TFC All Access Vol 2 Issue 6

www.tfc-usa.com/AllAccess

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ENDLESS LOVE

Most romantic love teams in recent Kapamilya screen history

The Love Issue

KIM AND XIAN

She’s never looked so happy. He’s smitten and it shows. They have a closeness that can’t be denied. Get the lowdown on why they’re so good together-on and off-screen BEHIND THE SCENES

ASAP stars rock Los Angeles on TFC’s 20th anniversary celebration

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Note from the Editor

Gratitude This Christmas and Beyond

As we celebrate two years of TFC All Access (has it really been two years already?), accept my heartfelt appreciation for the support of all the devoted readers, our valued advertisers as well as those who work endlessly with me to churn out each and every issue. The TFC and TFC All Access community is growing exponentially and we have each and everyone to thank for it.

I always thought that Thanksgiving celebration in the United States is the perfect kick off for the Christmas season with the recollection of and gratitude for all the blessings we have in our lives. Setting aside the commercialized depiction of the season with the whirlwind of sales and gift-giving, let us bring to mind the genuine Christmas message. When the Christmas trees and decorations are ready to be put away, may we all remember the deeper significance of the season for all Kapamilyas of any faith‌. peace on earth and goodwill toward others.

Wishing everyone a joyous and meaningful holiday season and may 2015 bring peace and renewed zest to each and every one of us!

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VOLUME 2 ISSUE 6 • CONTENTS

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ASAP IN LA ASAP STARS ROCK LOS ANGELES ON TFC’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

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8 Citizen Pinoy: The Lawyer Is In

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the debut Kilig secret ante and the baller s that peopl : e don’t know

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RICHARD AND DAWN

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For the latest in entertainment news and celebrity lifestyle, read StarStudio Magazine. Digital edition available via www.zinio.com/ starstudio and the iTunes App Store

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Atty. Gurfinkel Helps Bring Joy to Kapamilyas through ASAP 2014 In celebration of The Filipino Channel’s 20th anniversary, TFC brought their brightest stars to Kapamilyas at the Los Angeles Sports Arena for the ASAP 2014 show last October 11th.

Although most of the stars and ASAP backstage crew have U.S. tourist visas, they cannot use their visitor’s visas to perform in the U.S. – they need a work visa. But an event this big required the complete ASAP production team from the Philippines, so TFC needed the services of a reputable and wellequipped immigration law firm to process the work visa applications for more than 100 artists/crew in such a short period of time. TFC entrusted the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel, Inc to deliver more than 100 work visas, not only for the artists, but also for the entire production crew – from the event executives, road managers, talent managers, writers, directors, producers, cameramen, production assistants to musical researchers, sound and light engineers, to wardrobe specialists, make-up artists, and back-up singers and dancers.

Because Kapamilyas watch ASAP on Sundays, Atty. Gurfinkel knows how

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excited they are to see their idols in person. He headed the effort of his U.S. legal team and his staff in Makati, Philippines to make sure that all documents ATTY. GURFINKEL SHARING A LIVELY DISCUSSION were gathered, WITH MR. RAFFY LOPEZ, THE CHIEF OPERATING organized, OFFICER AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF ABSpackaged, and CBN GLOBAL DURING ASAP 2014 SHOW. submitted on time. With Atty.

Gurfinkel’s strategic show, hearing their screams of delight leadership and his staff’s dedication, and excitement because, at least for all the visas were approved and issued that special evening, they were able to ahead of time, and the artist, crew, and forget their life’s woes – being away from staff arrived in the U.S. days before the their loved ones; for one night, the Los show. The Law Offices of Michael J. Angeles Sports Arena gave them a taste Gurfinkel, Inc. continues its tradition of of “home”, where they celebrated, sang, professionalism and dedication to every danced, and cried with their family single client’s immigration problem for members and their idols. every one is a “star” and deserves the Atty. Gurfinkel knows how important same treatment as far as Atty. Gurfinkel Filipino stars are to our Kapamilyas, is concerned. that is, he ensured everyone would For Atty. Gurfinkel, apart from be happy, so please spread the love obtaining work visas for the stars, crew and click “like,” and “share” our and entire production staff, what is Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ more rewarding was watching, first GurfinkelLaw hand, how Kapamilyas enjoyed the

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ASAP Rocks Los Angeles on TFC’s 20th Anniversary

The cast and crew of ASAP 19 travel to Los Angeles to bring fun and a little bit of home to our US-based Kapamilya—and a StarStudio contributor documents the whole experience in this special eyewitness report

By Raymond Lo Photography by Sthanlee Mirador/Performance photos by John Salangsang Special thanks to Baby K. Jimenez (US) Joyce Liquicia, Apple Segubience and

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Leo Bernardo (ASAP Manila), and Nerissa Fernandez (TFC Global)

icture, if you will, a sizeable crowd roaming the grounds of the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California. There’s obviously something huge about to happen on this warm October afternoon, and you can feel the electricity in the air.

Everywhere you turn, there are people busy doing something—from checking out the 30-plus booths selling and promoting various food items, products and services, to queueing up to enter the 16,000-seater venue that typically plays host to basketball

games and other major and minor sporting events.

Inside, excited fans fill up all the available seats, from the $150 stage section to the $40 upper section. After handing over your ticket at the door, you follow a flight of stairs down to the arena floor where more people are milling around. Some are lining up for refreshments, while others are trying to find the best angle for a group shot that can successfully capture the massive stage—one so large that it seems able to fit up to 50 people at a time—in the background.

It is 5PM. A few minutes later, the lights dim. A voice-over, which sounds a lot like Martin Nievera, envelops the entire arena, asking everyone to rise for the US National Anthem.

Then your attention is diverted to the stage. From a giant video screen, ABS-CBN president, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Content Officer (CCO) Charo Santos-Concio invites everyone to join the singing of the Philippine National Anthem.

Everyone sings with a little extra beat because the show everyone has been waiting for is about to start.

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Marking a milestone

The show, billed as ASAP Live in LA, was part of the 20th anniversary celebration of The Filipino Channel (TFC) in North America. ABS-CBN, the parent company of TFC, realizing the significance of the occasion, did not scrimp on anything and moved heaven and earth to bring ASAP—one of the biggest, most enduring (now 19 years and counting) and most successful musical-variety shows in the history of Philippine television—to Los Angeles.

This was the second time this year for ASAP to stage a special show abroad. The first was in Dubai last January. Held to coincide with the 2014 Dubai Shopping Festival, the Dubai leg marked the first time ASAP was staged in the Middle East. Over 40 ASAP stars performed in the show covered live by TFC. The LA show was taped-as-live in two segments with a short intermission between the two as announced by show hosts Martin, Zsa Zsa Padilla and Gary Valenciano who were among the regulars when ASAP started nearly two decades ago.

This ASAP Live in LA show was epic in all aspects: its length, the size of the venue, the number of Filipino superstars who flew in from the Philippines (they promised at least 40, but there were actually more than that number), the presence of ABSCBN bigwigs, the Fil-Am Hollywood celebrities who graced the event and, of course, the massive crowd, some of whom flew in, and others who drove more than 10 hours to get there, combined to make it the biggest and grandest Filipino musical-variety show ever staged in LA. ASAP director Johnny Manahan, ASAP business unit head Joyce Liquicia, and their Manila team, in collaboration with TFC North America’s production team led by John-D Lazatin, made sure that everything from the production numbers to the costumes to the technical set-up lived up to high standards.

Everyone knew that they were there to deliver more than just entertainment. “You are talking about people flying in from as far as Alaska, Hawaii and Canada, and fans 10

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representing by creating their own ASAP Live in LA attires,” said TFC North America Live in LA project lead Ricky Resurreccion, also the region’s head of Ad Sales, Trade Marketing and Events.

“You have people who saved their dollars and planned their work vacations so they can watch the show.

We all know that what we should give is more than song and dance numbers; we are here to give our hearts, our love, our Kapamilya spirit and Pinoy soul to them. We want them to feel they’ve come home,” he added.

The spectacle

Mounting this big party began well in advance of the actual show date. The ASAP stars braved a thunderstorm, flood, traffic and no sleep to catch their flights from Manila to Los Angeles, mingled with fans as they visited Los Angeles’ landmarks to tape segments, took part in a meet-and-chat with lucky ticket holders, rehearsed and shared their experiences and activities on social media for their followers around the world.

