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Metro Artist Spotlight Cover: Donny Pangilinan and Kyle Echarri for "Roja"

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Metro Artist Spotlight Cover: Donny Pangilinan and Kyle Echarri for "Roja" 

Lance Joseph Martinez

<p>Stepping out of one’s comfort zone is never easy—more so when that leap involves a career move, and especially for stars navigating the ever-watchful world of showbiz. Every bold choice comes with its own set of risks, and in the entertainment industry, those risks can make or break a trajectory.</p><p>That’s the exact gamble <strong>Donny Pangilinan </strong>and <strong>Kyle Echarri</strong> are taking as they headline their newest <em>Kapamilya</em> series, <strong><em>Roja</em></strong>. Both actors made their mark through love team projects, mostly portraying characters caught in romantic arcs. But this time, they’re stepping away from the familiar. <em>Roja</em> marks their first major small-screen project that shifts the spotlight from the romance of love teams to a deeper, more dynamic exploration of brotherhood.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17643236586021000101915.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Kyle Echarri and Donny Pangilinan, both in GUCCI | Photography by Gee Plamenco, Jr.</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>A pleasant surprise</strong></div><p>“A surprise project.” That’s exactly how Donny and Kyle described their TV series, <em>Roja</em>.</p><p>The action-packed drama centers on <strong>Liam</strong>, portrayed by Donny, a talented head chef, and <strong>Olsen</strong>, played by Kyle, a dedicated security guard. The two share a tense, complicated friendship that’s pushed to its limits when an armed group storms a resort, taking control and holding guests hostage.</p><p>In an exclusive interview with <strong>Metro.Style</strong>, the actors revealed that a casual chat with ABS-CBN Chief Operating Officer for Broadcast <strong>Cory Vidanes </strong>first gave them an idea that they were about to lead a project together.</p><p>“All started with <em>Tita</em> Cory saying ‘<em>May inaayos ako para sa inyong dalawa</em>,’ ‘<em>yun lang at na</em>-shock <em>kami</em>. <em>Nasa isang </em>gathering<em> lang kami</em>, and <em>nakita niya kami</em>,<em> parang sabi ni Tita</em> Cory, ‘<em>Ano&#x27;ng ginagawa niyong dalawa</em>?’ ‘<em>Wala lang, Tita</em>,’ <em>Tapos sabi niya</em>, ‘Very good <em>kasi may inaayos ako para sa inyong dalawa</em>.’ <em>Hanggang sa</em>, <em>ito na</em>, finally <em>ipapakita na siya sa buong mundo,</em>” Kyle shared, noting this was his first inkling that ABS-CBN was preparing a TV series for him and Donny.</p><p>Donny, who was the first to meet with the creative team, recalled being amazed by how fast everything came together—from the concept to the story to the casting.</p><p>“<em>Ang bilis nilang magkaroon ng</em> concept. <em>A</em><em>ng bilis nilang gumawa ng kwento.</em> <em>A</em><em>ng bilis nilang mag</em>-cast <em>ng artista</em>. <em>Hindi ko alam kung paano nila ginagawa ‘yun,</em> but I was really in awe of how quickly they put this project together,” he said, which is why <em>Roja</em> felt like such a surprise project for him.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763990446863METRO Donny Pangilinan for Roja.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763991859106embed_Donny Pangilinan Metro Artist Spotlight for Roja A.jpg" style="width:700px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">On Donny: Suit by Antonina</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><p>He shared that excitement took over the moment the project was pitched to him. Learning about the story and themes made him even more eager to begin, despite knowing the effort required to do justice to the material.</p><p>“It&#x27;s one of those roles that, if done well, and if we really put in and exert all our energy, it can prepare us for, you know, other paths in our acting career. And, to see how further we can explore our craft,” Donny added.</p><p>For Kyle, having been offered the role felt surreal because he never imagined he would be doing such a big and complex project with Donny—someone he already considers a brother.</p><p>“It didn’t feel real at first, <em>kasi</em>, I mean, I never thought, especially this early on in my career, that I’d be able to work with my brother on a project this big, this complex… I said yes right away, <em>kasi sino bang hihindi pa sa ganitong klaseng proyekto na napakagaling ng </em>cast,” he said, referring to the 40-member ensemble. Leading <em>Roja</em> alongside Donny, he added, is a dream come true.</p><p>Donny agreed, adding that neither of them expected to headline a project together so soon. “I didn’t expect that we would both be doing a project together anytime soon, honestly… <em>parang </em>n<em></em>ever<em> natin naisip din e</em>… <em>na</em> at some point in the near future, we would be able to lead a show together,” he recalled.