Aiza Seguerra
Smooth Operator

When Aiza Seguerra (born on 17 September 1983 in Caluag, Quezon) came out (somewhat, anyway), it was welcomed not so much with fanfare as with controlled enthusiasm (“Whatever makes her happy” was the expression of the time).  No wonder, though, since the actress cum singer has been a fixture of local pop media since the 1980s – having started as a contestant in Eat Bulaga’s Little Miss Philippines in 1987 (she places second overall) when she was only three years old, to eventually become a regular of the same show (the longest running noontime show in the country); and then going on to make a career in TV (with shows like Eh Kasi Bata) and films (she won the FAMAS Best Child Actress award three times, in 1989 for Aso't Pusa, and again in 1991 and 1992 for Okey Ka Fairy Ko 1 and 2; though she also won in 1992 the Philippine Movie Press Club's Movie Child Performer of the Year award for Aswang).

Among the films she made include Paano na sa Mundo ni Janet (1987), Super Inday and the Golden Bibe (1988), Petrang Kabayo at ang Pilyang Kuting (1988), Good Morning, Titser (1988), Twist: Ako si Ikaw, Ikaw si Ako (1990), I Have 3 Eggs (1990), Dobol Dribol (1992), Hulihin: Probinsiyanong Mandurukot (1993), Computer Combat (1997), and Shake, Rattle & Roll VI (1997).

As is common among child stars, their fame diminish with time – many unable to return in adolescence, much more in adulthood in the limelight they grew up in.  And for a while, Seguerra, too, seemed to be headed that way.  That is, of course, until Pagdating ng Panahon.

In 2001, under Alpha Records, Seguerra started – and immediately established – her career as a singer with a song of the same name from an album, which, eventually was certified quintuple platinum.  The song and the album also won her the Awit Award for Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist.

That wasn’t a one-album wonder, fortunately, with her follow-up Pinakamamahal receiving a gold record award only two weeks after its release, aside from giving her the another hit single in Akala Mo.  The following albums (A First! Live in Concert, Open Arms, Sabi ng Kanta, et cetera) proved just as successful.

Better yet, Seguerra was able to return to the small and big screens, playing in Enteng Kabisote 3: Okay Ka Fairy Ko 2, 3 and 4 (2002, 2005, and 2007), and Maala-ala Mo Kaya (in a role that won her more awards).