VP/Cover | MAN IN THE SURGE: The Being and Becoming of Kelvin Miranda

Navigating in the waves of life, Kelvin Miranda learned to live by the ways of the water—flowing free without a constant form but persisting with a consistent force.

With schedules flooding his calendar at least a few weeks into the new year and exactly a week after his birthday, I was lucky enough to sit down for a conversation with Kelvin just hours before he drove to an event in Bulacan. He got tapings and events queueing after the interview, but his enthusiasm seemed drawn from the vast depth of his drive to start the year with positive energy, as he came in all smiles and bright aura.

Others may feel on their feet already just by looking at a jam-packed schedule ahead of them, especially when they just got back from a year-end vacation. But Kelvin plays on the waves of undertakings with the rush of love and passion for his craft, enough to understand how far the tides have taken him since he began to sail into the entertainment industry in 2016. From there, he starred in different films and television dramas, including his breakthrough role in 2019 as Mark Santa Maria in Dead Kids, the first Filipino Netflix Original film.

His remarkable performances and the energy he holds probably explain all the projects keeping him booked and busy in the present—and that means all year round, on television and bigger screens, in and out of the country, and even more unannounced. Kelvin Miranda is truly a man in the surge of his stardom and evolution—surfing through his being and diving into his becoming.

‘Change is Constant, and Change is a Choice’

As Kelvin reflects on his present and recalls his early beginnings, realizations begin to emerge, manifesting how the man in the surge has gone into a stream of evolution that introduced him to his countless versions.

He has gone from one shape to another—always better, stronger, and braver to face the higher tides of life. “Sa totoo lang, ‘yong malaking pagbabago para sa akin ay ‘yong mindset ko. Before, hindi ko naiintindihan ang lahat kasi pinipili kong hindi maintidihan; hindi ko tinatanggap kasi pinipili kong hindi tanggapin,” he shares. Like a vivid body of water, Kelvin reveals the depth of trenches that his experiences formed. “Mas kaya ko nang tanggapin anoman ang ibigay sa akin ng universe o ng pagkakataon.”

Although he surfs through the waves of life without a constant form—flowing freely through the stream and letting every experience shape him, Kelvin holds a consistent force that commands where the currents will go. His perspective on change and the power it brings allowed him to fully embrace every version of himself that emerged in every stage of his life.

“Change is constant and change is a choice. Nagbabago ang lahat ng bagay sa mundo kung saan tayo gumagalaw, at para sa akin, kung hindi mo tatanggapin yong pagbabago, hindi ka magpo-progress.”
-Kelvin Miranda

He believes that change, being an inevitable force of the natural order of things, is a beautiful and transformative phase in one’s life. On the other hand, Kelvin also recognizes the struggles that may come along in the process, putting resilience and persistence to the test. After all, braving and embracing change, for him, is an act of one’s liberation from the chains of limitations that the past created.

“Kapag hindi mo tinanggap ‘yong pagbabago, ikaw mismo ang maiiwan—parang inililibing mo ‘yong sarili mo sa sariling hukay mula sa chances na matuto at mag-explore from the experiences na pwedeng ibigay ng universe.”
-Kelvin Miranda

Looking at his approach, it may look like Kelvin would just simply throw himself into the raging ocean, but he dives into it with his intentional and purposive attitude toward life. He does not just give blows aimlessly but is guided by his principles that his sight on the silver lining that shines in every wave. “Iyon naman talaga ang purpose ng buhay ng tao e, to take situation in life challenges as challenges,” he says. “Harapin mo ang challenge or talikuran mo pero alin man sa dalawa, parareho silang may consequences. Kaya para sa akin, mabuti nang labanan mo na lang nang labanan no matter what happens.”

Past the tides, Kelvin would always emerge in his newest version—once an aimed becoming, now his being—a beautiful cycle he would always willingly take on. But aside from introducing him to a new form, what does he gain from this cycle that he would dive into it, I asked Kelvin. “Through my experiences in diffrent phases of life, life taught me na ang present ay salamin ng kinabukasan. Kaya naman kailangan mong mabuhay in the present,” he replies.

To embrace his being in the present is what prepares Kelvin Miranda for whatever the future has for his becoming—a constant flow of change and a choice he consistently makes.

Kelvin Miranda is Adamus

From living by the ways and principles of the water, Kelvin took his connection with this element to another depth as he gives life to Adamus—the new generation guardian of the water gem in the most-anticipated sequel of Filipino fantaserye Encantadia, Sang’gre. His character is the inheritor of both power and fate to guard the gem of his mother, Sang’gre Alena. Only with a glimpse of his character and a few stories surrounding him, Kelvin Miranda, as Adamus is set to surf onto another wave of action and adventure.

