Is Alonzo Muhlach the second coming of Niño Muhlach?

When we think of the term “child wonder”, the name that immediately comes to mind these days is none other than Ryzza Mae Dizon.

Since winning the Little Miss Philippines title in 2012, the 9-year-old sensation has captured the public’s imagination and has proven herself to be a bonafide top-rated TV star and box office draw. She also won numerous accolades including the Best Child Performer award of the Metro Manila Film Festival two years in a row.

In another time, however, there was another child star who was just as phenomenal as Ryzza is today — perhaps even more so. For much of the 1970s and the 1980s, it was Niño Muhlach who was considered as the country’s original child wonder, who even won three FAMAS awards for his performances in “Kutong Lupa”, “Tahan Na, Empoy, Tahan” and “Ang Tatay Kong Nanay”, the last two directed by the late National Artist for Film Lino Brocka.

These days, not a few people see Niño’s similarity with his own son, Alonzo, who at 4 is already beginning to make his presence felt in the industry.


After a memorable big screen debut in the Star Cinema drama “The Trial”, Alonzo is currently in the cast of not one but two box office hits in the Metro Manila Film Festival “Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2” and “My Big Bossing”, where he is officially introduced.

Asked about the young Muhlach’s striking resemblance to his father who is now in his 40s, Niño chuckled and admitted that even he is amazed with their similarities.

“Minsan nga ako mismo kinikilabutan sa sobrang pagkakamukha namin. I mean, you look at our pictures, we look so much alike,” Niño recently told Interaksyon.

Asked if he had any reservations when Alonzo started getting film offers after a brief appearance in the reality show “Pinoy Big Brother: All In”, Niño said he could not think of any reason why he should not allow his son to follow in his footsteps.

“Hindi naman kasi naging traumatic yung experience ko sa showbiz. Hindi naging masama yung epekto sa akin, naging mabuti pa nga. Nakapag-ipon ako, naging maganda ang buhay ko so why will I deprive Alonzo from experiencing what I actually enjoyed during my childhood?” he argued.

Niño said that by allowing Alonzo’s career to be managed by showbiz publicist Aster Amoyo, people cannot call him a stage father. Although like any proud dad, Niño said he would always be around to lend his support to his son.

In the recent Metro Manila Film Festival awards night where Alonzo performed the opening dance number with Ryzza, Niño stood up from his seat upon seeing his son and ran near the stage to take photos.

Talent-wise, Niño said it’s not his place to say if Alonzo is already a better actor than he was when they were the same age. “It’s easy for me to say na mas magaling siya sa akin but I’d rather other people say it,” he quipped.

As for comparing Alonzo with Bimby Aquino who co-starred with Ryzza in “My Little Bossings” last year, Niño said the comparison is both unfair and unnecessary.

“I hope they don’t compare them because in the first place, Bimby is much older. Nagsisimula pa lang si Alonzo so nangangapa pa siya at hindi pa ganun kasanay mag-Tagalog,” he pointed out.

One thing that Alonzo has going for him is that he is part of two MMFF entries that are not only box office hits but have also received favorable reviews. “My Big Bossing” in particular is considered by critics to be a vast improvement over its much-maligned predecessor.

Whether or not Alonzo is a factor in the commercial and critical success of “Kubot” and “My Big Bossing” may still be subject to debate since both films have other big stars in their cast. But there is no doubt that the young Muhlach is a rising star to watch out for in 2015.

Niño said preparations are already underway for his son’s next project—a remake of Niño’s 1979 comedy-fantasy blockbuster “Kuwatog”, which was a film adaptation of a serialized komiks novel about a precocious young dwarf. How the film will fare will determine if Alonzo is a big enough star to carry his own projects.

Whatever happens, Niño said he’s just happy to see his little boy enjoying himself, the same way he did during his “child wonder” heydays. He himself is no stranger to MMFF blockbusters, having starred with the late King of Philippine movies Fernando Poe, Jr. in the festival’s 1975 top grosser “Ang Leon at ang Daga”.

“I’m sure matutuwa siya pag nakita niya si Alonzo. Siguradong gagawa siya ng pelikula para sa kanilang dalawa,” he replied when asked how his Tito Ronnie would react if he were still around to see Alonzo today.


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