After making her music debut with her debut extended play (EP) ”Kaileidoscope last June, former Pinoy Big Brother Gen 11 housemate Kai Montinola focused on her acting career as part of the cast of the 2025 Cinemalaya Film Festival entry Child No. 82 along with co-stars JM Ibarra, Rochelle Pangilinan, and Vhong Navarro.
According to Kai, working with her fellow PBB alumni JM was a revelation as she admired how much he has changed since leaving the PBB house. “The biggest change with Kuya JM ever since I met him is that he’s more outspoken now. He’s more confident with himself. Kasi dati he was very well reserved. Nag-o-observe lang siya, very shy. Pero ngayon pinapakita na niya kung anong kaya niyang gawin, which is acting. And I can say after watching this movie, this film, I’m very much proud of how he has improved as an actor,” she told PUSH ABS-CBN in an exclusive interview.
Aside from both being former housemates, another thing Kai has in common with JM is that Child No. 82 is also her first ever film project.
“Most of my scenes were with Kuya JM and we weren’t really able to share scenes with the veteran actors. However, while watching this movie, and seeing the more experienced actors, like Miss Rochelle (Pangilinan), and Sir Vhong Navarro, malalalaman mo talaga kung bakit ang tawag sa kanila ay veteran actors. Kitang-kita mo sa kanila because of their performance. They were very inspiring,” she said.
When asked what she considered the easiest and the most challenging part about making the film, Kai said going to their location proved to be a big challenge for her.
“Okay, siguro I’ll start with the pinakamahirap. Pinakamahirap was the traveling. Honestly, yung papuntang Ilocos was crazy. Kasi flight tapos meron pang mahabang-mahabang ride going to the venue. Pero ang pinakamadali na part was being able to work with people in the production. Especially Kuya JM and the people who I did my scenes with. Kasi I didn’t feel any sort of pressure from them kasi they were so collaborative,” she explained.
With her hometown of Cebu recently hit by a major earthquake, the Child No. 82 actress revealed what she and her friends immediately did to extend their help.
”Nasa Albay ako nung nag-earthquake. So hindi ko siya masyadong naramdaman. Hindi naman siya gaano ka-strong sa Albay. Pero nung nalaman ko na sobrang lakas pala ng earthquake sa Cebu, my parents checked up on me. And I was like, wait guys. How about you? How are you? Ang lakas pala talaga sa Cebu. So my friends and I, we set up a donation drive. This honestly is no partnership with any organization or anything. It’s just my friends and I wanting to help Cebuanos. Kasi as a Cebuano myself, I do want to help my fellow Cebuanos. Kaya I really try my best to help.”
Although she did not make a public call for her donation drive, the 18-year-old singer said she just wanted to help out her friends still in Cebu. “Oh, well, I kept this private. Although it would be much better if I did publicly post it. Maybe I will but also kasi I think naman that my friends back in Cebu have enough people to help themselves. Kasi we’re just a couple of teenagers trying to help each other out and the Cebuanos. Pero if ever I will do a public donation drive, I will definitely post it somewhere. I mean, it was not my intention to keep it private. It’s just that it’s just within me to help and I don’t necessarily think I need to post it,” she added.
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Watch Kai Montinola in the Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival entry Child No. 82 which stars JM Ibarra, Vhong Navarro, Rochelle Pangilinan, and Irma Adlawan. Directed by Tim Rone Villanueva. The festival will run until October 12, Sunday and will be screened at the Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong, Gateway Cineplex 18 in Cubao, and Ayala Malls Cinemas.