Julia Barretto on turning 17: ‘Boyfriend, no. Pero ligawan, puwede’

Julia Barretto admitted she has mixed feelings about her first major television project Mirabella. “Takot, sobrang takot pero sobrang excited rin kasi hindi mo alam kung anong ma-e-expect eh. So sana abangan at suportahan nila kasi maganda talaga yung story,” she said. Although her first onscreen pairing with Enrique Gil was met with mixed reactions by fans, Julia said she appreciates those who chose to support their new tandem. “Siyempre thankful ako sa mga nagtanggap and gave us a chance naman. Sana suportahan niyo kami sa Mirabella, maganda naman yung story nilang dalawa. Enrique is a very nice guy, very helpful na katrabaho,” she shared during her launch as the newest celebrity endorser of Jollibee Yumburger last March 24 in Pasig city.

The 17-year-old model-actress admitted she is giving her 100% to her new show while juggling her studies at the same time. “Actually no other projects yet so far because we’ve just been really focusing on Mirabella because I just entered the business so taking it one step at a time. I want to experience these things so I’m really trying to absorb everything and learn from the work. For the past year, it’s been really good and I’ve been so blessed. All my dreams have been coming true, all my prayers have been answered pero hindi pa naman lahat. I’m still praying for many, many things. It was surreal na in a span of just one year I’ve been able to endorse such a great brand right away. I’ve always loved Jollibee ever since I was a young kid so that’s why I was excited,” she said.

As one of the new faces of the country’s top food chain, Julia takes the responsibility of being an endorser seriously. “I’m very grateful kasi they trust me with their brand. It’s such a big thing kasi ikaw yung magbebenta nito and you know you’ve got a lot of people looking up to you and you have to convince them to believe you. I’m very grateful because basically of the trust, it’s hard to just give the trust,” she said.

Having a supportive family behind her, Julia said that her mother Marjorie Barretto constantly shows her how to be a good person and not just an actress. “My mom gives me lots of advice, but the best one is my mom told me I have to stay humble, I have to stay nice because that’s how people are going to remember you. You can be the best actress but if your attitude is not nice, bale wala na rin yung acting skills so we have to remain really humble and nice,” she said.

When it comes to dealing with boys, Julia said she is still too young to think about getting into a relationship. “Boyfriend no pero ligawan puwede. At saka now wala akong time for that,” she said. Julia also denied rumors that her close friend Khalil Ramos has been courting her these past few months. “Talaga? He’s my friend (laughs) and we both know that. Hindi ko kasi talaga iniisip yung mga love life. I’m just 17. I’m so young and there’s so many things that I can do pa alone,” she added.