Why Kiray is on Cloud 9

At 19, Kiray (Celis) vehemently claims that, cross her heart, she has never been kissed — that is, until Regal Films tapped her as the co-star of ex-lovers Derek Ramsay and Solenn Heussaff in the Valentine movie Love Is Blind (LIB).

Directed by Jason Paul Laxamana (Babagwa, Astro Mayabang and Magkakabaung), LIB casts Derek as spoiled bachelor Wade who turns his back on his sassy girlfriend Maggie (Solenn) when he meets Fe (Kiray), a hotel intern who looks so much like his ex. Unknown to Wade, Fe has a secret weapon, a love potion that she got from her friend (Kean Cipriano) that transforms her into Maggie’s character every time she and Wade meet.

In one kissing scene, Kiray never expected that Derek would turn what she thought was a mere smack into a wet kiss, prompting Kiray to tell the movie press, “He opened his mouth. I was shocked! Iba talaga si Kuya Derek. In fairness, his breath was fresh. Kung ano ang bango ng katawan niya, ‘yun din ang amoy ng hininga niya.”

Weeks after that magical kiss, Kiray has remained on Cloud 9, standing far taller than her 4’11”, when Funfare interviewed her.

“It’s okay because it’s my first big role, at starring role pa says Kiray. “Every time I did a movie, palagi na lang ako friend ng bida, friend ng kontrabida, always the friend, always the bridesmaid and never the bride. Actually, ayokong isipin na first big role ko ito; nakaka-pressure pala. It was okay with me if my previous movies didn’t make money, I don’t care, at least I got paid. But this time, if this movie doesn’t make money, my God, nakakaluka!”

Kiray talks the way she looks…funny!

“I told myself that I wouldn’t let myself be kissed kung hindi ako bida,” explains Kiray. “Kasi if you do it at the start, tuluy-tuloy na ‘yon. Like I started in Goin’ Bulilit na palaging inaasar, kaya palagi na akong inaasar sa mga roles ko. Look at the actors who agree to play bading roles. They become typecast.”

During an airing of TV5’s Happy Truck ng Bayan, Kiray got teased by his co-hosts (Mark Neumann, Martin Escudero, Carl Guevarra and Akihiro Blanco, among them) when Derek made a surprise appearance and offered her flowers.

“Love team na talaga ang dating namin,” laughs Kiray. “Haba ng buhok ko (my hair is growing longer).”

In her 16 off-and-on years in showbiz, Kiray has appeared in several movies and TV shows, languishing in supporting roles until LIB came along.

“I was three years old when I competed in the Little Miss U contest in MTB (Magandang Tanghali Bayan, the ABS-CBN defunct noontime show hosted by Willie Revillame, Randy Santiago and John Estrada),” Kiray looks back. “I was singing songs by Engelbert Humperdinck, mga Cuando Cuando and Love Me With All Of Your Heart.”

She was singing those songs at age 3?

“Natutuhan ko ang mga ‘yun sa mga lasenggero sa lugar namin sa Sta. Ana, Manila, where we lived,” says Kiray. “I placed only fourth but I was made a mainstay on MTB where I stayed for two years until the nuns at St. Paul’s saw the show and gave me a scholarship. I finished only grade school kasi bawal sa kanila ang nag-aartista.”

After a stint on Goin’ Bulilit, Kiray quit showbiz upon reaching the awkward stage.

“My career was off and on since then because they didn’t know what role to give me, alangan bata at alangan dalaga.”

Born Johanna Celis to Ilonggo parents (from Bacolod), the third and only girl among four siblings, she got named Kiray when she competed on MTB.

“I joined because we needed the money to pay the rent for the apartment we were staying in at that time,” confesses Kiray. “Our landlady was Aling Teray. So Wilie and direk Bobot (Mortiz, MTB director) nicknamed me Kiray. We still live in Sta. Ana but in another house.”

Now combining showbiz and studies (home schooling), Kiray is earning enough to send her siblings to school, that’s why she is putting having a boyfriend on hold.

“But I have suitors pero hindi ko sila pinapansin. I just told them I’m busy sa work,” adding that she does have an ultimate crush, Sam Milby. “But I don’t make myself obvious. He has been my crush since my Bulilit days.” Does Sam know about it? “He doesn’t believe it kasi hindi ko raw siya pinapansin. Kasi I’m the type who keeps quiet in the presence of my crush.”

LIB is opening nationwide on Feb. 10.

“I told my friends, ‘Uy, paglabas ng LIB, may gap na tayo ha.’ They told me, ‘Ang kapal ng mukha mo!’ They are the same old friends I had from way back, not showbiz. Ganyan kami magbiruan.”

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