But nothing could compare to the excitement of the actual show, which opened with a spirited all-American party. Clad in various colorful outfits inspired by the red, white and blue of the American flag, pair by pair, group by group, each singing and dancing to a mix of contemporary and classic American pop tunes, the ASAP stars appeared onstage, drawing energy from the crowd and enjoining everyone to party.

The audience gave it all back. Fans shrieked, cheered, and screamed for their favorites. Even the slightest acknowledgment from the stars was enough to raise the enthusiasm, excitement and decibel levels inside the arena to record-shattering heights.

Bamboo and Charice broke the ice with a booming rendition of the Bruce Springsteen classic “Born in the USA”. After a minute or so, the crowd screamed again as the handsome trio of Sam Milby, Daniel Padilla and Xian Lim continued the party with their cover of the Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ USA”.

Not to be outdone, the three hottest Kapamilya girls—Kim Chiu, Julia Barretto and Kathryn Bernardo—took the place of the boys on stage and

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started singing and dancing to Katy Perry’s hit “California Girls”. You could hear every note as the girls sang “we’re undeniable, fine, fresh, fierce” and owned their spot on the stage. The crowd sent them off with a deafening cheer as well.

Then Iya Villania, Jessy Mendiola and Alex Gonzaga, along with the G Force dance group, elevated the party spirit and brought nearly half the audience on the arena floor to its feet. This, much to the chagrin of the older folk who apparently just wanted to enjoy the party while comfortably seated. Thankfully, security was quick to take action and successfully convinced the crowd to return to their seats.

The final gap of the first segment featured the ageless Vina Morales and Box Office Queen Toni Gonzaga who performed a cover of Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA”.

Then the show took a much-needed breather which, had the audience been watching on TV, would have been a commercial break. But in this live show, there were no commercials. The party went on non-stop because as soon as Vina and Toni exited the stage, Zsa Zsa, Martin, and Gary came out and asked the audience if they wanted to party some more.

“It’s great to party here in LA, but who among you miss Manila?” asked Martin and the crowd responded in unison, “Me!” Gary then asked, “Handa na ba kayong maki-party sa amin ‘Manilastyle’ dito sa LA?” The crowd roared.

“Get ready ‘cause we’re gonna bring the best of Manila right here to the LA Sports Arena,” Zsa Zsa told the crowd before she, Martin and Gary opened the second part of the show with a medley of “Manila Sound” songs.

They were followed by the singers and belters of the ASAP cast. The beautiful voices of Yeng Constantino, Erik Santos, Angeline Quinto, Richard Poon and Juris filled the arena with more classic OPM tunes, giving the audience a welcome respite from the screaming and cheering that began since Bamboo opened the show.

But the calm was rather short-lived because, like a lion rising from a deep slumber, the crowd seemed to wake up

But onstage, everyone was raring to go and fed off the energy of the eager crowd.

Joined by some former Kapamilya stars now based in the US, the ASAP Manila regulars rocked the Los Angeles Sports Arena to the delight of the fans, some of whom drove or flew long distances just to be at the show.

(Top to bottom) 1) Charice and Bamboo rocked it out to get the party off to a roaring start; 2) the ASAP champions Angeline (champion of Star Power), Erik (champion of Star in a Million) and Yeng (champion of Pinoy Dream Academy season one) hit all the right notes with their number; 3) then the ASAP Sessionistas Juris, Richard Poon and Sitti brought their own brand of easygoing fun and music to the Los Angeles crowd; 4) loud screams erupted from the audience when Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz joined Toni Gonzaga onstage, 5) then the two—Piolo and John Lloyd—also had a spotlight number of their own during which the crowd got even more excited; 6) Concert King Martin, Divine Diva Zsa Zsa and Mr. Pure Energy Gary V made the Fil-Ams in the audience a little less homesick with their number. During the pre-show press conference, Gary said: “I wanted to add on to what everyone said and it has to do with why ASAP is where it is today. You have a bunch of artists here and there are many more artists out there. But there is a reason why we are chosen to be part of this show.

I think that God has a great plan for why we are a part of this show.”; 7) international Grammy award-winning star and The Voice of the Philippines coach Apl de Ap was enthusiastically welcomed by the audience; 8) Yeng (who describe d the ASAP Live in LA experience as “Astig!”) with Martin and Angeline; 9) ex-American Idol alum Jessica Sanchez with Martin; 10) Julia Barretto, Alex Gonzaga, Jessy Mendiola and Iya Villania kick off the all-American party in appropriatelythemed outfits; 11) the young ASAP heartthrobs Daniel, Enchong, Gerald and Xian; 12) and Kim and Xian who sent kilig vibes through the audience when they appeared together onstage.

All in all, more than 40 ASAP stars were part of this historic LA show. It was the perfect bookend for the TFC 20 gala that kicked off its 20th anniversary celebration.

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all at once and started to roar again.

When the group of Shaina Magdayao, Maja Salvador, Gab Valenciano, John Prats, Enchong Dee, Rayver Cruz, Robi Domingo and Gerald Anderson danced to the “Katawan/Sumayaw-Sumunod” medley, the crowd started to get excited again. Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz—the big guns and undoubtedly the superstars in ASAP’s realm of stars—were in the house All the good-looking duo had to do was stand on stage, wave and smile, and the crowd did the rest. They waved, and the arena shook with excitement.

And when they started singing the macho Hagibis songs, the crowd just completely lost it. Anyone with a minor hearing problem going into the show probably went home completely deaf but still thankful because they got a chance to see Piolo and John Lloyd live.

One of the important highlights

of the show came when Los Angeles, were top executives of ABS-CBN, through the assistance of LA’s including Chairman Gabby Lopez, Philippine Consul-General Leo Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Herrera Lim, Filipino-American Chairman Gina Lopez, Head of Service Group, Inc. Executive Director Integrated Sales August Benitez, Susan Dilkes and West Valley Area Head of Integrated Marketing Cookie Representative Max Reyes, issued a Bartolome, Head of Access and proclamation through Los Angeles president of Sky Cable Carlo Katigbak, Mayor Eric Garcetti making the day of Global Managing Director for North the show—October 11, 2014—ABSAmerica Chinky De Jesus, Chief CBN The Filipino Channel’s ‘ASAP Live Financial Officer and Head of Strategic in LA’ Community Empowerment Day. Planning Kai Rodriguez of ABS-CBN ABS-CBN Integrated News and Global and ABS-CBN Global Chief Current Affairs Head Ging Reyes Operating Officer Raffy Lopez. presented the proclamation to the Everyone enjoyed the performances crowd before the show while Gary of the stars, whose energy just kept on and Martin led a group that presented going. it anew to the audience.

Joining Reyes,

To read the full feature, the ASAP family and the crowd download the digital edition of the StORy Of uS in celebrating StarStudio from www.zinio.com/ this singular ASAP starstudio or the iTunes App Store achievement A L L-S TA R H O L I DAY S P ECIAL

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TEAM ASAP

What it took behind the scenes to bring a show like ASAP to Los Angeles

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It was a full house (top) when Team ASAP descended on Los Angeles for the show that brought together more than 40 artists who traveled from Manila to the US. (Above, left) ABS-CBN president, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Content Officer (CCO) Charo Santos-Concio with Baby K. Jimenez; (above right) StarStudio contributor Raymond Lo, who documented the ASAP extravaganza for this special report.

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hen ABS-CBN and The Filipino Channel (TFC) North America promised that 40 stars would perform at ASAP Live in LA, they actually meant at least 40. It was a truly massive undertaking.

But the show wasn’t just about the performers who were onstage; behind the scenes, Team ASAP—which had representatives from both Manila and Los Angeles—worked tirelessly to pull off the show. The teams worked closely together to make sure that everything, from the production numbers to the costumes to the technical set-up, lived up to the long-running show’s high standards.

