NATATANDAAN NIYO PA BA SIYA? ITO PALA ANG NANGYARI SA KANYA KAYA BIGLA SIYANG NAWALA SA SHOWBIZ!

She became known for her iconic role as Denise in ABS-CBN’s legendary afternoon drama series Mara Clara, which aired from 1992 to 1997. She also starred in the remake of Trudis Liit, originally led by Vilma Santos, in 1996, where she played the role of Goreng. There’s no denying that Agatha was one of the best child stars of the 1990s through the early 2000s.

Despite her fame and talent, this child star chose to live a simple and private life. Even as a young girl, Agatha dreamed of appearing on TV and becoming a famous actress. She deeply admired award-winning actresses like Sharon Cuneta and Manilyn Reynes, both of whom also started as child stars. She would even ask her mother to accompany her to various movie and commercial auditions. They patiently waited in long lines, enduring the crowd, just to showcase her talent in acting.

Her first fan and biggest supporter was her mother, who stood by her through countless auditions and TV contests. One day, a talent scout brought her to Broadway Centrum to audition. Agatha passed the screening for The Rainbow Princess segment of the noontime show Salo-Salo Together, hosted by Randy Santiago and Dennis Padilla. Though she only placed second in the contest, her talent in acting and modeling was evident. From then on, she became busy with her life as a young artist, marking the start of her showbiz career.

She became part of Smart Squad on ABC5, Penpen de Sarapen on RPN 9, and several Horror Stories episodes on TV, all of which contributed to her rising popularity. Eventually, she joined the cast of ABS-CBN’s Mara Clara in 1992. In 1995, she auditioned for the movie Sarah, Ang Munting Prinsesa, an adaptation of the Japanese anime Princess Sarah, which was based on the bestselling 1905 children’s novel A Little Princess. The lead role went to then-child star Camille Prats.

Agatha passed the audition for Sarah, but another opportunity came her way — Mara Clara, which starred Judy Ann Santos and Gladys Reyes. She received the role of Denise directly from the director, Emil Cruz Jr. The series would run for three years. Since Sarah would be shot in Baguio, and the taping schedule conflicted with Mara Clara, Agatha had to choose. In the end, she chose Mara Clara, which had a regular schedule and greater exposure, a decision she was happy with.

In Mara Clara, she played Denise, a feisty cousin of Mara (Judy Ann Santos). According to Agatha, Mara Clara was her biggest break. Her role matched her real-life personality—talkative and curious. Viewers loved her character, and Agatha enjoyed her time on the show, especially because of the warmth and kindness of co-stars Gladys Reyes and Judy Ann Santos. She was considered the “baby” of the cast. One unforgettable memory for her was being able to go shopping—something she cherished.

Even after Mara Clara ended in 1997, the cast would still hold reunions, and they kept in touch through a group chat. Mara Clara opened more doors for Agatha, such as her 1996 role in Trudis Liit, a remake of the 1963 classic originally led by Vilma Santos, the Star for All Seasons. At just 9 years old, Agatha played Goreng, the best friend of Trudis, portrayed by Mary Joy Adorable.

Agatha’s performance earned her numerous awards. She was named Best Child Actress by various award-giving bodies, including FAMAS, the Metro Manila Film Festival, and Parangal ng Bayan.

Aside from these shows, Agatha also appeared in educational programs like Bayani, Sine’skwela, and Hiraya Manawari. In the TV program Marinella, she worked with fellow child stars Camille Prats, Shaina Magdayao, and Serena Dalrymple. Eventually, Agatha started turning down projects, with Marinella being her last regular show. By 2001, she completely left showbiz.

The reason for her departure was her then-manager’s desire to pair her with other teen stars as part of the “love team” trend. But at age 15, Agatha felt she wasn’t ready to take on more mature roles. From then on, she focused on her studies and eventually earned a degree in Mass Communication from De La Salle University–Dasmariñas in Cavite, graduating magna cum laude in 2010.

Agatha worked as a Business Development Specialist for ANC (ABS-CBN News Channel). After two years, she resigned and took a break. Unexpectedly, she made a short comeback to showbiz in 2013, when she was cast in Please Be Careful With My Heart, a top-rating teleserye starring Jodi Sta. Maria and Richard Yap. Agatha played the role of a temporary nanny for Richard Yap’s youngest child. But after that, she stepped away from acting for good.

In 2015, she married her non-showbiz boyfriend Rommel Galiza, and after four years, they were blessed with a daughter. Today, Agatha is a financial planner and a proud mom. Her family is also active in church ministries and community service. During the community quarantine in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she wrote a book titled At the Peak, which tells the story of her life in showbiz, why she chose to shift careers, and how God led her to where she is now.

According to Agatha, she learned so much from her eight years in the entertainment industry. She admits she sometimes misses the challenging roles in acting. She also says she hasn’t closed her doors to a showbiz comeback and is open to whatever God has in store for her.