Julia Montes
REVEALS HER TRUE INTENTIONS
Julia Montes is a beautiful actress
Not only is she beautiful but she is also really one of the best of her generation. When you talk about Julia Montes as an actress, two very important roles come to mind: one, the remake of the iconic teleserye “Mara Clara” in 2010 where she played the role of “Clara” opposite Movie Queen Kathryn Bernardo when she was only 14, and the other, the epic “Walang Hanggan” in 2012 where she played “Katerina Alcantara,” second lead to Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta and opposite Coco Martin at a very young 16 years of age.
When you look at these two memorable soap operas, you would surmise that Julia Montes’ name would be as high up in lights as her contemporary, Kathryn Bernardo and her leading man, Coco Martin who are now both considered legends in the industry. Not that Julia is not a star, she is every bit of the star that she is, but she chose to somehow take a step back and live her life outside the glare of the spotlight.
“With Kath, sobrang proud ako with her showbiz life, her business life, alam mo ‘yun? Lahat, okay, sobrang ganda nu’ng ano niya. ‘Yun lang. ‘Yun lang ‘yung lagi kong sinasabi. Hindi ko rin kasi talaga na-imagine. So, I’m just so blessed na marami rin akong na-e-explore on my side. Sa age bracket namin, parang ako ‘yung isa sa mga first na nakapag-explore,” Julia explains that if Kathryn was able to take the superstardom route, she was able to seek a more personal and private journey.
“Actually, ang dating sa akin, it’s meant for me to be with Kath nu’ng panahon na ‘yun kasi nag work kami together dahil hindi kami nagkakitaan ng, ‘Dapat ako ‘yan, eh,’ or, ‘Dapat mas ako sa kanya.’ And that’s our magic. Eh, lagi nga namin sinasabi, kami ang first and perfect love team. ‘Yun ‘yung lagi naming joke kasi never talagang nagcross din sa isip namin, and especially ako. Parang dumating lang na para kang nakakita ng sister and you’re so proud of your sister na whatever happens, you’re just there for her. And ‘yun ako sa kanya until now; na parang ups and downs, hindi lang ako laging present pero andito ako lagi,” Julia speaks of Kathryn.
To this day, she and Kathryn share a very special bond, a very special kind of sisterhood.
“Kami ‘yung hindi kami laging nagkikita, hindi kami laging nagbo-bonding, pero ‘pag nagkita kami, parang it’s as if never kaming nag-miss ng isang araw sa isa’t isa. And malalim ‘yung relationship namin ni Kath. Ano siya, ‘yung hindi mo siya madaling palitan. Kahit na sabihin mong may set of friends na kami —siyempre, meron kaming mga nakakatrabaho—iba pa rin ang sa’min ni Kath. May emotional bond talaga kami. May times recently this year, nagkita kami, nagkaiyakan pa kami. ‘Yung gan’ong level ng parang we’re just so happy and so proud of each other,” Julia exclaims.
Kath is also one of the very few people that Julia trusts her secrets with. After all, they’ve known each other since they were just children on the kid show “Goin Bulilit.” Both playing iconic roles, Julia, like Kath, was on firm foundation and at the cusp of stardom.
“At first, pressured ako nu’n, eh. Never kong na-imagine na ako ‘yung gagawa na talaga. Kasi at first, alam ko hindi, and then na-dengue ako and all. Yes! Na-dengue ako nu’n tapos sabi ko, ‘Lord, bahala ka na. Parang if sa akin, sa akin.’ And then after, pinalalabas na ako sa hospital kasi kailangan na daw mag-shoot at eere na. So, parang ako, ‘Okay. Ito, ito ‘yung will ni Lord. So, ito ‘yung gagawin ko,” Julia recalls.
That role was really meant for her because the villainess popularized by Gladys Reyes, the original “Clara,” Julia was able to humanize.
Her performance in “Mara Clara” led to an even bigger role, one that other people might say, she was too young to play. She played “Katerina Alcantara” next, a character who was already married and in love with someone else. The show would become one of the most memorable and highest-rated soap operas in television history, “Walang Hanggan.” 16-yearold Julia was paired with then 29-year old Coco Martin.
“Maalaga na siya ever since. Ano talaga siya, makikita mo ‘yung upbringing niya nu’n. Laking-lola talaga. So, nu’ng naka-work ko siya sa “Walang Hanggan,” in fairness naman, ‘yun ‘yung one of the best experience,” Julia says about her first official love team, Coco Martin.