Team ASAP Manila was led by the show’s Business Unit Head Joyce Liquicia and director Johnny Manahan and were backed up by Apples Segubience (Executive Producer), Dido Camara (Creative Manager), Gerrome Esguerra (Headwriter), Olive Zarate (Program Producer), Harold Castillo and Marc Augustus Alacon (Associate Producers), Leo Bernardo and Richmond Garcia (Headwriters), Winnie Mariano (Talent Coordinator), TJ Santos (Music Researcher), Chiqui Lacsamana VII (Segment Director), Georcelle Dapat-Sy (Choreographer), Bang Pineda (Stylist), and Alex Magbanua, Rene dela Cruz and Mark Von de Guzman (Floor Directors).

They also had a full technical team handling the cameras, lighting and audio, which helped get the show as close to a real concert experience as it could get.

The TFC staff was composed of Geradine Bisquera (Head, Global Events), Rigi Bumagat (Global Events Specialist), Ricky Resurreccion (ASAP LA Project Head), Alvin Gomez (TFC Events Specialist), John-D Lazatin (TFC USA Project Head) and Jonas de Leon (TFC Technical Head).

ABS-CBN North America Managing Director Olivia de Jesus said: “ASAP Live in LA is topnotch entertainment as a means of connecting Filipinos together to celebrate their Filipinoness. And that has been the mission of TFC in building its relationship with its customers these past 20 years.”

“For us to have been able to be part of the lives of the community for this long, it’s just, I think, something that’s really an inspiring thing, and I expect it will go on for 20 more, and many more beyond my lifetime,” said ABS-CBN Global COO Raffy Lopez.

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Endless Love

GUSH, SIGH AND FALL IN LOVE ALL OVER AGAIN AS WE PROFILE THE MOST ROMANTIC LOVE TEAMS IN RECENT SCREEN HISTORY

BY GAY ACE DOMINGO

CONTENT COURTESY OF STARSTUDIO MAGAZINE Photography by JOJIT LORENZO Styling by ERIC PE BENITO Hair and makeup by BAMBBI FUENTES Grooming by RICHARD PILI Special thanks to CHESA SALAS and IVAN CRUZ

“It’s so easy to go in and out of scenes because Richard and I have a shared rapport. We’re very comfortable together.”

— Dawn on her special onscreen connection with Richard

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RICHARD GOMEZ & DAWN ZULUETA

dramatic scene and I just got carried away,” he recalled.

By the time shooting was done, the two had become a real-life couple. ichard and Dawn were among The honesty of their emotional the most sought-after stars performances earned for both Dawn and commercial endorsers and Richard acting recognition; of the 1990s. Richard was one of the Richard won a Best Actor award from prized contract artists of Mother Lily the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino Monteverde’s Regal Films. The actor while Dawn was named FAMAS Best had done movies with the biggest Actress. actresses, such as Vilma Santos (Kapag Richard and Dawn dated for about Langit Ang Humatol), Maricel Soriano two years. Within that time, they did (Inday Bote), and Sharon Cuneta three more films, including Saan Ka (Kahit Wala Ka Na). Dawn, meanwhile, Man Naroroon, which was another was the “it-girl” at Viva, doing projects epic drama produced by Tita Midz and with action stars Robin Padilla, Bong directed by Carlitos. Unfortunately, Revilla and Fernando Poe, Jr. and the romance waned and Saan Ka dramatic performers like Christopher Man… was not as warmly received as de Leon.

Hihintayin... Tita Midz said that the Dawn and Richard were first paired stars’ LQ affected promotions (Richard in a soft drink commercial. It was and Dawn did not promote the movie Reynafilms producer Armida Siguiontogether) and consequently, the boxReyna, a.k.a. Tita Midz, who saw the office receipts. Saan Ka Man Naroroon, great potential of casting the tall, however, did one good thing: it gave dark and handsome Richard and the Richard his second Urian Best Actor statuesque and beauteous Dawn in a trophy. motion picture. So in 1991, Richard Richard and Dawn broke up and Dawn starred in Hihintayin Kita and had relationships with other sa Langit, the first big film of director partners. In December 1997, Dawn Carlitos Siguion-Reyna. Based on Emily wed businessman Anton Lagdameo Bronte’s novel Wuthering Heights, in New York. In April 1998, Richard Hihintayin… had scenic locations set in married commercial model-nowBatanes, lush photography by awardCongresswoman Lucy Torres in the winning director of photography latter’s hometown of Ormoc.

Romeo Vitug, a grand musical score Richard and Dawn would make by maestro Ryan Cayabyab, and another movie, the 2003 Metro Manila passionate scenes between Richard Film Festival entry Filipinas. This time, and Dawn. the former partners played siblings— In a newspaper article published in children of an ailing mother portrayed 1993, Richard confessed that he was by their love team “ninang” Tita Midz. very thrilled when he and Dawn had To this day, Hihintayin Kita sa Langit their first onscreen kiss. “It was a very remains to be the movie that defined Richard and Dawn as a love team and as individual stars. It continues to enthrall audiences. It inspired the production of 2007’s The Promise which had Angel Locsin and Richard RICHARD & DAWN Gutierrez essaying roles similar to Richard and Dawn’s. Film critic Butch movies together Francisco praised Hihintayin… as a film “that one cannot help but fall in WHY THEY’RE A love with.” Even Richard’s wife Lucy GREAT LOVE TEAM: admits that she tries to catch the film They’re a talented and whenever it is shown on Cinema One. extremely good-looking Asked why their love team still pair with amazing captures people’s imagination, Richard chemistry. More than 15 told StarStudio, “Some people say years after Hihintayin Kita sa Langit, viewers that we look good together onscreen. are still delighted to see Siguro ’yun ang magic namin.” Both

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tall and gorgeous, Dawn and Richard could very well be among Philippine cinema’s best-looking tandems. On the set of their newest project, the teleserye Walang Hanggan, they could send onlookers into kilig mode as their characters Marco and Emily would stare into each other’s eyes and profess love.

Walang Hanggan is the duo’s comeback project after eight years. In spite of the lull, there was no need to break the ice. “We remained friends after we broke up,” explained Dawn.

“It’s so easy to go in and out of scenes because Richard and I have a shared rapport. We’re very comfortable together.”

She’s right. We witnessed that special connection when we asked them to pose for the exclusive photo you see on this page. Richard was effortless as he rested his head on Dawn’s lap. She whispered something in his ear and he chuckled softly in reply. Time stood still; it seemed like there was no one else in the room except the two beautiful stars. We immediately understood what Tita Midz, veteran actress and producer, meant when she declared to another writer, “In all my years in the business I have not seen anyone who can beat the chemistry of Dawn and Richard. No one.”

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these stars together.

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Hihintayin Kita sa Langit was a huge success, thanks to the smoldering chemistry of then reallife lovers Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta.

(Previous page) Dawn and Richard reunite in the teleserye Walang Hanggan.

BEA & LLOYDIE

6 movies 6 teleseryes

WHY THEY’RE A GREAT LOVE TEAM:

“No doubt... unexplainable chemistry plus undeniably great acting equals... love pair magic. Can’t wait to see them again.”

—Marydol, Bea-Lloydie fan

JOHN LLOYD CRUZ & BEA ALONZO

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Because of the bittersweet and relatable story and the topnotch performances of the stars, One More Chance was adored by not just BeaLloydie fans but also by audiences of all ages.

he John Lloyd Cruz-Bea Alonzo love team began on the teleserye Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay where they played the characters of Yuri and Katrina, respectively. Nineteen-year old John Lloyd was fresh from his stint as Rovic in the youth-oriented drama Tabing Ilog while 15-year old Bea had just been introduced in the teen program K2BU. In Kay Tagal…, Bea and John Lloyd did a kissing scene. “First kiss ko ‘yun, sa TV at sa totoong buhay,” Bea told SSM in June 2004. “John Lloyd didn’t make it traumatic for me.”

Their first movie was 2004’s My First Romance. Onscreen, John Lloyd and Bea shared tender moments and exchanged sweet words. But SSM quickly learned that off-screen, the two did not even know each other’s cell phone numbers. “Lahat na lang yata sa set alam ang number ng isa’t-isa, maliban sa aming dalawa,” said Bea with some amusement.

John Lloyd replied, “I never thought of asking.”

Two more teleseryes (It Might Be You and Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin) and two full-length movies (Now That I Have You and All About Love) later, they became close, to the point that he could tease her and she would be a great sport about it.

