Kylie on her own

Manila, Philippines - Kylie Padilla feels so blessed. After being introduced in a supporting role in Dwarfina as Dennis Trillo’s younger sister, she’s now launched to full stardom in the TV remake of the hit Snooky Serna movie, Blusang Itim. “We had our last taping day for Dwarfina noong Holy Week,” she says. “Right after Holy Week naman, I’m having workshops under director Gina Alajar with my two leading men, Franco Magalona (eldest son of the late FrancisM who comes after Maxene Magalona) and Carl Guevarra, and the villain, WynWyn Marquez. By next week, we’ll start taping na. I’m glad I’m also in Tween Hearts and I hope GMA 7 won’t make me leave the show as I really enjoy taping it with my co-stars.”

What can she say about her being launched to stardom ahead of her Ate Queenie who’s with ABS-CBN? “Ay, walang ganun. She was naman in the movie with our Papa, Tum, so nauna siyang mag-movie sa’kin. I love my sister and there’s no rivalry between us.”

But we guess comparison between them can’t be helped. Some writers say she’s sexier than Queenie. “But we have a different body build. I have longer limbs and I’m a bit taller. She’s more voluptuous, parang Marilyn Monroe. And people say ako raw yung pinaghalong mama at papa namin.”

She turned 18 on Jan. 25 and opted to have no grand debut. “I felt sayang lang ang pera, kasi minsan lang yun. There are so many needy people so I went to an orphanage and brought food to the kids there. I was moved to tears. I was touched when I saw they were so happy with the little that I brought them. One little girl even asked me if I could be her mommy since she has no parents anymore. They really hunger for love.”

She was only 14 when she appeared in GMA’s Joaquin Bordado with her dad Robin Padilla. “After that, I returned to the Gold Coast in Australia and finished high school. Then I went into training in the martial arts, also in singing and dancing.”

How’s her mom in Australia? “She’s okay with my stepfather and my younger sister and brother who are with them, Zhen and Ali. We always chat on the Internet.”

Co-managed by GMA Artist Center and Betchay Vidanes’ Vidanes Artist Management, what advice has she received from her own dad? “He said not to be so shy. Kasi I’m really mahiyain. And also to improve on my Tagalog so I won’t speak with an Aussie accent.”

Does she get along fine with her stepmom, Mariel Rodriguez? “Oh yes, very much. We were together last Holy Week in Punta Fuego and Tali Beach. We speak the same language when it comes to shopping and fashion. I can see my Papa is very happy with her and I hope they’ll last forever.”

What about her own lovelife? “I have suitors but I’ve never had a boyfriend.”

She’s currently being linked to Aljur Abrenica. “We’re just good friends. He brought me cake on my birthday and I went to his birthday, then people started linking us. But we’re really both more focused on our careers. We hardly see each other. We’re busy with our respective shows, especially now that he’s also shooting Temptation Island in Ilocos. Trabaho muna kaysa pagbo-boyfriend. I want my parents to be proud of me first so I want to be established first as a good actress.”

How did she get the lead role in Blusang Itim? “I took the audition. They made me cry. The scene that was assigned to me is with my supposed mom, who has trouble accepting me as I was born ugly in the story. I was able to relate with that as there was a time when I also didn’t get along well with my own mom. I think they liked my acting well enough, so they got me to play the lead part of Jessa. I’m really glad that positive naman ang feedback sa acting ko so far, even in Dwarfina. It encourages me that I made the right decision to leave Australia and join showbiz as I really want to act.”