Fans got a double treat as upcoming Kapamilya teleserye “Roja” held a fan meet and poster unveiling with leading men Kyle Echarri and Donny Pangilinan. The fun-filled event was hosted by Kapamilya Chat's Jeremiah and ABS-CBN news reporter MJ Felipe.
The newly unveiled poster, photographed by Jojit Lorenzo (the actor who plays Enteng in “FPJ's Batang Quiapo") and designed by Justin Besana, visually reflects the series’ thrilling contrasts, showing Kyle and Donny's characters being intertwined yet divided, framed in deep orange and amber tones that hint at both warmth and danger. It’s the perfect visual for a show named "Roja," the Spanish word for “red” which is a color that lives between love and blood.
To achieve that striking mirrored pose in the poster, Kyle and Donny had to lean toward each other on a platform while the photographer captured them from below. "Walang daya," revealed Donny. "Nanginginig na kami kasi ilang shots ang kailangan... May stiff neck na kami," he joked. It took multiple takes to nail the symmetry and intensity, but the result was definitely worth the effort.
After the poster reveal, the conversation turned even more intimate as fans got the chance to ask Kyle and Donny their own questions. One fan asked what compelled them to say yes to "Roja," to which Kyle replied that it was an easy yes for him because projects like this don’t come often, calling it a dream for most actors his age, especially with an ensemble of veterans like Joel Torre, who also played his father in "Pamilya Sagrado." He said, “There’s nothing that told me to say no, but everything told me this is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime project.”
Donny answered with the same enthusiasm, “Sino ba ako para humindi?” He added that the story offers lessons for every type of viewer since the characters represent people from different walks of life—“how they deal with danger and how they deal with what’s at stake when you’re literally about to lose everything that’s in front of you.”
Just a few pages into the script, Donny already knew "Roja" would feel "astig" and exciting, and it made him look forward to seeing how the cast would interpret their roles.
Donny’s genuine connection with his supporters was evident during the Q&A when he recognized the next fan who took the mic. She asked what traits he shares with his “Roja” character, to which he said that they both are ambitious and are close to their mothers, and willing to compromise their safety if it means saving the people they love. And most of all, they're both beach lovers.
Donny and Kyle had their own definition of paradise while filming as they enjoyed the seaside taping life. “It’s such a blessing. Waking up, magtatrabaho kami sa tabi ng dagat kung saan paborito namin ni Donny,” said Kyle, who loved starting his mornings with a jog or a swim before the cameras started rolling. More than the view, though, it was the team spirit that made the vibe feel even lighter. "It's always nice to work with people that you trust, you love and you care for."
Kyle also got to tick something off his acting bucket list—and that is holding a gun for the first time in a scene. Kyle only played with toy guns when he was little, but now he’s actually handling one on set. Big-boy roles, indeed.
Donny described the "Roja" experience as nothing short of amazing. Lock-in taping can get tough sometimes, there are long days and plenty going on, but whenever he takes a step back to reflect, all he feels is gratitude. "When you take a breather and realize where you are, and you're able to be in a great setting with great people who trust you, it makes everything worth it." Donny gets homesick easily during lock-in tapings, which is why it meant a lot to be surrounded by people he already knows, and new friends too, who made the set feel like home.
Since no one dared to ask a kilig question, MJ took matters into his own hands and dropped the ultimate 'pasabog' query of the day, asking who the guys missed the most during lock-in (aside from family). Kyle thought of his pet dog.
Meanwhile, the crowd went wild when Donny confessed, "Na-miss ko naman talaga si [Belle Mariano]." While he’s been busy filming "Roja," Belle has also been working hard on her new movie "Meet, Greet, & Bye." For him, it’s such a happy kind of overwhelming to see both of them growing and maturing through their individual paths as actors.
Are you excited for “Roja”? Stay tuned for more updates and exclusive details about this action-packed teleserye starring Donny and Kyle. Joining them in the cast are Lorna Tolentino, Janice De Belen, Joel Torre, and Raymond Bagatsing, with Maymay Entrata also marking her much-awaited return to acting.
Completing the ensemble are young stars Kai Montinola, AC Bonifacio, Harvey Bautista, Iñigo Jose, and Emilio Daez, along with child actress Zia Grace.
Also part of the powerhouse lineup are Nikki Valdez, Cris Villanueva, Sandy Andolong, Robert Seña, Rans Rifol, Maika Rivera, Lou Yanong, Marc Abaya, Bernard Palanca, Raven Molina, and Gello Marquez.