On a sunny January day, at the Brittany Palazzo in Muntinlupa City, we find Ashtine Olviga, one of 2025’s breakout stars, standing on a green field, under a blue sky scattered with clouds, with a breeze that hinted at a summer coming just a few weeks away.
To say that 2025 was a banner year for Ashtine would be an understatement. In just a year, she went from being an up-and-coming actress and musician to being an undeniable rising star. She had a hit TV show, two movies, one of which garnered her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival. She was paired with generational matinee idols like Andres Muhlach and Piolo Pascual for her scene partners.
But for this MEGA shoot, her scene partner wasn’t an actor—it was Suave, a horse. With 2026 ushering in the Year of the Horse, it felt only right. What better way to greet the new year than by leaning fully into the symbolism—quite literally?
Even though this was the first time Ashtine worked with a horse in a shoot, she gamely posed and followed directions, even laughing off an attempt from Suave to nibble her dress. If she had any trepidation or pressure to meet the expectations of the moment, she didn’t show it, and it’s that quiet yet assured confidence that’s guiding Ashtine as she takes on a new year filled with opportunities.
COWBOY OLVIGA
Ashtine’s rise may have seemed sudden to many, but the young actress has been in the industry for a lot longer than most realize. Acting is her first love, but it was performing that Ashtine got her start and initial interactions with audiences. She first competed in a reality singing show before training to be a P-pop idol. In 2021, she debuted as a member of girl group LITZ, and before that, she was a member of other supergroups such as U Go Girls and PPop Generation. Yet, acting always called Ashtine’s name, and it was through that artform that gave Ashtine the big break she’s been working for years.
In 2025, she was cast as the female lead of VivaOne’s Wattpad adaptation of the teen rom-com Ang Mutya Ng Section E. In it, she played the confident, loyal, and outspoken Jay-jay Mariano, who wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself against Andres Muhlach’s Mark Kiefer Watson and the rest of her classmates. The show was an instant success, and a second season came out in December that year.
In the same year, Ashtine also appeared in two movies, the first being the romantic drama Minamahal, her first film with her love team partner Andres Muhlach, and the second being Manila’s Finest, a crime-thriller that marked Ashtine’s first participation in a MMFF movie. In between all of this, she’s gained millions of followers across her social media pages, become a recognizable face among Gen Z, and has become a personality to watch.
It was a year for firsts and career milestones for Ashtine. But the momentum didn’t just come out of the blue. It was a kind of moment that Ashtine had been slowly but surely working for years to achieve. “Yung passion ko mismo [It’s really my passion],” she says about what kept her going in the industry.
During those moments of false starts and where it felt like the hard work was going nowhere, Ashtine trusted herself, her talent, and her vision in knowing that she would eventually get to where she needed to be. “Kasi nung mga panahon, parang magda-doubt ako kung maa-achieve ko ba yung gusto kong ma-achieve. Nandun yung desire ko sa heart ko na gusto ko yung ginagawa ko. I have this faith in me na someday, hindi ko alam kung paano, hindi ko alam kung kailan, pero alam ko na ma- achieve ko kung ano yung gusto kong dream. [Back then, I doubted whether I would be able to achieve what I wanted. There is a desire in my heart for what I was doing. I have faith in myself that someday—though I didn’t know how or when— that I would be able to make my dreams come true].”
It’s been a breakthrough for Ashtine, to say the least, with all the public attention that has come her way in a short amount of time. But, as she enters the mainstream culture conversation as one of the most talked-about young actresses of the moment, Ashtine doesn’t let the weight of her rising stardom overwhelm her. Instead, she chooses to remain humble about the pace at which her career has and expanded.
“Sa lahat na nangyayari, tinatry ko maging grateful lang [With everything that’s happened, I’m trying to just be grateful],” she confesses. “Mas more on praying and appreciating sa lahat ng nakukuha kong blessings. Yes, syempre may mga times na may mga wini-wish ako, na minsan hindi ko makukuha, and okay lang yun kasi I believe na kung ano man yung nakukuha ko ngayon, yun yung para sa akin ngayon [It’s more about praying for and appreciating all the blessings that have been coming my way. Of course, there are times when I don’t get what I wish for, but that’s okay because whatever comes my way is what’s meant for me].”
