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Without a doubt, Christmas remains the most awaited season in the Philippines. Filipinos practically spend the rest of the year preparing for December, which includes choosing gifts for loved ones, planning fun Christmas games for children to enjoy, and most importantly, deciding how they will celebrate Noche Buena and Christmas Day.

Typically, whether spending the holidays at home or abroad, what matters most to many is being with family. However, this is not always possible, especially for those working overseas, yet true to the Filipino spirit, despite every situation and circumstance, they always find ways to celebrate Christmas in the best way they can.

With Christmas Day just around the corner, stars from the showbiz industry share how they plan to celebrate the special season this year—from intimate family gatherings to meaningful traditions that reflect joy, gratitude, and togetherness this holiday season.

Roja actors Donny Pangilinan and Kyle Echarri

Coming from a close-knit and loving family, Donny shared that Christmas this year will be a simple and intimate affair with his parents, Anthony Pangilinan and Maricel Laxa, and his siblings. The actor revealed that they plan to stay at home and spend the holidays together, keeping the celebration low-key and centered on family time.

“I think this year we’re staying home. I’ll just be with my family,” Donny shared.

Meanwhile, Kyle revealed that this Christmas will be extra special for him and his family as they plan to celebrate the holidays in Vietnam for the very first time. The young star shared his excitement over their upcoming trip, saying that what truly matters to him is being with his parents, wherever they may be.

“For my Christmas this year, I always say, kahit saan naman kami, as long as my family is with me. I’m with my mom and my dad. We’re going to go to Vietnam for the first time. And I’m just happy to be able to celebrate it with the two of them,” Kyle shared.

Catriona Gray

Fresh off making the holiday season even more meaningful with the release of her first-ever Christmas song, “Every Christmas,” Catriona is looking forward to a heartfelt celebration this year as she reunites with her family. The beauty queen shared that she will be flying to Australia to spend Christmas with her parents.

“I’ll be going to Australia. I’m spending it with my mom and dad. My dad is getting a bit old now, so I’m really prioritizing time with him. I just want to be very intentional about making time and spending quality time with him while he’s still healthy and around,” she revealed.

Melai Cantiveros-Francisco

After celebrating Christmas in South Korea last year, Melai shared her excitement as their family plans a more homegrown holiday this time around. The comedienne revealed that she, together with husband Jason and their daughters Mela and Stella, will be spending the festive season in their home provinces of Mindoro and General Santos City.

“Ngayon, balik naman kami sa General Santos City dahil doon ang mga Papa at Mama ko. Hindi namin sila kasama ng Christmas, so, doon kami mag-spend ng Christmas, pero mag-early Christmas na rin kami sa Mindoro,” she stated.

Charo Santos-Concio

Charo is set to enjoy a heartwarming Christmas celebration this year, surrounded by her growing family. The media executive shared that she will be spending the holiday season with her two sons, Cesar Francis and Raphael Martin, along with their respective families and her beloved grandchildren.

“I will spend Christmas with my family, my two sons and their families, and of course, my grandchildren,” she said.

Janice de Belen

With her children all grown up, Christmas has become even more meaningful for Janice, as it is one of the rare occasions when her family gets to be complete—something she now considers a luxury.

“Definitely, I will be spending it with my family. I’m so excited kasi for me, who has grown-up children, I don’t get to spend a lot of time with them na kumpleto kami. That is such a luxury. But this Christmas, because it’s Christmas, kumpleto kami,” she said.

Lorna Tolentino

With her birthday falling on December 23, Lorna is all set for a packed holiday season, sharing her schedule from December 22 to 31, which also includes her Metro Manila Film Festival entry, I’mPerfect.

“Since it’s my birthday, so from December 22 to 25, out of town, and then 26, we have a family Christmas gathering and reunion at the same time. And then 27 is our Metro Manila Film Fest. And then 28, 29, 30, 31 is another pasyal,” she revealed.

Janine Gutierrez

For Janine, Christmas this year will be all about keeping it cozy and simple with her loved ones.

“Actually, ang Christmas plans namin ay dinner lang kasama ang family sa bahay. Typical Noche Buena,” she told Metro.Style.

Photo from @janinegutierrez

Shaina Magdayao

After a whirlwind year filled with numerous Kapamilya projects, Shaina is set to dedicate this Christmas to what she calls the heart of the season—quality time with family.

“Bawi sa family time, kasi we’ve been busy, tuloy-tuloy ang ating trabaho, which is good. Pero siyempre, ang talagang meaning ng Pasko is being together, celebrating our Lord. So, babawi sa family time. That’s the priority,” she shared.

Richard Gutierrez

This holiday season, Richard is gearing up to thrill audiences as he headlines Shake, Rattle & Roll: Evil Origins, which hits theaters on Christmas Day. Despite the busy schedule, he plans to celebrate the season alongside his family while promoting the film.

“Well, I have a movie, Shake, Rattle, and Roll, coming out on Christmas Day. So, I will be going around the cinemas with my family, and we’ll be watching Shake, Rattle, and Roll, and also, I’ll be supporting the other Metro Manila Film Festival movies,” he said.

Photo from @richardgutz

Sylvia Sanchez

Sylvia shared that her Christmas plans for this year were already set in motion last year, as she and her team are set to premiere their MMFF entry, I’mPerfect.

“Naka-plano na ‘yung Christmas ko since last year. Dahil meron kaming I’mPerfect for Metro Manila Film Fest na kasama. So, naka-plano ‘yung buong December ko na mag-promote ng movie,” she said.

She added, “May parade kami, may awards night, hanggang buong December 27. Kasama na ang mga lead actors, buong cast, ang mga persons with down syndrome. So, sila ‘yung dapat ngayon. Sila ngayon ‘yung itataas na ngayon ng production. Sila 'yung bida ngayong Pasko.”

Zsa Zsa Padilla

With her children now having their own families, Zsa Zsa revealed that she will be spending Christmas with her partner, Conrad Onglao.

“Actually, we just plan to have Noche Buena at home. My kids have ball partners, so they have Noche Buena in their respective homes. Tapos, normally, Christmas Day, nagyaya lang kami somewhere, or if we want to cook. Wala pa kaming plano ni Conrad so far,” she stated.

Charlie Dizon and Jane Oineza

Charlie is looking forward to a warm, traditional Noche Buena with her family. “Ako with my family, ‘yung simple lang na traditional Noche Buena,” she shared.

Meanwhile, Jane admitted she’s still figuring out her holiday plans as she intends to work during the season. “Buti ka pa may plano na kasi ako wala pang plano. Ang plano ko po ay magtrabaho,” she said in jest.

Photo from Lance Joseph Martinez

JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith

After a breakthrough year starring in their first-ever digital series, Ghosting, and appearing in various films, JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith are still ironing out their Christmas plans. However, they’re surely busy promoting their upcoming MMFF movie, Shake Rattle and Roll: Evil Origins.

“Wala pa naman kami masyadong Christmas plan, pero ayun, one thing for sure is mag-celebrate kami with family and then, manonood kami ng Shake, Rattle, and Roll,” the love team shared.

Photo from Lance Joseph Martinez

Lead photos from Lance Joseph Martinez

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Kyle Echarri, Donny Pangilinan, Catriona Gray, Melai Cantiveros, Janice De Belen, Charo Santos-Concio, Jane Oineza, Charlie Dizon, JM Ibarra, Fyang Smith, Lorna Tolentino, Richard Gutierrez, Sylvia Sanchez, Janine Gutierrez, Christmas

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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.

That’s the exact gamble Donny Pangilinan and Kyle Echarri are taking as they headline their newest Kapamilya series, Roja. 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. Roja 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.

