Why Zion Cruz of ‘Apol of My Ai’ is the actor to watch
MANILA, Philippines — If age and categories were set aside, 11-year-old Zion Cruz could have very well held his own in the Best Actor race itself for his performance in Thop Nazareno’s coming-of-age film “Apol of My Ai.”
The Best Actor honor eventually went to Juan Karlos Labajo of “Mono No Aware” and Zion ultimately went home with the Panalong Child Performer award at the 2026 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival last week. Zion’s onscreen father, Zanjoe Marudo, was also named Panalong Pangalawang Aktor for “Apol of My Ai.”
But trophy or no trophy, Zion had already made an impression as Apolinario, or Apol for short, a boy forced to grow up earlier than expected following the loss of his mom and with an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) father who has to leave him again for work abroad. He develops a crush on his music teacher Ai (Rochelle Pangilinan), who somehow makes his gloomy life a little brighter.
But there’s also a rude awakening: For all his attempts to act like a grown-up, Apol is still just a child grappling with issues he shouldn’t have to face in the first place.
Director Thop told us that he knew early on that Zion was right for the titular role.
The two had previously worked together on TV5’s “Ang Himala ni Niño” in 2024, which was Zion’s first major onscreen acting experience. By the time they reunited for “Apol of My Ai,” direk Thop said the change was obvious.
“Parang ibang tao yung dumating sa set, but same name,” the filmmaker recalled.
“Parang yung ilang months na ’di kami nagkita, parang naka-five years na siya sa industry.”
According to direk Thop, Zion’s biggest asset is that “he’s a thinking actor.”
“Iniintindi niya yung kuwento, yung script, which is hard to find sa actors, lalo na sa mga child actors.”
“He also has humor… and he can cry. Charming din siya,” he further complimented the young actor.
Zion, for his part, said one of the most important tips he picked up from his director was to stop thinking of himself while performing.
“Ang pinaka-tumatak po sa akin ay always natural acting po and iwan ko po yung sarili ko and act as the character,” Zion told The STAR.
“Kapag nag-a-acting po ako, (I have to remember) hindi na po ako si Zion, ako na po si Apol. (He told me to) listen and feel the scene po.”
He went on to describe his character as a “curious and determined kid” and said what he liked best about playing Apol was that he “tries to be strong and responsible” despite what he’s going through in life.
Zion likewise admitted that there’s a bit of himself in Apol, particularly his eagerness to experience life.
“Sometimes po, gusto ko na rin pong lumaki agad kasi marami po akong gustong ma-experience and marami pa po akong gustong malaman,” he said.
In the film, Apol does “adult things” by helping his father look after their surplus shop, even as he deals with his own feelings of abandonment and other confusing emotions over his OFW father’s impending and eventual departure.
Some of Zion’s unforgettable scenes are opposite Zanjoe, particularly their touching father-and-son confrontation, which suggests that Apol’s little crush is masking his longing to be loved and his struggle with an absentee father.
Zion further said working with the seasoned actor also became a lesson in how to behave both in front of and behind the camera.
“Marami din po akong natutunan sa kanya, hindi lang po sa acting kundi sa pagiging professional,” he said.
He observed how Zanjoe listened to the director and his co-actors while remaining “sobrang humble” and making sure the young actor never felt left out on set.
Meanwhile, “Apol of My Ai” required Zion to learn something unfamiliar, if not totally alien, to many kids his age: kundiman.
The traditional Filipino love song is woven into the film as an expression of emotions that Apol and his father struggle to say out loud.
“Kundiman became a way of articulating love na hindi nila ma-express,” direk Thop said.
Zion admitted that learning to sing a kundiman was challenging.
“Pero na-realize ko rin po na masarap din pala siyang kantahin because it tells a lot of emotions and a lot of story through the song… Bagong-bago din po talaga siya sa akin.”
Away from acting, Zion is a Grade 6 student, who is still figuring out what he wants to become when he officially grows up.
Asked about his future goals, he said he wants to be a pilot or continue his father’s business, although he’s also open to making acting a lifelong career.
His showbiz idols include Enrique Gil and Alden Richards, while his dream roles are more action-oriented.
“Superhero po and detective po,” he said.
For now, Zion is only at the beginning of his career. But if “Apol of My Ai” is any indication, a Best Actor recognition somewhere along the way may not be such a far-fetched idea.
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