This mindset also extends to how Ashtine sees herself beyond the headlines and social media discourse. As simple as getting any role has been an “I made it” moment for Ashtine, but she also knows that there’s still a lot more to learn as she takes it in stride. “Sa lahat na nangyari sa akin, syempre, may growth na nangyari. Pero at the same time, I believe na marami pa rin akong kailangang matutunan. Hindi lang sa craft ko, kundi na rin bilang tao. [Everything that’s happened to me comes with growth. At the same time I believe I still have a long way to go—not just in my craft, but as a person].”
THE GAME OF EXPECTATIONS
If 2025 was the year of Ashtine’s arrival on the scene, 2026 is when she makes the most of her new platform with a definitive period. Already, the young actress is hoping to do roles where she doesn’t rest on her laurels. “Gusto ko pa magkaroon ng more challenging roles [I want more challenging roles],” she says, emphasizing her desire to grow more as an actress… and also more roles with Andres Muhlach.
Yet, Ashtine’s forward acceleration also comes with its pitfalls. With fame comes sacrifices, and for a young star that means fitting the mold people have for her. As a newly minted in-demand actor with legions of new fans, musician, sister, and daughter, Ashtine has her fair share of expectations to meet. But in this case, expectations become less of a hope and more of a prison as Ashtine is pulled in all directions when it comes to her acting, performing, and everything in between.
Yet, instead of being bogged down by what people think of and have to say about her, Ashtine is well aware of what she’s stepping into, and, more importantly, ready to face it. “Alam mo kasi kapag nasa showbiz ka, marami talagang opinion or marami magdidikta kung ano yung dapat mong gawin or dapat mong sabihin. Pero of course, binabasa ko and namimili ako ng kung ano yung dapat kong pakinggan [You know, when you’re in showbiz, you have a lot of people giving their opinions and telling you what to say and do. But of course, I choose whose opinion I listen to].” She adds, “Iniisip ko na lang na kapag yung ginagawa ko is hindi yun yung gusto nila, alam ko sa sarili ko na wala akong tinatapakang tao at mabuti yung intention ko [I just make sure that whenever I don’t give people what they want, I don’t step on anybody and I only have good intentions].”
Ashtine chooses to remain in control of the narrative in ways she can. But she also knows she is no Wonder Woman. As much as she believes in herself, there are times when she, like many, goes through the twists and turns of self-doubt and insecurity once the opinions and expectations step to the forefront. She is first to admit that self-doubt is one of her weaknesses, and that extends to how, even though she believes in them, she isn’t one to easily fulfill New Year’s resolutions because she has a tendency to forget them.
However, she’s also taking her new experiences as lessons to be kinder to herself.
When second-guessing starts kicking in, Ashtine trusts herself, her values, and her faith in finding her light. Ashtine shares that prayers really help her navigate her way in the spotlight. She adds that she considers the church as one of her safe spaces when she needs to recenter herself. “I think ang nakatulong lang talagang makaalis nun sa akin is by praying, and nakalimutan ko lahat ng worries ko, or ng fears ko kay Lord. For some reason, bigla na lang ako nagkakaroon ng confidence, or nalilimutan ko lahat ng boses sa utak ko, nalilimutan ko yung mga sasabihin ng ibang tao, and mas na-enjoy ko na lang yung mga dapat kong gawin, and nagiging maganda yung resulta [I think praying helps drive the self-doubt away, and I give all my worries and fears to the Lord. For some reason, I’m filled with confidence after praying. I forget all the voices in my head and the criticisms of other people. I get to enjoy what I’m doing and things turn out well].”
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NOISE
Whether it’s the people she works with or random comments on social media, people will have something to say about Ashtine. They can range from compliments and wishful thinking to outright essays pinpointing what they don’t like about her or what they think she’s doing wrong. In an era where the internet and social media have democratized opinion, anything and everything can be said. But that can also mean lines can be crossed, as arbitrary expectations set by anyone can be used as an excuse to bring people down. It almost becomes a landmine where one wrong step or move will automatically define you.
