Joyce Ching to youth: Marriage is beautiful

CEBU, Philippines — Getting married at 24 years old is definitely nothing to raise eyebrows over. But in an industry where one’s marketability is supposed to dwindle after getting hitched, there were those who had asked Joyce Ching: Isn’t she still young to tie the knot?

“Bago ko sinagot yung fiancé ko, inisip ko talaga muna. Then nung naisip ko na, that’s when I said yes,” the Kapuso actress told The FREEMAN, adding that people must have gotten used to the showbiz culture where celebrities put off settling down for the sake of their careers.

Joyce, who recently earned a Film degree from Meridian International College Business and Arts Inc., got engaged to non-showbiz boyfriend Kevin Alimon last March.

“Sobrang happy ako na nandito ako sa platform na ito, to shed light to the youth and even adults, na marriage is for God. That marriage is something beautiful. It’s a gift from God and it’s not something na ikakahiya mo. It’s something to be celebrated,” the chinita beauty said.

Wedding planning hasn’t reached the frenzied phase yet, but Joyce has slowly been feeling the stress of deciding from a multitude of possible venues.

“Hindi pa siya super hectic. Yung pina-plan namin more on sa house, kung saan titira. Fina-finalize yung guest list, kung kailan at saan since yun yung pinaka-important. Ang stressful. Hindi ko inexpect na sobrang daming venue ng kasal sa Pilipinas,” she shared.

One other thing triggering stress for Joyce these days is her role in the ongoing GMA-7 Afternoon Prime series, “Dragon Lady,” where she plays Astrid Lim-Chua, the titular character’s greatest rival in business and in love.

“Sobrang nase-stress po ako actually. Si Astrid talagang full-on sinungaling. Kaya medyo mahirap. Kailangan ko talaga silang i-convince na masamang-masama ako. Intense po talaga.”

Premiering last March, “Dragon Lady” stars Janine Gutierrez as Celestina Sanchez, a young lady who is born with dragon-like features and whose physical traits and mystical power unleash the independent and fierce boss in her. Also in the main cast are Tom Rodriguez as the adventurous and non-conformist Michael Chan, and Edgar Allan Guzman as business tycoon Goldwyn Chen.

In a recent interview with Cebu press, Joyce bemoaned the struggle of playing the conniving and ruthless Astrid.

“Medyo seductive and full on talaga na evil. Wala siyang heart at all,” she said. “Kasi parang hindi rin naibigay sa kanya, hind niya na experience yung love. Growing up, puro money, money, money. So iniisip niya na ganun rin—money, money, I can buy you, everything. I can buy anyone. She thinks na the more evil she becomes, the more na magiging proud, na mamahalin at papansinin siya ng mom niya.”

Joyce shared how their acting coach often reminds her every time a bit of kindness or honesty slips into her portrayal.

The animosity between her and Janine’s role goes beyond the usual catfights and she is often at a loss for words at her character’s brutality.

Joyce admits she’s more of a tender, gentle soul. She doesn’t also quite identify with the strong, domineering and mysterious image of a Dragon Lady.

“Kailangan ng balance. I think depende, may mga times na kailangan women should be fighters, matapang, palaban. But may times din na kailangan maging kind at mabuti. Basta hindi nawawala ang morality ng person sa pagiging Dragon Lady niya.”