MANILA, Philippines — Hearing comments from people that she was not pretty enough to be an actress while growing up, Xyriel Manabat doubted herself. But as time went by, the 20-year-old realized what it meant to be truly beautiful in her own ways.
“Actually, when I started entering showbiz when I was younger, even though I had plenty of shows, I never gave (myself) that confidence or appreciation that I deserve,” the former child actress recalled during an interview at a Star Magic event.
Xyriel began her showbiz career in 2009 after finishing third runner-up in “Star Circle Kid Quest: Search for the Kiddie Idol.”
“As a child, laging tumatak sa akin or laging comment sa akin, like I would always hear this from my co-workers or from my family, is that, ‘You are a good actress but you are not beautiful.’ Parang sa market ngayon, hindi na ganyan ang labanan. Kahit gaano ka kagaling kung hindi ka naman maganda (it doesn’t matter). I would always hear this comment ever since,” she continued.
As those words got stuck in her head at such an early age, that became one of the reasons why she wanted to focus on her personal life when she took a hiatus from showbiz.
“Because when I was a child, I was not that strong. When I was younger, magaling akong makinig to the point that I became empathetic. I felt what they felt so I doubted myself. Baka magaling nga lang talaga ako (na actress), hindi talaga ako maganda,” she said.
As she matured, she realized that the perception of beauty varies from one person to another. “(It’s like) for them, yung galing ko, yung ganda ko lang in acting nakukuha nila, OK. I mean there are people who would appreciate my beauty, what’s inside, talent or appearance-wise.”
So, she told herself that if other people could appreciate her beauty, she herself should also recognize her own value.
“So, I embraced it,” stated the Kapamilya actress. “And I’d look at myself and tell myself kahit dugyot-dugyot ako when I wake up or oily: ‘You are beautiful.’ I would convince myself na mali sila, maganda ka at magaling ka.”
Having a boyfriend also added to her glowing aura these days, admitted Xyriel. She is in a two-year relationship with her boyfriend, who was then her best friend.
“People say that when you are treated right, you glow. And when you are with the right person, you don’t forget to take care of yourself,” maintained Xyriel. “You don’t forget to improve yourself and it’s an added confidence ‘pag every day someone gives you a compliment.”
“Kahit kagigising mo lang, he wants to take a picture of you. It really boosts my confidence. And once you are confident, kahit anong beauty standard, hindi na lalagpas sa’yo. Hindi na papasok sa tenga mo. But once in a while, I still (have) insecurities,” she added.
In explaining how she’s able to maintain a stable career and relationship, she pointed out that it really helped that her partner understood her profession.
“Before I went back to showbiz, me and my boyfriend were just friends. He and Kuya Zaijian (Jaranilla) were my best friends at the time na down ako. I didn’t know if I should accept (acting) offers and go back (to) showbiz kasi medyo maingay na ulit yung name ko.
“But they’re the ones who push me, saying, ‘You can do it.’ And if ever there’s a challenging role or whenever there’s that feeling like you can’t do it, as long as you’re ready, you can do it. But they’re the ones who tell me that.”
Xyriel and her beau put a label on their relationship while she was filming the revenge drama series Dirty Linen.
“I made it clear to him the things that I want in our relationship, the things that I don’t like, the things that I want to do and the things that he should understand. I don’t want him to think that just because I got into acting first before we became a couple, wala siyang voice in our relationship,” she shared.
“So, I would always tell him that if you are not comfortable sa nangyayari, sa nakikita mo, sa naririnig mo, just let me know. You don’t have to adjust. So, I think assurance and communication (are what make our relationship work). And the way I reason out, I don’t invalidate his feelings. Sobrang dali and sobrang smooth (referring to the relationship). He is also a very understanding boyfriend.”
Xyriel was likewise firm in saying that she doesn’t want her boyfriend to be also from showbiz. “I want peace, ayoko ng mga nakikisawsaw.”
