NOEL COMIA JR. won the 2017 Cinemalaya best actor award for his title role portrayal of “Kiko Boksingero”, the youngest actor to win the award.
The film was directed by Thop Nazareno and that was when he was only 12 years old. Now, Noel is 16 and he is reunited with Direk Thop in TV5’s inspirational dramedy that starts airing tomorrow after “Frontline Pilipinas”, “Niña Niño”, where he shares topbilling with Maja Salvador.
Noel started as a child actor doing TV commercials and stage musicals. Also a good singer, he joined “The Voice Kids” with Lea Salonga as his coach.
He is so talented that he can also play various musical instruments. He has done several other indie films and has also appeared in several episodes of “Maalaala Mo Kaya”.
“Niña Niño” is his first teleserye where he plays one of the title roles no less. So how is it working again with Direk Thops and with Maja Salvador?
“Working with Direk Thop is a great experience, chill lang,” he says. “Working with Ate Maja is such an honor. First teleserye ko ito so may konting kaba, but with them in the show, I’m inspired to do my very best.
"Si Ate Maja, very approachable. We had a workshop before taping started at may rapport agad kami. Busog na busog lagi ako kapag kasama ko siya kasi lagi siyang nagpapakain.
"We get to bond well kahit hindi sa eksena but even off cam, so you’d really see na parang magkapatid kami talaga. At si Ate Maja, napakagaling niya. Walang dadaig sa kanya.”
In “Niña Niño”, they play a brother and sister who are both con artists.
Noel will pretend that he collapses in front of people and when a crowd has formed around him, Maja will pick the pockets of the kibitzers ogling at Noel.
One day, Noel figures in an accident and people thought he has died. Maja prays fervently to the Lord for Him to return Noel to her. Noel is revived and later on, they discover that he is given the power to heal sick people.
“Parang nagmilagro sa akin ang Diyos kaya nakakagaling ako ng mga maysakit,” adds Noel.
He has to grow his hair long for the show. “Yung long hair has something to do with the character of Niño. Para may resemblance daw kay Sto. Niño.”
Direk Thop explains further: “We have to give him an iconic look para mas mag-stand out siya sa characterization niya sa story, which aims to serve as an inspiration lalo ngayong we’re facing a lot of problems because of the covid lockdown.
"We want to show na meron pa ring bukas na puede tayong kapitan sa gitna ng ating mga pinagdaraanan ngayon. Tomorrow is another day and there is always hope.”
