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Zeke Polina: The Art of Becoming
His Breakthrough Role Playing as ‘Supremo
When we were in high school, most of us had life in college already figured out. Maybe most of us want to get a degree in medicine to fulfill their dream of becoming a doctor. Others may want to pursue a degree in communication arts to become a writer. While the majority may have life all figured out, a part of us is most likely Zeke Polina, a shy senior high student who never thought of becoming who he is at the moment.
From a shy senior high school student who never imagined becoming an actor to a young talent finding confidence, purpose, fulfillment, and joy in the craft, Zeke is discovering that growing into a role also means growing into himself.
Before the cameras, the characters, and the growing recognition, Zeke was simply a shy student who never imagined that showbiz would become part of his life. His entry into the industry did not begin with a lifelong dream of becoming an actor. It actually came unexpectedly through a friend.
Zeke recalls the moment,
“I’m very shy po as a person. So, hindi ko naisip na possible na I’d ever become an artist.”
With hesitation yet a little hope, he shared his interest to his parents who eventually encouraged him to give the once in a blue moon opportunity a chance. From there, he went through the early steps of entering the industry, ultimately getting interviewed and accepted as an artist under the management of VAA (Viva Artists Agency) in 2023.
Three years into the industry, however, Zeke realizes that the biggest transformation did not happen around him. It happened within him.
“I think ang nagbago is more me. Ako yung nag-change, not really the industry,” he says. “Mas less na ’di nahihiya ako and I’m starting to understand more how the industry works.”
From Anxiety to Anticipation
For Zeke, becoming more comfortable in showbiz has been less about suddenly losing his shyness and more about learning how to move through it. He remembers how nervous he used to feel before mall shows, overwhelmed by the number of people watching and the pressure to perform well. Slightly similar on set, his anxiety could become an even bigger obstacle because it affected the way he approached acting.
With experience adding up, slowly, it changed.
These days, the anticipation has started to replace the fear. Zeke shares,
“Before, before mag-mall show, hindi ko siya masyado ma-enjoy because sobrang kabado ako. Pero recently… I get excited.”
That change may seem subtle, but for him, it represents a major breakthrough.
As he became more comfortable and less anxious, he found fewer barriers between himself and the characters he was expected to portray. The more he allowed himself to be present, the more space he created to actually perform.
And somewhere along the way, he discovered that acting was something he did not simply want to try. Rather, acting is that thing he genuinely wanted to pursue.
Falling In Love With The Craft
Before entering showbiz, Zeke enjoyed watching movies, but acting was never something he considered himself deeply passionate about. His perspective changed after experiencing the industry firsthand.
What initially looked like an unlikely career gradually became something he wanted to understand, practice, and perfect.
“I realized how beautiful this craft is, and doon ko siya mas na-appreciate and doon ko mas gusto mahasa and mas gusto kong i-pursue,”
That realization eventually forced him to answer a much bigger question: Does he really want acting to become a major part of his life?
The answer, after much reflection, is yes.
Although becoming a pilot remains one of his dream jobs, Zeke says that, for now, he is certain that he wants to pursue acting. The reason goes beyond the opportunities. He has fallen in love with the craft and with the way stories can affect the people who watch them.
“I love art, and this is definitely one of the most beautiful paintings of art,” he says.
Living Different Lives
Perhaps one of the things that excites Zeke most about acting is its ability to let him step outside himself.
He describes the profession as an opportunity to live different lives within a single lifetime, something he experienced firsthand through the contrasting worlds of Hell University and Dating Alys Perez.
As Supremo in Hell University, he had to access a darker, more intimidating side of himself. The character demanded intensity, authority, and an almost emotionless presence.
Tripp Palma, meanwhile, brought out something entirely different.
“He really brought out in me the lover boy side,”
Zeke says of the character.
Tripp’s capacity to wait, yearn, and continue fighting for someone he loves pushed Zeke into more emotionally demanding territory. Compared with the more controlled persona of Supremo, Tripp required him to explore a wider range of vulnerability.
“For me, mas challenging ‘yung [kay] Tripp talaga,” he says. “In terms of challenge and in terms of improving din… it helped me improve as an actor.”
For Zeke, that is the beauty of the profession: every character asks him to discover another part of what he can do.
Beyond The Camera
Yet, while he embraces the process of becoming different people onscreen, Zeke is equally conscious of the importance of knowing who he is when the cameras stop rolling.
As advised by his acting coaches, he takes lessons from the characters he plays, but he does not want to lose himself in them.
From Tripp, he wants to carry patience and a capacity to love. From Supremo, he recognizes that there are positive qualities beneath the character’s harsher exterior. But ultimately, he believes there must always be a line between the character and the person portraying it.
Above all his characters, Zeke stresses,
“I think it’s very important to still be me.”
That same desire for authenticity extends to how he sees longevity in the industry. For him, remaining relevant is not simply about being visible. It is about being genuine, appreciative, and humble.
“You really have to be genuine sa industry,”
he says, while emphasizing that being genuine does not mean being disrespectful.
He also constantly reminds himself to appreciate the opportunities he receives. He says,
“Sometimes you have to remove the work lenses and put on the appreciation and life lenses for a bit.”
It is a perspective that keeps the pressure of being a rising actor from overshadowing the privilege of becoming one in the first place.
His Values
Look beyond Supremo. Look beyond Tripp. Look beyond the labels of “rising actor” or “It Boy,” and Zeke describes himself much more simply.
Zeke shares,
“I’m just a guy, someone who’s blessed that he has work and someone who loves to work, and someone who just fell in love with the art or with the craft of acting.”
That may be the clearest description of where he stands today. Zeke is still learning. Still becoming. And still figuring things out.
But unlike the young student who once could not imagine himself becoming an artist, Zeke now sees the possibility of staying in this craft for the long run.
And perhaps the most meaningful part of that journey is knowing that the work reaches people beyond the screen.
Zeke shares that when fans tell him that his performances made them cry, brightened their day, or helped them through something difficult, he sees those messages not simply as compliments, but as reminders of why he continues to do what he does.
“I’m just really thankful,” he says. “Hopefully, I’m able to keep on doing that, and I’ll try my best to be able to keep on doing it.”
For someone who once entered showbiz simply because his parents told him to give an unexpected opportunity a try, Zeke Polina has come a long way.
He may still be discovering where the road leads, but he already knows what he wants to bring with him: the lessons, the gratitude, the craft, and most importantly, himself.
ZEKE POLINA TEAM
PHOTOGRAPHER
Arnold Pilapil
STYLIST
Bettina Bañez
HMUA
Rod Rubia
HANDLER / ROAD MANAGER
James Sambayon
VAA TEAM (VIVA ARTISTS AGENCY)
Caryl Ann Paraico
Jean Lander Agor
COLLABORATORS
EDITED BY
Adrian Kyle Barrinuevo
COVER STORY BY
Beatrice Ulibarri
THE PIPOL TEAM
Publisher:
Richard de Quina & John Luke Chica
Managing Director: Inyi Yruma
Editor-in-Chief: John Luke Chica
Communications & Partnership Manager:
Kyra Custodio- Alberto
Senior Writer: Beatrice Ulibarri
Multimedia & Digital Head: Sachii Del Mundo
Layout Artist: Adrian Kyle Barrinuevo
Sales and Marketing Manager: Regino Rubi
Executive Assistant: Dreamboy Dubria, JC Bolante
Finance Head: Mylene Dela Reyna
AUTHOR
Bea Ulibarri
Bea, as what most people call her, is Pipol's Senior Writer. Besides writing, you'll probably catch her watching the news on YouTube or saving meme posts on Pinterest.
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