JoshLia on admiring Kris Aquino, dealing with haters
In their third big screen project, young stars Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto show how it’s like to do whatever it takes to reach one’s goals, plus, a bit of romance on the side.
Julia’s character Zoe in Star Cinema’s “I LoveYou, Hater” is an overachiever and a go-getter who is trying to become the executive assistant to the multi-media empress Sasha (Kris Aquino) so she can prove herself to her father.
Joshua’s Joko, in turn, would do anything to help his family but soon finds himself in a complicated situation after instinctively introducing himself as gay (even when he is not) after Zoe implies that a man might not be cut out for the job because she wants it for herself. The scenario spurs animosity between two dreamers, starting a series of one-ups in an attempt to impress Sasha.
Asked how they deal with real life haters, Joshua begins: “Wala kasi akong pakialam masyado sa mga ganyan.”
Of the worst hate messages he’s gotten so far, the actor recalls how, during his “Pinoy Big Brother” stint four years ago, he got death threats from Instagram users who labeled him lazy and a flirt.
Being in the industry since she was nine and growing up in a showbiz family (an often controversial one at that), Julia has had to bear nasty talk from the getgo. She could handle haters just fine so long as they don’t drag her family.
“I feel like it’s because I come from a family who are also in the same industry. The things that they’ve done before, the mistakes, parang sa akin nabuhos lahat. Ako ang nag-suffer from all of it and they [public] expect the same of me,” Julia says at the press conference of their film held Sunday at the Providore restaurant of Summit Galleria before their mall show at Robinson’s Galleria.
“Yung pinakaayaw ko lang, pag nadadamay na ang pamilya ko.You can say anything about me just don’t say anything about my family.”
Admiring Kris
As Joshua and Julia worked with Kris Aquino in her comeback film, did they also feel like they had to impress the Queen of All Media, like their characters were often attempting to do?
“More than anything, it wasn’t wanting to impress her, it was wanting to create on-screen chemistry with her,” Julia offers. “Chemistry doesn’t just work for love teams or tandems. It also goes for co-workers – the camaraderie, how comfortable you are with each other. It was more of having to have a bond because it will reflect.”
Julia wanted to stay true to her character and that required becoming someone who admired Kris— which was not that difficult for her.
“My character admires Sasha so I had to learn more about Tita Kris. I wanted to admire her in real life as Julia. Ang galing because that’s what happened. After getting to know Tita Kris, I really admire her for being an achiever. It’s amazing. Her drive, her motivation, things she’s achieved and continue to achieve, the empire she’s building for herself—it’s something to admire,” the actress says.
Joshua describes working with the comebacking actress as the best experience.
“May food, inaalagaan ka sa set. One time pag-uwi niya galing Japan, may dala siyang pasalubong. Very thoughtful and generous. Madami rin akong natutunan. Yung hangga’t nandiya-diyaan, gawin mo. Grab the opportunity. Ibuhos mo lahat ng kaya mo, kasi kapag wala na ikaw rin ang magsisisi sa huli,” shares Joshua.
“It was fun working with her,” Julia adds. “There were a lot of things that we learned from her and it was nice because it was like a having a mom on set. We had somebody to take care of us, look after us, give us advice about the industry. She’s been in the industry for such a long time so she’s such an expert.”
Did they feel that Kris felt like she needed to prove herself as she returns to the big screen with “I Love You, Hater”?
“Actually hindi ko po nakita yun,” Joshua quips. “Star Cinema is family rin niya eh. Nanggaling na siya at ang dami na niyang pelikula doon. So pagbalik niya, parang normal lang uli. Parang bumalik lang sa trabaho, same people, parang walang nagbago.”
“I feel like she has nothing to prove anymore,” Julia supplements. “She already has a spot in the industry. She’s already proven herself so many times and continues to prove herself. She’s the Queen of All Media. That’s her already. Tama si Joshua, she’s been with Star Cinema from the very beginning so it’s a coming home talaga.”
Comparisons
As for the pressure that comes with being compared to big names in the industry — Julia with her aunt Claudine Barretto, and Joshua with lookalike John Lloyd Cruz — the two think it’s an honor, but would very much like to make a name for themselves.