“Kasi, um, to be paired with Coco first, and then lahat ng cast namin, kasi as in talagang lahat, wala kang tapon. ‘Yun ‘yung tamang term. Wala ka talagang tapon. And ang fun lang nu’ng experience. For me, that’s the hardest role because ‘yun ‘yung first mature role ko. 16 ako that time, eh. May asawa, si Paulo Avelino. So, medyo ano talaga siya, jump for me. Pero the whole group, sobrang… lahat parang sobrang blessing na sila ‘yung ka-work ko. Parang na-put ko yung kung ano ‘yung puwede ko palang ibigay, maibibigay. Pero ‘pag pinanuod ko siya ngayon, hindi naman ako magaling du’n [laughs],” Julia jokes.
To be in a love team with the Coco Martin, Julia felt rather shy about it.
“Mahirap kasi ano talaga ako, eh, ‘yun, mahiyain. Tapos dahil one of the boys ako, ‘yung feeling na ‘pag kilig-kilig, hirap na hirap ako. Hindi ko thing ‘yung parang, um… Paano ba? ‘Yung mga eksenang hold hands, tinginan. Hirap na hirap ako. Pero blessing in disguise na si Coco kasi nga dahil siguro dahil naka-work ko na siya prior, mas may kalma than ‘yung mga naka-love team ko after him.”
At 16, Julia didn’t know how to portray someone who was in love because the feelings were very new to her. But thank goodness for her leading man and love team, Coco Martin, she was able to fulfill what was needed from her by the role.
LEAVING IT ALL BEHIND
Everything was rosy in Julia Montes’ career path when something inside her made her want to leave. “Asintado” was her last show before she left for Germany to spend time with her biological father.
“Before “Asintado,” gusto ko na (umalis). Sinasabi ko na, parang gusto kong puntahan si Papa. Parang gusto ko i-try lang ‘yung magpahinga lang du’n (sa Germany). Ta’s ang joke ko, Gusto kong magpakaanak lang. ‘Yung ‘ di ako magwo-work, ta’s anak lang ako muna. And then ‘yun nga, after “Asintado”, sabi ko, parang gusto kong i-fill ‘yung missing years with Papa. Kasi ang tagal, eh. Hindi ko ine-expect na magkikita kami,” Julia explains the intention for wanting to leave.
What many do not know, Julia Montes was already 21 when she met her father. All her life, she thought her father had abandoned her and it was only through a fan of “CocoJul,” (Coco and her fandom), that she was able to track him down.
“At 21 ko lang siya na-meet. (Through a) fan namin ni Coco. Nag-start ‘yun… Basta nagpo-post ‘yung mga fans, ganyanganyan, na parang, ‘O, sana ma-meet mo ‘yung father mo.’ Normal, typical ano. Sabi ko, “Ah, oo nga po, eh.” And then one day, papunta ako sa Quiapo Church—as in biyahe Quiapo Church–may isa kaming super supporter, si Ate Tinay ng CocoJul, nag-message sa akin. Sabi niya, ‘Jules, I think nakita namin ‘yung cousin mo.’ Sabi ko, ‘Cousin?’ Akala ko cousin sa mother side. Sabi ko, ‘Cousin ko po? Saan?’ Akala ko may issue or big problem. Sabi niya, ‘Cousin mo sa father side.’ So, parang ano pa ako, pero hindi pa ako naniwala at first. Parang feeling ko kasi, okay, eh wala akong kakilala so I can’t say na, ‘Ah, siya nga ‘yan, siya nga ‘yan.’ So, sabi ko, ‘Ah, talaga po? Okay po.’ Gan’on lang. And then bago ako bumaba ng Church, bigla na akong kinakabahan. ‘Yung parang, ’Ano ‘to?’ Ta’s parang, ‘Lord, medyo ano, ha, may something.’ Sabi ko, ‘Bahala na po kayo.’ So, iniwan ko ‘yung phone ko. Simba kami,” Julia narrates.
Then pagbalik ko ng sasakyan, pagkita ko, sinabi na parang, ‘Ito ba ‘yung Papa mo?’ May photo! And then, ‘yung photo ng cousin ko daw ‘yung girl. Sabi ko, ‘Hindi ko alam kung Papa ko nga ‘yun,’ pero may feeling ka na na ‘yung sinasabi na ‘nilulukso ng dugo’. May kaba na ako, may–may… Kung ano-ano na ‘yung nararamdaman ko! Parang ang dami ko nang naiisip. And then after nu’n, sinend ko kay Mama. Sabi ko, ‘Mama, ito ba si Papa?” Sabi niya, ’S’an mo nakuha ‘yan?’ Sabi ko, ‘Oh, my gosh, confirmed!’ Kasi lumaki ako na hindi sa ‘ kin sinabi ‘yung real story, eh,” Julia very carefully reveals.
