The many talents of Noel Comia
He may not be a household name yet, but Noel Comia has a body of work that says he should be. At just 12 years old, he became the youngest Best Actor winner at the 2017 Cinemalaya film festival for his performance in the film “Kiko Boksingero.” His work has consistently traveled to international festivals, including “Death of Nintendo,” which premiered at the 2020 Berlinale and earned him a Best Performer award from the Young Critics’ Circle.
On television, through series like “Niña Niño” and “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,” he has shown that he can be accessible without dulling his talent.
But before movies and television beckoned, Comia started out in theater. An equally talented singer and dancer, he has put those skills to exceptional use in dozens of theater productions, such as “Hua Mulan” (2014), “The Secret Garden” (2015), and “Fun Home” (2016)—all of which earned him the Best Child Performer award at the Aliw Awards.
“Fun Home” was especially meaningful for Comia because it had him sharing the stage with Lea Salonga, who previously served as his coach in the third season of the singing contest “The Voice Kids PH.”
And did we mention that he also plays the ukulele, piano, and drums? Calling him a triple threat may actually be underselling him
Childhood dream
Perhaps showbiz was always in the cards for him. As a child, he dreamed of becoming a priest—not so much for the pious duties as for the idea of singing before a captive audience. “Namangha ako kasi lahat nakatingin sa kanila. You have people’s attention,” he says in a group interview. “I figured, maybe I can do that, too, but in a different way—as an artist.”
While most actors spend their 20s trying to prove their grit or move past teenybopper roles, Comia is the opposite. Because he spent his formative years doing the heavy stuff—a lost boy grieving the loss of a parent, a child in a war-torn coastal village, a person on the autism spectrum—he’s now seeking roles that don’t demand he be so precocious for once.
“I would love to do something lighthearted. ‘Yung masaya at enjoy lang, maybe a teen series na may konting drama,” says Comia, who recently signed with Viva Artists Agency, and was last seen in “Bagets: The Musical,” playing the role of the nerdy and mischievous Gilbert.
Acting is storytelling
One might think that Comia, being so accomplished so young, grew up with a lot of pressure on his shoulders. But thanks to his parents’ guidance, the accolades never went to his head. It also didn’t hurt that he was mostly unaware of just how seriously impressive his achievements were at the time.
“‘Di ko siniseryoso ang acting dati. But when I won at Cinemalaya, nagkaroon ng konting pressure, kahit pa sabihing title lang ‘yun. I was recognized for what I did, and you’re expected to always be like that,” says Comia, who nonetheless feels fortunate that he didn’t really go through the “awkward” stage many child stars face as they reach adolescence.
“My parents told me to just keep doing what I’m doing, that I have nothing to worry about, basta nasa tama ang puso mo,” he adds.
And Comia did keep this advice close to his heart. While trophies are always nice to have—and still a “big deal” for him—they were never the point. The more experience he gains, the more he realizes that acting is storytelling— and that storytelling lives in the truth.
“I have evolved in many ways. The way I understand the material is different now. When I was just starting out, I was just playing around. ‘Di ko naiintindihan ang ginagawa ko. I just say what I see on the script. Sabi nila magaling daw ako pero ‘di ko alam kung bakit,” he recalls.
“But now I realize that there’s a deeper meaning to it. The goal is to tell the story effectively and truthfully,” adds Comia, whose future goals include playing Peter Pan onstage and doing a play centered on faith. Working with Anne Curtis and Carlo Aquino would be a dream come true. And given the chance, he would love to star in a musical film or go back to recording music.
Bigger breakthroughs
None of these is out of his reach. With the skillset he has—and his ability to seamlessly crisscross between indie cinema, mainstream television, pop recording, and musical theater—bigger breakthroughs almost seem inevitable. Still, he knows better than to get complacent. Showbiz, as he has known from the start, is as fickle as it is cutthroat.
“You just have to trust the process. I started out as a commercial model when I was six, and for all those years tinatanong ko ang sarili ko kung may pupuntahan ba ‘to,” he says.
But whenever those early doubts creep back in, Comia—“as showbiz as it may sound”—turns to his family for inspiration. He also reminds himself of the promise he once made to his late grandmother.
“I told my lola that one day, makikita niyo po ako sa TV. Natupad siya,” he says. “God always has a plan for us. My family always reminds me of that. You just have to trust yourself and do your best.”
