lists down 10 actresses who played young mothers on the small screen:
Julia Montes
The youngest on this list is Julia Montes who took on a mother role at a young age of 17 years old. She was tapped to portray Katerina in the 2012 top-rating series Walang Hanggan. As Katerina (Julia Montes), she became a young mother to the child of Daniel (Coco Martin) in the said ABS-CBN series.
Two years later, she was cast in Ikaw Lamang where her character Mona had a one-night stand with a drunk and heartbroken Samuel (Coco Martin). As a result, she became impregnated and gave birth to their son Gabriel.
In Doble Kara, her characters Sara and Kara (both played by Julia) also had children. Kara is the older twin sister who loves the arts and wants to live a simple life. Sara is the younger twin sister who joins beauty pageants and contests in order to earn money.In Asintado, Julia portrayed another mother role when she gave birth to her child with Gael (Paulo Avelino). Her character was named Ana Dimasalang, a paramedic who became Gael’s nurse after saving him in a mining accident. After Gael’s death, Ana finds out that she is pregnant with their child. She named their baby as Jay R.
Gabbi Garcia
Also at 17 years old, Gabbi played a mother role when she portrayed Alena, one of the Sang’gres in the 2016 reboot of Encantadia. In this the GMA-7 fantasy series, Alena is focused on finding her true love and building a family. Through Ybarro (Ruru Madrid), she had two offsprings named Kahlil and Armea.
Erich Gonzales
At a young age of 19, Erich already took a mother role in the 2009 Kapamilya primetime series Katorse. The series is about Nene (Erich Gonzales) an ordinary small-town girl whose once-happy childhood turns fatally tragic as she and her childhood friend Gabby (Ejay Falcon) made love, thus causing her teenage pregnancy.
In 2011, Erich starred in the remake of Maria La Del Barrio. Her character Maria had a baby with Luis de Vega (Enchong Dee). Unfortunately, they were separated. Seven years later, she was able to find her daughter, but she needs to win her over as the kid does not believe that she is her biological mother.
In 2014, she also played a mother role in the Kapamilya series Two Wives. This remake is based on the 2009 Korean drama of the same title. In the 2018 Kapamilya drama series Blood Sisters, Erich Gonzales portrayed Erika, an exotic dancer in a club in Davao City. She works hard to pay for her son’s hospital bills. While working in a strip club, she witnesses a murder of a syndicate member. Erika ends up being pursued by the syndicate members who think she has their ledger. To keep him safe, Erika leaves her son to her friend Bruce (Ogie Diaz).
Shaina Magdayao
In 2010, Shaina got her first solo lead role in the afternoon series Precious Hearts Romances presents Alyna. She played a single mother who struggled after the father of her baby left her without any notice. Shaina was only 20 years old then.
In 2012, Shaina took on another mother role in the afternoon show Kung Ako’y Iiwan Mo. In the series, Sarah (Shaina Magdayao) and Paul (Jake Cuenca) portrayed a married couple.
In 2015, the 26-year-old actress played the mother of Nathaniel (Marco Masa) who got separated from Paul (Gerald Anderson), the father of her child in the primetime series Nathaniel.
Yen Santos
In the 2014 comedy-drama series Dream Dad, Yen Santos took on a mother role at the age of 21. This series revolved around Sebastian “Baste” Javier (played by Zanjoe Marudo) and Baby (Jana Cassandra Agoncillo).
Sanya Lopez
In Cain at Abel, Margaret (Sanya Lopez) and Miguel/Elias (Dennis Trillo) took care of their son Sammy (Euwenn Aleta). Sanya was 21 years old at the time.
Rita Daniela
Rita Daniela gained popularity for her pokpok (prostitute) character named Aubrey Palomares in My Special Tatay. In this recently concluded 2018 Kapuso series, Aubrey had a child with Boyet (Ken Chan). She is now 23 years old.
Kim Chiu
Just like Julia Montes, Kim Chiu also portrayed a mother role in the 2014 Kapamilya series Ikaw Lamang.
Isabelle (Kim Chiu) bore a child named Natalia Isabelle as a result of marrying Franco (portrayed by Jake Cuenca).
Kim Chiu was 23 years old at that time.
Bela Padilla
In 2015, Bela became one of the leading ladies in the three-year-old primetime series FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano. She became the wife of Ador, the twin brother of Cardo. She bore Ador a son named Junior. Bela was 24 years old when she took on this role. The twins Ador and Cardo were both played by Coco Martin.
In 2017, Bela became the second mother to Heart de Jesus (Nayomi Ramos), who grew up not knowing her biological parents in My Dear Heart. This Kapamilya primetime series also starred Zanjoe Marudo and Ria Atayde.
Kris Bernal
At 25 years old, Kris Bernal agreed to play a mother with an intellectual disability in Little Nanay.
In this Kapuso prime-time series, Tinay (Kris Bernal) gets impregnated by her childhood friend Archie (Hiro Peralta). When the grandparents of Tinay (played by Nora Aunor and Bembol Roco) find out that Archie took advantage of Tinay, they pressure him to marry Tinay or else answer rape charges. Archie, who is not emotionally ready to start a married life with Tinay, leaves the Philippines and migrates to the United States. Despite all the challenges, Tinay continues to raise their daughter Chiechie (played by Chlaui Malayao).
Mark Herras and Juancho Triviño also starred in Little Nanay.
