Kyline Alcantara:

In Full Bloom

She may be reluctant to talk about her success, but there's no denying that Kyline Alcantara’s career is now in full bloom.

Words by Marah Ruiz

Photos by Jayme Vista, StarStruck

Kyline Alcantara is a regular 17-year-old. She likes hanging out with friends. She's curious about the world. She loves to go exploring.

At the same time, Kyline is far from a regular 17-year-old. She has been working since she was seven. She has three million followers on Instagram. She is set to do a television series with show business icon Nora Aunor.

Kyline emerged as the breakout star of 2017 GMA Telebabad series Kambal, Karibal. What followed was a string of great breaks.

She released Kyline, a full self-titled album under GMA Records in 2018. She also held a solo concert entitled Take Fl16ht that same year.

In 2019, she was given a follow-up teleserye, Inagaw Na Bituin, in 2009 where she was the lead actress.

According to her, this is the kind of fame that her seven-year-old self only dreamed about.

“I dreamt about this. Ito kasi talaga 'yung pangarap ko. Siguro, in-expect ko na din siya kasi I've been praying. May tiwala na ko kay God ever since.”

"Bilang ako'y isang bata at wala pang kaalam-alam sa mundo, typical—gusto ko 'yung ang daming taong sumisigaw ng pangalan ko," Kyline shares in an exclusive interview with GMANetwork.com at Rojo Coffee, a stylish, modern neighborhood cafe in Victoria Sports Tower in Quezon City.

"I dreamt about this. Ito kasi talaga 'yung pangarap ko. Siguro, in-expect ko na din siya kasi I've been praying. May tiwala na ko kay God ever since," she adds.

She is, however, reluctant to call it success.

"Ayoko kasing sabihin sa akin na successful ako ngayon.

“Hindi ako nakakapag-isip masyado. Sobrang binago ng GMA kung paano ako mag-isip, kung paano ako umarte, and siyempre ’yung buhay ko. Sobrang nakatulong sila sa akin financially and doon pa rin sa craft ko," Kyline says.

As much as she’s happy with how her career blossomed, Kyline is still hungry for more.

"To be honest, surreal pa rin siya until now. Noong eight years old pa lang ako, biba biba na ako. Nandoon pa rin ako sa season ng buhay ko na I'm still hungry for a lot of things," she shares.

As with any young person, social media is a great tool. It is more significant for Kyline as she uses it to communicate with her fans as well as gather feedback on her work. She also recognizes it as a double-edged sword.

"Before kasi, super tutok talaga ko kaya nababasa ko 'yung every single thing na comment nila sa akin. 'Pag may mga bashing, nababasa ko talaga. But ngayon, napaisip ako. Hindi na ’ko masyadong tumitingin sa comments ng netizens sa social media," says Kyline.

Bashing and rumors are inevitable and she deals with both by ignoring them.

"Dedma. Dedma because alam ko 'yung ginawa ko at hindi ko ginawa doon sa sinasabi nila. Alam ko 'yung story ko," she explains.

There’s one particular rumor that really hurt her, though.

"Siguro 'yung naghabol daw ako sa isang tao. Before pa 'to—'yung naghabol daw ako sa isang tao na hindi ko naman talaga hinahabol. Let's not get into details," Kyline shares, smiling.

Kyline shocked the industry when she shared a photo of her acne-ridden face for the first time on her Instagram account. Instead of her bright-eyed and cheerful self, her followers saw a vulnerable side of Kyline.

"Ang dami kasing nagsasabing tao na para lang 'yan sa promo ng movie. But honestly, 'yung movie talaga 'yung nagbigay sa akin ng confidence kasi 'yun 'yung pino-promote noong movie eh. Be confident with your imperfections," Kyline recalls.

That movie is Black Lipstick, where she starred opposite Kapuso actors Migo Adecer and Manolo Pedrosa. Kyline played the lead character Ikay, a girl who is being bullied because of her vitiligo, a condition that gives her skin a patchy appearance. She then discovers a magical lipstick which clears her skin when worn.

