By the end of next year, millions of children around the world will be familiar with Chrissy Mae Lacanilao who has joined Zippy Shakerz.
IN just a few weeks, Chrissy Mae Lacanilao’s life changed.
Ms Lacanilao, 23, was lying paralysed in hospital and terrified about never walking again. Now she is co-hosting an international children’s television show.
The St Clair NSW resident is one of seven members of Zippy Shakerz, young entertainers who host multiple TV and web shows that promote education and health. The programs is being filmed and produced in the Philippines.
Miss Lacanilao explained how her opportunity came about:
“I got a virus which attacked my spine — I remember waking up in the night and not being able to feel my legs,” she said. “I was paralysed. I thought I was going to lose my legs permanently. It was insanely scary.”
Unable to work as a dance teacher, she came across Skoolbo — a global education company active in 150,000 classrooms — who were calling for auditions for their new Hi-5-style kids show.
“I’ve always been applying for all these different roles and obviously not getting them and so I was like ‘whatever, I’ll give it a go’,” she said.
After sending off her application, Skoolbo set her a challenge — produce a song about Skoolbo within a day.
“I was so excited, I wrote the song within two hours,” she said.
“Then the CEO sent me to meet the Sydney creative team — it was crazy!
“Now I’ve been given this new opportunity, and it’s for such a good cause. I’ll be promoting education and health in places where they don’t really have that offered to them.”
Supported by Fairfax Media, the first broadcasts will be early in 2016. The programs will be directed by Jonathan Geraghty, who has a decade of experience directing Hi-5, and Filipino boxer Manny Pacquia, who is also a program ambassador.
Skoolbo founder Shane Hill, also founder of Mathletics in 2003, said Zippy Shakerz would connect children around the world.
“Part of what we’re doing is link-ups with classrooms, so a school in England could be competing with one in Australia or India.”
Miss Lacanilao was excited to be leaving. She left on Nov.21.
“It’s definitely a great experience … making people happy. Especially kids, it really makes you want to change the world.”