Kyle Echarri and Donny Pangilinan, both in GUCCI | Photography by Gee Plamenco, Jr.

A pleasant surprise

“A surprise project.” That’s exactly how Donny and Kyle described their TV series, Roja.

The action-packed drama centers on Liam, portrayed by Donny, a talented head chef, and Olsen, 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.

In an exclusive interview with Metro.Style, the actors revealed that a casual chat with ABS-CBN Chief Operating Officer for Broadcast Cory Vidanes first gave them an idea that they were about to lead a project together.

“All started with Tita Cory saying ‘May inaayos ako para sa inyong dalawa,’ ‘yun lang at na-shock kami. Nasa isang gathering lang kami, and nakita niya kami, parang sabi ni Tita Cory, ‘Ano'ng ginagawa niyong dalawa?’ ‘Wala lang, Tita,’ Tapos sabi niya, ‘Very good kasi may inaayos ako para sa inyong dalawa.’ Hanggang sa, ito na, finally ipapakita na siya sa buong mundo,” Kyle shared, noting this was his first inkling that ABS-CBN was preparing a TV series for him and Donny.

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.

“Ang bilis nilang magkaroon ng concept. Ang bilis nilang gumawa ng kwento. Ang bilis nilang mag-cast ng artista. Hindi ko alam kung paano nila ginagawa ‘yun, but I was really in awe of how quickly they put this project together,” he said, which is why Roja felt like such a surprise project for him.

On Donny: Suit by Antonina

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.

“It'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.

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.

“It didn’t feel real at first, kasi, 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, kasi sino bang hihindi pa sa ganitong klaseng proyekto na napakagaling ng cast,” he said, referring to the 40-member ensemble. Leading Roja alongside Donny, he added, is a dream come true.

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… parang never natin naisip din e… na at some point in the near future, we would be able to lead a show together,” he recalled.

He also believes their real-life friendship played a major role in why the casting worked so well. “It works kasi ‘yun e, parang, first of all, alam naman nila na magkaibigan na kami. And that really helped, I think, in building this story. I think that's one of the major reasons also why they came up with this type of story… And, that's really needed for this type of show, especially na ang daming niyong pinagdaanan as characters na sobrang complex,” Donny explained.

‘It's just very different’

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 The Ride, a project that notably showcased a different side of his acting range and hinted at the depth he could bring to more intense roles.

Donny, on the other hand, skyrocketed to mainstream fame through his hit love-team pairing with 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 He’s Into Her to the massive popularity of Can’t Buy Me Love, Donny earned his reputation as today’s ultimate prince charming—an actor whose on-screen charisma never fails to make fans swoon.

Which is why taking on Roja—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.

On Kyle: Suit by Bang Pineda

Donny was candid about how Roja 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.

And as Roja 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.

“I know, I read the script, pero, sa totoo lang, we barely see any of the other characters. But it helps kasi that we don't know. Yeah, the character doesn't know that, too. So, that's the beauty of it. I'm super excited to see how everything comes together, kasi there are so many stories going on,” he explained.

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.

“I'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, na may mistress, ‘yung mga ganun... There are so many stories talaga,” he said.

Roja’s toughest challenges

Of course, the filming of Roja 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.

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.

“I think we really make it a point to take care of our bodies and work out and vitamin up and everything. Para lang ready kami. So, training, we did a bit of martial arts, arnis training, jiu-jitsu, tinuruan din kami kung paano humawak ng baril at ano ba 'yung correct stance, so on and so forth,” Donny revealed.

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.

“It would be the endurance talaga, doon ako na-shock na paulit-ulit kasi namin kailangan gawin ‘yung stunts, and every time we do an action scene, may iba-ibang 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.

Kyle, meanwhile, pointed to the arnis training as the most difficult aspect for him. “That’s such an art of a combat sport na years, it takes years of training to master it, and we didn’t really have years of training to master it. So, may factor na alam ko 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.

Why Roja is the perfect holiday treat for Filipino audiences

With the Christmas season just around the corner, Donny and Kyle believe that Roja could be the perfect gift for Filipino viewers, taking audiences on an exhilarating and emotional ride from start to finish.

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.

“I do believe it is pretty timely, but depende ‘yon kung paano tatanggapin ng mga tao ‘yung pagiging timely niya, kasi there are a lot of things happening in society that we also kind of put into our story with all the different plot lines. Sana makuha rin ng mga tao ‘yung ibang sinasabi ng characters, kung paano sila gaganahan doon,” he said.

Beyond the emotions and the suspense of rooting for different characters, Donny believes Roja is the kind of series that’s perfect for the whole family to enjoy together.

“Ito ‘yung magandang series to watch with people, ‘Ano'ng mangyayari next?’ Hindi mo alam intense siya pero pwede ring thrill, maraming secrets, maraming emotions, basta maraming 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.

All things considered, Roja 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.

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.

Photography by Gee Plamenco, Jr.

Sittings Editor: Grace Libero-Cruz

Managing Editor: Rick Formalejo

Video Producer: Tricia Matias

Layout Artist: Alfred Amado

Stylists: John Lozano (Donny) and Aaron Mangsat (Kyle)

Grooming: Jam Pareño (Donny) and Ryan Ko (Kyle)

Editorial Assistant: Naiah Mendoza

Special thanks to Dreamscape, Star Magic, Cornerstone, and Mi Cocina

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Roja, Donny Pangilinan, Kye Echarri, Dreamscape

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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.

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Fyang Smith and JM Ibarra, as photographed by Dookie Ducay | Check out @metromagph for behind-the-scenes clips

It was the weekend, and this Metro digital cover shoot was not the only thing on the calendars of Pinoy Big Brother: Gen 11 alums JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith. Booked and busy with their projects together as the “JMFyang” tandem, as well as their individual gigs, scheduling their Metro comeback took longer than usual, but it was worth the wait.

Fans who shipped the pairing of JM and Fyang may remember that in December of last year, the two were featured on Metro with the other PBB: Gen 11 housemates. At the time, JMFyang was a tandem fans only dreamed up. Barely a year later, JMFYang officially became a love team, a treat for fans who followed their bond’s evolution from the reality show to the outside world.

From the PBB house, the two have ventured into the world of showbiz together. They're discovering the industry's inner workings side by side, traveling to places like the UAE for The Filipino Channel's (TFC) Barrio Fiesta event, Taiwan for TFC's Happy Hour, and locally, Siquijor for their Bench photo shoot.

With their future bright and promising, Metro takes the futuristic route for JM and Fyang's cover feature, time-traveling to a sweet escape in one of their dream destinations, Japan, through a shoot in a hip, Japanese-style restaurant, Salaryman, in the heart of BGC, Taguig.

On Fyang: Silver dress by AJ Javier | On JM: Black jacket by D.D.Daily and pants by Rubrinas

With a nation drawn to and love-struck by love teams, JMFyang ushers in a new era in this showbiz culture, their fresh pairing delivering an authentic connection and effortless kilig rooted in friendship.

Every generation presents a different story and a different approach to storytelling. Every loveteam is different, with its own strengths and distinct flavor. And Gen Zs JM and Fyang, whose personalities balance each other out (his cool, nonchalant demeanor and her jolly, unfiltered persona), found the perfect material to launch their emerging tandem.

Coinciding with the observance of Ghost Month in the Lunar Calendar, iWant Originals’ latest romantic-fantasy series Ghosting, starring JM and Fyang, is taking the digital space by storm.

The project marks the very first acting collaboration between Fyang Smith and JM Ibarra—fondly called “JMFyang”—and their debut as a Kapamilya loveteam already spells success.