"Habang binabasa ko 'yung script and habang pinapanood ko 'yung movie, naisip ko na kailangan kong i-share 'to sa ibang tao. Kasi alam kong may ibang tao din na pinagdadaanan o pinagdaanan din 'yung ganoong balat or ganoong kababang self- esteem," Kyline says.

“Nandoon pa rin ako sa season ng buhay ko na I'm still hungry for a lot of things.”

She did not expect the overwhelmingly positive response.

"Me and my handler (Molly Lasic), kami 'yung nag-compose noong caption na 'yun. Kaming dalawa 'yung bumuo ng idea na i-post. It's a collaboration, not just me. Actually, kinakabahan ako. Siyemrpe lahat ng tao may masasabi. Hindi ko talaga siya in-expect at all.

“Akala ko nga mas marami 'yung negative kesa sa positive. Sinasabi ko lang naman 'yung ano talaga 'yung napagdaanan ko," she muses.

It’s a message that Kyline hopes would resonate with as many young girls as possible.

"Don't let the norm and society dictate how you look. Just be confident. Accept the imperfections that you have. Be unique. Be inspired sa ibang tao but don't copy them.

“May ibang mga bata sinasabi 'Paano ba maging ikaw?' Huwag maging ako. Be you. Be inspired lang siguro sa akin, sa ibang ginagawa ko but don't be me kasi lahat tayo ginawa ni God para maging unique," she says.

In 2020, Kyline is ready to take on another challenge. She is set to headline the teleserye adaptation of the 1989 Elwood Perez-helmed movie Bilangin ang Bituin sa Langit, which was top-billed by Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III.

“In-offer po siya sa akin. Sino ba namang hihindi kung kasama mo si Ms. Mylene Dizon and ang Superstar nating si Ms. Nora Aunor? And directed by direk Laurice Guillen!"

The opportunity brings both excitement and pressure for Kyline.

“Honestly, sobrang kinakabahan ako. Super kinakabahan ako but sabi ko nga nung pinagsalita ako doon, I'm ready to learn. I’m ready to be more professional kasi for sure, mate-train ang aking professionalism doon sa serye na ’yun.

“I’m ready to do what I love again,” she says.

Kyline considers herself lucky to have another lead role as well as working with industry titans. Still, she insists that she is willing to take any role.

“Kahit anong ibigay niyo sa akin, kahit maliit man or malaking role, kahit supporting man or bida role, tatanggapin ko kasi ito ’yung gusto ko eh. This is what I want and this is what I love,” Kyline declares.

“May ibang mga bata sinasabi 'Paano ba maging ikaw?' Huwag maging ako. Be you. Be inspired lang siguro sa akin, sa ibang ginagawa ko but don't be me kasi lahat tayo ginawa ni God para maging unique.”

Kyline calls her fans Sunflowers. The flowers symbolize adoration, loyalty and longevity. They can also represent beauty, delight, hope and joy.

She was inspired to adapt the flower as a name for her fans after a hiking trip in Kawa-Kawa Hill in Ligao, Albay.

"May sunflower field sila doon. Na-brighten up 'yung day ko dahil doon sa sunflowers. After that, kahit nakaalis na kami doon sa bundok, kinukwento ko pa rin sila. Sobrang iba 'yung pakiramdam ko noong nakita ko 'yung sunflowers. Sabi nina Mama, ''Di ba 'pag nakikita mo naman 'yung fans mo, 'yun din 'yung nararamdaman mo? Then why don't you call them sunflowers?' 'Yun," she narrates.

Sunflowers always face the sun. Perhaps it is a great parallelism to Kyline and her career.

Right now, Kyline is a flower in bloom. With a talent, drive, and optimism like Kyline's, it is only a matter of time until the world gets to see a whole garden.

“Don't let the norm and society dictate how you look. Just be confident. Accept the imperfections that you have. Be unique.”