For instance, during a pictorial with SSM in 2005 (“Out on a Date” feature), John Lloyd joked about Bea’s “weighty” issues. He told her, “Meron ka ngang treadmill, pero halata bang ginagamit mo ito?”

Bea learned to “retaliate.” In September 2006, SSM visited them on the set of their teleserye Maging Sino Ka Man and found a playful John Lloyd “tormenting” a pensive Bea. “May news ako sa inyo… ayaw na ni Bea sa akin na ka-love team,” he announced to the SSM crew in all seriousness. Then, with the impeccable timing of a seasoned comedian, Lloydie added, “Pero tuloy pa rin ang pagnanasa niya sa akin!”

Up until the set visit wrapped up, Lloydie maintained his playfulness. “Matagal nang in love sa akin ‘yan!” he hollered for Bea and all to hear.

“Feeling ka talaga ever!” Bea shot back.

From civil to friendly, from ill at ease to totally comfortable, that’s how the bond of John Lloyd and Bea developed. By the time they made One More Chance in 2007, they

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were so “at home” with each other.

“Wala nang hiyaan sa isa’t-isa” said the Star Cinema insiders.

First ko ‘yun, sa TV at sa John Lloyd and Bea totoong buhay. He didn’t did such a wonderful make it traumatic for me.” job of giving life to the — Bea on her first kissing scene characters of Popoy with John Lloyd in Kay Tagal Kang and Basha, an exHinintay couple grappling with unresolved issues and unexpressed feelings.

Any fan would agree that One More Chance is the Bea-Lloydy movie, so far. Who wouldn’t be moved at the sight of Popoy longing for Basha as he stood outside her home? Whose heart wouldn’t go out to the wounded ex-lovers in the part where they let down their defenses and finally disclose how much they’ve been hurt after the breakup? Here’s the dialogue of that unforgettable scene: Popoy: Ano b’ang problema?

Basha: Ako, ako ‘yung problema kasi nasasaktan ako kahit hindi naman ako dapat nasasaktan. Sana kaya ko na lang tiisin ‘yung sakit na nararamdaman ko. Kasi ako ‘yung humiling nito di ba? Ako ‘yung may gusto. Sana kaya ko ring sabihin sa ‘yo na masaya ako para sa ‘yo. Para sa inyo. Sana kaya ko. Pero hindi eh!

Ang sama-sama kong tao kasi umaasa pa rin ako na sabihin mo na sana ako pa rin. Ako na lang. Ako na lang ulit.

Popoy: Mahal ko si Trisha.

Basha: Alam ko. Alam ko.

Popoy: She loved me at my worst and you had me at my best. At binale-wala mo lang lahat ng ‘yon.

Basha: Popoy, ‘yun ba talaga ang tingin mo? I just made a choice.

Popoy: And you chose to break my heart.

Fans wished that Bea and John Lloyd’s onscreen romance would come true in real life. But no such thing has happened.

While the two have found comfort in the arms of other partners (John Lloyd is reportedly back with Shaina Magdayao, while Bea is exclusively dating Zanjoe Marudo), Bea did admit to the thought of falling in love with Lloydy.

In November 2011’s tell-all interview with SSM, she said, “Ano nga kaya?

Kasi lahat ng tao, gusto kami for each other…But… it never really happened.”

What will happen thankfully in 2012 is a reunion teleserye of Bea and Lloydie.

We just can’t wait.

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Caught by Surprise HOT PAIR KIM CHIU AND XIAN LIM DIDN’T EXPECT THEIR TANDEM TO WORK WONDERS FOR THEM AT A TIME WHEN THEY WERE BOTH LOOKING TO PROVE SOMETHING TO THE PUBLIC: KIM COMING OUT OF THE KIMERALD SHADOWS, AND XIAN, EMERGING AS A SCREEN PRINCE IN HIS OWN RIGHT. THEY HAVE TRAVELED SEPARATE PATHS, AND NOW EMBARK ON A NEW JOURNEY TOGETHER

BY ARNEL RAMOS Photography by DOC MARLON PECJO Creative Direction by PATRICK TY Styling for Kim Chiu BOOP AND KIM YAP Styling for Xian Lim TON LAO Makeup by CHRISTINE DUQUE Grooming by CHA CUYONG Hair for Kim Chiu HAIDEE FERNANDEZ Special thanks to THESS GUBI, GIDGET DELA CUESTA AND PORTIA DIMLA-MORALES

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I wasn’t really discouraged because I knew this was what I wanted to do and I had the passion for it. I knew this is what makes me happy. Never pumasok sa isip ko na magquit or umalis. The passion is still here. I guess it’s built-in.” — Xian, looking back on his early years in the acting business

CONTENT COURTESY OF STARSTUDIO MAGAZINE

S

ometime last 2011, Kim Chiu and Xian Lim found themselves at a point of transition. Kim was in a bid to assert her place in show business, sans the formidable public support for her teamup with Gerald Anderson. Two of her major soaps—(2009’s Tayong Dalawa and 2010’s Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo)­—and five out of six of the movies in her filmography were all opposite the FilAmerican matinee idol. Aside from going through her own personal heartbreak (which she had not kept a secret from the public), Kim had to learn to let go of the five-year-old partnership she had built with Gerald. It was not going to be easy. That partnership had become like a comfort zone for her, both personally and professionally. As she approached the new challenge thrown her way, there was some excitement, but there were also questions playing on her mind: Could she make it on her own? Would the public be as responsive to her this time around? Her

doubters wondered: “Kaya ba ni Kimmy na wala si Gerald?”

Xian was facing a quandary of his own. After almost two years of bit roles, supporting parts and hosting gigs in various network-produced shows, the 6’2” Filipino-Chinese aspiring heartthrob was at a career crossroads. He needed a star-making vehicle, one that would lift him from second lead to the place reserved for certified emerging screen heartthrobs. He was not without acting credits of his own, however: Xian had been part of shows like My Girl and Your Song Presents: My Only Hope (both of which he had appeared in with Kim and Gerald) and Erich Gonzales’ career-making afternoon soap Katorse, and yet it could not be said that he enjoyed the same kind of support viewers and fans were throwing behind other young actors—at that point, Xian Lim was a star waiting to happen.

Then middle of 2011, Xian was told he was to appear in a new soap to be titled My Binondo Girl. The lead character Jade Dimaguiba, would be played by Kim. Xian was one of three leading men being tapped for the project. He would play Andy Wu, the welloff son of a Chinese businessman. The story would play out against the backdrop of family struggles and business problems. Although grateful for the project, the budding actor didn’t have big expectations. For

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SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS Stardom, Xian realizes, can bring about drastic change in one person’s life. “Busy na talaga ngayon,” he says. “Dati, there was just school, ngayon tight ang schedule. (There are) shows here and there; it’s really fun being busy.” The positive buzz surrounding his teamup with Kim in My Binondo Girl is a pleasant surprise. “I didn’t expect that the loveteam would click. There were three leading men. So yeah, it 22 TFCunexpected.”

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Alam ko naman from the very start na hindi kami magiging forever ni Gerald (Anderson). For a time, inisip ko na ganu’n.

Pagtagal-tagal, mari-realize mo, nag-iiba ang mga bagay-bagay. You have to go with the flow.” — Kim, on realizing that growing up in the biz entails dealing with hard-pressed realities

him, the show was just another step towards the goal of improving his craft. He still had a long way to go— and while Xian knew he would be working with Kim, it never occurred to him that they would end up as a love team.

The show premiered on August 22, 2011. As it went on, the Kim-Xian pairing seemed to gain credibility among the viewers. Little by little, their tandem started to edge out the Kim-Matteo and Kim-Jolo pairings in terms of fan following, screen exposure and Internet presence on sites like Twitter and Facebook. The surge in their popularity, online and off, in front of the camera and away from it, was a case of some very intense fan fervor in action.

Seven months later, at a My Binondo Girl Fans’ Day at the SM Skydome, evidence of just how popular Kim and Xian had become was obvious: the venue, which could only accommodate a seated crowd of about two thousand people, was packed. Those who arrived late had to edge their way in carefully to make it past the already thick crowd. Those who couldn’t get in had to content themselves with trying to catch a glimpse of the two, so they lined the route to the venue, starting from the service elevator, to the escalator, all the way to the backstage area.

