Fresh faces, tandems in TV’s new youth-oriented show

The new youth-oriented anthology series Sparkle U debuted on GMA Network on October 1. The show delves into whether today’s youth can navigate a real world where they can’t simply mute or delete people from their lives, offering fresh faces and tandems in the process.

Set in a fictional universe called Sparkle University, Sparkle U revolves around the complicated lives of today’s youth, including the relevant struggles and issues they’re facing. From the effects of social media use and family conflicts, a different facet of teenage life will be explored in each episode, with the story confined in the halls of Sparkle University, which is described to be a “conservative, parent-funded, all-inclusive” institution   that offers educational programs from elementary, high school, senior high school, to undergraduate studies.

Bannering the first story of Sparkle U are two of GMA Network’s brightest and talented teen stars, Shayne Sava and Abdul Rahman. In Sparkle U: #Frenemies, Shayne excites audiences with her bubbly portrayal of Bekang, while Abdul plays the role of Drake – the ladies’ man of Sparkle U and famous for his quirky you-only-live-once type of videos online.

Joining them are Sparkle artists Roxie Smith as Yazzi, Michael Sager as Marco, Zephanie as Sue, Princess Alliyah as Raeka, Vanessa Pena as Yam, Anjay Anson as Wado; with the special participation of Matt Lozano as Basti, Leandro Baldemor as Reb, Sue Prado as Zarah, Geleen Eugenio as Miranda.

Sparkle U: #Frenemies, follows the story of Bekang (Shayne) and Yazzi’s (Roxie) lost friendship. They were childhood friends before but Yazzi will treat Bekang as her nemesis when they meet again in Senior High. Both Bekang and Yazzi have strong personalities that have something to do with their parents’ past.

The second story of Sparkle U, on the other hand, introduces the new faces of campus life: Sparkle Sweethearts and popularly known as ‘Team Jolly’,   Sofia Pablo and Allen Ansay. Catch them as Alessi (Sofia), Sparkle U’s campus smarty pants, and Zac (Allen), the university’s athletic heartthrob, in Sparkle U: Ghosted.

They are joined by Marco Masa as Leon, Liana Mae as Sela, continuing her role from story