Not your ordinary artista: Kylie Padilla sees art as 'way of life'

 

Since joining showbiz in 2007, Kylie Padilla has slowly but surely made a name for herself in the industry, stepping out of the shadow of her popular father Robin Padilla.

 

She won recognition as Best New Female Personality for her role in Joaquin Bordado, her first teleserye, in 2008, and has steadily been a part of the Kapuso primetime scene, even being tagged as a Primetime Princess. Earlier this year, she also released her first album entitled Season. She also stars in perhaps her most challenging role as Leonor Rivera in "Ilustrado," GMA's pioneering BayanSerye, which premieres on Monday.

 

But despite her showbiz pedigree, the 21-year-old is far from your ordinary artista.

 

For one, Kylie is a practicing muay thai artist, having been trained in various martial arts such as wushu, taekwondo, and arnis from her younger years. These days, she also moonlights as a poet, a painter, a makeup artist, and an advocate for environmental preservation and human rights.

 

Perhaps her interest in martial arts training shouldn't come as any surprise, given who her father is.

 

“Syempre, nag-start yan sa influence ng tatay ko kasi action star siya eh. So lumalaki kami, yun ang nakikita namin kay Papa, nag-rub off sa amin. Lumaki kaming boyish. Pati sa mga movies, action yung gusto namin panoorin. Video games, action din,” she told GMA News Online in an interview.

 

She played Erenea, a young girl warrior, in her first television series, allowing her to showcase her martial arts skills. Today, she hopes that she'll be given a chance to do action again — one of her pegs is Angelina Jolie in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" — whether on television or on a film. 

 

Kylie has instead showcased her skills on Sunday All-Stars, where she often performs aerial dancing and cheerleading moves.

 

Unplanned album

 

She has showcased her singing skills on Sundays, but Kylie admits that the putting out an album wasn't originally part of her plans.

 

“Nung ni-release namin yung album na yun, sa totoo lang, wala sa plano namin yun. Ang dami ko nang nasulat na kanta, tapos nagawan ko rin ng melody, so sabi ko, 'Gawin na lang kaya natin 'to,' nang walang expectations kung maraming bibili o papatok ba siya.”

 

According to Kylie, it started with her love for reading and writing. She used writing as an outlet for her emotions. 

 

“Mahilig akong magsulat ng poems. As in everything I feel, gusto kong sinusulat siya. Para pag nababasa ko, at least may positive na nangyayari doon sa [pinagdaanan ko]. Tapos, it's so beautiful. You didn't feel that for nothing. If I'm lucky, nagiging kanta.”

 

Before releasing another album, Kylie plans to formally study music and mixing to produce her own songs.

 

“The second album, I want na ako yung gagawa ng melody, ako yung nagmi-mix. Kasi I want a certain sound, eh. Hindi ko nagawa yun sa first album, so mag-aaral muna ako ng music,” said she said.

 

Outlet for emotions

 

Aside from writing, Kylie also has a flair for painting, which she regards as another "outlet" for her emotions. 

 

She likes painting women and their bodies, butterflies and mermaids. 

 

One of Kylie's earliest inspiration was when her artwork was recognized by her school's principal, who hung her piece on his office wall. “I felt like I was good at something,” Kylie said.

 

She is also a fan of Solenn Heusaff, another actress known not only for her beauty, but also for her paintings that she posts on her Instagram account. 

 

Although Kylie only sees her painting as a hobby, she has used it to raise funds for an advocacy. 

 

Kylie also users her own face as a canvas. Her admiration for Korean pop culture or K-pop has led her to fall in love with makeup. 

 

She does her own make up during shows and tapings, and also has make up tutorials on her YouTube account.

 

 

'Gusto kong makilala as artist'

 

While she is mainly known as an actress and singer, Kylie doesn't want to be boxed in to one field.

 

“Actually, ayokong makilala bilang anything. Gusto ko lang makilala ako as artist. Do everything. Outlet sa akin lahat.”

 

She regards art as a way of life, helping her overcome struggles and celebrate triumphs, a way to marvel at the simplicity and complexity of everyday life.

 

Aside from taking music lessons and continuing her martial arts training, Kylie also plans to study arts.

 

“Gusto ko pang mag-excel. Nandiyan na 'yung passion, eh. Mag-aral ka na lang.”

 

Being a part of the famous Padilla clan of actors at young age, she is still finding more ways to make a name for herself.

 

“Ang dami pang ways na gusto kong mahiwalay, ayoko naman nung laging, anak ni Robin, pamilya ng action stars. Ang nakikita nila, 'yung image ng pamilya ko. Gusto kong patunayan na I'm more than my name.” — JST, GMA News