Dannyka Manangan

EXCLUSIVE: Kai Montinola reveals her biggest idol in singing: ‘She has always been my inspiration’

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>As one of the featured performers in the upcoming <em>Ikalawang YUGTO: Buhay at Pag-Ibig</em> benefit concert happening on March 27, actress and singer Kai Montinola, who was first introduced in showbiz as the “Singing Gwapa” from Cebu when she joined the <em>Pinoy Big Brother House Gen 11 </em>season in 2024, shared with <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz"><strong>PUSH ABS-CBN</strong></a><strong></strong><strong></strong> in an exclusive interview that she is a fan of alot of musical genres. </p><div><br/></div><p>“If I were to pick a genre of what I want to perform more, honestly I’m very open with anything. I sing a lot of pop and classics and ballads and theater music. That really is my forte. But in terms of listening naman to music, I listen to a lot of pop, R&amp;B, and theater. Even pop rock. Pero basta I’m very open to different kinds of music,” she shared with PUSH ABS-CBN.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DTB-8OHEzbQ/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A5368.4000000003725%2C%22ls%22%3A3735.2000000011176%2C%22le%22%3A4136%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="746" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>The 19-year-old actress also shared with PUSH ABS-CBN her earliest musical influences, which came from watching American films. “Basically, at a very young age, I was exposed to musicals and movies, gaya ng mga Disney movies. Growing up, I would be watching Disney movies like <em>Aladdin</em> o kaya <em>Mulan</em>. In those movies, not only is it like a fantasy but also may mga kanta din. And as a kid, I was so interested in knowing how these movies go. Like, what is the process behind these movies?” she recalled. </p><div><br/></div><p>Her search eventually led Kai to discover her biggest Filiipino idol when it comes to singing. “So siyempre sini-search ko na yun sa YouTube at a very young age as a Gen Z pa naman. So dun ko nalaman that a few of the Disney princesses were voiced by Lea Salonga who I later found out was Filipino and that she started off in <em>Miss Saigon </em>which is a musical. She started off as an actress as well in the Philippines,” she said. </p><div><br/></div><p>“Growing up talaga, that was my biggest inspiration because I never knew it was possible as a Filipina kid to reach worldwide or international. Knowing Lea Salonga has achieved that at a very young age, she has always been my inspiration growing up. And kaya ako nag-a-acting din kasi hindi nga lang ako kumakanta. In-explore ko din yung acting world. Baka sakali nga lang maka-explore din ako sa theater as Lea Salonga did. And I hope to do more acting projects and syempre for music na din,” she added.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVP1Qfpkp1M/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A5402.800000000745%2C%22ls%22%3A3735.2000000011176%2C%22le%22%3A4136%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="925" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2026/1/8/exclusive-kai-montinola-shares-her-experience-working-with-the-cast-of-roja-0848"><strong>READ: EXCLUSIVE: Kai Montinola shares her experience working with the cast of &#x27;ROJA&#x27;</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p><em>Ikalawang Yugto: Buhay at Pag-Ibig</em> brings together IV OF SPADES, Kai Montinola, Kolette Madelo, and <em>Tawag ng Tanghalan Duets Season 2</em> Grand Champions Christian and Arvery at the newly renovated Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on March 27, 2026, Friday. </p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/2/26/kai-montinola-on-receiving-pafta-s-youth-icon-award-1200"><strong>READ: Kai Montinola on receiving PAFTA’s Youth Icon Award: &#x27;This inspires me to do better, be better, and give back&#x27;</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>This benefit concert is the first and only major musical event to be staged at the PICC this year, as the historic convention center will serve as one of the primary venues for the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairmanship beginning in the first quarter of 2026. The <em>YUGTO</em> concert highlights today’s contemporary Original Pilipino Music (OPM) and the performers who are closest to the hearts of music lovers.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DU0TnxtiA4d/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A5427.700000001118%2C%22ls%22%3A3735.2000000011176%2C%22le%22%3A4136%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Tickets for <em>Ikalawang YUGTO</em> are on sale via Helixpay at <a href="https://yugto2.helixpay.ph/"><em><strong>http://yugto2.helixpay.ph</strong></em></a> and via SM Tickets at <a href="https://smtickets.com/tickets/yugto2"><strong><em>http://smtickets.com/tickets/yugto2</em></strong></a>, or buy in person at the ticket counters of SM Cinemas and at selected SM Store Customer Service. </p>

<p>Roja actress Kai Montinola talks about her excitement in being a performer in the upcoming “Ikalawang YUGTO: Buhay at Pag-Ibig” benefit concert on March 27.</p>

Roja actress Kai Montinola talks about her excitement in being a performer in the upcoming “Ikalawang YUGTO: Buhay at Pag-Ibig” benefit concert on March 27.