Directed by Theodore Boborol, the romantic-fantasy series follows the story of Jaja (Fyang), a college student who retreats to her grandmother’s provincial home after being ghosted, where she later meets Wilberto (JM), a mysterious local revealed to be a wandering spirit. For the uninitiated, “ghosting” is a modern relationship term where one suddenly stops communicating with the other without any explanation. What begins as Jaja’s personal journey of healing transforms into a once-in-a-lifetime romance that blurs the line between the living and the dead.

In celebration of the series’ milestone, former Pinoy Big Brother: Gen 11 housemates-turned-loveteam Fyang and JM opened up about their reflections on and reactions to their first acting project together—from their intense preparation to the overwhelming support they’ve been receiving from viewers.

As first-timers in the acting scene, both admitted that they pushed themselves to undergo several workshops to bring justice to the script, embody their characters to the best of their abilities, and meet the expectations of their fandom.

“Nag-workshop kami kasi first digital series namin. So, siyempre pinaghandaan namin. Ayaw namin na ma-disappoint ang lahat ng mga sumusuporta sa amin,” Fyang told Metro.Style.

“Halos same lang kami ng preparations before kami sumabak sa project. Dumaan kami ng workshop, kahit sa labas ng workshop nag-script reading kami sa sariling oras namin dalawa. Pinaghandaan namin ‘yung role nang kaming dalawa since gusto namin bigyan ng magandang mapapanood ‘yung fandom namin,” JM added.

But for Fyang, JM was not just a co-actor but also someone who helped her improve her delivery, especially since she grew up in Laguna and carried a natural accent.

“Si JM, tinulungan niya ako na maalis ‘yung accent ko na taga-Laguna, ‘yung puntong Laguna. Tinulungan niya ako paano tanggalin ‘yon, kung paano i-deliver ng tama ‘yung lines. And kung paano ma-feel ng mga manonood ‘yung dapat nila ma-feel,” she revealed.

Meanwhile, JM pointed out that their drive also stemmed from the pressure they placed on themselves as Kapamilya artists.

“Gusto rin namin panghawakan ‘yung kalidad ng mga artista ng ABS-CBN Kapamilya. Ayaw na ayaw namin na mawala sa amin ‘yung ganoon. Gusto namin ma-maintain ‘yung quality na mayroon ang isang Kapamilya artist,” he stressed.

On JM: Jacket and pants by Diesel

All that effort clearly paid off. Even just the trailer of Ghosting already generated more than 23 million combined views across YouTube and other social media platforms—an achievement that left the pair overjoyed.

“Sobrang overwhelming po at hindi po namin ine-expect na ganoon pa rin sila kasabik na abangan itong first series namin, kasi since lumabas kami ng PBB, grabe na ‘yung pagsuporta na natatanggap namin sa kanila and until now, nando'n pa rin. Sobrang solid pa rin ‘yung pagsuporta nila,” JM said.

“Natuwa kami noong malaman namin na umabot sa ganu’n kataas ‘yung views ng trailer, kasi kung iisipin, trailer pa lang ‘yun, what more pa kung napanood nila ‘yung buong series talaga,” Fyang added excitedly.

For the two, who have previously dabbled in singing and dancing, being given the chance to headline a digital series written especially for them was a revelation in itself.

“Natuwa talaga kami kasi nga, hindi naman namin in-expect na magkakaroon kami ng sarili namin na digital series na kami pa ‘yung lead role. Sobrang natuwa kami,” Fyang admitted.

She also discussed how her character, Jaja, mirrors her real personality, saying, “Si Jaja, hindi naman nagkakalayo kay Fyang. I mean, personally, ako kasi maingay talaga ako ‘pag komportable ako sa mga tao. Super maingay ako, madaldal, maligalig, and si Jaja kasi, gano'n din siya. So, hindi na ako nahirapan masyadong kapain kung ano ‘yung ugali ni Jaja.” That is not to say, of course, that it was easy throughout because there were also scenes that required her to cry and pour out her emotions, for which fans gushed about how natural she looked in those scenes.

On Fyang: Black mesh bodysuit by Maison Soriano

On the other hand, JM revealed that his role as Wilberto was the exact opposite of his real-life persona, which meant more work on his end—something he credits director Ted Boborol for guiding him through.

“Malayo si Wilberto sa akin. Sa backstory pa lang, behavior pa lang ni Wilberto, kailangan talagang mapag-aralan. Buti na lang, nandiyan din si Direk Ted para i-guide ako kung paano ko bubuuin ‘yung character ni Wilberto. Hanggang sa nasanay na lang ako sa delivery. Andiyan naman si Direk mapaloob o labas ng set, kahit magkahiwalay kami, tinutulungan niya ako kung paano i-maintain o paano buuin ‘yung character,” JM said. With all the green flags waving, viewers are drawn to Wilberto, and credit goes to JM for making his character extra likable.

The pair also got candid about how working with each other made the experience even more memorable. For JM, Fyang’s presence made the taping lighter and less stressful.

“Magaan si Fyang katrabaho. To the point na para lang kaming normal na nag-uusap—normal na magkausap, parang sa halos araw-araw namin magkasama sa trabaho. Every time na nasa set kami, hindi ko naramdam na ‘Ay, taping pala ‘to.’ Walang pressure, walang kaba. Kasi, magaan na sa aming dalawa,” JM revealed.

As for Fyang, she didn’t hold back on her admiration for JM’s talent and generosity as a co-actor.

“Sa akin, si Daniel [JM’s second name] ay masasabi kong isang magaling na actor. Although, mapagbigay din naman siyang actor kapag ka-eksena ko siya, pero kasi kapag siya katrabaho ko, feeling ko hindi ako nagtatrabaho. ‘Pag siya ‘yung kasama ko, mas lamang sa akin ‘yung masaya ako every time na kasama ko siya,” she shared.

“Alam mo ‘yun, ‘pag wala siya, parang hindi ko dala ‘yung battery ko... Every time na kasama ko siya sa trabaho, kahit saan man, mapa-taping man, or kahit event lang ‘yan, masaya ako dahil nandiyan ‘yung battery ko,” she continued.

“Battery talaga kita kasi malungkot ako ‘pag wala ka,” Fyang sweetly told JM during their Metro.Style interview, and JM couldn't help but smile.

When asked about their role models in acting, Fyang proudly mentioned her admiration for Maricel Soriano, Kathryn Bernardo, Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, Toni Gonzaga, and Alex Gonzaga. Meanwhile, JM, who is into old films, looks up to Romnick Sarmenta, John Lloyd Cruz, Vhong Navarro, as well as Joshua Garcia and Elijah Canlas from today’s generation.

Towards the end of the conversation, the two turned sentimental as they talked about their dreams as a loveteam. JM expressed his desire for them to one day star in a blockbuster film, despite the challenges posed by the digital shift in content consumption.

“Ngayon, gusto ko magka-blockbuster film talaga kaming dalawa. Together, gusto ko talaga—lalo ngayon, mahirap ma-achieve ‘yung bagay na ‘yon, since digital na pinapanood ‘yung pelikula o serye,” JM said.

Meanwhile, Fyang revealed that her personal dream is for both of them to be recognized individually through acting awards.

“Siguro ako, sa aming dalawa, of course, best actor and best actress awards talaga. So, ‘pag may binibigay sa aming project, or kung may ibibigay man sa aming project, gagalingan namin talaga, kasi ang hirap talaga magka-awards, especially ‘pag big screen ang labanan,” she explained.

As they continue to pursue their acting journey, one thing is clear: fans can expect more from “JMFyang,” whether on the small screen or the big screen. No one knows what the future holds, but their debut in Ghosting hints at a solid start and proves that their loveteam has what it takes to thrive.

