How younger sister’s death informs Kyle Echarri’s actions, decisions 

It’s been nine years since Kyle Echarri began pursuing a career in show biz, as part of Sarah Geronimo’s team in “The Voice Kids.” So Kyle has nothing but gratitude for the great strides his career has made since.

After all, there aren’t a lot of 21-year-old actors who can say that he’s sharing the lead with Piolo Pascual, the country’s No.1 heartthrob, particularly in his latest teleserye, “Pamilya Sagrado.”

ABS-CBN’s decision to cast Kyle, in the role of Moises Malonzo, and Grae Fernandez (as Justin Sagrado) is perceived by some industry observers as an exploratory move by the company to “introduce” its next major matinee idols.

“I also see the role as a blessing because this character is making me a better person,” he said at a recent press con for the series. “If there’s anything I have learned from Moises, it’s how to prioritize your family, appreciate life and to always do what’s right.”

Asked what he did to prepare for what could be a make-or-break challenge, Kyle said, “More than the workshops, I had to mentally prepare myself for this, especially because I went through a very tough time recently. With my sister passing away last year and all that, the past two years felt like going through the emotional wringer. Parang nag-parallel ang buhay ko sa nangyari kay Moises.

“So it was a lot to deal with. But thankfully, I have a good support system. I have a good ‘family,’ on set and off, behind me. It’s like a sign from God urging me to just continue what I’m doing. Nothing could have prepared me better than the fact that when I was on the set, I was surrounded by like-minded people who just wanted to tell a good story.”

Since Kyle is now being groomed for leading men roles, does that mean his music is taking the backseat?

“I can never turn my back on music because that’s my first love. I can’t let go of it,” he reiterated. “But I have also fallen in love with acting … napamahal na rin ‘yan sa akin. I enjoy doing both. But I will soon be releasing a song while preparing for my album, although I can’t say much about it just yet. Music has a special place my heart.

‘Prove them right’

“As for the lead roles I’m getting, I feel lucky to be in the position I’m in. You know, I worked hard for this, but it was really Dreamscape that really believed in me—from ‘On the Wings of Love” to ‘Kadenang Ginto’ to ‘Huwag Kang Mangamba.’ While there’s pressure to live up to their expectations, I am also appreciative of their trust in me, so I’m working hard to prove them right.”

Has he recovered from the death of his younger sister Bella, who succumbed to brain tumor last year at the age of 12 after a yearlong battle?

“I don’t think I’ll ever be fully OK,” he admitted. “But I’ve learned to accept that it’s going to haunt me forever. I may not be able to move on from the pain [of losing her], but I must learn to live with it. And there will be days when I’ll sorely be missing her. I know it’ll always come back to me.”

The loss of his sister is also helping Kyle make enlightened decisions and become a kinder person. It informs his actions, he added: “What I do to cope with the sense of loss is, I try my best to live my life the way [Bella] wanted to live her life. My sister was an angel on earth, so just like Moises, I will also do my best to do what’s right.”

Since music is a huge part of his life, who does he listen to?

“On the international scene, I listen to [Canadian R&B singer] Daniel Caesar (who was featured in Giveon and Justin Bieber’s hit song ‘Peaches’),” he shared. “But I listen to some underground music, too. I’m actually partial to jazz, like Ella Fitzgerald. I have old-school tastes, I know (laughs).

“As far as OPM is concerned, one of my biggest dreams is to sing with Tito Gary [Valenciano] and Ate KZ [Tandingan] … I really want to write a song with her. But really, there are so many other artists in the Philippines I’m excited to work with.”

Kyle disclosed that working with Piolo in “Pamilya Sagrado” was also a dream come true—and he’s learning a lot from his seasoned co-star. He explained, “One of the best things about Piolo is he doesn’t teach you. He doesn’t tell you what to do—he just leads by example. Everybody will tell you what a kind person he is.

“When you work with Piolo, you’ll feel his innate goodness, the purity of his love for his work and I think that’s what brought him this far. That’s what I look up to—the way that he enjoys his work and, more than that, marunong siyang makisama sa tao (he gets along well with people). I’m not perfect, so I know that’s something I need to work on.”

Between singing and acting, which does he find more satisfying?

“I see music as my artistic outlet,” he said. “It was never my goal to get everybody to like my music. If you like what I put out there, of course I hope you also enjoy it as much as I do. I just love music for what it is. I can’t live without music.

“As for acting, I’ve only realized its greater value recently, since I grew up doing it, so I never really saw it for what it is. For me to see it from an outsider’s view, I’ve learned a lot. Piolo explained it well when he said that actors don’t merely play fictional characters … we’re reflecting what goes on in our society. When you look at what you do from that perspective, you realize how important your work is and you enjoy your job even better.”