Although there were loud screams for each member of the cast, it was obvious who the fans were really waiting for. When Xian and Kim emerged onstage to sing with each other, as they looked at each other, as Xian wrapped his arm around Kim’s shoulders, and as they gazed into each other’s eyes,

one could feel the kilig in the air.

From people taking two separate journeys, Kim and Xian had found each other. The two friends and working partners had been transformed into today’s hottest love team. To find out how is to go back to the beginning of their individual stories.

Andy’s journey

Born and raised in San Francisco, California, it was not easy to predict that Xian (whose real name is Alexander Xian Cruz Lim Uy) would end up as part of the circus-like world of local showbiz. The only child of Godofredo Lim Uy and Mary Anne Cruz, the young Xian lived with his mom in the US, while his Chinese father is based in Bulacan.

Xian lived in the US for 18 years, eight of which he and his mom spent in San Francisco, and 10, in Daly City, California. Daly City is located immediately south of San Francisco, on the US West Coast.

Mommy Mary Anne’s unico hijo remembers moving houses a great deal during their US years.

The only wrinkle, if one can even call it that, in this blissful existence was that ever since Xian can remember, his parents were not together—and yet, this fact did not seem to bother him. “Wala naman ‘yun.”

Xian, the only son, grew up a happy child, and being under his mother’s care, became somewhat possessive of Mommy Mary Anne, a petite mestiza who worked as a real estate broker and taught piano lessons on the side. Xian’s mom was his first music teacher. He inherited his love of music from her. “I was a selfish TFC ALL ACCESS V O L U M E

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Basketball was one of the reasons for my coming to the Philippines. But I also wanted to come here because ang saya sa Pilipinas. I noticed that there’s a happy vibe in this country.” — Xian on what lured him to learn more about his Pinoy roots

kid. Gusto ko ‘yung attention ng mom ko. Very seloso akong bata.” His mom, in turn, was always supportive of whatever Xian got into.

Ironically, Xian’s younger years were devoted not to show business, acting or anything related to it, but to one of his first interests: basketball. His imposing 6’2” height helped. In school, he was always the tallest boy in class. “Especially kapag falling in line, I was always at the back.” Summers were usually spent in Manila—Antipolo City, to be exact—where his mom’s family owns a house. Those vacations helped preserve his ties to his Filipino roots and also account for his fluent Tagalog. “I would go back and forth. I’d go to school there (US), we’d take a vacation here (Manila).

That’s why I know how to speak Tagalog. At first, nu’ng una kong dating dito (sa Manila), nahihirapan akong mag-Tagalog.”

Xian loved spending time with relatives in Manila.

It showed him a different side of life. “Usually ‘pag summer, du’n ko nakikita ‘yung contrast ng buhay dito at buhay du’n (in the US). The fast-paced lifestyle there, it’s work, work, work. Dito mas leisurely.

Tayong mga Pinoy, mas relaxed tayo dito. Mas palaging nakangiti.”

The love of the Philippines was growing on Xian.

By 2008, he came to a decision. He wanted to make a go of things in Manila. It wasn’t a trial-and-error kind of move. His mind was made up, his resolve firm and unchangeable. He didn’t want to be part of the rat race in the US and become just another Filipino immigrant trying to succeed in America. He wanted something more, but at that point, didn’t know yet that the answer was in show business.

He was sure, though, about one thing: that he

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wanted to come home. “I wasn’t just testing the waters,” recalls Xian. “I knew that I didn’t want a 40-hour desk job. I couldn’t do it. I kinda got burned out.” Mommy Mary Anne, the epitome of a supportive mother, did not protest or argue. She went along with her son’s plans. “Sabay muna kami ng mom ko na umuwi, tapos she got me a place,” remembers Xian.

Mommy Mary Anne bought a condominium unit for her only child and once she was sure he was settled, she went back to the US to fix some important papers.

It was presumably a tough decision to arrive at for her.

After all, she had more to lose than her son. Unlike Xian, Mommy Mary Anne was initially reluctant about uprooting herself; after all, she had lived longer in the US and made a comfortable life for herself there.

Moving back to the Philippines would mean having to begin all over again.

But a mother’s love is infinitely hard to explain.

The sacrifices it will willingly endure are capable of warming the heart of even the most jaded among us.

Six months later, Xian’s mom overcame her reluctance, packed her bags and flew back to Manila to join her son in what was about to become a one-of-a-kind, lifechanging adventure.

The big move

Xian was intent on making a fresh start in Manila and enrolled in a Management course at the University of the East (UE). Back in the US before the big move, he was taking up Psychology. Of course, part of the reason he enrolled at UE was because he was hoping to play basketball for UE’s UAAP team. He tried out for a spot, but only made it as far as the training team.

His showbiz career had the same slow start.

THE ROMANTIC “Kapag nanligaw ako at dumating sa point na I want a girl to be my girlfriend, ayokong isipin na panandalian lang. I want it to be for a lifetime. I’m a relationship guy. Ayoko ng papalit-palit. It’s just a waste of my time,” expounds Xian, revealing his endearingly conservative notions about love and relationships.

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Parang nasa akin na lahat. Naibigay na sa akin lahat. Parang nakakahiya na magreklamo ka pa o mag-dwell ka pa sa mga pain na dinaanan mo.” — Kim on why there is more to be thankful for than fret about

Xian landed a few modeling jobs that came to him because he was naturally photogenic and had the height that was perfect for fashion events and spreads. But with offers not exactly pouring his first two years back, Xian spent a lot of his time hanging out with the few industry friends he had made, going for joyrides in his car (“Nag-iikot-ikot lang kami sa Metro Manila,” recalls a friend. “One time, nakaabot kami sa San Juan ‘ata ‘yun, we parked outside a convenience store, and just sat there, talking for hours”), playing billiards, discovering new restaurants and engaging in endless videoke sessions that stretched into the wee hours of the morning. Even then, say his friends, Xian’s love for music was already evident.

But even when things seemed to be happening too slowly, Xian was determined to stay and try to make a go of it. “I never felt that I wanted to give up,” stresses Xian. “I knew that I belonged (here). This (acting) was what I wanted to do.”

It was being introduced to Star Magic head Johnny Manahan that turned things around for Xian. “When Mr. M gave me workshops, when I was introduced to the workshops, I knew I wanted this type of job, being able to express myself, being able to live crazy. I enjoy it, sobra. I never felt na, huwag na, huwag na.”

But Xian, clueless as he may have been to the ways of showbiz at the time, knew that if stardom was going to come, it wouldn’t be an overnight thing.

“I knew that I had to work hard. I would tell myself, ‘Walang mangyayari if I’m gonna feel bad.

Patience, patience. If you wait, and work on your craft, everything’s gonna turn out well. ’ ”

The Way of Jade

Stardom dealt Kim Chiu a fate completely the opposite of how Xian got around it. Unlike her My Binondo Girl leading man, the Filipino-Chinese 26

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charmer skyrocketed to instant fame following the run of Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition in 2006. On April 6, 2011—only five years after her PBB win— Kim was able to fulfill one of the fervent wishes she’d had as a child in her native Cebu, growing up without a permanent residence she and her siblings could call their own. Kim is now the proud owner of a brand-new, multi-million peso house with a twostory master bedroom suite that has its own super king-size bed, a widescreen TV, and its own dining area, jacuzzi and sauna.

By the time My Binondo Girl came along, Kim was already a legitimate star, but had spent most of the years building up to that stardom as part of a very successful love team. When that partnership ended, it forced Kim into a situation not unlike Xian’s: the 21-year-old actress underwent a transition process.

But in Kim’s case, however, the transition happened in both her public and private lives.

For Xian, it was just a matter of proving himself worthy of being listed among the new-generation heartthrobs. He had the looks; all he needed was a vehicle to prove that he had the talent to back up the boy-next-door image.

For Kim, it was about discovering herself—her inner strength. She was trying to win back her independence from her former screen partner.

“Parang si Gerald ‘yung naging tatay ko, mommy ko, kapatid ko, pinsan ko, tito ko dito sa Maynila,” Kim told StarStudio in November 2010.

