Lucky star
Julia Montes is basking in the success of her primetime soap, Walang Hanggan (No End), in which she is starring with acclaimed actor Coco Martin. But has success come too early for the 17-year old? tabloid! spoke to the promising upstart last week.
There are rumours you have gone swell-headed now that your primetime soap is leading the ratings?
Hindi po [not at all]. I am just enjoying it and sharing it with everybody, and people may be mistaking that for being mayabang [too proud]. The success of Walang Hanggan is not mine alone, it is a collaborative effort. There are stars much bigger than me here; I'm just lucky and blessed to be working with very respected actors and actresses.
You're now 17 years old. Are you entertaining suitors? Are you now seeing someone?
[Laughs]. Too early, I am still enjoying my being single. I will be lying if I say I don't have admirers, but I am not ready to go into a relationship now, bad for my career according to my manager. And I think so, too. I would like to focus on my career, focus on my family. There are so many more things I would like to accomplish. If it [relationship] happens, it happens; but it is not something I will actively seek.
Have you been in love?
I have great admiration for a lot of people. I am a teenager, I guess I am allowed to have crushes. But nothing more than that.
You've now invested in a really nice house, congratulations. What's next on your shopping list?
I am so proud, ayan na naman [there I go again]. I am really thankful I was able to do this. This is the fruit of my hard work. I have had to sacrifice a lot to do this, but it gives me a great sense of fulfilment to see that I am finally seeing the fruits of my labour. I am very happy to be honest; I don't know how to describe it.
Some people are saying you've left Kathryn Bernardo (her gal pal and co-star in Mara Clara) so far behind. How do you feel about that?
I never compare myself to anyone. The management has a different plan for her, and I have a different career track to follow. No one is leaving someone.
Brillante collaboration
Cannes-winning director Brillante Mendoza announced last week he is negotiating with superstar actress Nora Aunor for a possible indie film collaboration. If it works out, it will be the first time for the two acclaimed artists to work together, something that Mendoza said he is "keen to do, because I witnessed the Nora Aunor phenomenon in the 1970s. Back then I was an observer; now I would like to experience what the mystique is all about." Mendoza, who has also worked with top French actress Isabelle Huppert for Captive, said young stalwarts Lovi Poe and Cannes veteran Mercedes Cabral are being sought to join the superstar in the film tentatively titledThy Womb.
In the family way
Katrina Halili has finally confirmed she is pregnant. The rumour has been circulating in the past few weeks and Halili has been noticeably growing bigger prompting many to suspect. Her announcement revealed she is three months pregnant and the father of her soon-to-be-born child is rapper and DJ Kris Lawrence, who has been her constant companion throughout the ordeal she continues to suffer because of her leaked videos with Hayden Kho. Halili also confirmed she will be taking a leave from all her TV projects and will go back to her hometown Palawan, a province south of Manila, where she hopes to give birth to her baby.
Winning hearts
Although Eugene Domingo didn't win the Best Actress award at the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong, she was happy to receive the People's Choice for Favourite Actress award, a result of text and online voting. Domingo was nominated for her sterling performance in Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (The Woman in the Septic Tank), but she lost to Hong Kong actress Deanie Ip for her role in A Simple Life. Another Filipina, Shamain Buencamino, bagged the Best Supporting Actress award for Niño. Domingo endeared herself to the audience by having a picture taken with popular Chinese actor, Andy Lau, who bagged the People's Choice for Favourite Actor award.
‘Lesson learned'
TV host Edu Manzano apologised for posting an unconfirmed tweet on @RealEduManzano that Philippine president Noynoy Aquino and TV and radio personality Grace Lee dated during office hours in a shopping mall in Manila last week. Manzano had to retract his message after it was confirmed that the president was at that time presiding over an important meeting. Manzano later posted he was "overeager and deserve all the backlash. Lesson learned."
