It was April this year when it was made known publicly that Kris Aquino plays a key role in the Joshua Garcia-Julia Barretto starrer “I Love You, Hater.” Just a month later, here she is singing hallelujahs over the JoshLia love team.
Kris Aquino
In an interview, she praised the two for being passionate about their craft. She added that in the movie, Julia will be a “revelation.”
“You do not expect her to be witty and fun, but she really is,” Kris said. “She is so beautiful and Bimb (Kris’ son) is so in love with her.”
It didn’t end there.
“In love na talaga, hindi na crush. Sabi niya (Bimby), ‘Mama I just wanna make her happy for the rest of her life.’ Nandu’n talaga siya sa mode na ’yun. Naghihintay lang siyang pumalpak si Joshua,” Kris added in jest. “Tsaka binibilang niya eh like ‘Mama when I’m 21 Ate Julia will only be 31. It can happen.’ May ganyan talaga so natatawa talaga ako.”
As for Joshua, she knows he is the “real deal.”
“We had a moment na very complicated to shoot, a big scene, and it involved a lot of walking. I mean, make me memorize 10 pages of script I’ll be perfect, (but) make me walk (no way),” she said, laughing. “So buti mabait siya (Joshua) kasi maalalay siya talaga.
Tinutulungan niya talaga ako dahil alam niya talagang gumegewang-gewang ako.”
Kris thinks their rapport translates to onscreen chemistry.
“I feel that, as their girl boss in this movie, the three of us have chemistry. I can see it eh.”
Are the two in love? Do they have a “thing” going on between them?
“The only thing that I did see is that there’s definite love, a lot of respect and there is give and take. Nagtutulungan sila (JoshLia) sa eksena. ’Yun talaga and they know they’re a team,” she said. “And they ask the director. They really treat it like a craft.”
The promise
Kris remembered that time they were talking about bucket lists and JoshLia asked her about the place she hasn’t been to. Kris answered she just wants to see the Lavender Fields in Hokkaido and she’d be happy.
“So ang deal nila naman, they have two endorsements right now as a tandem. If they closed daw their third they’ll really go daw to New York. Kasi dream nila to travel around New York together. So, I said basta maging box-office hit itong pelikula, business class tickets ang sagot ko. Pero ’yung hotel kayo na ’yun ha. Pagsikapan niyo na ’yun. And I really do keep my promises,” she said.
According to Kris, she won’t hesitate to be part of the fulfillment of their wish as the teen stars took the initiative to learn more and expand their knowledge as actors in doing the movie.
“Actually, nawi-weird-uhan sila na ang chill-chill ko. Kasi when you’ve been doing this for long, you just have to surrender to the director, that’s my point of view. So tinanong nila ako bakit rehearsal palang bigay na bigay na ako, sabi ko rule kasi ’yun ni Direk Chito (Roño) dati. So medyo nabago ko ata ’yun sa kanila. So ngayon ’pag nagre-rehearse give na give na sila,” she proudly said. “I am so amazed at the level of professionalism. You will only hear praises from me because the two have God-given talent. You know when actors are stars because on screen, they become bigger and you’re drawn to watch them.”
Kris with Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto (Instagram)
The 47-year-old summed up the movie enthusiastically.
“It’s so cute. Talagang pinupuri ko (’yung dalawa) kasi it’s fun. As a producer also, I realized the wisdom because ’pag mag-edit ka wala kang hahanapin kasi kumpleto na. And may creative manager there, creative writers, may isang scene na lahat sila pumalakpak. Na-proud ako sabi ko ‘Ay, magaling.'”
Timeless beauty
Kris was also asked what’s the secret of her 32-year longevity in show business?
“It was just a leap of faith and having the right people with me at the right time. And sipag, I think everyone can attest to this na nobody worked as hard as me.”
And what about staying young and fresh, someone asked.
“DNA, sorry,” she said, laughing. “To quote BTS (Korean boy band). Genetics ’to. It comes from both my lolas, they had very beautiful skin to their death. Powder lang talaga sila, maganda kutis nila. So, namana ko.”
After months of swatching colors, scent recommendations, and packaging approvals, Ever Bilena recently launched the much-awaited “Kris’ Life Kits by Kris Aquino.” It has all-day lipstick that comes in five shades, and the Kris Matte Brow Liner and Brow Mascara in Happy Taupe and Beyond Brown.
Aside from being the endorser, Kris is one of the stakeholders.
On numerous news items linking her again lately to Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Kris opts to keep lips sealed.
“I promised myself na hindi ko pag-uusapan so I won’t jinx it.
“I’ve changed. Whatever I post that’s the truth, that was it. I think I’ve already shared more than enough. I’ve learned from life that if you want less people giving an opinion say less. I’ve changed.” (With report from Christelle Joyce Perez)