In the magazine’s July 2011 issue, she would echo that statement in words that indicated how much she had come to depend on Gerald.“Hindi kasi ako marunong magdesisyon dati para sa sarili ko. Ang dami ko pang tinatanong. Yung ate ko (Lakambini or Lakam Chiu), hindi naman makarelate sa akin kasi hindi naman niya alam ‘yung puyat na pinagdaraanan namin. Siya (Gerald) ‘yung tumutulong sa akin. Siya ‘yung nag-a-advise.

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TIMELINE

StarStudio traces Kim Chiu and Xian Lim’s long celluloid journey to becoming the love team of the moment

MY GIRL (2008) In the Filipino version of the popular Korean series My Girl, Kim starred opposite her original love team partner Gerald Anderson. Xian Lim, then fresh from the US, landed a cameo in the said Kimerald headlined-soap. Even then, the newcomer had made up his mind that he wanted to do showbiz for the long haul. “I asked myself, ‘What do I want to do?’ And the answer is, I want to inspire people. I want to make them happy.”

YOUR SONG PRESENTS: MY ONLY HOPE (2009) Another Kim and Gerald starrer, Your Song Presents: My Only Hope, can be considered as Xian’s first real TV debut.

In it, he played Rick, the older brother of Gerald’s character Keeno. “I was the favorite son, the good boy,” Xian recalls. He adds that he could closely identify with his character. “Like my character, I did not grow up na pasaway na bata at nagbigay ng sakit ng ulo sa magulang ko.”

MINSAN LANG KITA IIBIGIN (2011) Kim and Xian appeared in short roles as the young Alondra and young Joaquin, later played by Lorna Tolentino (as Alondra) and John Estrada (as Joaquin). This served as prelude to the two’s next assignment together, My Binondo Girl.

MY BINONDO GIRL (2011) The experimental show that made a hot screen pair of Kim Chiu and Xian Lim. “Tatlo ‘yung leading men ko sa soap pero ‘yung sa amin ni Xian ang pinakanagustuhan ng mga tao,” says Kim.

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XIAN-HOOD

From the boy who wanted to blend in, Xian Lim has metamorphosed into the guy everyone dreams about Xian grew up and studied in the US. His mother Mary Ann has long been separated from his Chinese mestizo dad who also used to play competitive basketball. When Xian first thought of uprooting in Manila, he wanted to follow the footsteps of his father. Xian, too, had hoop dreams.

Xian was a little on the heavy side as a kid. “I didn’t have a lot of friends,” he confesses. “I was kind of an outcast in school. I was more of the I’ll-do-my-own-thing type. Hindi ako masyadong bibo. I was bullied.

Siyempre I was the fat, chubby kid. I was the fat kid on campus.”

Xian admits that growing up, he wasn’t a jock, nor was he among the popular kids.

Being put in this ‘box’, so to speak, allowed Xian to become more sensitive to the plight of others. “You don’t have that certain ego. You stay humble because you know how it feels to be one of ‘yung mga nilalait.”

Siya ‘yung nag-aasikaso ng ibang bagay.”

Clearly a lot has changed since those days. The strong and confident Kim Chiu that greeted us four days before Christmas in 2011 is a replica of the Kim Chiu that welcomed StarStudio to her brand new home April of 2011. Her excitement is so palpable, you can almost touch it. The reasons behind it: her first Christmas in her new house with her siblings all accounted for and the tremendous success that her new love team with Xian is enjoying. My Binondo Girl became a breakthrough project for her in more ways than one: it affirmed that as an actress, she was now capable of carrying a show on her own.

The success of her love team with Xian was an unexpected bonus.

Kim couldn’t hold back her excitement over the way her life and career have unfolded in the last few months of 2011, going into 2012: “Masaya (ang magiging Pasko ko), kasi with the family. Tuluy-tuloy ang taping namin for My Binondo Girl and Christmas lang ‘yung break ko. Nandito na sila (all her four

Xian attended the Benjamin Franklin Middle School where he picked Band as his elective.

“Kasi nga I love music talaga eh,” he reasons. Other than the piano, the budding musician also learned to play other musical instruments like the trombone, cello, sax, and guitar and ukulele.

siblings Lakambini, Twinkle, William and John Paul).

Magki-Christmas shopping kami, grocery.”

With Christmas being a time for forgiveness, Kim shares that she made it imperative that she settle her differences with other people before December 25— she wanted to start the year on a clean slate, and did.

“Wala na. Bago mag-Christmas, goal ko na sinumang may galit sa akin o kaaway ko, babatiin ko na sila.”

For all her waif-like appearance and fragile damsel appeal, Kim Chiu boasts a large reservoir of inner strength. With My Binondo Girl’s impressive showing, she has proved that anyone who does not mean any harm will only reap rewards in the end. Kim admits that no matter how good your intentions are, one is never free from anxieties and worries. These two things are small challenges to hurdle especially if measured against the feeling of abandonment she experienced as a child and the pain caused by love when it has reached the end of the line.

When My Binondo Girl was on its first few months of airing, Kim was as concerned as anyone about the

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Nu’ng una, hindi ako naniniwala.

Nagsisimula pa lang kaming magtaping, sabi niya (Xian), ‘Kim, may ginagawa akong kanta para sa ‘yo, ha.’ (When I heard it), “Ang ganda, nakakaiyak. Sabi niya (Xian), para sa akin daw.” — Kim, on her reaction when she learned that Xian had written a song for her

HE WRITES THE SONGS Xian learned to play the piano when he was eight. “Lagi kong naririnig ang mom ko na tumutugtog. I asked her to teach me. She started by teaching me different scales then we moved on to classical pieces.”

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XIAN LIM’S MY BINONDO GIRL alter ego Andy Wu is, in fact, an extension of the budding matinee idol’s person. “Andy Wu is very similar to Xian, sobra!” Not unlike his screen character, Xian also plays the piano. The musical inclination he owes to his Mommy Mary Ann who taught piano lessons back in the States.

Xian muses: “I’m really a musician at heart.” His free time is spent composing tunes but to date, he has only finished one—and it came to be known as Ako’y Sa ‘Yo Lamang. “I always compose but I don’t get to finish it.”

While My Binondo Girl was airing, inspiration suddenly struck Xian. “I decided to write a song about me and Kim. The friendship inspired me. Everything added up. Maybe I’m just overwhelmed by the friendship.”

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2012 na kaya kalimutan na natin ‘yung nakaraan. Ang tagal na nu’n eh.

Naka-move on na lahat. Destiny lang ang makapagsasabi kung ano ang mangyayari sa akin.” — Kim on wanting to bury the hatchet and start afresh

public reception. “Ay, oo, siyempre,” she says when asked if she was apprehensive about how Kimerald fans would take to the idea of their beloved Kim without Gerald by her side. “Pero siyempre kailangan din naming mag-grow.”

Like the true survivor that she is, Kim has learned important lessons from past hurts but all the pain only served to make her a more beautiful student of life, love and all the twists and turns of the plot. “Na-e-enjoy ko lang ‘yung kung ano ang meron ako. Hindi naman siya (my heart) nakasara.

Hinihintay ko lang may kumatok. Hindi naman ako bad breakup kaya hindi ako bitter. Na-e-enjoy ko ‘yung life ko ngayon. Yung nakaraan, kalimutan na natin.”

For Kim Chiu, it was time to move on and write a new ending to the story.

A new chapter

Now it can be told: when he was offered the part in My Binondo Girl, Xian also had his own worries about how the role and the story would be received.

He confesses: “I got worried that there would be a lot of haters. Well, there’s always gonna be, but not a lot.

Tanggap naman.”

My Binondo Girl was actually not the first time for Kim to be paired with another leading man: sometime before it began, in December 2010, Kim appeared in a 13-episode Your Song Presents series that cast her opposite several leading men, including

Ejay Falcon, Matteo Guidicelli, Zanjoe Marudo, Jake Cuenca, Derek Ramsay, Vice Ganda and yes, Gerald. It would be the last time the two would work together on television aside from weekly episodes of ASAP. Though it was not really ‘experimental’ in nature, at the time My Binondo Girl started, none of the people behind the production were sure which of the three tandems would click with viewers.

