Alexa Ilacad

Baby Alexa in a Vaseline Shampoo advertisement.[1]

Alexa Ilacad Transformation: From Goin’ Bulilit To Being Popular Actress[2]

She rose to prominence when she joined the kiddie gag show Goin' Bulilit in 2008. But even before that, she was already familiar in the Philippine Television. Starting at the young age of two, she was first seen in various TV commercials for the brands Vaseline shampoo, Lactum 3+, Johnson's Baby Cologne, Cheese Whiz, MCDonald's Happy Meal, Jollibee Kid's Meal and many more.[3][4]

Aside from that, she was often seen in the Philippine television playing minor roles for various seryes such as May Bukas Pa, Nasaan Ka Elisa?, A Beautiful Affair, and several episodes of Maalaala Mo Kaya. She has also played roles in the Philippine Cinema in films named For The First Time, The Reunion, and Amorosa: The Revenge.

Alexa Ilacad’s best Goin’ Bulilit moments that showed her versatility as an artist.[5]

The NLex loveteam in Goin Bulilit[6]

During her stay in Goin' Bulilit, she was first paired with fellow actor Nash Aguas for the Goin' Bulilit Presents: In My Dreams.

Goin’ Bulilit graduates Nash Aguas, Alexa Ilacad, Kobi Vidanes, Sharlene San Pedro and Mika dela Cruz along with Super Inggo former child star Jairus Aquino comprised the cast of the second season of teen comedy series LUV U which aired on ABS-CBN in 2013.[7]

In 2013, She scored her first lead role as she was cast as Lexie Domingo in the second season of the youth-oriented comedy TV sitcom Luv U, the official starting point of her loveteam partnership with Gimme 5 member Nash Aguas, famously known as NLex. He played the puppy love of Lexie, Benjamin Jalbuena. From there, they have been paired again multiple times, their other projects include various MMK and Wansapanataym episodes.

She was also famously known in the business for playing the young Maria Mercedes, played by actress Jessy Mendiola.

In 2014, She and Nash Aguas were paired again to do Camille and Drew in the television series Bagito which was based on the Wattpad series of the same name by Noreen Capili. Together with them was Ella Cruz, Angel Aquino, Ariel Rivera, Agot Isidro, the remaining members of Gimme 5 (Brace, Grae, Joaquin, and John), and many more.

Nash Aguas’ sweet birthday gift to Alexa Ilacad[8]

In 2016, she and Aguas also landed a role on the fourth season of the hit series Doble Kara (starred by versatile actress Julia Montes) as Patricia Hernandez and Paolo Acosta.

She also played the role Jewel, the veteran actress Angel Locsin's sister in the award-winning film Everything About Her with the Star of All Seasons, Ms.Vilma Santos.[9]

In the same year, she joined the reality music competition We Love OPM: The Celebrity Sing-Offs as part of Team Yeng: Oh My Girls. She, together with GirlTrends member Krissha Viaje, and 88rising artist Ylona Garcia were coached and trained by their mentor Pop Rock Royalty Yeng Constantino. The girls finished the competition as runner-ups just behind the grand winner, Team Erik's Tres Kantos.

Soon after finishing We Love OPM, she was launched as Star Music’s newest Teen Pop Rock Artist. She released her debut album To The Moon & Back with the spunky carrier single Pakipot, Suplado with music video directed by Kean Cipriano, featuring the other half of her loveteam, Nash Aguas. Her album has a total of 6 songs which also includes an acoustic version of her song Kahit Saan, Kahit Kailan, also featuring Aguas. The songs from this album are all original and were written by her best friend, Eunice Jorge, the vocalist of rock band Gracenote.

Her debut album has also been proven a hit as it consistently charted in MOR 101.9's "Biga10" for several weeks. Music videos of her songs Pakipot, Suplado and Kung Pwede Lang has also reached 4.8M and 3.2M views (as of December 2021) respectively.[10][11]

In 2017, she and Aguas were paired again in the Philippine crime drama television series The Good Son as Justine and Calvin, alongside Jerome Ponce, Loisa Andalio, Mccoy De Leon, Elisse Joson and Joshua Garcia. Also with them is outstanding actress Eula Valdez, Mylene Dizon, John Estrada, Jeric Raval, and many more.

The series lasted until 2018. It's end also marked the end of Alexa and Nash's long-time journey as loveteams as they announced the NLex split to focus on each other's solo careers.[12][13]

Apart from The Good Son, the actress also appeared in Star Cinema's action-comedy film Extra Service starring Arci Muñoz, Coleen Garcia, and Jessy Mendiola, and romantic-comedy film Finally Found Someone starring Popstar Royalty Sarah Geronimo and Box-Office King John Lloyd Cruz. Aside from these, she also played roles in Maalaala Mo Kaya, as young Karla Estrada in the episode Autograph[14] with Angelica Panganiban and Karla Estrada and as Joy in the episode Kulungan with Ms. Lorna Tolentino.[15]

After the break-up of her loveteam, she has taken roles for Maalaala Mo Kaya, specifically the episodes entitled Family Portrait and Passport.

In 2019, She landed the role of Luna Dela Cuesta, the 'rich spoiled brat daughter of Vito and Tessa' in The Killer Bride, the drama series starring Maja Salvador, Janella Salvador, Joshua Garcia and Geoff Eigenmann.

In October the same year, She scored her first lead film in the Philippine Cinema through the horror film Santigwar under Horseshoe Studios and Reality Entertainment. She played the role of Hasmin, a Santigwar herself. The film revolved around the journey of Hasmin as she discovers the truth that binds her family to the mythical creatures: Aswangs. Together with her on the film is Marlo Mortel, Marco Gallo, Paulo Angeles, Aubrey Miles, Michelle Liggayu, and many more.

She was also popularly known for playing the role of young Bobbie Salazar in the prequel of the 2013 hit Four Sisters and a Wedding, 2020 film Four Sisters Before the Wedding which became the No.1 top trending film as it arrived on Netflix Philippines and No.3 on Netflix Canada and UAE.[16]

After four long years, in 2020, She came back with new single Love at First Sight under new music label, OFF THE RECORD (under Exclusive License to MCA Music Inc.) [17]

In 2021, she was cast as Hannah Salcedo in Init Sa Magdamag, a Philippine television drama romance series broadcast by Kapamilya Channel starring Gerald Anderson, Yam Concepcion, JM de Guzman, Albie Casiño, Tetchi Agbayani, and many more where she was paired with actor Gab Lagman.

Apart from this, she also released a Frank Pole remix and Acoustic version of her 2020 single Love at First Sight.[18]

She has also starred in another Maalaala Mo Kaya episode Libro with Kira Balinger and Yves Flores, where she wowed viewers with her amazing acting performance.[19]

In the same year, she joined the 10th season of Pinoy Big Brother—Pinoy Big Brother: Kumunity Season 10 as part of the first batch of housemates in the Celebrity Edition.[20]