JULIA AND I

Julia Barretto

Julia Barretto definitely has one of the prettiest faces among our teen stars today. Actually, silang dalawa ni Kathryn Bernardo ang mga pinakamagaganda for me. But more than the exterior beauty, what draws me to this beautiful young lady, who comes from a family of showbiz royalties, is her pure talent, and her extraordinary kind-heartedness.

My fascination for Julia traces back from her childhood days pa. I was amazed by her performance as Anna in “Kokey” and as young Melanie in “Walang Kapalit” (later on will be played by her aunt, Claudine Barretto). And her Palmolive TVC then, where she was bouncing and playing around, was a personal favourite because she was so cute! But after her “Palos” stint in 2008, I didn’t hear anything about her. I thought, she already entered that dreaded “awkward” stage for teenagers, and decided to concentrate instead on her studies. 

One of my first pictures with Julia, late last year. 

But as somewhat a fan of a beautiful child star, I was really hoping for a big comeback for Julia, when the time is right. I had that feeling then na, she is a teen princess waiting for her time to be re-launched. If you can remember, in the midst of Princess And I airing last year, Khalil Ramos already expressed his intent of working with Julia. Based on then recent pictures of her we saw, we thought she has turned into a really beautiful young lady. Very much like her mom and aunties. Khalil would always tell me, “ang ganda niya, princess.” Everyone is just excited to see her again active. And I was one of the most.

Madalas na uli siyang nakikita sa ABS-CBN compound late last year, as she was rehearsing for the Christmas Special, and hinahanda na ang comeback niya. Julian Mauricio (OK, lagi siyang name-mention sa blog na ito LOL. Hi Julian!) happened to be her distant relative, and we were introduced one night at McDonald’s, where they were having dinner along with Sofia Andres and Chienna Filomeno. Can I just say, I was really stunned by her beauty! Nganga. Diyosa. And nakadagdag pa na she was really smiling sweetly. Bilang bakla ako, mas appreciative ako ng kagwapuhan ng mga lalaki. But Julia was an exception. All night, I was raving about how beautiful, and nice she was! Na-Charice ako, if you know what I mean.

Masusundan pa ang pagkikita namin ni Julia. May shy factor pa sa part ko, I mean Barretto yan. Pero siya yung talagang nagri-reach out, nangangamusta. Pero ang turning point talaga was, nung December, when I stayed overnight sa bahay ni Julian, we called Julia using my phone. Julia was advising Julian over the phone, and we realized na pareho kami madalas ng gustong sabihin. We hit it off. From then on, we would exchange tweets and text messages. Pero andun pa rin yung fangirl in me na, “Sh**! Si Julia Barretto itong kausap ko.” Pero si Julia, the wy she conversed is very much like any normal teenager, which is nakakatuwa.

During the launch of Star Magic Circle 2013 earlier this year. 

But one thing I am happiest about Julia is, in the past months na magkakilala kami, never niyang pinaramdam sa akin na, “hey! I’m Julia Barretto!” I always felt the care, and the respect. She always asks kung kumusta ako, if I had eaten na, stuff like that. She’s always the sweetest. Siya pa mismo ang magtatanong kung kumusta, kunwari, ang love life ko (parang meron talaga HAHAHA), ganun. She will make you feel talaga na, she wants to know you more. That she is a friend you can count on to. And she gives sound, honest-to-goodness observations and advices. Hindi yan magpapaka-plastik sa ‘yo. If mali, mali. But she makes sure na she will help, or at least she will comfort you, when you are at your worst.

Julia is the girl anyone would wish to become, including me. Una sa lahat, maganda. Goddess talaga. Ang daming guys na kilala ko, gusto siya. Hindi ko na pangangalanan yung iba siyempre, but among those na vocal were Khalil, Jerome Ponce and Julian Estrada. I think she is closest now to Julian. But in terms of love team, ang bet ko talaga sila ni Khalil, or si Jerome. Julian knows that. Pero silang tatlo, may chemistry kasi kay Julia. Nakaka-inggit nga e, all these guys are after her. (Pwedeng mag-share, Julia?)

Second, matalino si Julia. Hindi lang dahil English siya ng English, ha. But she does talk with sense talaga. She is aware of what’s going on around. Contrary to what others think na over-protected siya, exposed siya and well-versed. And lastly, and most important of all, she really defines beauty, inside and outside. Napakabait. Napaka-humble. Walang biro, madaling lapitan siya for pictures, requests. She won’t make you feel na, “Julia Barretto ako!” Nakakatuwa nga yan e, she remains a fan at heart. She wants to work with so many people in the industry. She has kept herself level-grounded amidst all the anticipation and raves. Wala rin yang ka-arte-arte sa katawan. She may look and sound one, pero hindi. She’s game for almost everything.

Julia and I, with Khalil Ramos, at ABS-CBN. 

One thing I appreciate most about Julia is her desire to prove na hindi lang siya isang pretty face, and she will make it big hindi lang dahil isa siyang Barretto. Though she acknowledges that her entry, and some of the privileges she enjoys is mainly because of her being a showbiz royalty, you will see her effort to make a name for herself. Not just in the shadows of her mom and her aunties. She really works hard. And she really has talent! She’s one of the most followed teen stars on Twitter and Instagram. She has graced multiple magazine covers this early. She’s one of the stand outs among her batchmates in Star Magic Circle 2013. There’s that “X-Factor”. But I am most proud of her stint in MMK last week, as she was able to attest to the viewers that she really has “it” when it comes to acting – and it was affirmed by the episode’s high ratings (the highest that weekend, actually). No doubt, everyone is just so excited to see her star shine brightest, especially in the coming weeks and months as Cofradia, her first lead teleserye, will soon see the light of the day.

“Julia And I” may not be the same in so many things. But our story is something I am most happy to look back on – as I really got to know a young princess waiting for her turn to be seated, and yet who has so much love to give, and has only compassion running in her heart. And I can only wish her all the best in this journey she chose to take, enveloped with a promise na nandito lang ako, as a supporter, and a friend, in the best way I can, and know how.