There is nothing better than a wise investment for your future. Just recently, Kapuso star Jillian Ward rewarded herself with a lot where she would build her future home.

"Lately bumili po ako ng lote para makapag-patayo ng bagong bahay. Yung mga kapatid ko tumatanda na rin kaya we need more space," said Jillian, when asked about her rewards for herself for hard work, during the launch of the Tanglawan Festival held in San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan last Sept. 1. 

(Lately, I bought a lot to build a new house. My siblings are not getting any younger, so we need more space.)

When someone inquired about the size of her property, Jillian said: "Medyo malaki po. It is located somewhere in the south. This month po mag-start ang building." (It's big and located in the south. The building will start this month.)

Jillian added: "Speaking of cars, ang daming advice ang binigay nila sa akin on finances. Binenta ko po yung ibang cars ko para pambili ng lote. Naisip ko po kasi 13 years na akong working so gusto ko yung matatag na investment." 

(Speaking of cars, they gave me a lot of financial advice. I sold my other cars to buy a lot. I've been working for 13 years, I want a stable investment.)

"Nagbawas ako ng kotse. Five na lang ang cars ko. Dalawa yung binenta ako. Bumili ako ng van para may gagamitin ako sa taping kasi kung puro cars lang hindi, magagamit sa taping." she said.
(I only have five cars. I sold two vehicles. I bought a van for taping because if it's only cars, it can't be used for taping.)

Life goals

Jillian just turned 18 last Feb. 23. On July 26, she finished senior high school with flying colors. She is currently getting ready for college.

"Sabi ng medical consultant namin sa set pwede ko raw i-pursue ang medicine kasi yung memorization skills ko raw ay fit sa industry nila. Naiisip ko rin siya pero parang mas gusto kong mag-law.

(Our medical consultant on the set said I could pursue medicine because my memorization skills fit their industry. But I prefer law.)

"Gusto ko talaga mag-aral ng law pero dahil sobrang busy ko nga po, I'm also planning to take business. Baka digital classes na lang muna kasi kung busy ako noon mas busy ako ngayon," she said.

(I want to study law, but because I'm so busy, I also plan to take business. Maybe I'll take digital classes first because if I was busy, I'm busier now.)

Jillian said she finds time to study during a break in her shoot.

"Pag breaktime sa taping at kapag rest day ko, nag-aaral po ako. At saka advantage ko kasi nag-aral ako ng maaga so yung memorization skills ko ay nadadala ko rin sa school," she also said.

Jillian stars in the No. 1 Kapuso series "Abot-Kamay Ang Pangarap," which tells the story of an illiterate mother (Carmina Villaroel) and her intelligent daughter (Jillian). The series will mark its first anniversary on Sept. 5. She said she's forever grateful to the Kapuso Network for giving her projects.

"Grateful ako sa GMA kasi kahit dumaan na ako sa awkward stage binibigyan pa rin nila ako ng projects. Sinasabi nila role model daw nila ako dahil napagsasabay ko ang school and career."

The stunning young star admitted that she's a bit pressured for her next project, considering the massive success of her afternoon series.

"Every project na ginagawa ko, lagi ko pong iniisip paano ko kaya mahihigitan ang sarili ko? Sa ngayon wala pa namang next project pero binibigay ko na lang talaga yung best ko sa ginagawa kong project ngayon. Bahala na si God kung paano ko mahihigitan ang next project ko. Iniisip ko na lang na-mag enjoy kesa isipin ko paano ako sisikat," she said.

(Every project I do, I always think, how can I surpass myself? There is no upcoming project now, but I'm giving my best to the project I'm working on now. It's up to God how I can surpass my next project. I'm just enjoying it instead of thinking about how I'll become famous.)

"Sa 13 years ko sa industry eto na yata yung pinakamasayang set na pinagtatrabahuhan ko. Sobrang saya ko po dahil ang daming nai-inspire sa show namin. Ang success po niya ay hindi lamang dahil sa sikat siya kundi meron din siyang aral. Yung mga nag-aaral ng medicine, nagpo-post sila sa comment section na nai-inspire raw sila sa show. Naipapakita rin namin dito ang mga buhay ng doktor sa hospital. Hindi lamang tungkol sa work nila kundi yung nangyayari na rin sa tunay na buhay nila.

