‘Legend’ is how Julia Barretto calls Aga Muhlach
Having a young actress paired with a multi-awarded actor is rare. That’s why very few imagined that a project starring Julia Barretto and Aga Muhlach would actually happen.
However, Viva Films made it happen in a project, “Ikaw Pa Rin ang Pipiliin Ko,” written and directed by Denise O’Hara.
“He (Aga) really set the tone on the set for everybody,” Julia told The STAR. “A lot of our filming days, every morning, he had good energy. I think that stayed even until shooting ended for the day. We really had fun.”
Julia and Aga filmed “Ikaw Pa Rin ang Pipiliin Ko” for only 11 days in Baguio. They didn’t need to get into a lock-in set. “That was fast,” Julia beamed. “This entire film was quite a challenge. The work, everything on the set, everybody was happy. It was a light set. We all had a nice time on the set. Working on the film was fun, it was light and everybody was easy to work with.”
“I guess the material was challenging in a good way. The kind of challenge we always welcome. The material given to us was not easy because we were trying to tell a very unique and odd love story. I’m wishing that people will be open to it and welcome it,” she added.
“Just as when it happens in real life, people can be understanding about it. Especially when we’re talking about two adults. Yes, it was a challenging material and it was a project I did with Kuya Aga. Everything was really magnified. But it was a good ride. It was a good journey doing it.”
When the filming of “Ikaw Pa Rin ang Pipiliin Ko” with Aga and Julia was announced, not a few frowned on their 30-something age gap.
“I super understand the feedback and the concerns,” Julia admitted. “And I see it all. That’s why I think my last post about the film was just the most or the least that I can request is that the film just be given a chance. We wouldn’t have been on board if we knew the film was going to send out the wrong message to people or doing something that would be illegal of any sort.”
“The production would not have happened in the first place. This film is a material or a love story that was born out of genuine love. This is a unique love story where the inspiration happens in real life. I think that was the story that the director was trying to tell,” she shared.
“Ikaw Pa Rin ang Pipiliin Ko” is a May-December story between the characters of Julia and Aga. However, the actors didn’t accept the project to normalize anything between them. She is a choir member (Jas), while he is the choir director (Michael).
“When we tell a love story in the form of a film, we were not trying to normalize anything. We were just trying to tell the story. It’s up to the viewers what they learned from it, what they got from it or what they picked up from it,” said Julia.
“This film is simply for the viewers’ entertainment. If they enjoy it, that means so much for us. We are not trying to advocate anything. We are storytellers. We wouldn’t have jumped into a production and done this if we knew we would send out the wrong message. I think we did a quiet film.”
Julia gets to sing composer George Canseco’s popular songs in the film, with the original title, Forgetting Canseco. Using her vocal cords was something new for her, as her role is part of a choir.
“Thanks to the technology,” Julia giggled. “It just really did wonders for my voice. I really don’t sing, but one of the best things that I was able to do coming into this production, I was able to work closely with a singing coach, who is now a part of me for the rest of my life.”
Julia rendered a new version of Canseco’s ballad, Ikaw, with Cup of Joe band, as well as Ngayon at Kailanman.
“Every song that he (Canseco) composed, they are all beautiful,” Julia attested. “But the one who stayed with me even after filming was Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan.”
“Up to this day, I still find myself singing it. The way that song was composed, the lyrics, it was just a beautiful piece and the message was very nice,” she said.
“Ngayon at Kailanman used to be the theme of my teleserye that will always have a special place in my heart, but now, I got to sing the song. That’s added to my karaoke list.”
She clarified, though, that it was simply the experience, not really being a singer. “It was the experiences I gained from making films, such as singing. I never thought I would take singing lessons, that’s why I mean it’s the memories this film brings for the rest of my life.”
Julia had a stiff neck after playing a singer in “Ikaw Pa Rin ang Pipiliin Ko.”
“I have so much respect for singers because we think they are just singers,” she said. “But technically, internally, when they breathe, everything was factored in. What they are doing is not easy.”
So, will she seriously consider singing as a career in the future? Julia gave a flat “No!”
“I always sing, but just for fun, while drinking Tanduay, karaoke. Don’t expect it to be really nice. Not anything in a serious matter. I’m happy where I’m at. I’ll just stay in my lane.”
Working with the Philippine Madrigal Singers was an unforgettable experience for Julia. “We saw how they worked and we were able to observe the choir and worked with those amazing singers,” she revealed. “That was part of the wonderful memories that I took with me up to now even after finishing the film.”
In a hypothetical question about seriously falling in love with a guy in his 50s, Julia gave a very tentative answer.
“I don’t know, I can’t answer the question,” she outrightly said. “We’ll never know who we become when the opportunity and the situation are in front of us. We will know that when we’re there.”
“That’s love. We don’t get to choose. We don’t plan it. The same with the love stories I’ve been in real life. Those weren’t planned. They just happened. I can’t give you an answer now because it’s not the situation presented to me. Love is love and we celebrate love in all forms and in different ways,” she added.
Julia was just “so grateful” having been paired with Aga for the first time. “Aside from being one of the best ever (actors) that we have in Philippine cinema, I think even before we started working on the set, I really didn’t have much expectations because I thought Kuya Aga was serious on the set. He didn’t talk much or he was not makulit.”
“Feeling ko sobra siyang focused and quiet lang, but not in a bad way. But when we started filming, he was the one excited about the songs we recorded. When we had a lot of singers on the set, he would make everybody sing. It was like a karaoeke session every day,” she said.
“He was always laughing and sharing funny stories. I was pleasantly surprised and so happy I was able to get to know that side of Kuya Aga. I have so much respect for him.”
Aga was undeniably surprised that Julia delivered everything her role required from her. “I’m just so grateful when Kuya Aga always had something nice to say,” Julia said. “Every comment coming from him, that was a big deal to me. Mas nakakagaan ng loob after having done a material such as ‘Ikaw Pa Rin ang Pipiliin Ko.’”
So, what does she eventually call Aga? “I just call him Legend,” Julia said. “He deserves that tag. I have too much respect for him, I just can’t call him simply ‘Ags,’ just as what he originally wanted it.”
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