Photography by Dookie Ducay

Metro Head: Christina Lopez

Sittings Editor: Geolette Esguerra, Kate Paras-Santiago, Randz Manucom, and Grace Libero-Cruz

Managing Editor: Rick Formalejo

Creative Direction and Post-Processing by Vince Canlapan

Fashion Associate: Carla Buyo

Stylists: Adrianne Concepcion (Fyang), assisted by Via Abarra and Cent Bermas; Perry Tabora (JM), assisted by Kris de Leon

Makeup Artists: Japeth Mike Purog (Fyang), assisted by Johnrey Milliano and Mark Ruben Camarao (JM), assisted by Cynthia Bermejo

Hairstylists: Aryan Buccat (Fyang) and Mark Joseph Carbonilla (JM)

Art Director: Alfred Amado

Editorial Assistants: Iya Baring and Krystel Matias

Videographer: Como Se Dice Media

Shot on location: Salarymanx4649 in Forbestown, BGC

Special thanks to iWant, Star Magic, Gidget dela Cuesta, Portia Dimla, Vaughn Hautea, Rens Dingli, and EESOME, BGC

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Reflections, realizations, and reactions: Fyang Smith and JM Ibarra get candid on their hit debut series ‘Ghosting.’

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JM Ibarra, as photographed by Dookie Ducay

In showbiz, many celebrities explore multiple career paths—whether it’s singing, dancing, hosting, and/or acting. But some stars prefer to focus on mastering a single craft, using it as the solid foundation of their careers. Pinoy Big Brother: Gen 11 alum JM Ibarra has found that core in the craft of acting. Since stepping out of Big Brother’s house, JM has always been firm with and assured of the direction he wanted to take in showbiz.

When asked which career path he envisioned for himself, the young actor didn’t hesitate to say that his heart has always been set on acting.

“Una pa lang naman, mula paglabas ko ng Bahay ni Kuya, very vocal na ako pagdating sa goal ko dito sa industry na ito, gusto ko talaga ‘yung pag-arte, ‘yung acting,” JM revealed in an exclusive interview with Metro.Style during his Metro digital cover shoot alongside loveteam partner Fyang Smith.

Still, JM was quick to clarify that while he remains open to trying out other ventures, it is acting where he sees himself thriving. For him, happiness is key, and acting gives him that sense of fulfillment.

“Siguro, ready naman ako i-explore lahat ng fields na meron dito sa industry, pero nakikita ko ‘yung sarili ko na mag-e-excel sa acting field, at mas masaya—of course, ‘yun naman ‘yung mahalaga e. Kung saan ka masaya. Kung saan ka masaya sa ginagawa mo at kung ano‘ng ikasasaya mo sa trabaho mo,” he explained.

JM recently debuted in iWant Originals’ romantic-fantasy series Ghosting alongside Fyang. Despite being their first acting project, both newcomers drew positive reviews for their chemistry and performances.

When asked about how he felt reading all the good feedback, JM admitted it gave him the push to do even better.

“Nakaka-boost ng eagerness pa para sa trabaho, nakaka-boost na—more pa, gusto pa namin umarte kasi ang dami nilang magagandang komento na ibinibigay sa amin. Nakaka-boost ng confidence,” he said.

JM also confessed that the warm reception from fans came as a surprise, making the experience even more rewarding.

“Sobrang nakaka-happy ng feeling, of course, kasi hindi rin naman namin in-expect habang ginagawa namin ‘yung project na ganoon ‘yung magiging dating sa kanila, na matutuwa sila sa performance namin. So, ayun, lalo lang kaming na nanggigigil na galingan ‘yung mga next project namin. Kasi hindi lang din naman para sa amin, kundi para sa fans, para sa mga manonood din talaga,” JM added.

Although JM and Fyang had already worked together on different projects before, Ghosting marked the first time they acted side by side under a scripted storyline. For JM, the transition felt surreal at first, especially when it came to shooting romantic scenes.

“Noong una, hindi [naman] siya awkward. Siguro, hindi [lang] kami sanay na kami ‘yung magka-eksena, especially sa mga kilig scene, naiilang. Hindi naman awkward feeling. May ilang kami sa isa’t-isa na ‘totoo ba ‘to?’” he admitted.

But as filming progressed, both actors quickly adjusted, learning to channel emotions naturally into their roles.

“Pero natanggal naman namin sa sarili namin ‘yun hanggang sa tumatagal na nasanay na kami na kaming dalawa ‘yung magka-eksena. Nasanay na kami na gawing natural ‘yung emosyon na kailangan namin ipakita, ‘yung dialogue,” JM explained.

The adjustment came with practice, he added, emphasizing how the demands of the set pushed them to adapt and improve.

“Nasanay lang kami na paulit-ulit lang namin ginagawa, mapatrabaho o mapasabahay lang, kasi mahalaga ang oras kapag nasa set e. So, sinanay lang namin hanggang sa nakapa na namin,” he shared. “Pinaghandaan namin ‘yung roles namin nang kaming dalawa para bukod sa gusto namin bigyan ng magandang mapanood ‘yung fandom namin, gusto rin namin panghawakan ‘yung kalidad ng mga artista ng ABS-CBN Kapamilya. Ayaw namin na mawala sa amin ‘yung ganoon. Gusto namin ma-maintain ‘yung quality na mayroon ang isang Kapamilya artist.”

As for what lies ahead, JM, who also stars in the Cinemalaya film Child No. 82, envisions bigger opportunities for himself and his love team with Fyang. While more acting projects are already in the pipeline, he revealed a dream goal he hopes they could one day achieve together.

“Ngayon, gusto ko magka-blockbuster film talaga kaming dalawa. Together, gusto ko talaga—lalo ngayon, mahirap ma-achieve ‘yung bagay na ‘yon since digital na pinapanood ‘yung pelikula o serye,” he concluded.

As JM continues to strengthen his passion for acting, it’s clear that he’s ready to carve out his own place in the industry—one project and one role at a time.

Photography by Dookie Ducay

Metro Head: Christina Lopez

Sittings Editor: Geolette Esguerra, Kate Paras-Santiago, Randz Manucom, and Grace Libero-Cruz

Managing Editor: Rick Formalejo

Creative Direction and Post-Processing by Vince Canlapan

Fashion Associate: Carla Buyo

Stylists: Adrianne Concepcion (Fyang), assisted by Via Abarra and Cent Bermas; Perry Tabora (JM), assisted by Kris de Leon

Makeup Artists: Japeth Mike Purog (Fyang), assisted by Johnrey Milliano and Mark Ruben Camarao (JM), assisted by Cynthia Bermejo

Hairstylists: Aryan Buccat (Fyang) and Mark Joseph Carbonilla (JM)

Art Director: Alfred Amado

Editorial Assistants: Iya Baring and Krystel Matias

Videographer: Como Se Dice Media

Shot on location: Salarymanx4649 in Forbestown, BGC

Special thanks to iWant, Star Magic, Gidget dela Cuesta, Portia Dimla, Vaughn Hautea, Rens Dingli, and EESOME, BGC

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As JM Ibarra continues to strengthen his passion for acting, it’s clear that he’s ready to carve out his own place in the industry—one project and one role at a time.

