Career
2008–2012: career beginnings, Goin' Bulilit, and TOP
At the age of two, she performed in various TV commercials for firms such as Vaseline, Johnson's Baby, Cheez Whiz, McDonald's, and Jollibee. [2] [3] She become more prominent when she joined the children's comedy show Goin' Bulilit in 2008.
Aside from that, she also played minor roles for various series such as May Bukas Pa , Nasaan Ka, Elisa? , A Beautiful Affair , and several episodes of Maalaala Mo Kaya . She has also played roles in films such as For The First Time , The Reunion , and Amorosa: The Revenge . During her stay in Goin' Bulilit, she was first paired with fellow actor Nash Aguas for the episode Goin' Bulilit Presents: In My Dreams.
In 2012, she was included in the group Tweens Of Pop together with fellow Bulilit stars Angel Sy, Mika dela Cruz, and Noemi Oineza. The group released a self-titled extended play under Star Music, its lead single Crush becoming the OST for the sitcom Luv U starring Miles Ocampo, Marco Gumabao, Angeli Gonzales, CJ Navato, Kiray Celis, and Igi Boy Flores.
2013–2016: Luv U, The NLex Loveteam and her debut in the music scene
In 2013, she exited Goin' Bulilit alongside fellow Bulilits Kobi Vidanes, Joseph Andre Garcia, Aaron Juntas, and Angel Sy. [4]
Her first lead role was when she played as Lexie Domingo in the second season of the youth-oriented comedy TV sitcom Luv U, the official starting point of her loveteam partnership with Gimme 5 member Nash Aguas, famously known as "NLex". [5] From there, they have been paired again multiple times, their other projects include various MMK and Wansapanataym episodes.
She also played the young Maria Mercedes in the eponymous series. In 2014, she and Aguas were paired again to do Camille and Drew in the television series Bagito which was based on the Wattpad series of the same name by Noreen Capili. [6]
After Luv U concluded in 2016, Ilacad created a YouTube channel and started uploading Beauty, Lifestyle, and Travel vlogs as well as Song Music Covers. [7] In the same year, she and Aguas landed a role on the fourth season of the hit series Doble Kara as Patricia Hernandez and Paolo Acosta. [8]
She also played the role Jewel, Angel Locsin's sister in the award-winning film Everything About Her with Vilma Santos. [9] In addition, she joined the reality music competition We Love OPM: The Celebrity Sing-Offs as part of Team Yeng: Oh My Girls. She, together with GirlTrends member Krissha Viaje, and 88rising artist Ylona Garcia were coached and trained by their mentor Pop Rock Royalty Yeng Constantino. The girls finished the competition as runner-ups just behind the winner, Team Erik's Tres Kantos. [10] Soon after finishing We Love OPM, she was launched as Star Music’s newest Teen Pop Rock Artist. She released her debut album To The Moon & Back with the spunky carrier single Pakipot, Suplado with music video directed by Kean Cipriano, featuring Nash Aguas. Her album had six songs: Not Too Young, Kung Pwede Lang, Pakipot, Suplado, Kahit Saan, Kahit Kailan, Dream Boat, Puso, and an acoustic version of Kahit Saan, Kahit Kailan, also featuring Aguas. The songs from this album were originals were written by her best friend, Eunice Jorge, the vocalist of rock band Gracenote. [11]
Her debut album became a hit after consistently charting in MOR 101.9's Biga10 for several weeks. [12] [13]
2017–2020: Loveteam breakup and her solo career
In 2017, she received her Silver Play Creator Award from YouTube for surpassing over 100k subscribers in ASAP Chillout . Currently, her channel has more than 670,000 subscribers. [14]
In the same year, Ilacad and Aguas were paired again in the crime drama television series The Good Son as Justine and Calvin. The series lasted until April 13, 2018, and the ending also marked the conclusion of Ilacad and Aguas' loveteam. The pair, with support from the management decided to split-up as a means for them to focus on each other's solo careers. [15] [16]
Apart from The Good Son, Ilacad also appeared in Star Cinema's action-comedy film Extra Service starring Arci Muñoz, Coleen Garcia, and Jessy Mendiola, and romantic-comedy film Finally Found Someone starring Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz. Aside from these, she also played roles in Maalaala Mo Kaya as young Karla Estrada in the episode Autograph [17] with Angelica Panganiban and Karla Estrada and as Joy in the episode Kulungan with Lorna Tolentino. [18]
Ilacad also took part in ABS-CBN's 2017 Summer Station ID, Ikaw Ang Sunshine Ko along with BoybandPH, Maymay Entrata, Kisses Delavin, Yong Muhajil, and Edward Barber, Noven Belleza, Sam Mangubat and Froilan Canlas, and Sue Ramirez, Kristel Fulgar, Sharlene San Pedro, Kira Balinger, and Ylona Garcia. [19]
In 2019, Ilacad played the role of Luna Dela Cuesta, in the drama series The Killer Bride [20] as well as Rose in the iWantTFC original series Call Me Tita . [21]
In October the same year, she scored her first lead film role through the horror film Santigwar under Horseshoe Studios and Reality Entertainment. She played the role of Hasmin.. [22]
She also played the role of Bobbie Salazar (originally played by Bea Alonzo) [23] in the 2020 film Four Sisters Before the Wedding , the prequel of the 2013 hit Four Sisters and a Wedding . [24]
After four years, in 2020, she came back to the music scene with new single Love at First Sight under a new music label, OFF THE RECORD (under Exclusive License to MCA Music Inc.) [25]
