Kathryn 18

As soon as G2B ended, we all looked forward to Kathryn Bernardo’s next milestone in her life – turning 18. Sino ba namang hindi mae-excite? Ang Teen Queen ng henerasyon na ito, who we saw grow in front of us since she started as a child star, magiging ganap na dalaga na.

Ang alam ko then, at nangyari naman, mas gusto niya talaga kesa mag-party ng bongga ay ang mag-European Tour with her family and loved ones. So I was surprised when I received an invitation to her debut party – meron pala. Siyempre, ang saya-saya ko lang dahil naalala ako ni Kathryn i-invite sa mahalagang moment na ito ng buhay niya. I felt appreciated.

For me, it was a testament na hindi nakakalimot at nananatiling humble itong si Kath sa kabila ng mga tagumpay niya sa buhay at a young age. The thought brought me back to the time I first met her, at sa mga napagsamahan naming mga serye. From then I knew, it mattered to her. At bilang isang, hindi lang katrabaho at kaibigan, kundi dakilang fan, napakalaking bagay yun.

Pinaghandaan ko ang gabing iyon. Ayokong mapahiya. It was the first major celebrity party na pupuntahan ko. To the point na nagpahatid pa ako sa papa ko gamit ang aming sasakyan, bilang Pasay ang venue, at sa Bulacan ako nakatira. Bumili ako ng bagong sapatos. Ginamit ko yung pants na bigay ni Tito Avel Bacudio, I treated that night as no ordinary night – I was to attend a royal celebration. A young queen’s, no less.

As I saw the people in the venue, mas naramdaman ko na ang special ko. Mga taong malalapit at mga naging bahagi ng paglalakbay niya, showbiz man o hindi. Isa pala ako sa kanila sa paningin ni Kathryn. Actually, up to this day, I consider her debut party, not just one of the most lavish, but one of the most sincere I’ve been to. Bawat isa sa mga nandun, may magandang kwento at karanasan kasama si Kath. Ang ilan dun, narinig ko pa during the 18 candles part.

Kathryn has always been one of the kindest and most sincere people I met in the industry. When other celebrities na wala pang isa o dalawang taon, sumikat lang ng kaunti nakalimot na, ito pa rin kami ni Kath 6 years later. Hindi man kami best of friends, or yung laging nagkikita o nagba-bonding, but she’s the kind na, when opportunity strikes, alam mong she would listen sa mga kwento mo at magki-kwento siya ng mga ganap sa kanya. And she is a really thoughtful person. Hindi lang sa mga materyal na bagay, dahil hindi siya nakakalimot pag birthdays at Pasko, but more sa kanyang concern at care sa ‘yo. Everytime magtatapos  kami ng project, she would always say, “sana kasama pa rin kita sa next”.

I enjoyed #Kathryn18 celebration dahil sa masarap na food, bongga yet comfortable ambiance, and the nice programme proper. Pero nakita at nakausap ko na si Kath after nung debut proper, at after party na. I won’t forget that kasi ang higpit ng yakapan namin, as she sais “thanks for coming Princess France”. I remembered her asking if I could stay a little longer, yun lang I had to leave dahil past midnight na. And my father was waiting for me.

Sa pag-uwi ko, I said a little prayer for Kathryn, that may her next projects may continuously succeed, and that one day, magkatrabahong muli kami (I knew that time na ang next serye ko, hindi na siya ang kasama ko). And God heard my prayers: “She’s Dating The Gangster”, her movie with Daniel in July that year, went on to gross more than P300 million. At nagkasama kaming muli sa kanilang next serye, ang “Pangako Sa ‘Yo”. 

Cheers to a bright future ahead for KathNiel. 

"Got To Believe" creative team, with a very dashing photobomber,

With the boys and another pretty girl. 

Quen made it!

Truly a Queen Mother Tita Min Bernardo is, 

After party with Daniel. Messy hair looked good on him o!

My photo that night with the debutante.