New ABS--CBN Child Actor Raikko Mateo Introduced In 'Honesto' To Replace 'Juan De La Cruz'

CHILD ACTOR Raikko Mateo was recruited from a casting call and open auditions held to find the right child actor to play the title role in “Honesto”, the boy whose nose swells whenever he tells a lie. He’s five years old and is in kindergarten 2. The show’s director, Jerry Sineneng, says that they already got a special tutor for Raikko to teach him his lessons on the set. So why did Raikko join showbiz?

“Pangarap ko po talaga mag-artista,” he says. “Gusto kong makita ang sarili ko sa TV.”

So how is the boy on the set and as an actor, considering he has no previous acting experience before? “Okay siya,” says Eddie Garcia, who plays the honest barangay captain in their place called Katapatan City. “Alam niya kung anong ginagawa niya. Masayahin siya at walang attitude sa set.”

“Mabait siya, nakikinig,” says Direk Jerry Sineneng. “Good natured siya. Kahit naglalaro, pag tinawag mo, pay attention agad siya. May sincerity and honesty sa acting niya.”

“Honesto” is a values-laden show that follows in the footsteps of similar past shows like “May Bukas Pa” and “100 Days to Heaven”. It’s theme song is the mass anthem, “Pananagutan”, as interpreted by Gary V. “Our aim is to inspire and encourage Filipino viewers here and abroad about the importance of honesty or katapatan,” adds Direk Jerry. “It’s a big challenge for all of us involved in the show dahil ang papalitan naming ‘Juan de la Cruz’, toprater talaga. But we’re confident that our viewers will also like and support ‘Honesto’, lalo sa panahon ngayong laganap ang kakulangan ng honest officials in our government.”