This is an excerpt from the June 2026 Special Issue. Subscribe to MEGA Digital All-Access to read the full story.
Some people are born to do certain things, as if fate wielded an invisible hand to guide certain individuals to their calling. Such is the case for Shaina Magdayao. She entered the world of acting without prior experience or a clear understanding of what she was getting into. But the talent and adaptability were there, which is why she was booking roles as early as six years old.
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Notably, she was cast in the classic family drama Tanging Yaman at just eight years old, joining a cast filled with some of Philippine cinema’s most respected names. “Whenever I look back and reflect, the little Shaina had no clue how fortunate she was to be sharing the screen with the great actors and actresses of our industry. “To be part of something as big as that at a very young age, it is really such a blessing for me,” she expresses, adding that working alongside the star-studded cast laid the groundwork for her growth as an actor.
Over time, Magdayao became a student of her craft, learning and growing from her peers. With age and maturity came a new understanding of her work, one that goes beyond the superficial. “I’ve begun to have this deeper respect for this craft and the people around me. A great performance to me now is something impactful. A good material and a good performance can actually change perspectives or highlight truths in a very vulnerable way. It can also be something very purposeful and very impactful, in a way that it changes the points of view of viewers.”
With over three decades of experience in acting, the child actress-turned-leading lady has been a witness to the industry’s ever-evolving state. With every blessing that comes her way, Magdayao also knows it is a responsibility to represent women well. “Whenever I portray a character, I know that I have to honor the responsibility that comes with telling a good story and portraying another person’s life.”
No longer settling for being a side note, women are now taking up even more space in front of and behind the camera, a fact Magdayao is proud to celebrate and be a part of. “I’m very happy to witness this now that people are embracing their unique talents more and choosing to be seen and choosing to be heard more,” she says. “We have beautiful Filipina women who are producing, directing, and leading. We’re trying to redefine what strength looks like or how a Filipina should act or be.”
Photographed by JERICK SANCHEZ. Creative Direction by PATRICK TY. Art Direction by CLARE MAGNO and BRIE VENTURA. Beauty Direction by AGOO AZCUNA-BENGZON assisted by MARA GO. Sittings Editor PEEWEE REYES-ISIDRO and TREISHA ROVERO. Produced by THESSMAR LECTURA. Image retouching by JONES PALTENG and TROY NONATO. Hair by EMIL BELJOT. Makeup by NIKI MEDINA. Nail Grooming by CRISTINE S. CRISTOBAL, ROWENA D. AYALA, RONA T. SALAZAR, and ANGELYN D. ALVERIO of THE GETAWAY BODY & NAILS SPA. Styled by STEVEN CORALDE, JIA TORRATO, and NIÑA CUYANA of QURATOR INC. Production Design by ARJ MADARANG of JAGGER STUDIOS. Photography Assistants KARL RIMANDO, BUDDY REYES, DAVE ORPILLA, and RYAN ALBANO
Frequently Asked Questions
Magdayao began booking roles at six years old, entering the industry without formal training. Her early career was shaped by natural adaptability and on-set experience, including a prominent role in the classic family film Tanging Yaman at age eight.
Magdayao was cast in Tanging Yaman at eight years old, joining a cast of some of Philippine cinema’s most respected actors. She has described the experience as foundational, crediting the production with laying the groundwork for her growth and discipline as a performer.
Magdayao approaches each role with a deepened respect for the craft, shaped by over three decades of experience. She defines a great performance as one that is purposeful and emotionally honest — capable of shifting perspectives or illuminating truth in a way that resonates with audiences.
Magdayao has spoken about the responsibility she feels to represent women well onscreen, and has expressed pride in the growing number of Filipina women producing, directing, and leading in the industry. She sees the shift as a redefinition of what strength and Filipina identity look like on screen.
Magdayao has been active in Philippine film and television for over three decades, having started her career in the early 1990s as a child actress. Her career arc — from early roles in family drama to her current standing as a leading actress — reflects a sustained commitment to craft and continued evolution as a performer.
