YouTube sensation and first-time lead role Ivana Alawi said on Wednesday, June 15, that she aims to be an inspiration to many rather than be just good-looking.
The 25-year-old artist always tries to make people happy through her vlogs, which is what she aims to be—a source of happiness.
“Even in my vlogs, I always—I mean, I appreciate beauty. Pero importante na maka-inspire, makatulong. Sa vlogs ko kasi ‘yun ang priority ko—I always want to make people happy, I want to share the love, and I wanna, in someway, help the country in your own small way,” she said during the media launch of A Family Affair which she top-bills.
However, there was a time when Alawi was not the “nicest kid in the block.” Back in the day, the young Kapamilya star was kicked out of her house because of a bad habit.
“Hindi rebellious eh. It’s just ano, kasi iyon ang time na my mom kicked me out coz hindi na ako umuuwi, mas gusto ko nang mag-inom,” the talent shared.
She also had a bit of jealousy of her older sister, who was his father’s favorite.
“I think when we were younger. Kasi parang ‘bakit si ate may ganito?’ Dati noong batang-bata. Siguro five years old ganiyan.”
Alawi added, “Sinasabi naman niya, vocal siya. It’s because, siya ang ate. She’s the leader, siya ang magtuturo sa inyo bilang ate. So sabi ko, ‘Sana, balang-araw, maging ate rin ako.’ As we got older, love lang talaga. We love each other, walang inggitan, and we just support each other.”
In the meantime, she will play Cherry Red in A Family Affair, which Jerome C. Pobocan and Raymond Ocampo direct. It also stars Gerald Anderson, Sam Milby, Jake Ejercito, and Jameson Blake.
The series will premiere on June 27 across several platforms, including iWantTFC and The Filipino Channel.