Kaladkaren ‘very happy’ to meet Tia Carrere in Los Angeles

Kaladkaren and Hollywood star Tia Carrere on the red carpet of the Directors Guild of America on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Image from KALADKAREN FACEBOOK PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Kaladkaren was already over the moon when she set foot in Hollywood for the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) earlier this month. But she never thought that she will also get to meet Filipino icon Tia Carrere there.

“I was very happy to have met Ms. Tia, she’s a Filipino Hollywood star!” Kaladkaren, aka Jervi Li, told INQUIRER.net in an online interview when she shared the fateful moment with the actress at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles.

The news anchor, host, and award-winning actress flew to the United States late October to represent her Summer Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) movie “Here Comes the Groom,” which was screened at the MIFF. There, she walked the red carpet on Sunset Boulevard in a pink Filipiniana gown by designer Jong Sudlon.

“I introduced myself to [Carrere] and chatted a bit. She’s happy that Filipino films are now being shown in Hollywood,” shared Kaladkaren, who scored a Best Supporting Actress nod at the Summer MMFF for her movie, which also featured actor Enchong Dee.

Before sharing her encounter with Carrere, Kaladkaren took to social media to share her excitement for her movie’s US screening. “Pinoy Films in Hollywood !!!!! [clap emoji][US flag emoji][Philippine flag emoji] Hindi ako makapaniwala!!! (I cannot believe it)[three crying emojis] Thank You, Lord! I’m so honored to be here! [praying hands emoji],” she posted.

She also congratulated the MIFF organizers and said, “simula na ito para mas makilala ang Pelikulang Pilipino sa Hollywood at buong mundo! (This is the start for Filipino films to be know even more in Hollywood and the whole world) [three red heart emojis].”

Kaladkaren also took her Hollywood sojourn as an opportunity to raise the flag for transgender representation. “Transgender Filipina in Hollywood! [rainbow emoji][Philippine flag emoji][US flag emoji] I am grateful!! [three crying emojis],” she posted on Facebook.

“Aside from our representation as Filipino actors—I’m happy to be part of this milestone as an LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, others) Filipino. I hope people like me will get more opportunities like this! The future is bright! Mabuhay ang [MIFF]! Mabuhay ang pelikulang Pilipino! (Long live MIFF! Long live Filipino films!),” she continued.

Kaladkaren has been making great strides in transgender representation in Philippine media. Aside from being the first transgender woman to score a best supporting actress trophy from the MMFF, she also became the first transgender news anchor in the country, for her regular stint in the TV5 primetime newscast “Frontline Pilipinas.”

Kaladkaren shared with INQUIRER.net that she is currently in London. She flew there straight from Los Angeles with her fiancé Luke Wrightson, who she has been in a relationship with for more than a decade now. The two got engaged in 2020.