Julia hands off family feud

MANILA, Philippines - Julia Barretto is asked for the nth time about her comment on the scandals that beset her famous family and for the nth time, she answers the questions patiently, shrugging off the matter.

Julia is familiar with the drill. Once the cameras are on, she will be queried on what her views are on the squabbling between her Tita Gretchen, her mom Marjorie and grandma Inday and Tita Claudine. For the nth time, she will say she has no comment since it doesn’t involve her so why would she dwell on it in the first place.

“I have my work, my career, and it doesn’t involve me. It’ll be better if I focus on my career,” the bedimpled rising star told reporters at the sidelines of the press launch and kick-off party of Unilever’s Teen Week Philippines, a nationwide week-long program that aims to develop one million teens to be “more confident and future-ready.”

Julia, along with sister Dani Barretto, Elmo Magalona, Bianca Gonzalez and 2013 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Ariella Arida, graced the event where Julia was, of course, acknowledged as the newest endorser of Pond’s.

Clearly, one of the brightest things in the biz today, Julia sparked a camera frenzy when reporters milled around her, barely paying attention to the other celebrity guests at the event.

Tabloid reporters failing to extract a controversial answer from Julia then segued if she is at all affected by the family bickering.

“Of course, I’m affected. I’m only human,” she said, quickly dismissing the matter.

Being human, Julia is quick to acknowledge her imperfections. Despite being impossibly beautiful, Julia admitted at the event that she used to be insecure with her skin and some other things. But instead of wallowing in self-pity, she realized there is beauty in imperfection.

Much as Julia advises the teens of today to be go-getters like her, she reminds them to accept their weaknesses because well, nobody is perfect.

“Embrace your flaws but be confident that you will shine with your own strengths,” she told reporters on what advice she could give to the youth during the ambush interview.

Julia knows that her famous last name, while known in showbiz as legendary for beauty, is “notorious” for scandals. Her kin washing their dirty linen in public has always been tabloid fodder.

To all of these, Julia is detached and bent on one thing only — to make it in the industry just like her famous aunts and reap the rewards of a showbiz career both professionally and financially.

She’s only been in the business for a year but she has already closed lucrative endorsement deals. Julia has on her sleeve an upcoming teleserye Mirabella, an acting vehicle that could make or break her.

True, she hasn’t proven her acting mettle but Julia said she’s determined to succeed. In fact, she said she’s very sure that she wants to stay in the business for a long time.

“This is what I want to do. I see myself growing and maturing in the business,” she said.

Right now, there is nothing in showbiz that disillusions her.

“I don’t find anything that’s really hard in showbiz, everything is good,” she said.

It’s easy to understand why she doesn’t let the brouhaha get to her. Julia has big plans for her career and is already looking forward to a time when she can buy her own car and house through her own earnings in showbiz.  In her Twitter, she called herself “a kid with big, big plans.”

“I’m thinking of saving for my dream car and my own condo. I was thinking that when I turn 21, I can buy these things,” Julia said.

The 16-year-old clearly knows the profitable side of showbiz and the things that come with it — the endorsement deals, movie contracts, teleseryes and shows abroad.

Like a typical Barretto woman, Julia displays a penchant for the finer things in life. She loves classy stuff, designer bags and travel.

In a recent interview with this paper’s Lifestyle section, she disclosed that she bought a Balenciaga bag after receiving her first big paycheck. A Balenciaga bag costs anywhere from P68,000 to P100,000. Julia knows how to reward herself after a day’s hard work.

It’s still too early to tell how Julia is going to handle the “fame monster.” Will she turn out to be a respected and versatile actress in the future or a train wreck like so many stars before her?

One thing is for sure, Julia counts on her family, particularly her mother Marjorie, to keep her grounded. To her mother, she shows unflinching love and rock-solid loyalty.

In the interview, she told reporters about her unbreakable bond with her mom and how she will stick with her no matter what. 

Marjorie has had her fair share of controversies, including a “photo scandal” that went viral last May. Julia, who calls her mom “extremely beautiful,” said she has nothing but love and respect for her.

“Me and my mom are very close. I tell her everything. We tell each other our secrets. I am very proud of her. Because of her, I would like to be a good and better person,” she said.

“I always listen to her because she always tells me to learn from my mistakes. My mom doesn’t forbid me to have a boyfriend but she tells me that I’m still young, so right now, I’m single,” she added.

Julia has clearly emphasized that her mother defines her. On her 16th birthday, Julia tweeted: “Today, I’m not just celebrating my 16th birthday but the 16 wonderful years you have been a great mother.”

Of all the advices she has received from her mom, the most important thing Marjorie told her is to be kind.

“My mom tells me to stay strong, be humble and kind. Since people look up to me, I have to be careful in my actions,” she said.

Meanwhile, #TeenWeekPH, the program initiated by Unilever Philippines’ top brands, Pond’s, Cream Silk and Rexona, will kick off in schools this month. It seeks to provide teens with positive reinforcement and faculties that will encourage them to aim high, “pushing them to be the best teens they can possibly be,” she said.

According to recent statistics, the country has 6.6 million teens, the 11th biggest teen population in the world.

“It is but right to empower teens in the country since they will take the reins and be the future generation. It is just right to teach them tools to make them better and improve their skills,” Unilever said in a statement.

#TeenWeekPH will happen in 300 schools nationwide where teens will get hygiene kits and learning modules conducted for each day of the week, composed of learning activities and educational videos, featuring Julia for Pond’s, Elmo and Coach Rio for Rexona, and Heart Evangelista, Rissa Mananquil-Trillo and Ariella for Cream Silk.

At the kick-off party over the weekend, there were interactive booths, showcasing similar installations to be set up in campuses, like the vision board corners, photo booths and other activities that promote holistic learning. One important facet was the utilization of social media, with the girls encouraged to take their selfies, and post them on their Twitter or Instagram.