New Rom-Com Alert! Kyle Echarri And Xyriel Manabat's '18th Rose' Is About Dating Before The Apps

Remember the thrill of first love—the butterflies, the shy glances, the feeling that anything was possible? Netflix's upcoming film 18th Rose takes us back to that heart-fluttering age, telling a story about ambition, friendship, and young romance, set in the little-known corners of Romblon back in the early 2000s.

And this one's extra special—can you believe it's Xyriel Manabat's first film as a leading lady?

Xyriel steps into the role of Rose, a spirited, determined girl learning to hold on to joy even when life throws curveballs. For Xyriel, connecting with Rose was effortless. "I believed Rose. I trusted her, and I fell in love with her," she shared at the Next on Netflix Philippines event. "Romblon played a big role in that connection, too. The place itself has this kind of magic that seeps into the character."

Behind this nostalgic first love story is writer and director Dolly Dulu, who wanted to shine a spotlight on a side of the Philippines most people haven't seen. "It's a small-town film," she said. "When you hear Romblon, you know the name, but you don't know what it looks like. There are so many islands yet to be discovered."

On top of that, Dolly crafted 18th Rose as a love letter to a simpler time—the early 2000s, her own childhood. "Life was simpler then, we didn't have social media, and if you wanted to meet someone, you actually had to put in the effort to physically meet that person. It was a wonderful time for romance, for that [kind of] kilig," she added.

Rose's story is intertwined with Jordan, played by Kyle Echarri. The two first connect through music, and what starts as a simple deal between a spirited teen and a lonely newcomer slowly blossoms into something deeper (🎶 I think I've seen this film before 🎶). But ofc, unexpected feelings—and a few surprising revelations—threaten to shatter their perfectly laid plans.

"Transitioning the friendship I built with Kyle into the story felt smooth because we've known each other since 2015 to 2016," Xyriel shared. "The chemistry developed naturally, and every sequence allowed our connection to deepen. The narrative really helps the friendship-to-love transition feel authentic."

Dolly added that while Xyriel and Kyle's real-life friendship helped, the challenge was leveling it up. "We also had intimacy coordinators to guide the leap from friends to lovers. Being locked in Romblon for a month helped the bond grow, and you can see that on camera." She also loved how their "unlikely pairing" worked in the film's favor—no expectations, just pure, fresh romance.

For both Dolly and Xyriel, seeing 18th Rose on a global platform is a dream come true. Dolly, who also has the series Someone, Someday starring Kathryn Bernardo, James Reid, and Maja Salvador lined up within this year, said, "The emotions are universal, so the [global audience] can relate to it, but with a touch of how we Filipinos do it. It's a simple movie, but that's where the heart is."

Xyriel was all smiles and happy tears. "I cried when I found out. It's not just a dream come true—it's an answered prayer. I'm so grateful to everyone who trusted me and to Netflix for letting us share our craft worldwide."

We're already seated for the chemistry between Xyriel and Kyle—and we're just as ready to fall for the small-town charm of Romblon while we're at it. 18th Rose streams exclusively on Netflix on April 9, 2026.