Xyriel Manabat steps into the spotlight as lead of ‘18th Rose’

Xyriel Manabat couldn’t help but get teary-eyed at Netflix Philippines’ trade launch, especially since “18th Rose” marks her first lead role in a film.

“18th Rose” is one of the streaming giant’s upcoming offerings for 2026, where Kyle Echarri joins her. Set in Romblon in the 2000s, it tells the story of Rose (Manabat) and Jordan (Echarri) and their dream of doing music.

“I still remember how it was brought to me. I can’t remember how much I cried, and how much I prayed. It’s not just a dream come true. It was also an answered prayer, and I’m very grateful to those who trusted me,” Manabat admitted as filmmaker Dolly Dulu joined her. 

At the time, Dulu said “18th Rose” was an opportunity of a lifetime for the former child actress. Manabat started her career in 2009, and although she had a lead role in the TV drama series “100 Days to Heaven,” it took her years to land her first lead role in a film. 

Of course, Manabat felt a close connection with Rose right away. “Building the connection between [myself] and Rose as my character, it was naturally effortless, and I believed her story.”

“Everything came across naturally because I believe in Rose, and I have such an interest in Rose,” she continued. “I fell in love with Rose. Creating and portraying her was magical.” 

At the same time, Manabat and Echarri have been friends for quite some time. This is why they didn’t struggle to bring the characters Rose and Jordan to life. 

“Transitioning with Kyle was meaningful for the sake of the show, it was smooth and it felt effortless also,” she said. “Me and Kyle knew each other for a long time, we knew each other since 2015 or 2016. For the first few days, we were just joking around.”

Months after the trade launch, glimpses of Manabat and Echarri’s characters were shown in the film’s trailer on Thursday, March 12. It opened with Rose dreaming of the perfect debut before waking up in reality. The scene then shifts to her meeting the school bad boy, Jordan, and the two end up in a cat-and-mouse dynamic.

In a seeming truce, Rose made a deal with Jordan to help him reconnect with his father, as long as he would help in making her dream 18th birthday happen. Along the way, they fall in love.

“18th Rose” premieres on Netflix on April 9. /ra