Delivering infectious energy, undeniable sisterly chemistry, and stunning visuals to the February 17 episode of Kapamilya Chat, former “Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab Edition” housemates Kira Balinger and Xyriel Manabat explore new acting adventures in the gripping narrative of the upcoming iWant series “The Secrets of Hotel 88.”
Elaborating on their excitement, Xyriel assures fans and viewers that the series will indeed be another source of multi-genre entertainment. Kira adds to the hype with a heartfelt message, sharing that it has been their collective dream since their time inside the “PBB” house.
“[It’s] overwhelming in the best way; working with friends is a different experience,” Kira says.
Together, the two actresses get playful in describing the series’ qualities, with Kira likening it to a satisfying buffet while Xyriel opts for a fun potluck analogy, ultimately establishing that their real-life chemistry will make the audience savor every scene.
“If you want suspense, family drama, brotherhood, sisterhood, friendship, or romance,” Kira teases, highlighting the layered plot of the show.
Aside from their acting workshops, the duo talks about how they worked on their physiques, particularly for the beach setting. At the same time, they stuck to their own individual preferences in their preparations.
For Xyriel, physical fitness was her main focus. Kira also prioritized getting fitter but leaned more on mental preparation, taking a break from her responsibilities at home.
On their lighter days with the rest of the cast, Kira and Xyriel enthusiastically share more about their festive meals together, bringing various kitchen tools to the set, including an air fryer, toaster, and water dispenser. They also remind fans that the Kira-Xyriel bond might feel different from their time inside Bahay Ni Kuya, as they are often roommates during filming.
More of their sisterly connection shone through when asked about the relationship between their characters—Xyriel as “Chesca Endaya” and Kira as “Trixie Madrigal.” Kira notes that they are complete opposites, while Xyriel jokingly points out their height differences.
When asked about their likes and dislikes for each other’s characters, Kira immediately explains that she adores the cool vibes of Xyriel’s Chesca, though she finds her loud trait a bit off-putting at times. Xyriel, on the other hand, admires Kira’s Trixie for her strong personality and independence.
Getting to the emotional part of the conversation, they spoke about moments when they had to step back from the rest of the cast to prepare for poignant scenes. Kira recalls one particular scene with Josh Ford and Xyriel, where her character was on the verge of breaking down. Before filming, she chose to spend some quiet, solo time behind a parked car to gather the emotions she needed to portray the crucial feelings realistically.
On the other hand, Xyriel makes it clear that she hasn’t had an emotionally heavy scene yet, teasing that her character, Chesca, is the light of the group.
Digging into more serious reflections on their acting journey for the series, the two brought up different experiences about moments when they struggled to detach from their characters. Kira went first, recognizing that she is quite similar to Trixie and therefore doesn’t quite feel the complexity of separating her own identity when embodying the character.
Meanwhile, Xyriel conveys a similar sentiment but experiences her connection to her character differently than Kira. Drawing from her training as a child star, she has learned to switch to “autopilot” mode, staying fully aware of what is real and what is fictional, so that when the director says “cut,” she immediately returns to her usual self.
“Last resort [ko] ‘yung gagamit ng personal experience [to be emotional]. Kahit gaano kabigat ang eksena, I know that Cheska’s not mine… Hindi [ko] siya nadadala pagka-cut,” Xyriel clarifies.
Filming as part of a close-knit group, learning from her peers became an inevitable but positive experience for Xyriel. She observed their determination and dedication to their roles, a mindset she began internalizing by asking more questions and seeking advice on set. This new approach contrasted with her earlier style, when she was more of an impromptu actress who didn’t thoroughly read scripts to achieve authentic reactions with her co-stars.
Kira also experienced a similar process, learning from Xyriel’s spontaneity—particularly in being present in the moment, as Kira tends to become too immersed in her own thoughts to relate to her role. She adds that filming with Xyriel creates genuine moments, with their natural selves shining through.
Turning playful once more, when quizzed if they would invite their friends to “Hotel 88” if it were real, both girls gleefully said “yes.” Kira explains that she would want her on-screen brother, Martin (played by Ralph de Leon), to succeed with his inherited resort.
Xyriel injects a dose of humor, mentioning that the people she knows would be looking forward to visiting the hotel for some intriguing gossip.
Wrapping up their immersive discussion, Kira and Xyriel each leave a word to heighten anticipation for the series: Kira’s is “unpredictable,” and Xyriel’s is “interesting.”
Watch “The Secrets of Hotel 88” first on iWant beginning February 23 (Monday), with episodes streaming seven days ahead of free TV.