KathNiel: What happens in Barcelona stays in Barcelona

When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

That’s what they say.

So when in Barcelona, do you have to do what the natives do? But wait, just what do Barcelona natives do?

“They love to party out in the streets,” observed Tempo columnist Ronald Constantino who was there with the well-traveled STAR columnist (Live Feed) Bibsy Carballo for a vacation. “The sun is up way past 9 in the evening so they really take advantage of the prolonged day. They are laidback, very leisurely, and their first meal for the day is brunch. They want to believe that Barcelona is independent from Spain. The natives even have their own language, Catalan.”

KathNiel loveteam Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla were in Barcelona for three weeks but, much as they wanted to, they didn’t have much leisure time to, well, do what the Barcelona natives do. They were there to shoot Barcelona: A Love Untold for Star Cinema, directed by Olivia “Inang” Lamasan from a screenplay she co-wrote with Carmi Raymundo…about a young man (Daniel) who can’t get over his past love and Mia, a young woman who is rebuilding her life in Spain after escaping from a painful past in the Philippines.

Between shoots, KathNiel bonded with the entourage.

“Walang star-star d’un,” said Daniel. “Kathryn and I would help the crew (a stolen crew). After the shoot, our kababayan there also helped us with our things.”

Unlike in their previous starrers (Crazy Beautiful You and She’s Dating the Gangster), the (so far screen) sweethearts had a taste of Inang Olivia’s style.

“She really squeezed us dry,” said Daniel, thankfully. “Talagang piniga kami ni Inang,” adding in jest, “in one scene, naka-400 takes ako.”

Also starring Aiko Melendez, Joshua Garcia, Joey Marquez, Ana Capri, Cris Villanueva, Liza Diño and Ricky Davao, Barcelona: A Love Untold is showing nationwide starting Wednesday, Sept. 14, next week. Other playdates: Papua New Guinea and Middle East, Sept. 22; Saipan, USA and Canada, Sept. 23; Europe, Sept. 24; Singapore and Hong Kong, Sept. 25; and Australia and New Zealand, Sept. 29.

In the following Conversation, KathNiel’s Taglish answers were purposely untouched so as to capture their feelings accurately.

How was your shoot in Barcelona? Tell us about your memorable experiences on and off the set?

Daniel: The shoot of the entire movie was enriching. Ang dami-dami naming natutunan. Natuto kami ng disiplina, ng focus na ibigay lahat. Sobrang okay kasi lahat ng kasama namin ready, ganado, walang tinatamad.

Kathryn: Ang hirap pumili kasi marami kaming napuntahan na places, ang wonderful ng experience. Memorable sa akin lahat ng itinuro ni direk Olive, na paghandaan ang bawat eksena, kilalanin ang character. It’s a very humbling experience. Hindi naging madali pero masaya ako sa pagkakataon na ibinigay sa akin for this project.

When you travel together, ano usually ang pinupuntahan nyo? Do you shop together, eat together, etc.?

Daniel: Una inaalam namin kung ano ‘yung sikat dun sa lugar na yun. Pinupuntahan namin ‘yung mga sikat na lugar at kainan. Si Kathryn nagsho-shopping kaya hayun nadadamay na rin ako.

Kathryn: Pero hindi nawawala yung mga tourist spots, like sa Spain ‘yung Sagrada.

How many foreign countries have you visited together so far, whether for work or for vacation?

Kathryn: Nasa 15-20 na rin.

In Star Cinema’s Barcelona: A Love Untold, the latest movie of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, the loveteam (who still has to reveal the real score between them) seals it with a kiss (photo bottom shows before their lips lock... in the movie)

Sino ang mas maalaga sa inyo abroad?

Kathryn: Si DJ. (His full name is Daniel John. — RFL)

How are you similar to or different from your characters?

Daniel: Ako si Ely, two years na akong nasa Barcelona. Kumukuha ako ng Masters in Architecture doon. At mayroon akong secret mission.

Kathryn: Ako naman si Mia, isa siyang babae na naghahanap ng isa pang chance dahil nakagawa siya ng isang pagkakamali. Nagkaroon siya ng idea na kapag pumunta siya sa ibang bansa, sa Barcelona, she will have the chance to start over. Sobrang seryoso ng mga characters namin hindi siya kasing comic ng Crazy Beautiful You. Sa totoo lang nahirapan kaming i-portray dahil ibang-iba siya, malalim at hindi pa namin nagagawa.

Daniel: Iba ako kay Ely dahil hindi siya masyadong positive na tao. Marami siyang bina-block at lagi niyang iniisip yung mga baka…baka ganito, baka ganyan. E ako sobrang positive kong tao. Kahit ano okay lang sa ’kin. Pero pareho kaming dedicated sa pamilya. Lahat ng ginagawa ko katulad ni Ely para sa pamilya.

Kathryn: Kay Mia, ang pagkakapareho namin siguro ‘yung gusto niya ng second chance to prove herself. Gusto niyang patunayan sa lahat na kaya niya.

So far ba, kilalang-kilala nyo na ang isa’t-isa?

Daniel: Oo naman!

Kathryn: Yes!

Daniel: After five years, yes!

Kathryn: Kung meron akong pinakakilalang tao, next to mama ko, si DJ yun.

Daniel: Ganoon din ako.

What do you have in common…do you like the same food, the same type of movies and music, etc.?

Daniel: Sa pagkain, pareho kaming mahilig sa keso. Pareho kaming OC sa gamit, ayaw namin ng makalat. Sa movies naman, magkaiba kami. Sa music dinadamay ko siya.

Who is more moody…and how do you deal with it (kung wala sa mood ang isa sa inyo)?

Daniel: Moody si Kathryn. Hirap, iba-iba. Tatantyahin mo rin siempre kung okay na kausapin.

Away from work, do you spend time together (work out together, etc.)?

Kathryn: Gusto namin nagbe-beach at bakasyon with friends.

What do you like most about each other?

Daniel: Pareho kami. So, gusto namin ang isa’t isa. (Then they both laughed)

Anything that you don’t like about each other?

Daniel: Moody. Parang lahat ng mga babae ganoon.

Kathryn: Wala, natanggap ko na rin, eh. Before, tinatantya namin. Pero ngayon swabe na. Kahit mag-away, naaayos din.

What’s your theme song?

Kathryn: Love ni Nat King Cole

What is the best gift that you have given each other?

Daniel: Gift ng partnership namin.

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