","description_text":"As JM Ibarra continues to strengthen his passion for acting, it’s clear that he’s ready to carve out his own place in the industry—one project and one role at a time.","genre":{"0":{"code":"Article","name":"Article (news)"}},"attachments":{},"charcount":5535,"wordcount":887,"readtime":4,"authors":{"0":{"code":"68a43837cdcc32622fb7c57c","name":"Lance Joseph Martinez","role":"","biography":"","byline":"","author_url":"","twitter":"","instagram":""}},"products":{},"subscribers":{}},{"guid":"urn:newsml:od2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com:2025-09-16T02:26:28.845721:43d243f9-1066-4b73-82ee-9d054e5520de","version":"28","type":"text","versioncreated":{},"language":"en","headline":"Fyang Smith Gets Real, Candid, and Reflective on Embracing Criticism","urgency":3,"pubstatus":"usable","ednote":"In the story \"Metro Digital Cover: Fyang Smith Gets Real, Candid, and Reflective on Embracing Criticism\" sent at: 16.09.2025 20:30.\r\n\r\nThis is a corrected repeat.","body_html":"

Fyang Smith, as photographed by Dookie Ducay

Celebrities are no strangers to criticism and bashing, but in the age of digital media, they have become even more rampant. But while some celebrities choose to avoid reading comments altogether to protect their mental health, others turn them into motivation to improve. For Pinoy Big Brother: Gen 11 Big Winner and iWant's Ghosting lead star Fyang Smith, it’s the latter.

In an exclusive interview during her Metro digital cover shoot alongside loveteam partner JM Ibarra, Fyang opened up about how she manages to face online criticism head-on.

Recently, she was the subject of online scrutiny when certain videos of her, being her unfiltered and playful self, surfaced. They raised questions about the line between confidence, rawness, and authenticity (and too much of it). The up-and-coming Star Magic actress—who has also dabbled in music through her debut album and concert titled "Forever Fyang"—was also criticized for her performance.

Fyang, in her willingness to learn about the ways of the industry she now moves in, doesn't shy away from negative feedback. In fact, she reads as many comments as she can, including those that are below the belt, as they may offer her insight for improvement.

The comments do hurt sometimes, of course, especially for an artist who knows she still has so much to learn. But instead of letting them weigh her down, Fyang said, "Siguro, tine-take ko na lang siya as constructive criticism... Stay positive, everybody! Stay happy lang! Happy day!"

On Fyang: Gray asymmetric puffer dress by Morisette Magalona

While she doesn’t let negative comments affect her deeply, Fyang absorbs all the positive ones to fuel her passion even more. After her acting debut in iWant's digital series Ghosting, where she stars alongside JM, Fyang couldn’t hide her joy over the warm reception they received.

“Nakaka-touch siya na, alam mo ‘yun, parang malawak kasi ang industriya e, so baguhan pa lang talaga kami, and noong nabasa namin ‘yung mga comments na parang hindi kami baguhan, s‘yempre nakakatuwa naman kasi hindi rin naman kami easy-easy lang,” she said.

She added that the support motivates her and JM to keep exploring acting as a craft.

“Parang gusto rin namin na i-explore kung ano talaga, kung gaano kalaki ‘yung industriyang ‘to. Kung gaano kalaki ‘yung pag-acting. Gusto rin namin siyang i-explore. Masaya kami na maganda ‘yung impact sa kanila ng acting namin,” Fyang opened up.

On Fyang: Silver dress by AJ Javier

Following her breakthrough performance as Jaja in Ghosting, Fyang is determined to improve in acting and pursue it as her primary career path.

“Sa ngayon, feeling ko magfo-focus ako sa pag-acting, kasi, don’t get me wrong, grateful ako na meron akong album, na meron akong concert na sold-out... Masaya ako na na-experience ko na nagkaroon ako ng album launch. Sobrang happy ako kasi hindi naman lahat nagkakaroon ng gano’ng opportunity na magkaroon ng isang album,” she pondered.

While she acknowledges that this might mean fewer opportunities for her in singing and dancing, Fyang expressed confidence in where her newfound passion lies.

“But for now, I’d say na mas gusto kong mag-focus sa pag-acting ko kasi kaya kong mag-excel doon. Confident ako na kaya kong i-portray ‘yung ibibigay sa akin na role... Confident talaga ako kasi mas masaya ako sa pag-acting,” emphasized Fyang, who is also part of the cast of the upcoming horror movie, Shake, Rattle, & Roll Evil Origins, an official Metro Manila Film Festival entry.

On Fyang: Silver corset by Maison Soriano

In line with the concept behind her digital cover shoot, Fyang revealed her ultimate dream for the future. Alongside JM, she hopes their hard work will one day lead to recognition.

“Siguro ako, sa aming dalawa, of course, best actor and best actress awards talaga. So, 'pag may ibinibigay sa aming project, or kung may ibibigay man sa aming project, gagalingan namin talaga... kasi ang hirap talaga magka-awards, especially ‘pag big screen ang labanan,” she said.

With her passion, determination, and enthusiasm, audiences can expect actress Fyang Smith to shine even brighter in the years to come.

Photography by Dookie Ducay

Metro Head: Christina Lopez

Sittings Editor: Geolette Esguerra, Kate Paras-Santiago, Randz Manucom, and Grace Libero-Cruz

Managing Editor: Rick Formalejo

Creative Direction and Post-Processing by Vince Canlapan

Fashion Associate: Carla Buyo

Stylists: Adrianne Concepcion (Fyang), assisted by Via Abarra and Cent Bermas; Perry Tabora (JM), assisted by Kris de Leon

Makeup Artists: Japeth Mike Purog (Fyang), assisted by Johnrey Milliano and Mark Ruben Camarao (JM), assisted by Cynthia Bermejo

Hairstylists: Aryan Buccat (Fyang) and Mark Joseph Carbonilla (JM)

Art Director: Alfred Amado

Editorial Assistants: Iya Baring and Krystel Matias

Videographer: Como Se Dice Media

Shot on location: Salarymanx4649 in Forbestown, BGC

Special thanks to iWant, Star Magic, Gidget dela Cuesta, Portia Dimla, Vaughn Hautea, Rens Dingli, and EESOME, BGC

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\"Ghosting\" star Fyang Smith opens up about how she handles criticism and which direction she'd like to take for her career.

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Catriona Gray for her latest single, "Every Christmas" | Photo courtesy of Cornerstone

No one was more iconic in 2018 than Catriona Gray.

After winning the Miss Universe crown that year, her career has soared nonstop—spanning television projects, commercials, advocacy work, and frequent appearances in both local and international pageants as a sought-after host or judge. Her presence has remained strong in the public eye, a testament to how she continues to evolve beyond pageantry.

For Catriona, having a packed calendar is something she considers a blessing. But she’s also clear about one thing: she needs to maintain a healthy balance between her work and personal life. She makes it a point to constantly communicate with her team about her needs—something she’s grateful for, as her team always understands and supports her boundaries.

“When they book my schedule, I usually have Sundays off, or they really respect it if I say, ‘Guys, I’m feeling a little bit burnt out. Can I please block off a day here?’ Very understanding naman sila. Which I’m very grateful for because I think work culture and hustle culture are always super glorified,” she shared in an exclusive interview with Metro.Style.

Part of how she maintains balance is through wellness. Whether it’s Pilates, running, walking, or a simple workout, she always makes sure she moves every day—even if it’s just for 20 minutes. For her, health is a priority. “Not because may sakit ako, but because I don’t want to be sick. And I want to live a really high-quality life,” she said.

This intentional balance allows her to show up fully for her work, delivering quality results—a personal standard she takes seriously. And one area that has grown to become a major focus for her is hosting.

Recently, Catriona joined Miss Grand International 2024 CJ Opiaza and Miss World 2025 Suchata Chuangsri as hosts of the grand Miss Sultan Kudarat pageant, a local competition that drew significant attention. Aside from this, she has been a backstage correspondent for the Miss Universe pageant from 2022 to 2024, further expanding her already impressive portfolio of hosting engagements.

