Life and career
1996–2001
Elizabeth Jane Urbano Oineza was born in the town of Bani, Pangasinan to Erwin Oineza, a businessman in Metro Manila, and his wife Jennifer Urbano. [8] The oldest among three siblings, she lived with her family throughout the Ilocos region. Oineza is fluent in Tagalog and English, with some proficiency in Ilokano. She is of mostly Pangasinan and Ilocano ancestry. [9] She is also Roman Catholic. [10]
Scouted to join the entertainment industry at an early age, Oineza's first appearances on television began as a child model in over twenty TV commercials for various product brands. [11]
From then on, Oineza became her family's sole breadwinner after her parents resigned from their respective jobs to assist her in her career. The family moved from the provinces to live in Pasig and then later in Quezon City. [12] [13] [14] [15]
2001–2012
Immediately after a popular shampoo ad was released, a talent manager urged Oineza to venture into acting. She made her acting debut at the age of 5 in the primetime teleserye Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan (2001–2003). She then portrayed a child version of a female protagonist in Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas (2003–2004) and Marina (2004) respectively. She soon came to prominence by joining the children's sketch comedy gag show Goin' Bulilit in various skits and parody roles. [11] After graduating from Goin' Bulilit for three years, she was cast in the live-action fantasy series Kung Fu Kids (2008) as one of seven kids holding different personalities to be united by a prophecy. [16] [3] Kung Fu Kids earned a 37.1% national viewer rating according to NUTAM in the Philippines. [17]
Since then, Oineza became a staple for local soap operas, appearing in supporting and guest roles in Ligaw na Bulaklak (2008), Maria la del Barrio (2011), Oka Tokat (2012). In several episodes of the drama anthologies Maalaala Mo Kaya and Wansapanataym . [18] In the midst of drama portrayals, she obtained more challenging roles. Oineza materialized on the big screen with her first indie short in Sampalataya for Philippine's 2009 Urban Mediamakers Film Festival Entry, playing the role of a blind girl who dreams in colors but sees everything in black and white. She returned to co-starring in Star Cinema-produced mainstream movies, namely Miss You Like Crazy (2010), I Do (2010), and Amorosa (2012). [19] She also participated in the period indie, Bayaning Pepe, a film under the direction of Carlos Morales, encompassing a story traced back into the younger years of National Hero Jose Rizal. She received rave reviews from independent film critics as she played the infamous Leonor Rivera, Rizal's "lover by correspondence". [20] [21]
2013–2017
In 2013, Oineza gained international recognition for her performance in the drama anthology Maalaala Mo Kaya for the episode "Manika" (lit. Doll) aired in 2012. [22] She earned a Finalist Certificate for Best Performance by an Actress at the New York Festivals, nominee for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Single Drama at the Golden Screen Awards, and Best Drama nomination at the International Emmy Awards. [23] [24] [25] [26] Oineza played the role Nene, a girl raped by her stepfather, witnesses her mother succumb to drug addiction and escapes to a convent. The "Manika" episode broke barriers as one of the most-talked about episodes in the Maalaala Mo Kaya anthology, reaching a 40% national viewer rating via Kantar Media/TNS. [27] [28]
Oineza was relaunched as part of Star Magic 2013. [29] She was cast in a minor supporting role in Muling Buksan ang Puso and a guest role in Juan dela Cruz . [30] Separately, she appeared in another Maalaala Mo Kaya episode "Bimpo" where she played a young woman born with cerebral palsy. Her portrayal garnered her a second nod for Best Single Performance by an Actress at the 27th PMPC Star Awards for Television, alongside acclaimed veteran actress Nora Aunor. [31]
In 2014, Oineza joined Pinoy Big Brother: All In as a celebrity housemate. [32] She gained mixed attentions and viewer relevance because of her love-lines and strong personality. [33] [34] [35] [36] After 120 days, she was named 3rd Big Placer. [37]
In 2015, she had her first lead role in the afternoon teleserye Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita , playing the role of Corrine, a determined daughter desires to fix her broken family. [38]
Oineza was also featured in Sponge Cola's single "Move On", released locally and worldwide via iTunes. [39] [40] [41] She then starred in several movies including The Love Affair (2015), Always Be My Maybe (2016), Bloody Crayons (2017), and Haunted Forest (2017).
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