</p><p>He also believes their real-life friendship played a major role in why the casting worked so well. “It works<em> kasi ‘yun e</em>, <em>parang</em>, first of all, <em>alam naman nila na magkaibigan na kami</em>. And that really helped, I think, in building this story. I think that&#x27;s one of the major reasons also why they came up with this type of story… And, that&#x27;s really needed for this type of show, especially <em>na ang daming niyong pinagdaana</em><em>n</em> as characters <em>na sobrang</em> complex,” Donny explained.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763991020984Donny Pangilinan Kyle Echarri Metro Artist Spotlight for Roja 16.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘It&#x27;s just very different’</strong></div><p>Stepping outside the usual love-team lane isn’t entirely new for Kyle, who has already dipped his toes into thrillers and mystery-driven narratives. Most recently, he worked alongside Piolo Pascual in the action-thriller film <em>The Ride</em>, a project that notably showcased a different side of his acting range and hinted at the depth he could bring to more intense roles.</p><p>Donny, on the other hand, skyrocketed to mainstream fame through his hit love-team pairing with<strong> </strong>Belle Mariano. Together, they delivered multiple well-received TV and digital projects that solidified “DonBelle” as one of the most influential and best-loved love teams of this generation. From the breakout success of <em>He’s Into Her </em>to the massive popularity of <em>Can’t Buy Me Love</em>, Donny earned his reputation as today’s ultimate prince charming—an actor whose on-screen charisma never fails to make fans swoon.</p><p>Which is why taking on <em>Roja</em>—a TV series anchored on action, tension, and a strong sense of brotherhood—feels like an entirely new chapter for both of them. As they describe it, stepping into a world far removed from romance-centric projects “feels very different,” marking a bold shift in the kinds of stories they want to tell.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763991615587METRO Kye Echarri for Roja.jpeg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner"></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px;display:block" width="700"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763991834726embed_Kyle Echarri Metro Artist Spotlight for Roja B.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="700"/><span class="fr-inner">On Kyle: Suit by Bang Pineda</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><p>Donny was candid about how <em>Roja</em> stands apart from anything he has done before. “But what I love about it most is it’s just very different. We always say this in all the interviews, and I’m sure we’ll say it more. For me especially, this is very different from what I’m used to doing,” he shared when asked how the project compares to his previous work.</p><p>And as <em>Roja</em> officially premiered on the Kapamilya Channel’s Primetime Bida lineup, Kyle shared his excitement about finally seeing how the stories of all 40 cast members will intertwine on screen. He noted that even after reading the script, he still has no clear idea how each storyline ultimately connects, which makes watching the series unfold even more thrilling for him.</p><p>“I know, I read the script, <em>pero</em>, <em>sa totoo lang</em>, we barely see any of the other characters. But it helps <em>kasi </em>that we don&#x27;t know. Yeah, the character doesn&#x27;t know that, too. So, that&#x27;s the beauty of it. I&#x27;m super excited to see how everything comes together, <em>kasi</em> there are so many stories going on,” he explained.</p><p>He also teased fans about the range of characters they’ll meet in the series, throwing the challenge back to the audience as he wondered how each of them might overcome the intense hostage-taking situation at the center of the story.</p><p>“I&#x27;m super excited for that, to see what everyone was able to give through their characters, all the way down from the nepo babies to the architect, the engineer, and the doctor, <em>na may</em> mistress,<em> ‘yung mga ganun</em>... There are so many stories <em>talaga</em>,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763991917346embed_Donny Pangilinan Kyle Echarri Metro Artist Spotlight for Roja 1.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763992142367embed_Donny Pangilinan Kyle Echarri Metro Artist Spotlight for Roja 4.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><em><strong>Roja</strong></em><strong>’s toughest challenges</strong></div><p>Of course, the filming of <em>Roja</em> wasn’t all smooth sailing. Alongside the excitement came a series of challenges—not just for the production team, but for Donny and Kyle as well. Since Roja required them to take on roles far removed from what they usually portray, both actors had to undergo specific training and thorough preparation to fully embody their characters.</p><p>Ahead of shooting, Donny and Kyle trained under MMA fighter and coach Erwin Tagle for their action sequences. But the work didn’t end there. They continued doing drills on set, especially to build up their stamina for the physically demanding scenes.