(In my 13 years in the industry, this is the happiest set I've worked on. I'm delighted because our show has inspired many people. Its success is not only because it's popular, but it also has a lesson. Those studying medicine post in the comment section that the show inspires them. We also show here the lives of the doctors in the hospital, not only about their work but also what is happening in their real lives.)

"Mahirap din po yung mga eksena lalo na mag mga medical terms na ginagamit. Kailangan perfect po sya pati pagbigkas po nila. So mahirap din po siya at nilalaban ko po talaga. Konting mali po talagang cut na. Noong early days ng show talagang kinakabahan ako ng sobra. Naiiyak talaga ako nun kasi 17 pa lang ako. Pero kasi yun talaga ang storya ni Analyn na isip bata siya pero matalino siyang doktor," she added.

(The scenes are also tricky, especially the medical terms used. It has to be perfect, even in their pronunciation. So it is also tricky, and I am fighting. We retake if the scene needs to be corrected. In the early days of the show, I was nervous. I cried because I was only 17. But that's Analyn's story that she's a young mind but an intelligent doctor.)

Secret crush

Jillian has confessed that she has a crush on Kapamilya actor Coco Martin. She admitted to having a crush on someone but refused to reveal his identity.

"Lagi ko naman sinasabi noon crush ko si Coco Martin pero more than that, humahanga ako sa kanya kasi direktor siya, action star at magaling na artista. Yun lang po ang ise-share ko hindi ko po sasabihin yung talagang crush ko. Kung meron man ako makakatuluyan balang araw, gusto ko munang maging kaibigan s'ya," she said.

(I always said that I had a crush on Coco Martin, but more than that, I admire him because he is a director, an action star, and a good actor. That's all I will share, I won't tell you my biggest crush. Before we become sweethearts, I want to establish a friendship with him first.)

"Meron pong nagpapa-cute pero focus muna talaga ako sa work and family ko. Darating din naman yun mas tatanda po ako at may time pa para duon. Sa ngayon gusto ko munang alagaan ang sarili ko  at carer ko para po balang araw kapag na-in love ako, parang nagawa ko na lahat ng gusto kong gawin. 

(Some guys are advancing, but I focus on my work and family first. That will also come when I get older; there is still time for that. Right now, I want to take care of myself and my career so that one day, when I'm in love, I feel like I've done everything I want to do.)

"Noong bata po ako sobrang strikto ni mama at ni papa sa mga nakapaligid sa akin. Pero ngayon ako naman ang strikto sa sarili ko. So sila na ang nagsasabi ngayon ok lang ang magka-crush, enjoy mo ang sarili mo pero ako na po yung umaayaw muna. Lahat naman tayo may crush pero hindi ko po ise-share sa inyo.

(My parents were strict with those around me when I was young. But now I'm the strict one with myself. So now they say it's okay to have a crush and enjoy yourself, but I'm the one who avoids it. We all have crushes, but I won't share them with you.)

Jillian said she's excited about her upcoming movie with Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla.
"Magte-taping na kami next month. This is my first movie as a grown-up. Parang reunion namin ito kasi nagwork na rin po kami sa 'Agimat' at 'Enteng Kabisote.' Mga 5 or 6 pa lamang ako nun. At saya ko nun dahil naisip niya ako. Sobrang grateful ko na hindi niya ako makalimutan. Anak niya ako rito (sa movie). Wala pang script pero parang comedy-drama ito."

(We will be taping next month. This is my first movie as a grown-up. This is like our reunion because we have also worked on 'Agimat' and 'Enteng Kabisote.' I was only about 5 or 6 at the time. And I'm happy because he considered me for this project. I'm so grateful. I'm his daughter here (in the movie). There's no script yet, but it's like a comedy-drama.)