Star Magic celebrated yet another milestone on July 25, 2025, as the management formally welcomed a fresh batch of artists at the “Shining Now” contract signing and mediacon event.
The special gathering featured a lineup of promising young stars as well as renowned fitness coaches Toni and Jim Saret—long-time partners of Star Magic—who officially signed under the management.
The coaches’ signing symbolized Star Magic’s deeper commitment to nurturing artists holistically, ensuring that being a Tatak Star Magic goes beyond charisma; it also means cultivating discipline and wellness. According to Coach Toni Saret, “Ang gusto naming mangyari ay maging pangkalahatan na ang fitness at maging abot kamay. Through this, through what you’ve given us, we get each and every Filipino fitter, healthier, and stronger.”
Kicking off the lineup of rising stars was Carmella Ford, who came with the loving support of her mom and co-manager, Karla Estrada. A standout in the recent Star Magic All-Star Games, where she was named part of the Mythical Six, Carmella dreams of taking on action-packed roles. When asked about her plans for her showbiz journey, she said, “I hope to grow and to prove myself, and to create my own path here in the industry.”
Iñigo Jose, son of actor James Blanco, was also introduced. At the event, he was supported by his family, including his mom, Tania Creighton, and his brother. With a clear vision of becoming both an action star and a rom-com lead, Iñigo is determined to carve his own path in showbiz. Thinking about the challenges he might face in his career, he expressed, “Sa challenges… syempre pag humarap naman sa akin ‘yun, I’ve just got to face it with grace.”
Twelve-year-old Michelle Garcia may be the youngest in the group, but she’s already an experienced performer. Joined by her proud parents and co-managers, Patrick Garcia and Nikka Garcia, Michelle’s stage presence and passion for dance show that talent speaks louder than age. She has already performed as a front act at the Grand BINIverse concert at the Big Dome.
Also under Star Music, she shared about how her passion for performing began: “Actually my dad didn’t influence me; it came from me. I would watch K-pop, P-pop, everything! So from watching that, I wanted to perform.”
Ice Almeria, Time to Dance grand champion, known for his standout dance moves, proved that there’s more to him than meets the eye. Ice expressed how grateful he was for Star Magic: “From Time to Dance to Star Magic, I am really beyond grateful. Siguro po nakita ni Lord how I started nine years ago. This is really what I’ve prayed for…Hindi pa rin ako bumibitaw sa munting pangarap na may mararating ang pagsasayaw.”
The Mitra sisters—Ezri, Julia, and Tasha, daughters of concert producer Cacai Mitra and renowned musical director and composer Raul Mitra, and nieces of Asia’s Songbird, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid—are ready to make their own names in the industry. The eldest of the sisters, Ezri, told the audience about what makes their group different: “Something unique about us is that we’re not afraid to fight, because we’re sisters, we’re very upfront with each other, and we tell each other everything that we need to know straight up. Because at the end of the day, we’ll be okay, because we’re doing it with good intentions.” The trio is also currently working on original music under Star Music.
Joaquin Arce, son of producer Neil Arce, was a charismatic addition to the roster. An aspiring actor, this Korean drama fan is eager to face the camera and begin his journey in the spotlight. He shared, “It’s an honor to walk alongside the best to ever do it. To walk alongside them and the cast and crew behind them just means that I have to keep up and do my very best… so it means a lot to me.”
Up next was Christof, a budding rockstar, who arrived with his mom and co-manager, actress Gladys Reyes. Also a recording artist under Star Music, Christof is ready to explore new creative heights when it comes to his passion. Reflecting on being a celebrity and staying true to oneself, he said, “Not only do we as celebrities have to keep ourselves authentic, but in return, we also want to see authenticity in our audience.”
Rounding out the new batch was Angelina Cruz, one of Star Magic’s newest shining stars. While newly signed, she’s already part of the upcoming Kapamilya series The Alibi, where she stars alongside Kim Chiu and Paulo Avelino. When asked about her ultimate dream, Angelina said, “My ultimate dream is to play a lead role in a teleserye or movie. Speaking of serye, watch out for me in an upcoming Kapamilya serye coming out very very soon, I’m so excited!”
Though composed of fresh faces, ‘Shining Now’ was a memorable event filled with promise, potential, and passion. These new artists, each with their own story and drive, are all eager to shine and show the world what Tatak Star Magic truly means.