But despite her robust hosting experience, Catriona still has a dream project. “If I could have a dream project in the position of a host, I would love one of those shows, hindi ko alam kung alam niyo, like there’s a Say I Do show on Netflix. Kinu-curate nila ‘yung perfect wedding. And na-surprise 'yung future wife or future husband nila. It’s almost very same treatment as Queer Eye, ‘yung talagang outreach to an individual na nominated,” she revealed.

Catriona Gray’s talent as a host isn’t just about charm or presence—it’s her exceptional communication skills that truly set her apart. From delivering memorable answers during pageant Q&As to offering insightful commentary on socio-political topics, she has long been celebrated for her poise, eloquence, and clarity.

And according to her, the key lies in staying informed. Whenever something relevant happens in the country, she makes sure to educate herself—not because she intends to speak publicly right away, but because she wants to understand what’s going on.

“If I’m given the opportunity and I feel like I can speak up about it, I will. But more so because if I’m to share something, gusto ko may understanding ako. Ayoko na parang empty na pray for the Philippines or something. Gusto ko may may contribution sana ako kahit maliit,” she said.

She added that fostering healthy conversations is part of her responsibility. “And also, if I have been able to garner understanding, I want to then encourage my audience to figure out where they stand as well. Not to say, believe this because I believe this, or have this opinion because I have this opinion. No, but like, let’s talk about it. And kind of educate each other. So, hindi naman siya training. I think stewarding the platform in a responsible way.”

But beyond hosting and pageantry, Catriona is returning to one of her earliest and most heartfelt passions this Christmas season—music. Long before she set foot on a pageant stage, Catriona grew up in a home filled with melodies, thanks largely to her father, Ian Gray.

She recalls how music was always present in their home. Although her father never pursued a music career, she describes him as a “fantastic singer” who always filled their house with his voice.

“Favorites niya ‘yung mga Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley. So, I think I grew up with that appreciation for that older type of music. And the joy that it brought him,” she shared.

Her love for music doesn’t just come from her father—it also runs in her blood. Her paternal grandfather, whom she never met, was a self-taught violinist. She believes this influence played a role in her connection to music.

“Siya din ang number one fan ko,” Catriona said of her father. Whenever they talked, he would always ask her the same question: “When are you doing music? When are you doing singing?”

And this Christmas season, she finally gives him the answer he’s been waiting for. After four years, Catriona is returning to music with the release of her Christmas single, “Every Christmas,” a collaboration with certified hitmaker Jason Marvin.

Jason, known for writing chart-toppers like “Kumpas,” “Ikaw at Ako,” and “Paubaya,” teamed up with Catriona to create a bittersweet holiday track. The song captures the feeling of imagining a happier Christmas, while privately longing for someone who isn’t there.

“Instead of feeling that comfort and that joy, they kind of find themselves feeling sad because they’re missing someone. And it’s bittersweet because the season is joyous… But may moments of like, you know, ‘I wish they were here,’ or ‘I wish things turned out differently.’ So the song is really just an expression of that feeling,” she explained.

When the project was pitched to her, the decision came instantly. After Jason sent her the demo, she was immediately drawn to it.

“He had his own set of lyrics, and then he sent the demo, and I said yes straight away. I was really surprised because I was like, ‘Oh, where did this lyric come from?’ He said, ‘I really have you in mind.’ So I was like, oh, okay. I really appreciate that,” she said.

The creative process flowed easily from there. “So from then on, we started going back and forth, editing the lyrics that I felt I resonated with better, figuring out the key. And then we met together, we recorded the demo, and then we came back and recorded the song. And it was literally like one recording session. So it was very quick, very easy, and I really enjoyed the process,” she added.

Now, this song serves as a perfect Christmas gift not just for Filipinos, but also for Catriona’s father, as she’s set to fly to Australia to celebrate the season with her family.

“I’m spending it with my mom and dad. My dad is getting a bit old now. So, I'm really prioritizing time with him. I just want to be very intentional about making time and spending quality time with him while he's still healthy and around,” she shared.

The last time Catriona released music was in 2021 with "Love Language," the first song she wrote and composed herself. It was a validating project for her, knowing she crafted both the melody and lyrics. Before that, she released "We’re in This Together" and "R.Y.F.," two songs that became part of her historic Miss Universe 2018 journey.

Now that she’s back in music, Catriona says it feels like returning home. More than a creative outlet, she sees music as a medium that allows people to know her more intimately—beyond the glamorous roles she often plays.

“I’m insecure sometimes, and like to come from someone like me, I feel like the audience is like, ‘huh, but like we know you as someone who never gets nervous and whatever.’ So I appreciate that music has been not only a creative way to express myself, but also hopefully like an invitation for people to know me as Catriona, not necessarily as like the beauty queen or the host,” she said.

In essence, releasing Every Christmas is deeply meaningful for her—not just as a return to music, but as an emotional invitation for people to see her humanity.

“I feel like I get to invite people and to know me on a human level. Because, you know, you don’t do so much on social media,” she concluded.

Photos courtesy of Cornerstone

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Catriona Gray, Miss Universe 2018, Every Christmas, Jason Marvin

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Catriona Gray makes her return to the music spotlight with the release of her bittersweet holiday track, “Every Christmas,” a collaboration with singer-songwriter Jason Marvin.

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Kyle Echarri and Donny Pangilinan, both in GUCCI | Photography by Gee Plamenco, Jr.

A pleasant surprise

“A surprise project.” That’s exactly how Donny and Kyle described their TV series, Roja.

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.

On Donny: Suit by Antonina

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.

‘It's just very different’

On Kyle: Suit by Bang Pineda

Roja’s toughest challenges

Why Roja is the perfect holiday treat for Filipino audiences

Beyond the emotions and the suspense of rooting for different characters, Donny believes Roja is the kind of series that’s perfect for the whole family to enjoy together.

All things considered, Roja 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.

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.

Photography by Gee Plamenco, Jr.

Sittings Editor: Grace Libero-Cruz

Managing Editor: Rick Formalejo

Video Producer: Tricia Matias

Layout Artist: Alfred Amado

Stylists: John Lozano (Donny) and Aaron Mangsat (Kyle)

Grooming: Jam Pareño (Donny) and Ryan Ko (Kyle)

Editorial Assistant: Naiah Mendoza

Special thanks to Dreamscape, Star Magic, Cornerstone, and Mi Cocina

","slugline":"Metro Artist Spotlight: Donny Pangilinan and Kyle Echarri for Roja","firstcreated":"2025-11-24T05:21:42.000Z","firstpublished":"2025-11-28T10:00:00.000Z","source":"One Domain","extra":{"slugline_url":"people/2025/11/28/metro-artist-spotlight-donny-pangilinan-and-kyle-echarri-for-roja-1800","tags":"People,Digital Covers,Metro Artist Spotlight,Donny Pangilinan,Kyle Echarri,Roja","ai_writer_keywords":"

Roja, Donny Pangilinan, Kye Echarri, Dreamscape

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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.

","description_text":"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.","genre":[{"code":"Article","name":"Article (news)"}],"attachments":[],"charcount":11063,"wordcount":1881,"readtime":8,"authors":[{"code":"68a43837cdcc32622fb7c57c","name":"Lance Joseph Martinez","role":"","biography":null,"byline":"","author_url":"","twitter":"","instagram":""}],"publish_schedule":"2025-11-28T10:00:00.000Z","products":[],"subscribers":[]},{"guid":"urn:newsml:od2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com:2025-09-08T22:56:16.829595:3fb376ca-b7af-48c2-a1c9-590294d1c216","version":"77","type":"text","versioncreated":"2025-09-11T18:49:00.000Z","language":"en","headline":"Future Perfect: JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith's Team-Up Makes a Mark in the Hit Digital Series 'Ghosting'","urgency":3,"pubstatus":"usable","ednote":"In the story \"Future Perfect: JM Ibarra and Fyang Smith Make a Mark as a Loveteam in the Digital Series 'Ghosting'\" sent at: 12.09.2025 02:47.\r\n\r\nThis is a corrected repeat.","body_html":"

Fyang Smith and JM Ibarra, as photographed by Dookie Ducay | Check out @metromagph for behind-the-scenes clips

On Fyang: Silver dress by AJ Javier | On JM: Black jacket by D.D.Daily and pants by Rubrinas

Coinciding with the observance of Ghost Month in the Lunar Calendar, iWant Originals’ latest romantic-fantasy series Ghosting, starring JM and Fyang, is taking the digital space by storm.

