Kelvin Miranda: His Own Man

This good-looking fellow battled insecurities and self-doubt before

realizing he has what it takes to join the ranks of GMA’s most bankable

leading men.

Text by Maine Aquino
Photo by Rank, Spotted, and Village Pipol

A few years before he began his journey into becoming one of GMA’s bankable leads and an award-winning actor, Kelvin considered himself a young man who only considered working as an extra as his “raket” to make ends meet.

It was just when the world went on a sudden hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic Kelvin found the direction that he was looking for in his career. Kelvin bagged the lead role of Chef Harvey Napoleon in the GMA Public Affairs series The Lost Recipe. He also won the Best Young Actor award for playing Mark Sta. Maria in the 2019 Mikhail Red thriller movie, Dead Kids.

In the series of interviews that GMANetwork.com had with Kelvin, he said that humility,

patience, and passion for his craft helped him rise as an award-winning actor and a sought-after leading man in the industry.

With his newfound role as the handsome leading man and two awards in his blooming career, Kelvin still continues to excel with a heart full of modesty and gratitude.

Award-winning roles

Kelvin described how he felt after receiving the Best Young Actor award at the 7th Urduja Heritage Film Awards at the start of the year.

“Well hindi naman po maipagkakaila ’yung saya; ’yung nadarama ko dahil nakatanggap ka na ng recognition, ng blessings.”

While it gave him joy, honor, and affirmation, the sudden turn of events in his career has also brought in fear and pressure.

“Pero, hindi pa rin mawawala ’yung pag-aalala kung saan ka dadalhin ng mga bagay na naa-achieve mo or napupunta sa ’yo.

For Kelvin, recognitions are just unexpected “bonuses” of his hard work. Kelvin has earned two awards from Urduja Heritage Film Festival. His role in the advocacy film titled The Fate earned him the Best Actor award at the 6th Urduja Heritage Film Festival in 2019. His Best Young Actor award was for his performance in the 2019 Netflix film Dead Kids.

“Hindi ko siya tinitingnan na sobrang mahalaga ang recognition, pero naa-appreciate ko 'yun. Sobrang saya ko, pero resulta lang naman ang recognition ng pagtatanim mo nang nakayuko. Kumbaga, pagpupursige, pagsusumikap sa bagay na gusto mo gawin.

Awards confirm that Kelvin has a distinctive talent that makes him stand out among the pool of actors in showbiz, but he believes that they shouldn’t get into his head as this would only affect him negatively.

“Hindi siya kailangang gawing big deal para sa sarili ko dahil ’pag inisip mo kasi siya maaaring makasama siya sa’yo. Like kainin ka ng sistema ng kapangyarihan.

Admittedly he daydreamed of winning awards when he started his budding career. Kelvin didn’t make it as his end goal to avoid setting expectations.

"Resulta lang naman ang recognition ng pagtatanim mo nang nakayuko. Kumbaga, pagpupursige, pagsusumikap sa bagay na gusto mo gawin."

“Sino ba naman hindi nag-iisip na magkaroon ng award ’di ba? Pero, ’pag inisip mo kasi ’yung award, madi-distract ka, maaaring mapunta ka sa maling destinasyon kasi hindi pagmamahal ‘yung ginagawa mo. Naghahanap ka ng kapalit kumbaga. Hindi mo pa ginagawa, naghahanap ka na ng kapalit. So para sa akin hindi ko siya iniisip.”

Kelvin focused on his passion to act, portray different roles, and find ways to constantly improve himself instead of letting the awards consume his thoughts.

“Basta ako, masaya akong ginagawa 'yung craft ko, ginagawa ko 'yung pag-arte dahil mahal ko.

“Hindi ko siya ginagawa dahil nag-i-expect ako ng award, pero gusto ko magka-award. Pero hindi ko siya ginagawa dahil sa award. Ginagawa ko siya dahil masaya ako na umaarte ako.

Since winning two awards, Kelvin admittedly has been feeling the pressure to relentlessly take notable roles. Everything seems to be tied in with huge expectations.

“Base po sa industriya natin, nagiging basehan po ’yung award dahil totoo naman basta may award ka, pag-uusapan at mapapansin ka ng mga produksyon at ng mga producer, kung sino man ang gumagawa ng pelikula o ng teleserye o nagbibigay ng opportunity.

“Napi-pressure ako, dahil sa expectations nga ng marami. Kailangan kayong magtugma e. Kailangan pantay. ’Yun lang naman ’yung pressure, ’yung expectations, dahil nga sa natamo kong award kailangan may bago ka na namang ihahain, may bago ka na namang ipapakita. Kasi hindi naman puwedeng isa lang.”

