 KARYLLE: “DON’T BE AFRAID TO SUCCEED”
Interview by Tinna S. Bonifacio
Photo Courtesy of Women's Journal
She'd always been known as Zsa Zsa Padilla's daughter up until now, that is. Thanks to breakout roles in Encantadia and Etheria, movies like Mulawin and Mano Po (as well as the recently-released Moments of Love), a co-hosting stint on SOP, and a new album under Universal Records, 23-year-old Karylle is proving that she's more than just a chip off the old diva block.
Carving out an identity of her own was not easy, but Karylle managed it through a combination of persistence, determination and her own considerable talent.
When you were just starting out [in show business], was it an advantage or a disadvantage being your mother's daughter?
It was both. It was an advantage in the sense that it opened doors for me. My mom was in GMA Supershow, and Kuya Germs (German Moreno, main host of GMA Supershow) was one of the first people to give me a break in the business. The only difficult thing about it was that I felt people were expecting too much of me precisely because I was my mom's daughter. In fact, that's why it took me a while to decide whether I wanted a career in showbiz or not. But the pressure was mostly coming from myself. I was scared of a lot of things, especially in the beginning, maybe because I was so young.
What made you finally say yes?
When someone gave me some very good advice. That person told me, you have a God-given talent; use it. You have to accept that this is who you are. Don't be afraid of succeeding, or else you'll end up sabotaging yourself.
You got your start in showbiz late compared to your contemporaries. Do you have any regrets about that?
None. I'm happy that I'm finished with school, and that now, I'm still able to do this (have a career). It's the wisest thing I did.
But some people would argue that being your mother's daughter and being quite talented yourself that you could have had a career early on, instead of delaying it to finish school. In fact, there are a lot of celebrities who dropped out of school, but are still enjoying successful showbiz careers. Are you still convinced you did the right thing, delaying your entry into the business in favor of school?
Yes. I was in my second year of college (at the Ateneo de Manila) when I started singing. And people would look at me, give me this look that said, Oh, so you're a singer as if that wasn't something I should be proud of. I guess that's why I worked so hard to finish school. I even made it to the Dean's List because I wanted to prove a point, which I did. Schooling is not given much importance in this business, which is sad. Well, I guess it doesn't work for everyone, but for me, it did. It just takes dedication.
You were still young when you began your showbiz career. If you could give some advice to other young people who are aiming for a showbiz career, what would you tell them?
Finish their studies. Different individuals have different needs. But for most, regular schooling works. It's always good to have something to fall back on. Sometimes and especially in this industry people don't realize that setting aside school in favor of a showbiz career works for some, but not for all. From experience, I'd still say that finishing school was the best thing I ever did.
It looks like it, because you now have a successful career as a film and television actress, musical-variety show host, recording artist (with Universal Records) and concert star. Aside from your mom, of course, who are the people who helped you to get to where you are today?
My parents have really been very supportive. There's also Kuya Germs, who took me in when I was just a kid without experience. The late Bella Tan of Universal Records gave me my first recording when I had no name, nothing, except for a few shows here and there. She trusted me and believed in me, and I'll always be grateful for that. Wilma Galvante of GMA-7 was also instrumental, especially in my television career. She let me sing in GMA Gold, which was the network's 50th anniversary celebration. I was still very new at the time, and that gave me the confidence.
How are you able to manage your time and do all this acting, hosting and singing?
In a way, it's good that I'm into a lot of things, because one thing helps the other. With the acting, it helps me emote my songs better. Of course, I've had to accept that there are times that one thing will have to take a backseat, and that can't really be avoided. You just have to understand that things happen for a reason. It's also important to learn how to prioritize. No matter what career you get into, that will always be something you will have to face.
If you want to know what it’s like to work in the entertainment industry, attend one of our Career Development Seminars in the Career and Education Fair 2006 on May 3-4 at the World Trade Center. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS. |
