Filipino musician and Nickelodeon host Eduard Bañez began singing at five years old and entered show business at 15. By age 17, he had already gained traction in dating blogs under the moniker “Lilsaint.”
“I started attending Star Magic workshops and was part of Star Magic Batch 15 of ABS-CBN. I had been hosting MTV Asia in Singapore and Hong Kong and became a Nickelodeon star for a Nick Jr. series,” Eduard recalled with a glint in his eyes. He also hosted a morning program on NET25 and a tele-radio show on TV5.
Over the years, he appeared in commercials for Goldilocks and Globe Telecom and was featured in several teen magazines in the Philippines.
His rendition of Sharon Cuneta’s classic Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko, composed by Rey Valera, drew more than 120,000 views on YouTube—an encouraging milestone that pushed him to pursue a music career more seriously.
Eduard migrated to North America in 2015. “My family moved and settled in the United States. I prefer to be in a land of more opportunities than in a corrupt land,” he said.
Interestingly, he continues to appear in Nick Jr. news and public affairs updates, and along the way has had opportunities to work around major global artists such as Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran, and Sia.
Today, Eduard balances creativity with service. “I will just be focusing on my work as an administrative coordinator and as a health and physical education teacher at Ralph Waldo Beverly Hills,” he shared. He is also busy growing spluk.ph, a website dedicated to highlighting positive news.
“I love my work, even though the routine is the same every day. I enjoy administering our clients and giving them daily activities that bring joy and happiness,” he added.
Born in Baliuag, Bulacan, Eduard completed his BS Nursing degree at Manila Central University and later took political studies at UCLA.
How does he find the Filipino community in his part of Los Angeles? “The Filipino community here is full of joy and filled with gratefulness.”
Asked for advice to Filipinos trying their luck in the U.S., he offered this: “Don’t be afraid. Be who you are and be excited every day that you step into the land of opportunities.”
As for holiday traditions, Eduard shared that they keep it simple. “We don’t usually celebrate Christmas because of our religion—Iglesia ni Cristo—but I usually spend the day with my family.”
His message to Filipinos this Yuletide season: “Advance Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May luck fill your heart and joy with your family in 2026!”