“Masaya kasi nako-compare ako,” Joshua smiles before continuing, “Pero John Lloyd is John Lloyd. Hindi ko kayang lagpasan ang nagawa niya. Sana malagpasan ko o sana yung mga nagawa niya sana makuha ko kahit konti lang ng mga naabot niya. Sana makagawa rin naman ako ng sarili kong pangalan pagdating ng panahon,” says Joshua, who, aside from John Lloyd, also looks up to Dingdong Dantes and Aga Muhlach.
He also explained his Instagram bio that says: “Trust me. I’m not a good actor,” which is contrary to the rave reviews he’s gotten from performances in “The Greatest Love” and “The Good Son,” to name a few.
“Hindi ko kasi sinasabi sa sarili ko na magaling ako. Kasi once sinabi mo sa sarili mo na magaling ka na, parang mawawalan ka ng gana. Hindi ka na gutom matuto,” he says.
Julia recalls how starting out, she used to think about the comparison with her aunt (a Teleserye Queen in her heyday) a lot.
“When I was starting out, nakaka-pressure. But later on, you kind of get tired of being so pressured and you just let it go and start doing your own thing,” Julia quips.
“I feel like it’s so important to focus on yourself and your craft, and you work para may mangyari talaga. The comparison will be there forever and it’s okay. I realized it’s okay and it’s not the end of the world if there’s going to be a comparison. Happy ako sa ginagawa ko. That’s more than enough. And to be compared sa kanya—that’s the biggest flattery to me. I am a fan of my aunt. Nakaka-inspire, nakaka-motivate to even do better.”
Box-office pressure
With so many love teams in their network alone, it might become a challenge for these stars to set themselves apart and do well in the box office.
But for JoshLia, the goal is simple: “Ours is more on hoping that the people appreciate our performances here,” Julia offers. “Siyempre as actors, it’s always our goal to be able to portray our characters really well. For us, it’s the pressure na sana maiba namin sa mga past characters na nagawa namin, na sana maka-move kami ng lives, maka-touch, maka-inspire.”
As for Joshua, he’s simply grateful that they have the opportunity do a film. “Ang importante sa amin, blessed kami kasi nagkaroon kami ng pelikula,” he says.
Labor of hard work
As for being able to build her dream house at 21, Julia says, “I worked hard for it. People forget that our job does not just tire us physically, but also mentally and emotionally. Yung bahay na pinapatayo ko, it’s a labor of hard work. I’m just very blessed to be able to work at a young age and that’s why I have the ability to build a house. I was blessed by the Lord.”
“And wala naman pong nagpe-pressure na magpatayo na lahat ng bahay at 21. At your time, at your own pace, at the Lord’s place. Kanya-kanyang timing yan. Hindi dahil merong nagkabahay at 21 dapat may bahay na lahat ng tao at 21. Iba’t-iba ang oras ng Diyos para sa atin,” the eldest daughter of former actress Marjorie Barretto and comedian Dennis Padilla says.
The Kapamilya star admits she gets offended when people underestimate artistas and all the work it entails.
“I’m blessed because I love my job. I love acting. These are the reasons why I keep going, why I don’t stop no matter how painful it gets—the scrutiny, yung pinipiga ka ng mga tao, the way people treat you like you’re just a pet that they can control or a robot and they forget you have feelings. At the end of the day, I just want to keep acting and that is what keeps me going. So huwag lang maliitin yung trabaho namin.”
Chiming in, Joshua says that Julia deserves to see the fruit of her labor. “Masaya ako para kay Julia. Hindi madali, kaya nga nagtatrabaho para magkaroon. Nakita ko naman gaano kahirap, at hindi siya humihingi sa magulang niya. Yung ginagastos niya sarili niyang pera, kinikita niya,” the actor attests.
Had she not been in showbiz, Julia says she would probably be abroad finishing her studies. She put college on hold because she wanted to have the regular college experience but given the chance, she would like to put up a preschool or a day care center. If she studied in the Philippines, she would take up Psychology, but if she were to study overseas, she would get a film degree. Joshua, 20, thinks he would most likely be a soldier.
Media-savvy
Apart from the struggles of reaching your dreams and proving yourself, “I Love You, Hater,” in cinemas tomorrow, will definitely bring romance to the table.
Although they have a few cheeky scenes, the stars say there are no kissing scenes in “I Love You, Hater”, even though they’re more than ready to deliver.
“Ready na,” Julia asserts. “Siyempre ibi-build up natin yan from level one, two, three. Pag matanda na kami eh magsasawa kayo sa mga kissing scenes namin.”
Closely working with each other, JoshLia has to