Donna Cariaga, emosyonal na ikinuwento ang journey bago makapasok sa showbiz
- Donna Cariaga revealed that she never initially planned to become an actor and accidentally joined Tanghalang SLU while studying in college
- She moved to Manila alone in 2017 without a manager or industry connections to pursue more acting opportunities
- Winning Funny One on It's Showtime in 2017 became her unexpected entry into mainstream entertainment
- Despite facing criticism, rejection, and the pressure of being known as a comedian, Donna continues to audition and pursue new opportunities
PAY ATTENTION: stay informed and follow us on Google News!
Actress and comedian Donna Cariaga has opened up about her unexpected journey in the entertainment industry, revealing that acting was never part of her original plans before an opportunity in college changed her life.
Source: Instagram
In an Instagram post, Donna looked back on her beginnings in theater, her decision to pursue acting in Manila, and the challenges of building a career as a freelance performer. She also reflected on how winning It's Showtime's Funny One competition in 2017 helped introduce her to mainstream audiences.
“Before the cameras, there was theater. I accidentally joined Tanghalang SLU in college because I needed to support myself through school. I didn't even plan on becoming an actor. Plot twist: naging buhay ko pala,” Donna shared.
Although she is widely recognized for her comedic personality and ability to entertain audiences, Donna revealed that her life outside work is quite different from the image people see on screen and onstage.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app!
“I'm actually an introvert with an extremely extroverted job. My job requires me to talk to strangers, cry in front of people, make people laugh, perform in front of hundreds of people, attend events, network, audition, pitch myself...then go home and not talk to anyone for 3 business days,” she added.
In 2017, Donna moved to Manila by herself to pursue more opportunities, despite having no manager or established connections in the entertainment industry.
“I moved to Manila with no manager and honestly… no connections. So most of the time, ang diskarte ko: ‘Sige, audition lang.’ Tapos bahala na si Lord,” she recalled.
Her career took a significant turn when she joined Funny One, a comedy competition on It's Showtime. The opportunity became a turning point that helped her gain wider recognition.
“Then Funny One happened. One audition changed the trajectory of my life. From someone who was trying to figure out where acting could take me… biglang may nakakakilala na sa pangalan ko,” she wrote.
Winning the second edition of the competition in 2017 opened doors for Donna, but it also brought expectations about her comedic persona.
“And suddenly, people expected me to be funny. Which is a different kind of pressure when you personality is actually just…tahmik. Wow! I won Funny One in 2017, and that became my unexpected entry point into the mainstream industry,” she said.
Donna also acknowledged that increased public visibility exposed her to different reactions, including criticism and ridicule.
“And yes, being visible means people will have opinions about you. Some people will love you. Some people will make fun of you. Some people will reduce you to a meme, a face, a joke, a bad performance, a weird outfit, a bad angle. And sometimes you laugh with them. Sometimes it hurts,” she shared.
Despite these experiences, Donna continues to audition and work toward opportunities that once seemed beyond her reach.
“I still don't have the most connected path in this industry. I still audition. I still get rejected. I still get nervous. I still question myself. But I also keep getting opportunities I once thought were impossible,” she wrote.
She traced her journey from performing in a small theater in Baguio to working in television, comedy, films, and various stage and screen productions. For Donna, being a freelance actor means continuing to pursue work even without knowing when the next opportunity will arrive.
Looking ahead, she remains committed to learning, growing, and embracing new roles as she builds her career.
“So, hi. I’m Donna. Actor. Comedian. Theater kid. Freelancer. Professional auditioner. Occasional overthinker. Still building a career. Still figuring it out. Still saying yes to the next thing,” she said.
Donna Liza Cariaga, professionally known as Donna Cariaga, is a Filipina comedienne, actress, and writer who first rose to fame after winning the second season of It's Showtime's "Funny One" comedy competition in 2017. Known for her relatable "hugot" stand-up routines, she has since expanded her career into television and film, appearing in projects like A Very Good Girl, Mano Po Legacy: Her Big Boss, and LOL: Last One Laughing Philippines.
In another report, Maja Salvador shared how becoming a mother has given her a deeper appreciation of love and shaped her approach to acting. She also thanked viewers for embracing her villainous character, Abi Mercado, in Someone, Someday. Maja revealed that she and Kathryn Bernardo maintained some distance on set to stay focused on their intense roles. She also jokingly reacted to viewers noticing her chemistry with McCoy De Leon, teasing about becoming part of a love team after having a child.
Meanwhile, Joshua Garcia said that being in a relationship does not have to hinder a showbiz career, stressing the importance of professionalism and commitment to work. He also shared that he has no regrets about joining a love team, as the experience taught him valuable lessons. Joshua added that he does not consider being part of a love team essential to achieving success and expressed appreciation for his former on-screen partner, Julia Barretto. Their reunion movie, Always Yours, Never Mine, earned more than ₱100 million at the box office as of October 11 and is set for international screenings in several countries.
Bagong feature: Tingnan ang mga balitang para sa'yo ➡️ hanapin ang "Recommended for you" block at mag-enjoy!
Source: KAMI.com.gh
