Kakai Bautista finds joy in reading on her own terms

For actress-singer Kakai Bautista, reading wasn’t always a love at first sight. In a candid and heartwarming social media post, the versatile performer opened up about how her relationship with books evolved—shaped by circumstance, creativity, and a unique way of learning.

“Couldn’t sleep. Ginusto ko na uli magbasa,” she began, sharing that as a child, reading was never her first instinct—unless it came in the form of National Geographic, Reader’s Digest, or her beloved komiks. “Sa school, I only read when it’s required. I learn by visuals and I learn by ear.”

Growing up with limited access to books, Kakai leaned on her strengths. She listened intently during class discussions, wrote everything down by hand, and memorized lessons through sounds and cues—techniques she carried into her acting career.

“Kapag may dapat imemorize sa school, tinatandaan ko yung huling word sa sentence. Sa script halos ganun din—cue ng co-actor ko ang ginagawang basehan.” she shared. Despite not memorizing exact lines, she’s known for improvising without ever losing the heart of a scene.

“Isang beses ko lang binabasa ng buo ang script kapag may play ako. Mas namememorize ko ang lines ko sa rehearsals,” she added, revealing a process rooted not in rigid structure, but in rhythm and instinct.

Even when it comes to music, she learns by listening. “Oido ganun. I learn songs when I hear it over and over again, without reading the lines.”

But today, Kakai finds herself slowly returning to the written word—not out of necessity, but out of curiosity and joy. “I love learning as much as I love performing. Nakakamiss din mag-aral.”

Now on the hunt for old Nat Geo, Reader’s Digest, and komiks, she invites fans to help her reconnect with the pages that first sparked her imagination.

Because for someone like Kakai, learning never stops—it simply evolves, in her own vibrant, heartfelt way.