Why Kyline Alcantara has no friends in showbiz

CEBU, Philippines —  The way Kyline Alcantara tells it, showbiz is one backstabbing playground of envious colleagues who’ll feed you to the wolves the minute you drop your guard. And she’s still all of sweet sixteen.

This was why the actress was hard-pressed to name one, even one, that she considers a friend in the industry. When other celebrities typically make claims for promo’s sake, Kyline, in her refreshing candor, refused to label – for now – her TV series co-star as a friend, even if that would have made for a good slant. This is one talent who’ll have PR staff on the edge of their seat.

“Being friends with someone is not immediate. You gotta gain my trust bago mo ako maging kaibigan talaga,” she told Cebu’s entertainment press.

“I don’t give my trust easily because in my showbiz and non-showbiz life, I’ve already experienced na binigay ko yung tiwala sa isang tao, but he or she broke it. Kaya huwag mo ibigay agad ang tiwala mo para hindi ka masaktan.”

The GMA Artist Center contract star was in the news and blind items last year due to her alleged “love triangle” with “Kambal Karibal” co-stars Bianca Umali and Miguel Tanfelix. Long story short, rumors had it that she was a third party in the BiGuel love team, and Bianca’s cryptic social media posts of hissing snakes fanned the fire further. Die-hard BiGuel fans naturally had a mouthful to say about Kyline, whose kontrabida portrayal in the series had been drawing raves.

The alleged ‘silent war’ between the teen actresses became clearer when August of last year, Kyline cried in the middle of a song number during a regional mall show because a certain fans’ club was booing her.

Kyline explained, “Alam ng pamilya ko na hindi ako masasaktan kaagad. Ipapakita ko lang yung emotions ko kapag punong-puno na ako. Like what happened in Iloilo. My family knows hindi ako magpapakita ng negative emotions sa aking fans, because I just want to show positivity to everyone, kung hindi ako punong-puno na.”

A snake, a traitor and whatnot, Kyline said the most painful insult hurled at her was that she was a user.

“‘Kaya lang naman yan nandiyan kasi nanggagamit,’” Kyline recalled one accusation. “Hindi ako nanggamit ng tao. Andito po ako ngayon sa kinalalagyan ko dahil pinaghirapan ko, with the support of my family and my management. Hindi kami nakisakay sa ibang tao.”

That experience, as well as previous family and career-related rebuffs taught her to always have her guard up “para hindi ka masyado masaktan. You still need to put up walls.”

While not going into specifics, she said the biggest rejection was someone not trusting her to be capable of doing something. Trust, she said, is paramount.

Still, Kyline is proof of the adage that what doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger.

“I’m the type who doesn’t give up, hindi nagpapatibag. I think my previous experiences strengthened me as a person. I’m really thankful that I went through all of those because yun talaga ang nagpatatag sa akin as a person and as an artist.”

Shark mindset

Labeled as among the fast-rising actresses in her network with a lead role in the afternoon series “Inagaw na Bituin,” a mainstay gig in the weekly variety programs “Studio 7” and “Sunday PinaSaya,” and a contract with GMA Records – Kyline is now a certified star.

Born in Camarines Sur, she started theater at seven years old and joined ABS-CBN’s “Star Circle Quest” thereafter. She had stints in teleseryes such as “Annaliza,” “Pangako Sa’Yo” and “Born For You.” A Star Magic artist for almost seven years, Kyline made the huge switch last year.

“I took a big risk when I transferred to GMA. And I don’t regret it. I’m really thankful that I took that risk kasi sobrang tiwala ang binigay kaagad sa akin ng network. Sana bigyan pa po nila ako ng pagkakataon na makita pa kung ano ang ibinigay sa akin ng Panginoon.”

Now that she’s feeling the perks and perils of fame, Kyline hopes the tidal wave will not eventually drown her.

“Ayoko po kasi makain ng mundo ng showbiz. Bumabalik pa rin ako sa dati. Kinakausap ko pa rin yung non-showbiz friends ko. Even though I’ve been receiving a lot of blessings these past few months, andun pa rin sila para ipakita sa akin kung sino talaga ako,” she said. “Yung mga totoong tao sa akin, binababa nila ako.”

Refusing at first to acknowledge her popularity when her interviewers point it out to her, Kyline later on relented, but maintains it’s not something that keeps her up at night.

“To be completely honest, I really don’t want to think that I’m famous,” she insisted. “That’s what I’ve been hearing the past years I’ve been in the industry – na kapag iniisip mo masyado na sikat ka na, that a lot of people are looking up to you, yun daw po talaga ang pang-palaki ng ulo.”

It was when “Kambal Karibal” was doing well in the ratings that Kyline felt more people knew of her and appreciated her talent. Her social media following shot up, and they were calling her an influencer.

As much as she relishes being an inspiration to others, she also knows it is a responsibility to be looked at as a role model.

“I’ve received a lot of rejections, which have been shown in ‘Magpakailanman.’ But what was shown there was just half of it,” said Kyline.

Of the key behind her success, Kyline uttered a quote from Hollywood superstar Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. “My motto is, ‘Be humble, be hungry and always be the hardest worker in the room,” she said.

“Nagbigay lang po ako ng dedication sa work. Hindi po ako natatakot na magkamali. And patience. For me, if you take a risk, that means that I’m trying to reach my dreams. You gotta have a shark mindset. Kailangan maghanap ka palagi ng way para makain mo ang isang bagay na dream mo.”

Asked who among her fellow Kapuso she’d love to work with, Kyline said she is eager to learn from everyone, but particularly cites wanting to pick up lessons from Marian Rivera, Ai Ai delas Alas, Gloria Romero, Sunshine Dizon and Marvin Agustin.

She said, “As much as possible, sana halos lahat because I like to converse. Ma-chika po akong tao. I’d like to know kung ano yung dahilan kung bakit sila nandito. Different individuals, different stories, different mindsets – I want to know them all para mas uminit pa kung ano yung meron ako ngayon.”

Surpassing expectations

“It’s all about chasing your dreams,” said Kyline of “Inagaw na Bituin,” debuting tomorrow on GMA’s Afternoon Prime. “Sa lahat naman ng teleseryeng Pilipino, hindi po talaga maaalis yung pagmamahal ng pamilya. My character is just like Kyline. I’m still chasing my dreams..”

Kyline is Anna Sevilla/Elsa Dela Cruz, the only daughter of a showbiz power couple. Kidnapped when she was a little girl, Anna grows up with a different family and goes by another name. Years later, her musical talent in her genes, she crosses paths with her biological parents and the aspiring singer played by Therese Malvar who will be her rival in all aspects: family, career and romance.

Were there storylines in the series that mirrored a personal experience? “Well, yung inggitan, of course,” she was quick to quip. “Hindi talaga yan maiiwasan sa mundo ng showbiz. Depende na lang sa tao how she will take it. Sa past, dinedma ko nalang sila. I really learned the art of deadma. Lahat ng issues, lahat ng paninira, ahas daw ako…”

The burden to outperform her portrayal in "Kambal Karibal" is heavily felt, she admitted. But rest assured that she is doing her assignment.

“I hope to create this new character where they won’t see Cheska. And it’s not that easy to create a character. You need to watch different series and combine acting patterns just to create a sketch of one character. That’s the least I’d like to hear. ‘Ay si Cheska yan. Ay nakita ko na yan sa Kambal Karibal,’” she said.

“Honestly, sobrang nape-pressure po ako. Almost everyone has high expectations from me. That’s why I’m really working hard to surpass their expectations and not disappoint them.”