But as is the case with most love teams that become celluloid pairings to reckon with, Kim and Xian’s partnership seemed to be a product of luck, of smart casting decisions, and born partly of Kim and Xian’s own doing: their easy, feel-good chemistry as Jade and Andy. It earned a sense of legitimacy, thanks to the public’s open show of approval.

Perhaps the best proof of this is that their screen pairing has already earned them a large group of fans that call themselves KimXi, an abbreviation of Kim and Xian’s first names. Their fans gave the tandem their total support from the beginning. “Nagpupunta pa nga sila sa taping. Nakakatuwa.” Kim then utters the fan group’s alias: KimXi, as though savoring the sound it makes as she pronounces the word.

She observes: “Napalitan lang ng Xi pero parang Kimerald din dati.”

They were surprised by the way the public took to the tandem.

“It was very unexpected,” admits Kim. “Tatlo ‘yung leading men ko sa soap, pero ang

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The friendship inspires me. Maybe it’s the first time that something like that has happened to me. Everything just sort of added up together perfectly.” — Xian on what inspired him to write a song for Kim

pinakanagustuhan ng mga tao ‘yung kay Xian.

Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit eh,” says Kim. “Siguro kasi friends na talaga kami dati pa. Hindi na kami nahirapan makitungo sa isa’t isa. Nanibago lang kami sa intimate scenes. Siyempre hindi naman namin ginagawa ‘yun (sa totoong buhay).”

Both Kim and Xian enjoy the rapport they have developed—and both of them do not discount the possibility that what goes on before the cameras may spill over into real life. But they don’t let it pressure them, especially Xian. “I don’t look at it as pressure,” says Xian. “Kung maramdaman ko, if I feel it, then hindi ko pipigilan ang sarili ko. I am not romantically attached at the moment. My last relationship was matagal na.”

“Hindi ko naman iniisip,” is Kim’s take on the idea of falling for Xian for real. He of the towering height, the gentle eyes, the prominent jawline and the image of a young man with an old soul. “Kung ano ang nand’yan, nand’yan. Kung ano ‘yung meron kami, ‘yun ‘yung meron kami. Hindi ako ‘yung ‘Ay, ay, ayan na.’ Magkaibigan naman kami ni Xian, mas lumalim na nga lang ngayon.”

Has Andy Wu, err Xian Lim, ever asked Jade, err Kim Chiu out? Kim laughs nervously, but at the same time you can sense a certain kilig behind the laughter. Friends have teased her about it often enough. “Minsan, sasabihin niya (Xian), ‘Dinner naman tayo.’ Ayoko ng kaming dalawa lang. Ano, date? Hello!”

It’s not surprising, because behind the matinee idol and seemingly carefree façade is a sensitive lad who loves composing songs and has old-fashioned notions about love. He even wrote a song, Ako’y Sa ‘Yo Lamang, which was used in My Binondo Girl and has sort of become the Kim-Xian tandem’s official theme song.

This is where notions about Xian being an “old soul” spring from. He loves to ‘read’ people. People

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have noticed that in general, Xian may seem quiet, but that is more because he is by nature an observer rather than a joiner, especially when it comes to activities involving crowds or large groups of people. He likes to hang back and study people first before approaching them.

In fact, when he and Kim first met on the set of My Girl, Xian did not make the first move; it was Kim who talked to him first to break the ice and officially ‘cement’ their working relationship.

The same thing happened on the set of My Only Hope. But in the first two shows, Kim and Xian didn’t have a lot of scenes together, and sometimes would tape in separate locations, leaving them with little time to bond on- and off-cam. It wasn’t until My Binondo Girl came along, when they shared a tent on location (there were two tents on the set, one for the senior stars like Ai-Ai delas Alas and Gina Pareño and one for the show’s young leads), and had actual scenes together, that they began to feel more comfortable with each other. They bonded, they talked, and—as Kim recounted to reporters at the grand presscon for the show at the Mall of Asia last year—Xian would play musical instruments to keep them entertained.

It was during these bonding moments in their tent, and working with him on the set, that Kim discovered the other, more personal side, of her leading man. “Hopeless romantic siya,” confirms Kim. “Kapag may scene na nagdi-date ‘yung characters namin (sa My Binondo Girl), sasabihin niya sa akin, ‘Ginawa mo ba ito dati? Pumupunta ba kayo sa (lugar na) overlooking?’ Sasabihin ko naman, ‘Hindi masyadong ganyan.’”

These moments would blur the lines between real and reel. “Sasabihin niya (Xian),” continues Kim, “’Ako, gusto ko dinadala (‘yung ka-date ko) sa ganyan-ganyan. Ang sarap ng feeling na meron kayong picture ng mahal mo na kuha sa

THE REAL DEAL ABS-CBN Business Unit Head Deo Endrinal analyzes the success of the Kim-Xian tandem this way: “It’s the connection— physically, they look good together, off-screen they are good friends, so the comfort level is there.

And of course, the story, the characters and the timing, sealed the deal.

The chemistry oozes beyond the screen.”

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two young artists are taking care of each other—and the FRIENDS WE WILL BE These public has responded favorably to their heartfelt rapport

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hat makes Kim Chiu and Xian Lim’s screen pairing one of today’s hottest TV couplings? Director Malu Sevilla, one of My Binondo Girl’s two directors (the other one being Francis Xavier Pasion of the indie Jay fame), puts it best: “Friendship is key to their success as a teamup.” It encapsulates the easy, natural chemistry between the two.

Kim and Xian, or KimXi as their avid followers refer to them affectionately, join a long line of iconic screen pairings—think Nida Blanca and Nestor de Villa of the LVN musicals of the ‘50s and Susan Roces and Eddie Gutierrez of the lighthearted Sampaguita Pictures potboilers of the ‘60s—who made such passionate romance on the screen but remained just good working partners for life. It is, however, too early to

tell if Kim and Xian’s onscreen rapport would translate to an off-cam romance as well.

“I’m comfortable working with Kim,” says Xian. “And she’s very comfortable working with me.” It helped a great deal that before they professed love for each other’s characters in My Binondo Girl, the soap from which their tandem sprang, Kim and Xian were not total strangers. “Friends na talaga kami noon pa,” shares Kim. They had starred together earlier in daytime soaps like My Girl and Your Song Presents: My Only Hope. “Close friend namin siya (Xian) ni Maja (Salvador),” continues Kim. “Kapag umaalis kami, kasama siya.”

Working together, attest Kim and Xian, was a breeze. “Ang taping di ba puyatan, tumatagal ng 24 hours? It didn’t feel like 24 hours,” declares Xian. “Time just passes by.

We can always joke around. She’s really fun to

ganitong lugar sa wallet mo.’” Kim swears that she has never encountered a young man quite like Xian. “Yung mga ganu’ng ka-cheesy-han.” Her thought bubble would always be: “May ganito pa palang klaseng lalake?”

The friendship they established off-set is part of what helped the Jade-Andy tandem to take off the way it did.

Says their My Binondo Girl director Malu Sevilla, who has been witness to their many ‘moments’ on the set: “Friendship is key to their success as a teamup. Both are very patient with and understanding of each other, and there is mutual respect for their craft as artists. Off-cam, well, they mingle as a group.” Xian, adds Direk Malu, can be quite a talker “when he’s in the mood. He makes her (Kim) laugh.”

Kim, on the other hand, is a generous listener. “She’s not afraid of him. So the comfortability level is really high between them,” observes their director.

But Direk Malu says the material also helped. The way the story ran, the natural progression of events, fell into step with the way things developed between the two off34

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be with. She’s always happy. If I see that she’s happy, I’m happy.” Needless to state, viewers are delighted as well to see Kim grinning widely again after some vivid images of the showbiz sweetheart nursing a broken heart in the last two years or so.

Even one of Kim’s three leading men in My Binondo Girl Matteo Guidicelli agrees that there is something electric about Kim and Xian’s screen rapport. “Kim’s a wonderful person,” says Matteo, “And Xian’s a cool dude so you know, it’s really a blessing na marami talaga silang supporters.”

What’s next after My Binondo Girl’s successful run? According to early reports, a Kim-Xian movie teamup is in the works.

Happy days for KimXi fans are far from over.

cam. It was a happy coincidence. “You also have to credit the beautifully-written material for the two, who labored to depict their characters Jade and Andy as faithfully as they could. Success in this case, therefore, is the reward for two who commit to their profession, value connections, and who know where it is they want to take this.”

