Push Admin

Get up close and personal with the “Zoomers” barkada

Article (news)

Liezel dela Cruz

<p>ABS-CBN welcomes a fresh batch of artists to look forward to, discovering new talents left and right, and giving Gen Z stars their breakthroughs and platforms to make a name for themselves.</p><p>In the youth-oriented show “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-news/zoomers-youtube-online-views-reaches-more-than-2m-21571" target="_blank"><strong><u>Zoomers</u></strong></a>,” young and talented stars take on their biggest roles yet, following a rigorous audition process. Get to know the newest ‘barkada’ to stan in these exclusive videos from ent.abs-cbn.com. Here, Harvey Bautista, Criza Taa, Luke Alford, Krystl Ball, and Ralph de Leon shared trivia bits about themselves.</p><p>We begin with Harvey, who isn’t entirely a new guy in showbiz (he started as a child star as part of “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/goinbulilit" target="_blank"><em><strong><u>Goin’ Bulilit</u></strong></em></a>&quot;) but has got a new wave of attention when he bagged the role of Jiggs, a diligent student often wrapped up in his own world. Harvey is a guy of many talents. Apart from acting, directing and producing films, he also has dancing chops to boast– he used to train with the hip-hop group Philippine Allstars. Add to his long list of special skills: cooking and moving his ears without touching them.</p><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="06b9cac5decc13edae3497a22831561a" data-ivs-spid="3001384" data-ivs-vid="2949718"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>If there’s one trait Harvey and his on-screen partner Criza share in common, it would have to be their intense determination.</p><p>Criza enters a new era in her career as a lead star in a series. Looking back on her journey, she joined showbiz through Camp Star Hunt wherein she went through weekly tasks before moving into the ‘<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/pbbs10" target="_blank"><em><strong><u>Pinoy Big Brother</u></strong></em></a>” house as an official housemate. She got evicted from the house after three weeks, but her dreams certainly didn’t stop there.</p><p>Her PBB stint became her access point to showbiz. Soon after, her acting career started via “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/kadenangginto" target="_blank"><em><strong><u>Kadenang Ginto</u></strong></em></a>” where she played Roxy. She was also cast in the two seasons of DonBelle’s “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/hesintoher" target="_blank"><em><strong><u>He’s Into Her</u></strong></em></a>” series.</p><p>In the video, Criza revealed that leche flan is her favorite dessert, city lights and sunset make her feel relaxed, and that she used to have a habit of biting her nails.</p><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="06b9cac5decc13edae3497a22831561a" data-ivs-spid="3001384" data-ivs-vid="2949721"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Ralph plays the campus achiever, student-leader Atom. A contrast to his all-work-and-no-play image in the series, he has a lot of hobbies and interests in real life, such as playing video games. He’s also into anime, as he spent most of the COVID-19 quarantine period exploring different anime series such as “Demon Slayer” and “Jujutsu Kaisen.”</p><p>Apart from his acting, modelling, and hosting chops, Ralph can also play the piano. He started learning to play the instrument in first grade. While this talent of his took a backseat in high school, he’s currently working to revive it to add to his list of special skills.</p><p>Bonus trivia: he’s an athlete too! He was part of the Ateneo Men’s Judo team, and a gold medalist at that.</p><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="06b9cac5decc13edae3497a22831561a" data-ivs-spid="3001384" data-ivs-vid="2949719"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Luke has got the looks and talent that caught the attention of directors Laurenti Dyogi, Chad Vidanes, and Theodore Boborol, who made up the judging panel in the “Zoomers” audition.</p><p>The Fil-Brit heartthrob got a headstart in the industry when he joined “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/thevoicekids2023" target="_blank"><em><strong><u>The Voice Kids Philippines</u></strong></em></a>” Season 2 (2015), making all three judges turn their chairs with his performance of Train’s “Hey, Soul Sister.” He picked Lea Salonga’s team.</p><p>His participation in the “<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/thevoicekids2023" target="_blank"><em><strong><u>The Voice Kids</u></strong></em></a>” was only the beginning of his showbiz career. In 2016, he was cast in the kid’s show “Team YeY” where he got to showcase more of his skills apart from his musicality. Speaking of music, Luke shares that he enjoys listening to classic songs, particularly from the ‘60s to ‘70s, such as those by Matt Monro.</p><p>Despite working as a young talent, he had a largely pleasant childhood. “Noong bata ako, mahilig po ako magic ng mga cards,” he recalls.</p><p>Well, with his versatility and confidence, he can face almost anything, except for one – “Takot ako sa ipis na lumilipad,” he playfully admits. “Sobra akong kinikilabutan ‘pag may nakikita akong ipis na lumilipad.”</p><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="06b9cac5decc13edae3497a22831561a" data-ivs-spid="3001384" data-ivs-vid="2949720"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>After she marked her coming of age in last year’s <a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/starmagic/world/star-magical-prom-2023" target="_blank"><strong><u>Star Magical Prom</u></strong></a>, 18-year-old Krystl is on fire and ready for bolder things ahead. She’s taking on her biggest acting break as Tania in “Zoomers” where she shares a GL (girls’ love) storyline with fellow Star Magic artist Kei Kurosawa, solidifying the length she would go for her chosen craft.</p><p>We learned that this Bisaya beauty is a sporty gal, she can do a tongue trick (play the video and watch her twist her tongue into a cloverleaf), and she’s fascinated with Studio Ghibli films.</p><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="06b9cac5decc13edae3497a22831561a" data-ivs-spid="3001384" data-ivs-vid="2949722"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Are you already a fan of this bunch? Based on their performances in the episodes of “Zoomers,” we can all agree that these young stars are certainly going places.</p><div><small><em>*Photo credit Theodore Boborol IG</em></small></div>

Here are the cast members of “Zoomers” – Harvey Bautista, Criza Taa, Luke Alford, Krystl Ball, and Ralph de Leon- the freshest talents to watch for! 