He knew that he reached a point in his career where he is always expected to bring something new to the table every single time.

“Kailangan kong maglaro sa sarili kong flavor, kailangan kong lagyan ng panibagong timpla, Kailangan kong i-experiment ’yung sarili ko kasi ako mismo ’yung produkto ng sarili kong business kumbaga.”

The Leading Man

Kelvin earned his “leading man status” in the latter part of 2020 when he was revealed as Chef Harvey Napoleon in the series The Lost Recipe.

Admittedly, Kelvin is still getting used to the title. “Minsan nalilito ako kasi leading man, ano ba ’yan, nangungunang lalaki ba ’yan?”

Shifting to a more serious tone, he said that he’s delighted to receive a big break and is now relishing the result of his hard work. He knows that the competition is tough since there are numerous actors who are on the lookout for promising projects to snatch.

“Wala naman paunahan para sa akin, kumbaga nag-i-enjoy lang ako. Masaya dahil 'yung pagtatanim namin ng manager ko, unti-unti naman na kaming umaani.”

“Basta ako, masaya akong ginagawa 'yung craft ko, ginagawa ko 'yung pag-arte dahil mahal ko."

Career growth

Kelvin looked back at his career and recalled how he managed to climb up. He said it was a slow, tough, but fruitful climb.

Kelvin started his career with bit roles in 2016 before landing projects that showcased his immense talent for acting.

“Nakikita ko kasi dahan-dahan, hindi siya biglaan. Talagang dumaan rin naman talaga ako sa stage na ganoon, nag-extra ako dati.

Kelvin’s family was financially unstable then. It was this situation that gave him the motivation to join different teleseryes where he could work as an extra and earn money.

“Lumalakad-lakad ako sa mga serye, sinasama lang kasi ako ng mga kaibigan ko. Sa akin hindi ko talaga siya gusto dati. Naglalakad lang, gusto ko lang kumita ng pera noon, gano’n lang ’yung reason ko.

“Kailangan kong maglaro sa sarili kong flavor, kailangan kong lagyan ng panibagong timpla, Kailangan kong i-experiment ‘yung sarili ko kasi ako mismo yung produkto ng sarili kong business kumbaga.”

“Kasi medyo kapos financially, kailangan kong dumiskarte. Pinasok ko rin ’yun dahil may mga nagyaya na 'Tara may raket', may ganito ganyan. 'Sama ka sa akin, talent tayo'.

Kelvin acknowledged that he had an unceasing fear that prevented him from pursuing an acting career then. He particularly disfavored being a subject of discussions.

“Nag-audition ako sa mga serye hanggang sa nakuha na ako, hanggang sa hindi ako ’yung pumupunta kasi hindi ko siya gusto. Ayoko nga kasi gawin ’yung bagay na ’yun dati dahil natatakot akong mapag-usapan.

“Good and bad, ilang ako sa nagsasalita tungkol sa akin. Parang nawiwindang ako.”

Slowly, Kelvin adapted to the entertainment industry by learning the ropes. He said, “Unti-unti nag-adjust. Nakapa ko ’yung galawan; ’yung pakikipagtransaksyon sa mundo ng industriya na ginagalawan natin. Hindi siya madali, at kailangan talaga lagi kang ready.

"Sino ba naman hindi nag-iisip na magkaroon ng award ’di ba? Pero, ’pag inisip mo kasi ’yung award, madi-distract ka, maaaring mapunta ka sa maling destinasyon kasi hindi pagmamahal ‘yung ginagawa mo. Naghahanap ka ng kapalit kumbaga."

Making his own brand

When news came out that he’s being groomed as the next big leading man of GMA Network, fans and showbiz pundits started calling him “the next Alden Richards.”

While he feels honored for being likened to Asia's Multimedia Star, Kelvin confessed that he worries that he might remain in the shadow of another personality.

“Nakakatuwa dahil may ganong bali-balita. Mahirap sa industriya na magtatago sa anino ng isang sikat na personalidad dahil mahihirapan kang bumuo ng sarili mong personalidad, sarili mong karakter, sarili mong diskarte. Kasi maitatabi ka palagi.

“Minsan compliment, pero sa totoo mahirap ’yun.”

Kelvin wants to build a name of his own by working on himself and his craft.

“Kailangan kong gawing iba ’yung sarili ko sa mga inihahalintulad sa akin para maiba naman at hindi tayo mag-stay doon; Makalabas tayo sa box, makapag-explore, makakilala ng kung sino man at maipakita at maihain ko ’yung talento na meron ako.”