The project marks the very first acting collaboration between Fyang Smith and JM Ibarra—fondly called “JMFyang”—and their debut as a Kapamilya loveteam already spells success.

“Nag-workshop kami kasi first digital series namin. So, siyempre pinaghandaan namin. Ayaw namin na ma-disappoint ang lahat ng mga sumusuporta sa amin,” Fyang told Metro.Style.

But for Fyang, JM was not just a co-actor but also someone who helped her improve her delivery, especially since she grew up in Laguna and carried a natural accent.

Meanwhile, JM pointed out that their drive also stemmed from the pressure they placed on themselves as Kapamilya artists.

On JM: Jacket and pants by Diesel

For the two, who have previously dabbled in singing and dancing, being given the chance to headline a digital series written especially for them was a revelation in itself.

“Natuwa talaga kami kasi nga, hindi naman namin in-expect na magkakaroon kami ng sarili namin na digital series na kami pa ‘yung lead role. Sobrang natuwa kami,” Fyang admitted.

On Fyang: Black mesh bodysuit by Maison Soriano

The pair also got candid about how working with each other made the experience even more memorable. For JM, Fyang’s presence made the taping lighter and less stressful.

As for Fyang, she didn’t hold back on her admiration for JM’s talent and generosity as a co-actor.

“Battery talaga kita kasi malungkot ako ‘pag wala ka,” Fyang sweetly told JM during their Metro.Style interview, and JM couldn't help but smile.

Meanwhile, Fyang revealed that her personal dream is for both of them to be recognized individually through acting awards.

Photography by Dookie Ducay

Metro Head: Christina Lopez

Sittings Editor: Geolette Esguerra, Kate Paras-Santiago, Randz Manucom, and Grace Libero-Cruz

Managing Editor: Rick Formalejo

Creative Direction and Post-Processing by Vince Canlapan

Fashion Associate: Carla Buyo

Stylists: Adrianne Concepcion (Fyang), assisted by Via Abarra and Cent Bermas; Perry Tabora (JM), assisted by Kris de Leon

Makeup Artists: Japeth Mike Purog (Fyang), assisted by Johnrey Milliano and Mark Ruben Camarao (JM), assisted by Cynthia Bermejo

Hairstylists: Aryan Buccat (Fyang) and Mark Joseph Carbonilla (JM)

Art Director: Alfred Amado

Editorial Assistants: Iya Baring and Krystel Matias

Videographer: Como Se Dice Media

Shot on location: Salarymanx4649 in Forbestown, BGC

Special thanks to iWant, Star Magic, Gidget dela Cuesta, Portia Dimla, Vaughn Hautea, Rens Dingli, and EESOME, BGC

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Reflections, realizations, and reactions: Fyang Smith and JM Ibarra get candid on their hit debut series ‘Ghosting.’

","description_text":"Reflections, realizations, and reactions: Fyang Smith and JM Ibarra get candid on their hit debut series ‘Ghosting.’","genre":[{"code":"Article","name":"Article (news)"}],"attachments":[],"charcount":11032,"wordcount":1775,"readtime":7,"authors":[{"code":"68a43837cdcc32622fb7c57c","name":"Lance Joseph Martinez","role":"","biography":null,"byline":"","author_url":"","twitter":"","instagram":""}],"products":[],"subscribers":[]},{"guid":"urn:newsml:od2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com:2025-09-16T09:00:34.665107:5fc0352a-3bb4-4600-bd73-5cd883e093c6","version":"20","type":"text","versioncreated":"2025-09-17T02:22:53.000Z","language":"en","headline":"JM Ibarra on Living Up to the Entertainment Industry's Standard","urgency":3,"pubstatus":"usable","ednote":"In the story \"Metro Digital Cover: JM Ibarra on Living Up to the Entertainment Industry's Standard\" sent at: 16.09.2025 20:00.\r\n\r\nThis is a corrected repeat.","body_html":"

JM Ibarra, as photographed by Dookie Ducay

When asked which career path he envisioned for himself, the young actor didn’t hesitate to say that his heart has always been set on acting.

When asked about how he felt reading all the good feedback, JM admitted it gave him the push to do even better.

JM also confessed that the warm reception from fans came as a surprise, making the experience even more rewarding.

But as filming progressed, both actors quickly adjusted, learning to channel emotions naturally into their roles.

The adjustment came with practice, he added, emphasizing how the demands of the set pushed them to adapt and improve.

As JM continues to strengthen his passion for acting, it’s clear that he’s ready to carve out his own place in the industry—one project and one role at a time.

Photography by Dookie Ducay

Metro Head: Christina Lopez

Sittings Editor: Geolette Esguerra, Kate Paras-Santiago, Randz Manucom, and Grace Libero-Cruz

Managing Editor: Rick Formalejo

Creative Direction and Post-Processing by Vince Canlapan

Fashion Associate: Carla Buyo

Stylists: Adrianne Concepcion (Fyang), assisted by Via Abarra and Cent Bermas; Perry Tabora (JM), assisted by Kris de Leon

Makeup Artists: Japeth Mike Purog (Fyang), assisted by Johnrey Milliano and Mark Ruben Camarao (JM), assisted by Cynthia Bermejo

Hairstylists: Aryan Buccat (Fyang) and Mark Joseph Carbonilla (JM)

Art Director: Alfred Amado

Editorial Assistants: Iya Baring and Krystel Matias

Videographer: Como Se Dice Media

Shot on location: Salarymanx4649 in Forbestown, BGC

Special thanks to iWant, Star Magic, Gidget dela Cuesta, Portia Dimla, Vaughn Hautea, Rens Dingli, and EESOME, BGC

","slugline":"Metro Digital Cover: JM Ibarra on Living Up to the Entertainment Industry's Standard","firstcreated":"2025-09-16T08:00:34.000Z","firstpublished":"2025-09-16T12:00:00.000Z","source":"One Domain","extra":{"slugline_url":"people/2025/9/16/metro-digital-cover-jm-ibarra-on-living-up-to-the-entertainment-industry-s-standard-2000","tags":"People,Digital Covers,JM Ibarra,Fyang Smith,JMFyang,Ghosting,Pinoy Big Brother: Gen 11","short_title":"JM Ibarra on Living Up to the Entertainment Industry's Standard","ai_writer_keywords":"

JM Ibarra Ghosting, JM Ibarra Fyang Smith, JMFyang, JM Ibarra PBB: Gen 11, JM Ibarra Child No. 82, Who Is JM Ibarra

"},"annotations":[],"profile":"Article","priority":6,"subject":[{"code":"pe","name":"Professional/Editorial","scheme":"ContentSource"},{"code":"standard","name":"Standard","scheme":"articleType"},{"code":"people","name":"People","scheme":"section_id"},{"code":"english","name":"English","scheme":"article_language"},{"code":"IAB19-29","name":"Entertainment","scheme":"iab-category"}],"order":3,"description_html":"

As JM Ibarra continues to strengthen his passion for acting, it’s clear that he’s ready to carve out his own place in the industry—one project and one role at a time.