“Ingat lang kasi ayokong ma-hurt sila. Hindi ko kasi alam ‘yung real story. Parang all these years, siguro dahil emotional ‘yung Mama ko, hindi okay with Papa. Ang story na alam ko–ang projected sa akin–is si Papa is a bad guy. Iniwan kami; the normal, ano, um, ano ng Pinoy na iniwan, pinabayaan and all. And then nu’ng na-meet ko si Papa at nakausap ko si Papa, parang ‘yun ‘yung time na…Tsk, ‘ di ako prepared. Naiiyak ako!”
Julia becomes very emotional at telling the story for the very first time of finding the truth about her father. But she continues to tell me the whole story bravely.
“Nu’ng sinabi niya sa ‘ kin ‘yun, parang ang feeling ko, nagkaroon ako ng trust issues after that. Kasi parang feeling ko, ‘yung mga–[whimpers] ‘yung mga taong akala ko ‘yun ‘yung real story, iba pala. Tapos siyempre eventually, ‘yun ‘yung sinasabi ko naman na scenario na malalaman mo na hindi ka pinapabayaan ni God kasi meron ka nang mga bits, eh. Meron.
“Growing up, may mga kuwento na sinasabi sa ‘kin. But siyempre, I hold to the kuwento na ‘yun ang real story dahil ‘yun ‘yung sabi sa akin,” Julia tried to reconcile the story that was told to her about why her father left growing up, and the actual story she found out.
“So, eventually, nalaman ko na ‘yung real story from Papa. Penpal (sila ni Mama) before, through her best friend. Parang ‘yung best friend niya, may partner, best friend si Papa. So, parang best friend-best friend. So, pina-meet and then penpalpenpal. Du’n na nag-start ‘yung relationship (nila). Ta’s nagtatravel sila. ‘Yun ‘yung mga nakita kong photo before. And then, ‘yun nga, ang sabi sa ‘kin, iniwan. So, naco-confuse ako kasi ang daming photo. Ang decision point ng decision-making ko na hahanapin ko ‘yung Papa ko is when nu’ng nakita ko ‘yung sulat sa gamit ng nanay ko. May sulat du’n, 1995. I forgot the specific date–na kilala niya pala ako! Um… Tsk. [whimpers] Nakalagay sa letter na parang, ‘How’s Mara? (Julia’s real name)’ Eh, I thought hindi niya ako kilala, na iniwan nga kami; na parang buntis pa lang, iniwan na. So, nu’ng ano ko ‘yun, parang, ‘Ha? Ang sabi, ganito.’ So, confused na ako. Siyempre ‘pag bata ka ano ‘yun? Hindi ko nage-gets. Nu’ng time na nakita ko ‘yun, I’m around, 10? Bata pa. So, hinahanap ko naman siya ever since. Facebook, ganyan-ganyan. And then dumating nga ‘yung time na na-meet ko na.” Julia’s longtime search for her long-lost father finally came to an end.
“Nu’ng time na ‘yun, ‘di ko alam kung papaano ko i-memeet. ‘Yun ba talaga–nna, ‘yun ba talaga si Papa? Kasi ‘yung
photo na hawak ko, bata pa si Papa. And then ‘yung nakita kong photo, siyempre nag-age na. So, hindi ko alam kung tama ba ‘tong ginagawa ko. And I’m torn kung sasabihin ko ba sa parents ko–er, sa Mama ko and sa Lola ko and sa family ko na nakita ko na ‘yung Papa ko. And then the iconic restaurant [chuckles] ng Popoy at
Basha, sa Belinis, du’n ko sinet ‘yung meet up namin ni Papa. December ‘yun, eh. December 20,” Julia remembers vividly the first time she met her father.
“Akala ko pa ‘di ako sisiputin. The typical me, kasi nga nagkaroon na ako ng trust issues, eh. Actually, siya ‘yung nakipagcommunicate, eh. Mm-hmm. First, ‘yung cousin. Tina-translate lang ‘yung sinasabi ni Papa. Parang nahihiya pa si Papa to talk to me straight. Du’n ko pala nakuha ‘yung ugali kong mahiyain. So, parang, um, ang nangyari, wala, usap lang. ‘Sabi ni Papa mo, kamusta ka na? Ito daw siya, okay naman,’ ganyan-ganyan. Puro ganu’nan lang. Ta’s akala ko matatapos lang ‘yun du’n. And then nu’ng sinabi sa ‘kin na this year uuwi daw, sabi ko, ‘Ah, okay po.’ Gan’on lang ‘yung thinking ko. ‘Okay po.’ Parang ayoko kasi ‘yung nag-e-expect para wala rin akong disappointment. Parang ‘yun ‘yung naging attitude ko ever since,” Julia explains.