For many, it can already be a lot to take in when it feels like the whole world is coming down on their bubble, but it hits triply so for a young actress who has to juggle so many plates while navigating a career high that has opened many previously closed doors. But despite it all, Ashtine isn’t here to police opinions. She knows that people can and will say what they want about her. But as early as now, she accepts that she can’t impress everyone, nor will she meet every expectation people have about her.
Even now, she is building a healthy mindset to approach her newfound fame as she takes the good, constructive, and worthwhile comments and opinions and filters out the rest. And with the help of a strong support system composed of friends, family, and loved ones, she’s putting that into practice.
ONWARD AND UPWARD
From background actress and former P-pop idol to booking her first lead role in Ang Mutya Ng Section E, which turned her into an overnight star, Ashtine Olviga has had a kind of breakthrough many actors dream of. It wasn’t all luck, though, but a combination of hard work, perseverance, and a dream that she’d make it. As a new year awaits her, Ashtine is proving that she is no one-hit wonder. The best part is that she isn’t doing all this to appease the figurative checklist that is expected of a rising star, but she’s doing this for herself.
Even during her early years in showbiz, Ashtine has been guided by her belief that success is measured less by material possessions or financial gains, and more by what’s in her heart. “Before pa, hanggang ngayon, feeling ko, ang meaning ng success sa akin is kapag happy yung heart mo [Even before, I believe that success is more about if your heart is happy],” she declares. “Yes, importante yung pera. Importante na ma-achieve mo yung mga gusto mong bagay. Pero I believe na mas okay pa rin if nakukuha mo yung mga bagay na alam mong nakuha mo dahil para sa’yo. Na wala kang inapakan tao, na okay yung paligid mo [Yes, money is important. It’s also important to achieve what you have set out to do, but I believe that it’s much better if you got what you wanted without hurting other people along the way, and you have made the world a better place].” The success Ashtine strives for is deeper than superficial praise, but one rooted in what speaks to her heart.
As much as her career has grown in just a year, even as she looks forward to 2026, Ashtine is already happy where she is today, and she will remain so if life continues to give her the chance. “Gusto ko andito pa rin ako [I still want to be here],” the young actress declares, when asked where she would like to be by the end of 2026, still doing what she loves.
Ashtine is surprisingly mellow and calm about her new found fame. Yes, she knows that she’s at the next stage of her career. But she’s also open to wherever life may take her. Persevering, yet chill and honest, Ashtine is at the point in her career where everyone is waiting to see what she does next. She’s expected to meet the moment regardless of what she does next, but instead of just doing what she’s told or listening to the chaotic cloud that always hovers near stardom, Ashtine is using her drive and energy to intentionally steer her career and life towards one that she hopes will fill her heart with happiness and contentment.
Ashtine isn’t here to chase the next win or big project to prove her worth, but purposely lives up to the hopes she has set for herself, and she’s all the better for it.
Photographed by DOOKIE DUCAY. Creative Direction by PATRICK TY. Art Direction by CLARE MAGNO. Sittings Editor PEEWEE ISIDRO and MARA GO. Styling by ELDSZ MEJIA. Produced by STEF JUAN and THESSMAR LECTURA. Beauty Direction by AGOO AZCUNA-BENGZON. Makeup by ARON GUEVARA. Hair by BIANCA VERGARA. Nails by GENEVIEV PIOQUINTO of TRIPLE LUCK BROW & NAIL SALON. Photographer Assistants BYRON DE GUZMAN, SEAN FRANCISCO, and LOU FAJARDO. Stylist Assistants CARL ALBERTO, MIGS LEGUERA, and BEA HILADO.
Shot on Location at BRITTANY PALAZZO. Special thanks to MIGUEL LAURETA, JOHN PAULO GARCIA of ARTIST AGENCY; JAMILA PORTILLO and EMMA AMORES of BRITANNY PALAZZO