“Nag-audition ako sa mga serye hanggang sa nakuha na ako, hanggang sa hindi ako ’yung pumupunta kasi hindi ko siya gusto. Ayoko nga kasi gawin ’yung bagay na ’yun dati dahil natatakot akong mapag-usapan. Good and bad, ilang ako sa nagsasalita tungkol sa akin. Parang nawiwindang ako.”

Accepting criticisms

As a rising star, Kelvin wasn’t spared from criticisms. After the public learned that GMA picked a new personality to play a big role in a series, Kelvin was instantly criticized as people started asking why and how he earned the spot.

Kelvin acknowledged the reality that as a public personality, he will never be excused from negative talk.

“Tinatanggap ko siya kung paano ko siya naririnig. Kung paano siya ibigay ng tao, tinatanggap ko siya. Kung masaya man sila, okey masaya. Pero kung medyo masama ’yung sinasabi, masama ko siya tinatanggap.

“Pero at the end of the day, ta-try ko pa ring i-angat para maging maganda ’yung resulta sa akin noong masamang sinabi. Mahirap kasi tumanggap, kahit sino naman mahirap tumanggap ng masamang feedback. Hindi naman mawawala 'yun sa atin.”

Taking the good with the bad will only help him grow as an actor and as a person.

“Kasama ’yun e. Kasama ’yun sa growth ng career, hindi lang sa career, sa personalidad din, kasama 'yun, 'yung pagtanggap.

“Kung paano nila ako tatanggapin masaya na ako doon. Basta tanggap nila ako, 'yun lang.”

Lessons in his blossoming career

Kelvin has learned a lot of lessons since he joined showbiz.

Taking a deep breath, he said he wants to learn more about self-control.

“Self-control. Kasi madalas akong mawala sa sarili ko gawa ng pag-o-overthink, pagiging taranta.

“’Pag natataranta ako, mahahalata mong hindi ko alam ginagagawa ko. Nabubulol ako, naiilang ko, natatakot ako sa paligid ko. Nanginginig. Kailangan ko lang talaga ng self-control.”

For Kelvin, it’s also essential for an actor to learn to maintain his focus and to continue learning.

"Focus at pagyamanin pa kung ano na ang nasimulan ko. Mag-aral nang mag-aral nang mag-aral.

"Hindi lang sa trabaho ha, sa buhay kasi estudyante na tayo habang buhay e. Kumbaga teacher na rin tayo at the same time kasi sarili lang rin naman natin ‘yung magtuturo at magbabagsak sa atin.

In The Lost Recipe, Kelvin’s character is given the chance to time travel as Chef Harvey Napoleon. —an event that causes major repercussions in the present time.

"Mahirap sa industriya na magtatago sa anino ng isang sikat na personalidad dahil mahihirapan kang bumuo ng sarili mong personalidad, sarili mong karakter, sarili mong diskarte. Kasi maitatabi ka palagi."

We could not help asking Kelvin what advice he would give his young self if he were to magically travel back in time. He said, “‘Hoy, kung ako sa’yo gawin mo na ’yan ngayon pa lang.’

“’Kasi kung hindi ka natakot at hindi mo pinili na hindi mo naman gusto, hindi ka sana mahihirapan’.” Turning emotional, Kelvin could not stop the tears from rolling down his face when he started talking about having courage and not being afraid.

“‘Ibigay mo na ’yung best mo sa simula pa lang, no hesitations. Do your best. ’Wag kang magpadala sa paligid mo.’”

As Kelvin’s career continues to rise, his following and influence also expand. Kelvin shared a message to the people who are now looking up to him and wanting to take the same path as he did.

He said, “Huwag ninyo akong sundan. Gumawa kayo ng sarili ninyong daan, hanapin ninyo kung saan kayo masaya. Huwag ninyong pilitin ‘yung mga bagay na hindi kayo para doon. Basta ang laman ng puso ninyo ang sundin ninyo kasi dadalhin kayo niyan sa tama.”

Chasing one’s happiness does not mean stepping on people just to get ahead.

“Basta wala kayong natatamaang tao, huwag kayong mag-alala makakarating kayo sa paroroonan kung susundin ninyo ’yung puso ninyo at alam ninyong tama ’yung ginagawa ninyo.”

“Huwag ninyo akong sundan. Gumawa kayo ng sarili ninyong daan, hanapin ninyo kung saan kayo masaya. "

Kelvin Miranda