2021–present: new projects, new music, PBB, and KDLex
In 2021, she was cast as Hannah Salcedo in the Kapamilya Channel drama series Init Sa Magdamag , where she was paired with Gab Lagman. [26] She also released a Frank Pole remix and Acoustic version of her 2020 single Love at First Sight [27] and another single entitled Stay Right Here [28] which she promoted on It's Showtime's segment Hide and Sing as TagoKanta #1, where AC Bonifacio successfully guessed her as the episode's celebrity singer. [29]
She also starred in another Maalaala Mo Kaya episode Libro with Kira Balinger and Yves Flores. [30]
In the same year, she joined Pinoy Big Brother: Kumunity Season 10 , the tenth overall season of Pinoy Big Brother , as part of the first batch of housemates in the Celebrity Edition, [31] having been evicted on Day 71 alongside fellow housemate KD Estrada. [32] Her time inside the Bahay ni Kuya resulted in a discussion on body dysmorphia, [33] after an altercation between her and fellow housemate and Init Sa Magdamag co-star Albie Casiño, [34] a conflict that occurred with fellow housemates livestreamer Eian Rances and comedian Brenda Mage, [35] and her eventual closeness with KD Estrada that grew as they consoled each other from their individual episodes inside the house. [36]
In 2022, after being evicted, she and Estrada began to appear on a number of shows and interviews together such as IWant ASAP, Kumunity: G sa Gabiwith Robi Domingo , KAPAMILYA Journeys of Hope with Father Tito Caluag, PBB Kumu Big Arrival where they performed with musical icon Rico Blanco [37] and ASAP Natin 'To as singers/performers. Ilacad was also chosen as the host of the online gameshow Quiz Mo Ko on the Kumu platform for the month of February—and eventually extended until March. [38]
ABS-CBN launched a project for the victims of typhoon Odette —100 days of various fundraising activities starting from the 10-day By Request benefit concert. KDLex, Estrada and Ilacad's love team partnership were part of the first lineup of artists to perform. During their session, they reached over 100,000 live viewers. [39]
Shortly after the announcement, Ilacad and Estrada held the online fan concert event through KTX.ph entitled Closer: The KDLex Fan Con on February 26, in time with her 22nd birthday. [40] SVIP and VIP tickets for their concert reportedly became sold-out in just an hour, and several times more instantly after being restocked due to popular demand. [41]
Ilacad also released her first single of the year, Paano (How) which peaked #1 on iTunes Philippines. Paano was her first self-written song to be officially released to the public. [42] Prior to the KDLex concert, the pair delivered their first single Misteryo (Mystery) under Star Music, [43] as well as the Pinoy Big Brother: Kumunity Season 10 - Adult Edition eviction song, When I See You Again which the pair wrote and composed together during their time in the Big Brother House. In less than 12 hours, the two singles placed #1 and #2 respectively on the iTunes Philippines Top 100. [44]
Ahead of the 2022 Philippine presidential election, Ilacad along with Estrada, Angela Ken, Antenorcruz, FANA, iDolls, Janine Berdin, JM Yosures, JMKO, Jona, Anji Salvacion, Lara Maigue, Reiven Umali, and the TNT Boys took part in the release of the reimagined version of Pag-Isipan Mo Ang Boto Mo (Think Over Your Vote) which was originally composed and recorded by Jamie Rivera. [45]
In April 2022, Ilacad was the first cover girl in the inaugural edition of Star Magic's digital video magazine SLAY, which marked the agency's 30th anniversary. [46] [47]
In May the same year, Ilacad and Estrada starred in the miniseries Run To Me directed by Dwein Baltazar. [48] [49] Along with the series, the pair also dropped their soundtrack album which reached no.1 on the local iTunes chart. Their official soundtrack album ranked atop the local album list, while five of its tracks placed in the top 10 songs chart, Hiwaga (Magic) at 1st spot, followed by Palagi (Alwaya) at 2nd, Kasi, Kung, Kahit (Because, If, Despite) at 3rd, Misteryo at 4th, and When I See You Again at 5th. The single versions of When I See You Again, and Misteryo also placed 6th and 8th respectively. In total, seven out of the top 10 songs on iTunes Philippines at the time were from the pair. [50]
In August, Star Magic toured in the United States as part of their 30th anniversary celebration, with Ilacad among its performers. The artists first performed in the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila, followed by the US shows in Kings Theater, Brooklyn, The Warfield, San Francisco, and in the Saban Theatre, Beverly Hills. [51] [52]
Through their fan's support, Ilacad and Estrada landed a billboard in South Korea as the pair won the Best International Artist at IdolPick's 82nd Electronic Signboard Event, [53] [54] [55] [56] and again the following month at its 83rd Electronic Signboard Event. [57] [58]
In November, the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) included Ilacad and Estrada as its members and selected them as lead actors in PETA's return to producing original Filipino musicals through musical play Walang Aray (No Pain), a take on Severino Reyes' 1898 classic zarzuela Walang Sugat (No Wound). The play opened on February 17 and ran until May 14, 2023. [59] [60]
