Czarina Faith Abuso

Director Dolly Dulu reveals very personal inspiration for ‘18th Rose’

Article (news)

Nikka Avegail Sabio

Push Team

<p>For director Dolly Dulu, <em>18th Rose</em> is more than just a coming-of-age story but one deeply rooted in personal experience.</p><p>In an exclusive interview with <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz"><strong>PUSH ABS-CBN</strong></a>, the filmmaker revealed that the inspiration behind the Netflix film, starring Xyriel Manabat and Kyle Echarri, came from her sister-in-law’s battle with cancer.</p><p>“Sa totoong buhay, since marami naman nang nakapanood, the movie really began with the last scene, the debut ni Rose at saka ni Jordan,” Direk Dolly explained. </p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DWV_E56j1bx/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1004&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A575208%2C%22ls%22%3A574921.2999999523%2C%22le%22%3A575203.6999999285%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="993" 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><p>/p&gt;</p><p>She recalled how her sister-in-law faced her illness with a remarkable attitude, adding: “Actually, yung sister-in-law ko was going through cancer. So yung personality kasi niya when she was going through cancer, she was very positive about it. She had strength, tinanggap niya, inunahan nga niya yung pagpapakalbo.”</p><p>From that experience came a powerful image that would eventually shape the film’s emotional core.</p><p>“Tapos na-imagine ko lang na parang yung thought na may dalawang kalbong sumasayaw sa isang barangay hall. So, ’di ba parang nagdadala na siya ng emotion sa ’yo,” Direk Dolly said.</p><p>The director said this vision became the foundation of the story, which she intentionally crafted to highlight resilience.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1249886130031971%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2026/4/29/exclusive-what-did-xyriel-manabat-discover-while-doing-18th-rose-0857"><strong>READ: EXCLUSIVE: What did Xyriel Manabat discover while doing &#x27;18th Rose?&#x27;</strong></a></div><p>“That was the inspiration na parang I wanted really to, you know, to tell yung strength ng isang woman, isang babae, kung paano niya iha-handle yung ganitong klase ng problema,” she continued.</p><p>Direk Dolly revealed that she wrote the story in reverse, beginning with its most emotional moment.</p><p>“When I was writing it, baliktad yung proseso. Nagsimula talaga siya as dramatic as it could get with that particular ending and then I just took steps back kung paano ako makakarating doon sa goal kong yun.</p><p><em>18th Rose</em> follows the story of Rose, a young girl determined to celebrate her dream debut despite a serious health condition. Along the way, she meets Jordan, an “Amboy” student who became part of her journey.</p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DW-_dBigHeY/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1004&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A575210.6000000238%2C%22ls%22%3A574921.2999999523%2C%22le%22%3A575203.6999999285%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1143" 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><p>When it came to casting, the director emphasized that finding the right actors for the roles mattered more than on-screen chemistry.</p><p>“The pairing na naging base lang ako, naging basis lang talaga noong casting was who fit the characters best,” the director said.</p><p>“Naghanap lang po ako kung sino talaga yung bagay sa characteristics ni Rose atsaka yung kayang gampanan, yung emotional journey ng character. Medyo mahaba yung range nung kailangan i-experience ng character ni Rose, and pati si Jordan, specifically because AmBoy (American Boy) siya and tapos kailangan kasi matangkad kasi &#x27;di ba ’yon yung role niya, pinagtitilihan siya, stand out siya,” she further explained.</p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXOcxOqkjSQ/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1004&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A575212.5%2C%22ls%22%3A574921.2999999523%2C%22le%22%3A575203.6999999285%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="993" 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><p>Beyond the characters, Direk Dolly was also deliberate in shaping the film’s overall look and setting. Set in the early 2000s, the film carries a nostalgic “Y2K” feel, something the director said was intentional.</p><p>“Laking 2000 ako, laking computer shop ako—kaya ko siya sinet doon. And then also, because yung problem na sinet ko kay Jordan. If I set it now, solve na yun agad yung problem with the father,” Direk Dolly said. “Storytelling-wise, I had to set it in a place where you know, it’s hard to connect.”</p><p>She added that the setting allows younger viewers to experience a simpler time, while older audiences can revisit a familiar era.</p><p>“I wanted people to go back to simpler times and I wanted yung age siguro ng mga early 2000 babies is ma-experience din ulit and then at the same time for those na bago makita nila yung ganun klase ng buhay.”</p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-3" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DXItO1glpPe/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=1004&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A575838.6999999285%2C%22ls%22%3A574921.2999999523%2C%22le%22%3A575203.6999999285%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1017" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-3" 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><p>“I also really wanted to showcase how beautiful Romblon is to us Filipinos and also to the global market. Para lang madagdagan naman yung mga islang nasa isip nila when we talk about the Philippines,” she added.</p>

<p>Director Dolly Dulu shares how a real-life story of strength shaped the emotional Netflix film ‘18th Rose.’</p>

Director Dolly Dulu shares how a real-life story of strength shaped the emotional Netflix film ‘18th Rose.’

EXCLUSIVE: Director Dolly Dulu reveals very personal inspiration for ‘18th Rose’

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Movies & Series

EXCLUSIVE: Director Dolly Dulu reveals very personal inspiration for ‘18th Rose’

Nikka Sabio,

Push Team

Published May 02, 2026 06:16 PM PHT

Read More:

Dolly Dulu

Xyriel Manabat

Kyle Echarri

18th Rose

PUSH

PUSH Exclusive

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.