When we began talking about his newest character, the caffeine from his morning coffee seemed to start kicking, taking his energy to a surge of excitement but with caution, of course, to not drop any spoilers. “Naku, si Adamus! Si Adamus kasi, based on his characteristics, siya ‘yong tipo ng tao na may characteristics gaya ng tubig—calm but deadly,” Kelvin replied when I asked him to describe his character’s personality.

“Gaya ng tubig, hindi mo agad malalaman kung malalim o mababaw si Adamus.”
-Kelvin Miranda

As an artist and a storyteller, he portrays Adamus beyond what the lines of his script read; Kelvin explores his character down the depths of his story, completely understanding the roots of its personality. “Sa grupo [ng mga Sang’gre], siya ‘yong palaging nag-iisip at laging mayroong pag-iingat. Pinag-iisipan niya ang lahat ng mga bagay bago pa mangyari para kung anoman ang dumating, prepared na siya.”

His enthusiasm in talking about Adamus gives an impression of how deep his connection to his character is, that he could justify the actions it would take as every plot slowly unfolds. But what is it about Adamus that Kelvin Miranda finds relatable himself, I ask him. Then he drops a revelation. “Recently lang ako nakaka-relate kay Adamus kasi parehas pala kaming overthinker,” he narrates. Knowing Adamus to portray him effectively did not happen in an overnight script reading but a journey he consistently takes on, exploring every depth and adding new layers to the story.

Knowing the power that Adamus holds as the new guardian of the Encantadia’s water gem, to be him in real life must mean living through endless adventures. It must be hard to choose among his pool of supernatural powers. Kelvin, on the other hand, expressed his certainty on the power he wished to have in reality. “Mag-evictus! ‘Yon talaga ang pinakamasarap gawin! No hassle e. Iisipin mo lang kung saan ka pupunta, nandoon ka na. Walang traffic, walang problema,” he says with enthusiasm. “Kung magiging si Adamus talaga ako, tanggalin n’yo na lahat sa akin, ‘wag ;ang ‘yong Evictus.”

VP/Cover | SKIN TO SKIN: Kylie Padilla Sheds From Past to Present

Through the Stream of Evolution

While Kelvin Miranda continues to fully embrace his being in the present, both in his personal life and as Adamus in his upcoming television drama, he consistently lets himself dive into the stream of evolution—a journey of change and a story of his becoming. As much as we could see him land milestones in his career, he still has dreams and goals that both his heart keeps. On the other hand, he lets the universe and time unfold what really is for him. “Iyong mga goals na ‘to, hindi ko na sila masyadong iniisip e. Kung darating ‘yon, darating at daratng,” Kelvin says.

Then he started sharing his goals as an individual and as an artist. To showcase more the fluidity of his artistry while letting his personality emerge in his characters, Kelvin dreams of portraying a role that he finds close to his heart and story. “Dream ko talaga ay magkaroon ako ng role na sumasalamin din sa kung saan ako nanggaling at kung ano ‘yong pinagdaanan ko before,” Kelvin reveals while also referencing to one of characters he once played: Marcus Villareal. “Gusto kong magkaroon ng role na makataotohanan at kakabit sa pagkatao ko talaga para maisabuhay ko at makuwento ko nang mas maganda at mas makatotohanan,” he added.

As an artist, Kelvin reveals that he aims to reach a certain level of popularity and influence. On the other hand, living true to his intentional and purposive philosophy in life, he does not see such as metrics of success but avenues to create a more meaningful impact on his audience.

“Popularity is a tool of success. Somehow, kaya ka niyang bigyan ng peace of mind kapag nadala mo siya nang tama. At gagamitin ko ‘yon to create a good influence sa mga sumusuporta at sa mga taong sumasalamin sa akin bilang isang artista.”
-Kelvin Miranda

Through his journey and constant swim in the stream of evolution, life brought Kelvin realizations on the liberating power that the essence of fluidity, resilience, and a heart for change can bring. He has experienced it and continues to persist in the strong current of life with it. Now, he also wants others to find themselves willingly diving into a similar journey.

“Maniwala sa mga bagay na dumarating sa ‘yo. Huwag sukuan ang mga bagay na sinimulan—tapusin mo nang may pagtitiyaga at pagsusumikap! Pagkatapos, magbahagi ka. ‘Wag ipagkait ang karanasan, karunungan, at lahat ng mga bagay na pwedeng ibahagi, kahit ang sarili mong kuwento.”
-Kelvin Miranda

His story, true to the nature of water, is clear and a reflection of the art of free-flowing into the waves of life, diving into its depths, and emerging anew. As Kelvin Miranda continues to be a man in the surge of his passion and artistry, he constantly reveals the beauty of his being and the power of his becoming.

Special thanks to:
Tyronne Escalante Artist Management ( T.E.A.M)
Sparkle GMA Artist Center