News Related
-
Anyone who’s purchased gift baskets to hand out to loved ones this holiday season might need to find a backup present after the latest food recall that involves festive cookies. Gift basket company Wine Country Gift Baskets just announced that it is voluntarily recalling all gift baskets that feature Acorn Baking ...
See Details:
Recall Just Announced For Popular Cookies Featured In Holiday Gift Baskets
-
LOS ANGELES: Quarterback Jalen Hurts ran in an overtime touchdown to give the Philadelphia Eagles a 37-34 NFL win over the Buffalo Bills Sunday (Monday in Manila) and move them to 10-1 on the season. The Eagles, who lost the Super Bowl to Kansas City last season, trailed at half-time ...
See Details:
Eagles rally past Bills in overtime as Chiefs win
-
Yen Makabenta First word WHILE UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other promoters of the climate emergency are preparing to convene the 28th conference of the parties (COP28) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the United Arab Emirates, starting on November 30 and stretching to December 12, ...
See Details:
Reality bites the green energy agenda
-
Sandigan orders Marcos Sr. pal to pay workers The Sandiganbayan has ordered the enforcement of a July 2023 ruling ordering a Marcos Sr. associate to pay a lumber company’s workers P2.1 million in damages as well as return 60 percent of their company’s shares and pay all unpaid benefits. The ...
See Details:
Sandigan orders Marcos Sr. pal to pay workers
-
DSWD: Shear line, LPA affect 1.2 million people; over 18,000 families evacuated MANILA, Philippines – More than 18,000 families have fled to evacuation centers across flood-affected regions in the country due to the impact of the shear line and low pressure area. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) gave ...
See Details:
DSWD: Shear line, LPA affect 1.2 million people; over 18,000 families evacuated
-
-
MANILA, Philippines: The entire Luzon, including Metro Manila, is expected to experience isolated rain showers and thunderstorms as the northeast monsoon (“amihan”) and easterlies will be affecting the country over the next 24 hours, the state-run weather agency said on Tuesday. Weather specialist Patrick del Mundo of the Philippine Atmospheric ...
See Details:
Rain showers, thunderstorms over Luzon, including Metro Manila — Pagasa
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
'Naruto' live-action film adaptation is in the works
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
NASA Highlights Stingray Nebula
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
Manila's Lagusnilad underpass opens
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
China probes debt-ridden financial giant
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
China's VUCA situation
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
Unraveling the mystery that is diabetes
-
Attention, Naruto fans! You can soon watch the famous anime’s live-action adaptation as it finally has a confirmed writer. According to a Variety report, the beloved manga and anime series is set to head to big screens for its live-action adaptation under Lionsgate. It will be written by Tasha Hao, ...
See Details:
Bangladesh's nuke plant is not going to steal PH investments
OTHER NEWS
ALIW Awards Foundation Inc. President Alice H. Reyes has released the names of finalists for the 2023 Aliw Awards to be presented on Dec. 11, 2023, at the Manila Hotel ...
Read more »
WhatsApp Web gains the feature of single-view photos and videos (Photo: Unsplash) The WhatsApp Web, the desktop version of the popular messaging app from Meta, has received an update allowing ...
Read more »
Young athletes’ time to shine in Siklab Awards MANILA, Philippines — The future heroes of Philippine sports will be honored during the third Siklab Youth Sports Awards on Dec. 4 ...
Read more »
Graphics by Jannielyn Ann Bigtas A local government official said Monday that five to 10 barangays in Northern Samar are still isolated following the massive flooding in the area last ...
Read more »
DyipPay app lets you pay jeepney fare, book tricycles “Barya lang po sa umaga.” Everyone who rides jeepneys knows this rule: it may not be an actual law, but it’s ...
Read more »
Updated In-Season Tournament Bracket ahead of pool play finale Tuesday will mark the last day of pool play for the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament. From there, six first-place teams and ...
Read more »
PCG forms teams for maritime emergency response MANILA, Philippines — Recent incidents of fishermen lost in the waters off Southern Tagalog have prompted the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to form ...
Read more »