Kathryn & Julia: In the footsteps of Juday & Claudine

MANILA, Philippines - Star Cinema’s Way Back Home director Jerry Sineneng made a fearless forecast of the future of its young lead stars, Kathryn Bernardo and Julia Montes.

“They are the new Judy Ann Santos (also known as Juday) and Claudine Barretto. I can really see that Kathryn is following in the footsteps of Juday and Julia of Claudine,” Jerry declared, making the bold pronouncement during a presscon at the Dolphy Theater last week.

And he knows very well what he’s talking about, having directed and witnessed the beginnings of Judy Ann and Claudine — long before they became two of the biggest stars of the present generation.

The director also helmed the 1996 movie adaptation of the original Mara Clara series that starred Judy Ann and Gladys Reyes. Kathryn and Julia were the stars of the Mara Clara revival that recently ended its successful run on ABS-CBN.

“Yes, deep in my heart I believe that they are, being a fan of Juday and Claudine,” he said.

Jerry added that while Julia plays contravida in the film, which might hark back to her Mara Clara role, both youngsters are “lead star material” and in that sense, could be “future rivals” in the showbiz industry.

He explained his declarations: “They are both good. They are both professional. They have the same passion for work. And they both have the charisma.”

Agot Isidro, who plays the mother to the two in the film, wherein Kathryn and Julia play long-lost sisters, also shared the observations of the director.

Way Back Home director Jerry Sineneng

“They are very professional and very good. Their talent is raw but they’re very determined. They’re hardworking so they will both make it (as big stars),” Agot said.

Way Back Home tells the story of the Santiago sisters Jessica (Julia) and Joanna (Kathryn). Jessica was only four years old when her younger sister got lost during a vacation. Since then, Jessica has felt unloved by their mother Amelia (Agot).

But all this time, Joanna has been living as the daughter of a fishing couple who have raised her as their own. Now named Ana Bartolome, she grows up in a simple but loving home by the seashore.

Jessica and Ana cross paths as teenagers. In the process, Ana is reunited with her biological family. As Amelia’s grief turns into joy, she showers attention on Ana to make up for lost time. But Jessica feels more left out. The sisters and the rest of the family struggle to build a harmonious relationship in spite of their hurts and brokenness.

With its family drama theme, it’s inevitable to think Way Back Home could be an extension of Mara Clara. But its director and cast assure that it’s not.

Kathryn said, “Our acting here is really different from Mara Clara. Hindi naman parang Mara Clara na sampalan, sabunutan. Iba po siya. We don’t physically hurt each other here unlike in Mara Clara, it’s more on dialogue.”

Julia also said, “The film also tackles forgiveness and acceptance among siblings and within a family.”

More importantly, Way Back Home is their first movie together and with that, these tween idols can’t help but feel the pressure of the expectations of people, particularly from their solid following, that it does well at the box-office.

Julia admitted, “Of course, there’s big pressure because people pay to watch it.”

Way Back Home also stars Sam Concepcion and Enrique Gil. The two’s inclusion in the film created a little fuss because they were not the original choices.

Sam replaced the late AJ Perez, who died in a vehicular accident last May; while Enrique replaced Albie Casiño.

Direk Jerry said that it was management’s decision to replace Albie but wouldn’t confirm if it was because he got embroiled in an issue involving Andi Eigenmann.

But he said he is very happy with how things have turned out. 

As for Enrique, he said, “I’m not grateful that something happened that I don’t know of or that it was no longer (Albie) who will be doing the movie. I’m just thankful for the fact that I was chosen to be the replacement.”

For his part, Sam doesn’t mind being second choice because “being second choice is like being the first choice.”

“This is because, among all the stars in ABS-CBN, Star Cinema entrusted to me the role that was meant for my friend AJ,” he added.

“Actually, my name in the movie is also AJ as a tribute to him. AJ (was) very hardworking. He could do everything he would set his mind to, and I wanted to do the same for this movie.”

He also said that he’ll be trying his best to make AJ and his family proud.

Meantime, Agot was asked what advice she could give to her young co-stars, being newcomers in the industry. She said, “Perhaps, don’t let the fame get into your heads. How you started — striving to be wherever you are — it shouldn’t change (through the years). Know that expectations get bigger. Sometimes, if it enters your mind that you’re already good, you don’t strive that hard. So,do the work. Enjoy the work. Fame will come. It can also disappear so do the best that you can.”

Way Back Home opens in theaters on Aug. 17.