Her acting career may have only just taken off, but Kaila Estrada has already showcased and proven her caliber as an actress through her astounding portrayals, such as in Maalaala Mo Kaya, Viral Scandal (2021), and Can’t Buy Me Love (2023).

However, it’s her performance as Atty. Sylvia Lualhati in the highly controversial digital series Linlang through which more people got to discover her amazing talent that she surely inherited from her famous parents, acclaimed thespians Janice de Belen and John Estrada.

And there’s definitely more to her than being the third among four children of her parents, which seasoned journalist Bernadette Sembrano is able to unravel in this interview for the news and current affairs program “Tao Po.”

Her parents might have separated when she was still very young, but they didn’t fall short in making them feel loved and giving them a good life. Kaila disclosed that Janice is actually not the “cuddling type of mom” which benefitted them as she and her siblings grow up independent, while John is a strict yet fun-to-be-with dad.

When asked if her acting prowess is something that she got from her parents or that she learned in the process, the young actress said that “it’s a bit of both” since she also underwent workshops upon entering Star Magic.

As Bernadette mentioned Janice’s rave reaction to her trending performance in Linlang via Instagram story, Kaila revealed that her mom isn’t the domineering type when it comes to her career. She related, “Actually si Mama kasi, she’s not very vocal. I feel like it’s also because she doesn’t wanna pressure me. She’s also very firm na ‘I’m really gonna let you do this on your own’. She gives me a chance to navigate show business by myself, which I appreciate.”

Aside from the guidance and tips that her mom has imparted to her, she also got her kitchen skills from her, which she was also able to showcase during the interview by cooking what seems to be her specialty – pasta amatriciana.

Unlike other celebrities who started their careers in showbiz at young ages, Kaila chose to accomplish her studies first and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Arts Management from the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde in 2017. This allowed her to not just enjoy her youth away from the spotlight and live a regular life, but to also fulfill her agreement with her parents to finish her education first.

Even though she’s obviously pretty and remarkably good at what she’s doing, Kaila divulged that she actually has her own share of bashers, too. Although they welcome it since it’s inevitable for celebrities like her and she can learn from it as well, she still hopes that people can be more responsible in whatever they post online because they get hurt, too.

To those who have been wondering whether she’s in a relationship or not, the 27-year-old actress divulged that her priority right now is really to establish herself and build her career. Besides, she’s also planning to study abroad, which she’s been saving for.

Apart from acting tips, Kaila also receives love advice from her Mama Janice. And one of those is the importance of self-worth and self-love. She related, “Lagi niyang sinasabi, you have to put yourself first and you really have to love yourself first kasi walang ibang gagawa no’n eh. Sarili mo lang talaga. It’s important to create a healthy relationship with yourself in order to have healthier relationships with other people.”

Her being a strong, independent woman has earned the admiration of many, including her Ate Moira. According to her, she’s proud that her younger sister knows how to stand her ground. “Just be yourself and don’t forget the person that you are. I love you,” she uttered when asked for a message to Kaila.