BORN TO ENTERTAIN
Alexa Ilacad is in it for the long run. She’s determined to stay the course and ready to strike while the iron’s hot. Talking to her proved just this. Each question thrown came back with a dignified response filled with sensible pride and a burning passion.
Young and packed with wisdom at merely 22 years old, she’s already part of a crowd that’s touted to embody Star Magic’s future. Wondering how she was bestowed with such an arduous yet glorious responsibility? By realizing that life is no race.
“I don’t really ask God, ‘Why them?’ I ask, ‘When me?’ So it made me realize that life is not a race and we all have different timelines in achieving our dreams or getting God’s promises for you,” she tells me. “So, I think that patience is really such a big key factor if you want to enter the business.”
Another bullet point in her plan to succeed? Striving for excellence so she can do more, more, and more. And this was in no way said in passing, as it doesn’t only reflect in her professional life, but also in her personal endeavors.
She recalls, “If it’s ‘my biggest success’ in my personal life, it would be that I graduated as a dean’s lister in college. I’m very proud of that. It was so hard and crazy [to study while pursuing this career]. I was working non-stop and I had movies, teleseryes, and all that. You best believe that it drove me crazy. But it was successful naman, fortunately.”
“I guess that’s why I’ve been in the industry for so long: I’ve always been passionate about what I’m doing,” she adds. “Ever since, I’ve always strived for excellence.”
Her pursuit for brilliance is not only to sharpen her own edge, but also to carry the Star Magic badge with honor. For the songbird-slash-actress, to be part of the prestigious talent agency’s roster is to be “Tatak Star Magic.” To belong to this group meant to be granted access to the “highest of highest quality.” And in exchange for Star Magic’s unmatched caliber, she offers her golden gifts—ready to be unraveled and to amaze.
“I feel like I can present them well and at the same time, they can present me well, too,” she says.
Mind you, Alexa’s no stranger to the small screen. She’s been around since she was two years old. The now blossoming star first started as a commercial model, who was discovered while she was on her balcony. After dominating the auditions, she became one of the 3,000 kids stationed at ABS-CBN, vying for a space in the cast of the hit juvenile show, Goin’ Bulilit.
You see, for this multifaceted artist, longevity is the name of the game. However, there are moments when her sincere goal, to remain a relevant name in the industry for as long as she can, transforms into heartache.
“Sometimes people would bash me, ‘Ang tagal-tagal mo na sa industriya but you only got your break now?’” Despite getting flak, she says this with composure: “For me, ang magtagal sa industriya is a big compliment in itself because not everyone can really prolong their career.”
But Alexa is in the right place—a good place where she’s meant to be. Evidence of this fate can be found all the way back to her mother’s pregnancy. The young star shared that where she is now is not only a product of virtuous patience, but also a manifestation of her mother’s desires.
“My mom was the one who really envisioned me as an actress,” she shares. “She wanted to get pregnant with an actress. She made me who I am today in her mind.”
Truly, she was born to entertain.
While there’s more ground to cover, there’s no doubt that Alexa will succeed in her master plan of being in the business for as long as she can. She’s got the guts, but more importantly, a resolve to accomplish what matters the most: being true to herself.
“My greatest achievement in my career would probably be Pinoy Big Brother,” she tells me. “I was able to achieve what I really went there for—which was to introduce myself to the people and to let them know Alexa Ilacad better. The real me, unglamorous, authentic and just raw. Thankfully, that’s what the people saw and they accepted me.”
With Alexa on board, Star Magic’s got a powerful asset in their arsenal and undoubtedly, a future that’s as lustrous as their roster of stars. We can’t wait.