DJ Jhaiho: More goals to pursue

After rising to the top of the disc jockey heap, MOR 101.9’s DJ Jhaiho continues to look for new mountains to climb — figuratively speaking, of course. He may be one of the station’s most popular DJs, but he’s in no way resting on his laurels. In fact, he has since parlayed his popularity as a DJ into a burgeoning TV career.

?Born Jireh Seruelo in real life, Jhaiho says he has always wanted to be on TV. When he was in college at LPU Manila, he joined a theater group to get some acting experience. However, he set aside his dream of becoming an actor when he got the job at MOR. It was in his capacity as a DJ and event host that he met Karla Estrada, mother of ABS-CBN heartthrob Daniel Padilla. Jhaiho reveals that the Magandang Buhay host was instrumental in helping him get his first acting job.

“Tita Karla is a blessing to me and my family,” says Jhaiho. “We became close because I would often host her son’s events for work. When Daniel released his first album back in 2012, I hosted most of his mall shows. After that, Tita Karla started hiring me to host their family’s personal events, such as the blessing of their new house and Daniel’s surprise birthday party.”

Jhaiho says that Karla made him feel like a member of her family. “She makes me feel that she cares about me. Not in material things but she always gives me advice. She was also one of the people who pushed for me to be included in the Pangako Sa‘Yo remake, starring Daniel and Kathryn Bernardo. I am so very thankful.”

?Although Jhaiho had Karla on his side, he still had to audition for the show. He showed up on the day of the auditions to read for a role in Pangako Sa‘Yo, although he had no idea which one. He auditioned for the show’s staff, which included directors Dado Lumibao, Rory Quintos and Olivia Lamasan. It was only when Jhaiho received the script he was to read from that he found out he was up for the role of Coring, the sidekick of the show’s antagonist Claudia Buenavista.

?At the time, Jhaiho didn’t think his audition went well, so he was pleasantly surprised when he was told he got the part. The show ended last year, but he looks back on the experience with fondness. It was his first big acting job and he learned a lot from it and from his co-stars. It was also because of his stint in Pangako Sa‘Yo that Jhaiho was able to travel abroad. “People got to know me because I played Coring. I was also able to perform at the Oracle Arena in San Francisco last year.”

Along with his elevated public profile came more opportunities to work — and, he admits, an elevated stress level. But he deals with that by remembering who he’s working so hard for. He also budgets his time wisely. That’s what helps him maintain a positive outlook.

“My family motivates me. I get my energy for everything I have to do from them. Time management is also important if you want to be able to juggle many things,” he advises. “Also, if you’re passionate about what you do, you have to discipline yourself. Don’t go out or stay up too late. Rest up instead so you can recharge and have enough energy to fulfill all your responsibilities.”

?He says there are still lots of items he wants to tick off his bucket list. “I still have a lot of dreams left to fulfill. I want to be the lead in a movie and teleserye, I want to do a solo concert, and I also want to have my own talk show. This is just the beginning. I know I have so much to learn,” he says. — With reports from Almed Garcia and Julian Mauricio