December 1 ------ Kate Yalung, the lovely leading lady of "Idol: The April Boy Regino Story," is full of surprises. Gracing the movie's premiere in a striking red Filipiniana jumpsuit she designed herself, it became clear that this actress has so much more to offer. A quick once-over of her social media bios actually provides an idea of her multi-faceted artistry. They impressively list her many hats as an actress, fashion designer, jeweler, model and creative director. But for this project, Kate temporarily set everything aside as she fully immersed herself in portraying Madelyn Regino, the wife of the late OPM novelty pop legend best known for his iconic hit, "Di Ko Kayang Tanggapin."
"You'll see me for most of the film," the stylish and articulate leading lady said when asked how significant her role is in the singer's biography. "Madelyn was such an important part of April's life because she was his first and only love until the day he died." This being her first movie, Kate realized the dedication and hard work it entails to portray such a key role. She shared how she took her time to study Madelyn's mannerisms, speech, and even her fashion style. Kate added she is thankful to April Boy's real-life better half for generously offering pointers to help her nail the part, which she shyly said she's excited for everyone to see.
Under the veteran direction of Efren Reyes Jr., and with a natural chemistry shared with her co-star and fellow management talent John Arcenas, who essays the title role, Kate stepped up her acting game to help bring to life the heart and soul of April Boy Regino's story. "Idol" chronicles the life of the iconic Filipino singer who defined '90s novelty pop with heartfelt, relatable songs. The film highlights his humble beginnings, meteoric rise to fame, and the challenges he faced, including health struggles that tested his resilience and faith.
Central to the narrative, as previously mentioned, is his enduring relationship with Madelyn, whose unwavering support served as one of the strongest anchors in his darkest moments. "The biopic not only celebrates April Boy's music but also his legacy of love, family, and hope, offering inspiration for both his longtime fans and new audiences who I hope will get to know him through the movie," Kate said. Getting to know more about the actress at this point, it turns out that Kate's path to showbiz started almost by chance. Her first love had always been fashion design, a skill she enhanced by enrolling across the country's few and most noted fashion schools like SOFA Manila. Albeit starting young, her brand, Leilani Kate Yalung Manila, steadily gained recognition over the years. "I've been designing since I was 14," revealed the now twenty-something actress. "It was only during the pandemic that showbiz came into the picture when a client casually suggested I give it a try."
Ever a girl who likes to spread her wings, Kate dove headfirst into auditions and acting workshops. She eventually landed a role in the viral BL series "My Day," which opened doors to more exciting acting opportunities. She featured in several TV ads as well as teleseryes on GMA Network and ABS-CBN, explaining why she may be a familiar face to some. Despite juggling two demanding careers these days, Kate is happy and thriving. She acknowledges how one passion feeds into the other, with clients discovering her fashion through her acting projects and vice versa. While her journey to the big screen has definitely been anything but conventional, it is undeniably unique and rewarding as she rightly embraces every turn with enthusiasm. As "Idol" opens in cinemas today, Kate, in genuinely appreciating the project, hopes, first of all, that audiences will walk away with a deeper appreciation for April Boy Regino's contributions to OPM and how his life and music continue to inspire many Filipinos to this day." "Everyone should know who April Boy Regino is because if they don't, they would be missing out on a huge chunk of our music history," she added.
Source: manilatimes.net
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