“So, ‘yan, dumating nga ‘yung December. Sa sobrang panic ko, I thought na hindi mangyayari. Sabi ko du’n sa cousin ko, “Baka puwede mo namang puntahan ‘yung hotel. Check mo kung may naka-check-in na Martin Schnittka nga,” and then meron nga daw! So, du’n na nag-sink in sa ‘ kin na, “Okay, totoo. Nandito ‘yung Papa ko. Ano na mangyayari next?” And then ‘yun nga, ‘yung restaurant. (December) 26 supposedly ang meeting namin pero minove ko ng 27. Parang humingi pa ako ng one day kasi hindi ko kaya. Parang ‘di ko… ‘Di – ‘Yung moment na hindi mo ine-expect mangyayari, ta’s ito na. Halo-halo, eh. Kaba, takot, excitement, and ‘yung feeling na–everytime kasi before, ‘pag umiiyak ako, ‘pag pinatugtog mo ‘yung ‘Dance with My Father,’ hagulgol at hindi ako napapatigil sa taping. Inaawat pa ako na parang, ‘Snap out, Julia, snap out.’ Gan’on ‘yung thinking ko na ngayon, ‘Oh, my gosh, nangyayari na siya. Makikita ko ‘yung Papa ko.’ As in, ang daming tumatakbo sa isip ko. Ta’s ‘yung funny part lang du’n, siyempre gusto kong magbigay ng remembrance. Baka last kita namin. May gan’on akong… Siguro teleserye. Lumaki sa teleserye na lagi iniisip mo kung ano ‘yung worst na mangyayari. And then gift, relo. Parang feeling ko lang relo kasi nga ‘yun ‘yung lost time namin. So, ‘yun. Hanggang sa nakita ko na siya,” Julia narrates.
No matter how long she searched, nothing would prepare her for meeting her father for the first time.
Naiwan ko lahat. Buong buhay ko. It was really a gamble. Risk siya kasi nga hindi mo alam kung anong babalikan mo.
“An’dito ‘yung heart ko. ‘Yung feeling na… Ina-Inabangan ko ‘yung reaction ng Mama ko and nu’ng Lola ko. Buong family. So, buong family nand’un. And then dumadating si Papa. Sabi, ‘Ayan
na. May dumarating. Tisoy!’ Ganyan-ganyan. So, [mimics heartbeat] dug-dug-dug-dug! Nand’un ako sa dulo. Ito ‘yung parang pinaka-edge nu’ng parang area na nakuha namin...”
“Hindi pala!”
“Sa ibang table umupo,” the suspense was killing Julia!
“Sabi ko, “Oh, my gosh.” ‘Di ba? ‘Yun talaga ‘yung–‘Tsaka ‘yung peak, ‘yung ano nu’n, iba! And then sinabi nila, ‘Ito na yata, ito na yata…’ Nu’ng nagsalita na ‘yung Tito ko na, ‘Mukhang ito na. Kamukha niya,’ Wala na, ano na ako, iba. Lahat nu’ng naiisip ko tumatakbo na ulit sa isip ko.”
“And then nu’ng pumasok na, sabi nu’ng Lola ko, ‘Parang hindi siya.’ So, may takot pa ako na, ‘Seryoso ba?’ Kasi du’n ako takot, eh. ‘Yung akala ko ito na ta’s biglang hindi pala.”
“So, eventually, siya pala!”
Pag-upo nu’n, awkward ‘yung unang yakap, hagulgol kami pareho. Ang tawag ko nga sa kanya ‘Gentle Giant’ kasi ‘ di ko ine-expect na ‘yung hug niya, ‘yung gan’on pala ‘yung feeling na hinahanap pala niya ako. Alam mo ‘yun? Lahat tumatakbo sa isip ko na, ‘Ay, love pala niya ako.’ That specific first hug, I felt love,” Julia remembers.
So no one can really blame her that even at the peak of her career, she wanted to leave it all to spend more time with her father to spend a very special moment in her life.
Julia flew to Germany.