The story is part of what attracted international business news anchor Rico Hizon—who’s now with BBC News—to follow the show religiously on The Filipino Channel. Through his Twitter account, Rico has kept followers entertained with his updates about the show.

One night, he breathed a sigh of relief as he walked through his front door. “Just got home in the nick of time to watch last night’s replay of My Binondo Girl on TFC.” When another follower tweeted him to ask if he really did watch the show, Rico’s reply was “religiously,” saying that what attracted him was that the show had the “total package: values, storyline, cast chemistry.”

But nothing could top his comment of January 6, 2012, after the episode featuring Jade and Andy’s much

THERE’S SO MUCH BEHIND A KISS THE JANUARY 5, 2011 EPISODE which contained the epic-long kissing scene between Kim Chiu and Xian Lim as star-crossed lovers Jade Dimaguiba and Andy Wu made viewers swoon dreamily at home (One YouTube comment goes: “The KISS is so intense and sensual yet innocent”), in the office and elsewhere but Kim swears that the memory of that intimate screen moment still makes her blush. “Nakakailang.” She says it was entirely different from the kissing scenes she did in her other soaps and movies. Somehow the five months that she and Xian had worked on My Binondo Girl helped them pull it off convincingly. “Nag-loosen up na kami sa isa’t isa dahil sa tagal na ng pagti-taping namin.” Xian claims that he was comfortable working with Kim right off. “She’s a sweet girl eh. She’s really fun to be with. She makes things easy for me and so in return, I want to make things easy for her. If I see that she’s happy, then I am happy. When we tape for My Binondo Girl, time just passes by. Hindi namin namamalayan na isang buong araw na pala kaming nagtatrabaho. It never feels like it’s 24 hours. Nakakatuwa.”

talked-about ‘epic kissing scene’ aired, Rico tweeted: “Another memorable My Binondo Girl episode. Gigil sa kilig.”

One true thing

The thing that delights people most about the KimXian love team the most is the relief of finally being able to see Kim happy again after everything she’s been through. Kris Aquino, who says Kim has become like her favorite baby sister since working together in Kung Tayo’y Magkakalayo (which, coincidentally, also starred Gerald), was thrilled to see the onscreen and off-screen chemistry that Kim and Xian have with each other when they guested on her daytime talk show, Kris TV. When Kim and Xian got up to sing, they faced the camera and had their backs to her.

After they were done, Kris got up, walked over to them and told the audience, in more or less the following words: “Alam n’yo, teka, pero sasabihin ko ito ha? Kasi hindi n’yo nakikita. Pero ako, nakita ko. Si Xian, habang kumakanta, ‘yung kamay, nasa likod ni Kim, tapos gumaganito,” she said, moving her hand in an up-and-down motion, which is what someone does when stroking another’s back.

Kris is overjoyed that finally, her favorite baby sister

(who incidentally, shares a birthday—April 19—with Kris’s son Bimby) seems to have found someone who genuinely cares for her. “I saw her when she was still nursing a broken heart and was so pleasantly surprised when I saw that she and Xian have on-screen chemistry.

Offscreen, I’ve also seen that he is sweet to her and always a gentleman, and he looks for ways to make her happy.”

As of this writing, My Binondo Girl is on its last two weeks of airing. Direk Malu says that at this point, they have about six more taping days to go.

Their fans are apprehensive, wondering what will happen to the tandem once the show goes off the air.

Network executive Jillmer Dy—who was one of those monitoring the team-up from the start—believes the chances of the tandem surviving the show are good.

“Magkamukha sila, and they complement each other in many different ways. Plus, the team-up came at a right time, when both are available (off- and on-screen) thus, the fans can actually dream about them ending up together after the series is through.”

At this point, anything could happen. The door is being held wide open for Kim and Xian, but the choice to walk through it is up to them.

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HE MAKES HER SMILE “Expect 100 percent. Expect that I will treat you right, that I will give you a good relationship.” Xian’s words reverberate as StarStudio witnessed first-hand how at the cover shoot, Kim Chiu and Xian Lim seemed oblivious to the team that surrounded them. Without prodding, they seemed to know how to go about the shoot requirements. They sure looked like one pair whose off-screen romance might just surpass what their onscreen partnership has achieved.

Q&A ‘I’d call her ‘Mrs. Wu’

Xian shares what his special name for Kim would be, where he would take her on a date and what they would do—if he had the chance What’s the best thing about being a part of a love team?

What’s the best thing? You guys get to see each other every time.

I guess it depends din on who you’re paired up with.

In your case, that’s Kim. It’s a wonderful feeling. It’s a happy and exciting feeling. Kasi I’m gonna get to see her every day, every time, yeah.

What do you love most about Kim? She’s so easy to work with. She’s always smiling. Never mo siyang makikitang nakasimangot. Maski pumatak ang 4AM, smiling pa rin.

‘He’s a hopeless romantic’

Kim spills the beans on her leading man and shares what she meant by her comment, ‘Ang lakas makababae ng ginagawa ni Xian’ How do you feel about your tandem with Xian? Are you happy with each other? Masaya naman kami and habang tumatagal, mas nakikilala namin ‘yung isa’t-isa.

In one interview, you described Xian as a hopeless romantic. Do you go for those types of guys? Siyempre, gusto naman ng lahat ng girls ‘yan, na maging romantic ‘yung guy. And siyempre, kakaiba ‘yun kasi minsan lang ‘yung may gan’un ngayon eh, yung hopeless romantic kind of guy. ‘Yung parang makaluma na lalaki na. Ang uso ngayon, text-text na lang, kitaan na lang sa mata. Traditional siya, so kakaiba siya.

Sinabi mo raw sa The Buzz last Sunday na malakas maka-babae yung mga ginagawa ni Xian, what do you mean by that?

‘Yon, yung mga sweet words niya. ‘Yung mga ginagawa niya. Siyempre kahit sinong babae, kapag pinakitaan ng ganyan, at sabihan ng mga ganoong words, [mapapasabi ng] ‘Ay babae pala ako.’

For you, guwapo ba si Xian? Ano ba? Ano ba’ng tanong yan? (Laughing) Literal. Oo naman!

What do you like best about him? Physically and sa pag-uugali.

Physically, ‘yung height niya and built niya. Ano pa ba? Ugali niya, funny and masayahin kasi siya.

If you had a special name for Kim, what would it be and why?

(Laughing) Natanong mo na ba ito kay Kim? What did she say?

What do you think about Xian’s closeness to his mom? Sila lang kasing dalawa ng mom niya ‘yung magkasama since dati pa, so mahal na mahal niya ‘yung mom niya. And sabi niya, ‘Kawawa ‘yung mom ko kasi na-hurt siya ng dad ko.’ So parang mayroon siyang sinasabi na ayaw niyang makahurt ng babae kasi ayaw niyang matulad [yung babae] sa mom niya.

She said ‘Mr. Wu’ Mrs. Wu. Dahil siya si Mrs. Wu.

What’s the best thing na ginawa para sa’yo ni Xian? ‘Yung Christmas gift niya na nagharana siya sa set.

If you were to ask Kim out on a date, where would you go and what would you do? [I’d take her to] a special restaurant.

Maybe in a romantic place, I don’t know. [We’d have dinner by] candlelight.

What was your first impression of Xian? Masungit, kasi lagi siyang nakasimangot. At saka nu’ng first taping niya, sobrang tahimik niya, hindi siya nakikipagusap, yun pala nahihiya siya.

What’s your message to Kim? Thank you so much for being who you are. You’re special and I look forward to being with you, working with you, always.

As a friend, how is he? Maloko ba siya? Oo maloko. Funny and corny na‘ yung mga jokes niya pero nakakatawa pa din kasi nag-e-effort siya.

What is Xian like as a leading man? Si Xian, like all leading men, [is a] gentleman. Actually, lahat. Generally kapag may leading man ka at ikaw ang leading lady, gentleman ang mga leading men sa’yo.

Paano manligaw si Xian Lim? Ayokong mag-assume na nililigawan niya ako! (Laughs) TFC ALL ACCESS V O L U M E

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