Turnaround

I’d like to clarify something: I didn’t hate Joshua Garcia.

I admit, hindi ko siya bet sa PBB then for two reasons: Una, ang tamad niya sa loob ng bahay ni Kuya. At pangalawa, I didn’t like the idea of him pursuing Jane Oineza. Not because ayoko sa kanya, but I knew someone else was pursuing Jane that time, na gusto rin ni Jane. Napatunayan naman sa huli.

But during those times napapansin ko na ang mga mata niya… Nangunugusap. Would remind you if a young John Lloyd Cruz if you saw him during his younger years. At marami sa mga kasamahan ko, even the bosses, are noticing it. May potential if he would take things seriously.

First time meeting Joshua after
he got evicted from PBB/

During my set visit sa “Vince, Kath and James” recently, while they were on break, kwinento ni Direk Ted Boborol sa harap ko at ni Joshua how I disliked him that time. Magkasama kami sa “Forevermore” then ni Direk so he knew. He even told me sa look test ng “Forevermore”, “give the boy a chance”. Surprisingly, Joshua remembered what I did then. Sinabi niya kay Direk na, “kinausap po niya ako paglabas ko.” I remember that moment: Paglabas niya, kinausap ko talaga siya sa ASAP, saying my dislikes about him. Pero hindi yung inaaway ko siya ha. Positive naman, for his good. But I also him na if i-pursue niya si Jane, at magustuhan ka naman ni girl, I will support them. Ayoko lang na may nasasaktan along the way, including Joshua. E napakabata pa rin niya that time, turning 17. At dapat sigurado siya kasi iba ang nasa loob ka ng PBB house.

That moment with Joshua in ASAP.
Teary-eyed ako.

That’s when things started turning around for me and Joshua. Naging OK kami. Hindi kami super close, pero alam niyo yung walang bad blood. We would talk. He would share his taping experiences. Oo, some of his fans were calling me “plastic”. But deep down, hindi naman ako nakikipag-close kay Joshua. I was opening my heart to him. I admit, baka naging hard ako sa kanya. I misjudged him. I even remember hugging him at one point during his “Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita” days. Nasa ASAP kami no’n. Tiningnan ko lang siya, realizing how far he has come. Then I said, “Sorry”. He just said, “wala ‘yun Kuya”. Simula no’n, I felt and know na natibag na naming yung  “wall” sa pagitan naming dalawa.

True enough, he started proving his detractors and critics wrong. Nakita ng lahat how he has improved as an actor in “Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita”. Wala ring bahid ng katamaran sa kanyang pagtatrabaho. Generally positive ang naririnig ko mula sa mga katrabaho niya. I would see him sa set when I visited Jerome Ponce, his co-star in NKNKK. Tahimik lang, studying his lines, konting chika at kulitan with Jerome. Pero madalas si Loisa Andalio, his loveteam  partner in the series, ang kasama niya.

He really worked hard for where he is now. Dun pa lang, he earned my vote and respect. Not because he was pleasing me, us, his critics, but he wanted it for himself. He took in all his experiences and all the criticisms, learn from them, and worked to be better.

With Joshua and his new onscreen partner
Julia Barretto

Look at him now. Dance idol sa ASAP. Meron uling pinagbibidahang serye, ang “The Greatest Love”. Napansin ang husay sa KathNiel film, ang “Barcelona: A Love Untold”. At bida na sa pelikula, the upcoming Star Cinema film “Vince Kath James”. There’s still a long way to go, yes. Sabi nga ni Direk Ted, this could be make or break ito. Dito sa pelikulang ito mapapatunayan ang kanyang potensyal as a next leading man, na nakikita bg marami sa amin sa kanya. Pero as I’ve been watching him sa set ng movie, iba na si Joshua. Ang layo na niya dun sa napanood ko sa PBB. Masipag, mahal ang trabaho, at nakikisama sa mga kasamahan.

Goofing around on the set of
"Vince Kath James"

Happy 19^th birthday Joshua!!! Here’s wishing you all the best, lalo na sa iyong career! You’re slowly but surely getting up there. Tuloy lang ang sipag, determinasyon, at pagmamahal sa iyong ginagawa!