Maalaala Mo Kaya Dec. 31 Episode: Zaijian Jaranilla As Blind Balladeer

Zaijian Jaranilla plays Carl Malone Montecido in the special New Year’s Eve episode of ABS-CBN’s “Maalaala Mo Kaya.” Montecido was one win short of joining the fourth quarter semifinal round of “Tawag ng Tanghalan” on the network’s noontime show, “It’s Showtime.”

Carl Malone Montecido was born with cataract. He is able to see shapes and colors but everything’s a blur. He started joining barangay competitions at a young age. In 2010, he joined “Pilipinas Got Talent” but he failed to win the competition.

Carl Malone Montecido In ‘Mikropono’ – MMK Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve Special

Known as the “Blind Balladeer of Bacolod,” Montecido lost to Mark Laspiñas in Tanghalan’s Nov. 3 episode. (Watch Montecido’s “The Wonder Of You” vs Las Piñas’ “Kastilyong Buhangin” video here.) Fans are convinced Montecido deserved to win in that episode. For his part, Laspiñas won another daily round before losing to Gerhard Pagusan.

thankyou po @MMKOfficial ! <3 kahit konting oras lang po siya lumabas, sobrang napasayanyo po kami <3 #MMKBlindBalladeer pic.twitter.com/7QsaWPe1eI

— JOAQUIN LOVERS OFC (@Joaquin_Lovers) December 31, 2016

@zjanjaranilla your already grow as an actor. Congratulations for your another @MMKOfficial episode.#mmkblindballadeer

— Robi No (@RobiLito_No) December 31, 2016

Hindi hadlang ang kapansanan para makamtan ang pangarap. #MMKBlindBalladeer

— Jonas Marquez ✖️ (@jonaslorence) December 31, 2016

QUICK RECAP: After Carl joined “Pilipinas Got Talent,” a woman (Sandra) reaches out to him and his parents, hoping to adopt the young balladeer. She convinces Carl and his parents that he would see again. Among the four of them, the agreement is clear. But then Sandra decides to involve her sister and brother-in-law to hasten the adoption process. It turns out these two are not the kindest humans on the planet. Because of them, Carl starts to lose interest in music. But over time and through church music, Carl overcomes the horrific ordeal he had been through. He learns about “Tawag ng Tanghalan” and decides to try his luck again. In his letter to ABS-CBN CEO and MMK narrator Charo Santos-Concio, Montecido says he aims to give light to people through his music.

WATCH: Carl Malone Montecido Sings ‘Lead Me Lord’

WATCH: Carl Malone Montecido vs Edzel Ryan Herrera (‘How Did You Know?’)

#MMKTNTBlindBalladeer quickly rose in the list of trending topics on Twitter as soon as MMK started airing. “May Bukas Pa” actor Zaijian Jaranilla is joined by Victor Neri and Maricel Morales as Montecido’s parents. The episode also stars Ana Roces, Lander Vera Cruz, Alex Diaz, Glenda Garcia, Joaquin Reyes, and Nathaniel Brit. Titled “Mikropono,” the episode was directed by Garry Fernando and written by Joan Habana. Interested televiewers who missed the episode may watch “Mikropono” on iWanTv.