","description_text":"As JM Ibarra continues to strengthen his passion for acting, it’s clear that he’s ready to carve out his own place in the industry—one project and one role at a time.","genre":[{"code":"Article","name":"Article (news)"}],"attachments":[],"charcount":5535,"wordcount":887,"readtime":4,"authors":[{"code":"68a43837cdcc32622fb7c57c","name":"Lance Joseph Martinez","role":"","biography":null,"byline":"","author_url":"","twitter":"","instagram":""}],"products":[],"subscribers":[]},{"guid":"urn:newsml:od2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com:2025-09-16T02:26:28.845721:43d243f9-1066-4b73-82ee-9d054e5520de","version":"28","type":"text","versioncreated":"2025-09-17T02:22:00.000Z","language":"en","headline":"Fyang Smith Gets Real, Candid, and Reflective on Embracing Criticism","urgency":3,"pubstatus":"usable","ednote":"In the story \"Metro Digital Cover: Fyang Smith Gets Real, Candid, and Reflective on Embracing Criticism\" sent at: 16.09.2025 20:30.\r\n\r\nThis is a corrected repeat.","body_html":"

Fyang Smith, as photographed by Dookie Ducay

In an exclusive interview during her Metro digital cover shoot alongside loveteam partner JM Ibarra, Fyang opened up about how she manages to face online criticism head-on.

On Fyang: Gray asymmetric puffer dress by Morisette Magalona

She added that the support motivates her and JM to keep exploring acting as a craft.

On Fyang: Silver dress by AJ Javier

Following her breakthrough performance as Jaja in Ghosting, Fyang is determined to improve in acting and pursue it as her primary career path.

While she acknowledges that this might mean fewer opportunities for her in singing and dancing, Fyang expressed confidence in where her newfound passion lies.

On Fyang: Silver corset by Maison Soriano

In line with the concept behind her digital cover shoot, Fyang revealed her ultimate dream for the future. Alongside JM, she hopes their hard work will one day lead to recognition.

With her passion, determination, and enthusiasm, audiences can expect actress Fyang Smith to shine even brighter in the years to come.

Photography by Dookie Ducay

Metro Head: Christina Lopez

Sittings Editor: Geolette Esguerra, Kate Paras-Santiago, Randz Manucom, and Grace Libero-Cruz

Managing Editor: Rick Formalejo

Creative Direction and Post-Processing by Vince Canlapan

Fashion Associate: Carla Buyo

Stylists: Adrianne Concepcion (Fyang), assisted by Via Abarra and Cent Bermas; Perry Tabora (JM), assisted by Kris de Leon

Makeup Artists: Japeth Mike Purog (Fyang), assisted by Johnrey Milliano and Mark Ruben Camarao (JM), assisted by Cynthia Bermejo

Hairstylists: Aryan Buccat (Fyang) and Mark Joseph Carbonilla (JM)

Art Director: Alfred Amado

Editorial Assistants: Iya Baring and Krystel Matias

Videographer: Como Se Dice Media

Shot on location: Salarymanx4649 in Forbestown, BGC

Special thanks to iWant, Star Magic, Gidget dela Cuesta, Portia Dimla, Vaughn Hautea, Rens Dingli, and EESOME, BGC

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Fyang Smith Metro Cover, Fyang Smith Ghosting, Fyang Smith JM Ibarra, Fyang Smith PBB: Gen 11, Fyang Smith Forever Fyang, Who Is Fyang Smith, Who Is Sofia Smith

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\"Ghosting\" star Fyang Smith opens up about how she handles criticism and which direction she'd like to take for her career.

","description_text":"\"Ghosting\" star Fyang Smith opens up about how she handles criticism and which direction she'd like to take for her career.","genre":[{"code":"Article","name":"Article (news)"}],"attachments":[],"charcount":5094,"wordcount":818,"readtime":3,"authors":[{"code":"68a43837cdcc32622fb7c57c","name":"Lance Joseph Martinez","role":"","biography":null,"byline":"","author_url":"","twitter":"","instagram":""}],"products":[],"subscribers":[]},{"guid":"urn:newsml:od2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com:2025-11-26T08:52:39.065779:f63c813f-24da-4668-95f4-acd332e30a11","version":"10","type":"text","versioncreated":"2025-12-02T06:56:12.000Z","language":"en","headline":"Beyond Pageant and Hosting: Catriona Gray Shares Why 'Every Christmas' Holds a Special Place in Her Heart","urgency":3,"pubstatus":"usable","body_html":"

Catriona Gray for her latest single, "Every Christmas" | Photo courtesy of Cornerstone

No one was more iconic in 2018 than Catriona Gray.

She recalls how music was always present in their home. Although her father never pursued a music career, she describes him as a “fantastic singer” who always filled their house with his voice.

“Favorites niya ‘yung mga Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley. So, I think I grew up with that appreciation for that older type of music. And the joy that it brought him,” she shared.

“Siya din ang number one fan ko,” Catriona said of her father. Whenever they talked, he would always ask her the same question: “When are you doing music? When are you doing singing?”

When the project was pitched to her, the decision came instantly. After Jason sent her the demo, she was immediately drawn to it.

Now, this song serves as a perfect Christmas gift not just for Filipinos, but also for Catriona’s father, as she’s set to fly to Australia to celebrate the season with her family.

In essence, releasing Every Christmas is deeply meaningful for her—not just as a return to music, but as an emotional invitation for people to see her humanity.

“I feel like I get to invite people and to know me on a human level. Because, you know, you don’t do so much on social media,” she concluded.

Photos courtesy of Cornerstone

","slugline":"Catriona Gray Shares Why “Every Christmas” Holds a Special Place in Her Heart","firstcreated":"2025-11-26T08:52:39.000Z","firstpublished":"2025-12-02T06:57:05.000Z","source":"One Domain","extra":{"slugline_url":"people/2025/12/2/catriona-gray-shares-why-every-christmas-holds-a-special-place-in-her-heart-1457","short_title":"Beyond Pageants and Hosting: Catriona Gray Shares Why “Every Christmas” Holds a Special Place in Her Heart","ai_writer_keywords":"

Catriona Gray, Miss Universe 2018, Every Christmas, Jason Marvin

","tags":"Catriona Gray, Miss Universe 2018, Every Christmas, Jason Marvin"},"annotations":[],"profile":"Article","priority":6,"subject":[{"code":"pe","name":"Professional/Editorial","scheme":"ContentSource"},{"code":"english","name":"English","scheme":"article_language"},{"code":"standard","name":"Standard","scheme":"articleType"},{"code":"IAB19-29","name":"Entertainment","scheme":"iab-category"},{"code":"people","name":"People","scheme":"section_id"}],"order":5,"description_html":"

Catriona Gray makes her return to the music spotlight with the release of her bittersweet holiday track, “Every Christmas,” a collaboration with singer-songwriter Jason Marvin.

We chatted with some Kapamilya stars during the ABS-CBN Christmas Special to find out how they will spend Christmas this year.

ABS-CBN Christmas Special: Kapamilya Stars Share Their Holiday Plans (Part 1)

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ABS-CBN Christmas Special: Kapamilya Stars Share Their Holiday Plans (Part 1)

Lance Joseph Martinez

Published Dec 16, 2025 09:30 PM PHT

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Updated Dec 17, 2025 01:28 AM PHT

Read More:

Kyle Echarri

Donny Pangilinan

Catriona Gray

Melai Cantiveros

Janice De Belen

Charo Santos-Concio

Jane Oineza

Charlie Dizon

JM Ibarra

Fyang Smith

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