</p><p>“I think we really make it a point to take care of our bodies and work out and vitamin up and everything. <em>Para lang</em> ready <em>kami</em>. So, training, we did a bit of martial arts, arnis training, jiu-jitsu,<em> tinuruan din kami kung paano humawak ng baril at ano ba &#x27;yung</em> correct stance, so on and so forth,” Donny revealed.</p><p>When it comes to what challenged him the most, Donny admitted that endurance was the toughest part. With action scenes requiring multiple takes from different angles, he found himself pushed to his limits.</p><p>“It would be the endurance <em>talaga</em>, <em>doon ako na</em>-shock <em>na paulit-ulit kasi namin kailangan gawin ‘yung</em> stunts, and every time we do an action scene, <em>may iba-ibang</em> shots, and you have to do it over and over again, the counting. So, just that, not just mentally prepared but physically prepared for the scenes and what we’re gonna shoot,” Donny added.</p><p>Kyle, meanwhile, pointed to the arnis training as the most difficult aspect for him. “That’s such an art of a combat sport <em>na</em> years, it takes years of training to master it, and we didn’t really have years of training to master it. So, <em>may</em> factor <em>na alam ko </em>it’s not the best arnis but we tried our best. We did the best that we could with the time that we had. And it’s a sport that I feel like I would continue in the future,” he shared.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763992321787embed_Donny Pangilinan Kyle Echarri Metro Artist Spotlight for Roja 7.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Why <em>Roja</em> is the perfect holiday treat for Filipino audiences</strong></div><p>With the Christmas season just around the corner, Donny and Kyle believe that <em>Roja</em> could be the perfect gift for Filipino viewers, taking audiences on an exhilarating and emotional ride from start to finish.</p><p>Kyle added that the series is designed to evoke a spectrum of emotions—love, suspense, and thrill—and he feels the timing of the show is especially relevant, though its impact may differ depending on how audiences interpret it.</p><p>“I do believe it is pretty timely, but <em>depende ‘yon kung paano tatanggapin ng mga tao ‘yung pagiging</em> timely <em>niya</em>, <em>kasi</em> there are a lot of things happening in society that we also kind of put into our story with all the different plot lines. <em>Sana makuha rin ng mga tao ‘yung ibang sinasabi ng</em> characters, <em>kung paano sila gaganahan doon</em>,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:left"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763992720410embed_Donny Pangilinan Kyle Echarri Metro Artist Spotlight for Roja 14.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p>Beyond the emotions and the suspense of rooting for different characters, Donny believes <em>Roja</em> is the kind of series that’s perfect for the whole family to enjoy together.</p><p>“<em>Ito ‘yung magandang</em> series to watch with people, ‘<em>Ano&#x27;ng mangyayari </em>next?’<em> Hindi mo alam </em>intense<em> siya pero pwede ring </em>thrill, <em>maraming </em>secrets, <em>maraming</em> emotions, <em>basta maraming </em>genre in one show. And I think it’s the perfect show to watch. Especially when everyone’s going to be together with their families,” he concluded.</p><p>All things considered, <em>Roja</em> indeed marks a new chapter for Donny Pangilinan and Kyle Echarri—one that challenges their versatility and opens the door to a different style of storytelling.</p><div><strong><em>Roja airs at 8:45 PM on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, A2Z, and TV5, with episodes released 72 hours early on Netflix and 48 hours ahead on iWant.</em></strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Photography by <strong>Gee Plamenco, Jr.</strong></p><div><strong></strong></div><p>Sittings Editor: <strong>Grace Libero-Cruz</strong></p><div><strong></strong></div><p>Managing Editor: <strong>Rick Formalejo</strong></p><p>Video Producer: <strong>Tricia Matias</strong></p><div><strong></strong></div><p>Layout Artist: <strong>Alfred Amado</strong></p><p>Stylists: <strong>John Lozano </strong>(Donny) and <strong>Aaron Mangsat </strong>(Kyle)</p><p>Grooming:<strong> Jam Pareño </strong>(Donny) and<strong> Ryan Ko </strong>(Kyle)</p><div><strong></strong><strong></strong></div><p>Editorial Assistant: <strong>Naiah Mendoza</strong></p><p>Special thanks to <strong>Dreamscape</strong>, <strong>Star Magic</strong>, <strong>Cornerstone</strong>,<strong> </strong>and <strong>Mi Cocina</strong><strong></strong><br/></p>

<p>In this exclusive, Donny Pangilinan and Kyle Echarri talk about their newly released series and expressed excitement for how it pushes them to step out of their comort zones as actors.</p>

In this exclusive, Donny Pangilinan and Kyle Echarri talk about their newly released series and expressed excitement for how it pushes them to step out of their comort zones as actors.

Donny Pangilinan and Kyle Echarri on Why 'Roja' Marks a New Era in Their Acting Careers

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Donny Pangilinan and Kyle Echarri on Why 'Roja' Marks a New Era in Their Acting Careers

Lance Joseph Martinez

Published Nov 28, 2025 06:00 PM PHT

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