“Nu’ng pumunta ako du’n, gusto ko naman ibigay ‘yung chance sa Papa ko nga dahil gusto nga daw niyang bumawi. So, I tried pumunta du’n, and then du’n ako din nag-decide na parang, ‘Papa, sorry, I can’t.’ Parang babalik pa rin ako sa work. Medyo hindi ko siya kaya pa. Well, siguro slowly. Ano pa kasi talaga, eh, nasa stage pa kami ng getting-toknow, eh. Kahit sabihin mong ilang years na kaming magkakilala, iba ‘yung rapport, eh. Hindi siya ‘yung normal tayo na ‘pag nagkausap, okay na. May language barrier din, tapos, iba ‘yung sign language ng German sa sign language ng universal (Julia’s Papa and Mama are deaf and mute so she learned how to sign in Universal and tried to sign in German). So, even nu’ng nag-stay ako du’n, hirap din ako. Wala akong natutunang language nila kasi wala rin akong naco-communicate. So, hindi ko siya na-adopt. ‘Di ba, normally, sinasabi nila, ‘O, eh ‘di marunong ka nang magganito?’ Hindi, kasi hindi ko siya n-na-practice. So, talagang pagdating ko du’n, shock ‘yung feeling–culture shock. ‘Yung emotionally shocked ka kasi ito ‘yung bago mong buhay for ilang times. Eh, tagal ko rin du’n,” Julia recalls.
She was in Germany with her father for six months.
THE MOMENT OF RETURN
Julia was swarmed with rumors of why she left and when she came back, the rumors continued and continue to this day. But for her, it was more her personal journey that mattered to her, no matter what anyone said.
“Na-miss ko rin siyempre ‘yung family ko. Hindi ko rin kaya na parang inaasikaso ko lang sila through online, through whatever ways. Tinatanong naman ni Mama kung okay ako, kung okay naman daw du’n, tapos wala, may mga joke siya. Okay naman. Naging smooth din naman. Wala naman ‘yung parang nagtampo sila and all. Ang sabi lang naman sa akin din ng Lola ko ‘Basta kung anong desisyon mo, alam kong ‘yun ‘yung tama.’ Kasi ever since naman, alam nilang praning ako, eh. Ayokong mahuhurt ko sila, ayokong madi-disrespect ko sila in any way. Pero ‘yung time na hindi ko sinabi (na pupunta ako Germany)–kasi alam kong pipigilan nila ako–that’s the point,” Julia explains.
When Julia left, there was so much fear. She didn’t know if she would still have a career to come back to.
“Naiwan ko lahat. Buong buhay ko. It was really a gamble. Risk siya kasi nga hindi mo alam kung anong babalikan mo. And nag-stop ako. After high school, hindi na ako nakapag-college because of work. So, ang fear ko, what if pagbalik ko, wala akong balikang work, how can I–Paano ‘yung family ko? Siyempre, tuloy ang buhay, eh. Ako nga–ako, nag-stop sa work, yes, pero sila, tuloy ang buhay. Paano ko papaaralin ang mga pinapaaral ko and all. So, may gan’ong fear na how can I provide? So, starting then, kaya rin ako bumalik ng school ngayon. Kasi for me, whatever it takes, love ko na ‘tong job na ‘to. Alam ko na sa sarili ko, meron akong opportunity na hanggang pagtanda ko, hanggang pag-age ko, andito ako. I will do this kasi minahal ko na siya. And ‘yun ‘yung realization ko while nawala ako. Mahal–‘Pag mahal mo talaga ‘yung isang bagay, kahit anong reset mo or kahit anong hanap mo ng another passion, meron pa rin talaga, eh, at ‘yun ‘yung–ito pala ‘yun,” Julia says about her love of acting.
THE SECRET LIFE OF JULIA MONTES
After hearing the story of how Julia left everything behind to make up for lost time with her father, I now understand better the reason why she is so protective of who she loves. There is fear that she might lose them, but more importantly, she knows the value of keeping her private life private. I commend her for the restraint she has in keeping her secrets a secret even if she has shared something she has never shared before.
“For me kasi, ang mindset ko talaga, I’m here for my job. Hindi naman din ako nandito for just being a celebrity. Gusto ko, ang maalala sa ‘kin ng tao hindi ‘yung kung anong–kakawawa ‘yung buhay ko or kalungkot ‘yung buhay ko. It’s more of ano ‘yung ginawa ko, ano ‘yung na-share kong God-given talent na puwede kong sabihin na, ‘Ah, yes. Opo, opo.’ Parang gan’on ako naka- mindset. ‘Tsaka kasi parang feeling ko, kaya ang dating sa tao super may wall ako, if ako lang kasi if I’m alone, why not? I can be open if ako lang ang involved. Pero kasi at the end, sa buhay, lahat ng scenario, may involved. Ayoko naman na ako lang ‘yung pumasok sa showbiz, eh pati sila. Ako ‘yung pumasok sa profession na ‘to, nagustuhan ko na ‘tong profession na ‘to. Ayoko naman na wala na rin silang privacy.