Kathryn, Daniel on the downsides of fame

CEBU, Philippines - Perhaps teen sensation Daniel Padilla was just having an off-day or in bad need of some shut-eye, because his answer when asked to describe himself outside the cameras sounded like a semi-rant on how a wildly in-demand star like him is sometimes being treated.

“Simpleng tao lang ako. Nagagalit, natutuwa, nalulungkot…hindi po ako robot na pwedeng utos-utusan. Di ba po? Kasi yan ang tingin sa amin minsan eh. Parang robot lang na…pangitiin mo, dapat ngumiti ka. Tao lang din po kami. Kayo din siguro, ilagay niyo yung pwesto niyo sa amin, mapapagod din kayo minsan. Ganun lang ako, normal na tao. Pero oo, alam ko lahat ng bagay may kapalit. Kailangan mong ngumiti kasi artista ka eh,” the young actor griped during a March 8 backstage interview at the SM City Cebu Event Centre.

Daniel said he is trying his best to adjust and understand other people, but that maintaining his cool when provoked has been a challenge.

“Minsan hindi mo maiwasang magalit din. Masyadong bastos na yung ibang tao,” he added.

Urged to cite an instance when he almost blew his top, the 17-year-old related, “Example yung may taping, ang daming tao. Pinapa-tahimik sila dahil may gagawin na eksena, tapos may isa, dalawa o tatlong tao na biglang sisigaw at nambabastos. Alam mo, yung nagpapapansin lang? Naba-bad trip ka, minsan gusto mong patulan. Kahit naman gawin sa inyo yun, maiinis din kayo. Napaka-papansin lang talaga ng ibang tao.”

Unarguably the most popular to emerge from the Padilla showbiz clan’s third generation, Daniel is aware that he has inherited the trademark bad boy swagger of his elders. But while he may look the part of a heartthrob oozing with self-confidence, Daniel said he’s not the arrogant teen others perceive him to be. “Tingin ng iba sa akin, ang yabang yabang ko. Pero hindi, ganito lang talaga ako kumilos at magsalita. Relax lang. Hindi kailangan magpa-plastic.”

Daniel, son of Rommel Padilla (brother of “Bad Boy of Philippine Cinema” Robin Padilla) and actress Karla Estrada, admitted to shying away from the limelight before.

“Ayoko talaga dati, pero siguro naisip ko na kailangan na. Nasa harapan ko na eh. Kung hindi ko tanggapin, sayang yung opportunity. Ang daming nag-o-audition para mag-artista, pumipila magdamag kahit hindi pa kumakain. Ako andiyan lang, lalakad lang ako, wala pang isang oras…,” he said.

Strike while the iron is hot, seems to be the game plan of Daniel’s handlers. He had starred for 10 months in the hit primetime soap “Princess and I” with screen partner Kathryn Bernardo, released a six-track debut album which reached Gold Record status and won awards in the recent “Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs” songwriting contest where he was one of the interpreters. Next on his plate are a second album and an April 30 birthday concert at the Araneta Coliseum.

He is also credited for reviving the acting career of his parents, since they too have been nabbing guest spots and TV roles. For all these successes, Daniel was able to reward himself with a pricey new ride to a reported tune of P3 million.

While his surname might have been his entry ticket, Daniel believes he made it big without playing up his famous relations. “Oo naman malaking tulong yung parents ko, pero hindi ko ginagamit yung pagiging Padilla ko. Gumagawa ako ng sarili kong pangalan. Proud sila sa akin. Alagaan ko daw at huwag daw lalaki ang ulo ko,” he said.

Kathryn, on the other hand, shared that she is still saving up to build her dream house, but that she had recently invested on a condominium unit.

When similarly asked what has been her biggest adjustment since making it big, the pretty 16-year-old replied, “Yung patience lang, kailangan habaan talaga lalo na artista ka. Pag may problema ka sa personal na buhay, dapat alisin mo muna kapag nasa TV ka na kasi hindi naiintindihan ng lahat ng tao na may nangyayari din sayo. Mami-misinterpret ka. So kailangan, you set aside your personal life muna.”

Like any normal teen, she enjoys simple pleasures such as going to the mall and getting a good sleep — two things she doesn’t have much luxury to do these days. If given the chance to pursue college, Kathryn said she would love to enroll in an Advertising-related course.

Daniel and Kathryn flew in for a mall show to promote their romantic-comedy movie “Must Be…Love” now showing in theaters nationwide. Proving once more that they are currently the love team to beat, their show was attended by an enormous crowd who let out thunderous shrieks when the duo came out on stage. Young girls who fainted with all the shoving had to be assisted by security men.

In “Must Be…Love,” Kathryn plays Patchot, a simple, tomboyish girl and daughter of a lechon-maker, who longs for the love of a mother and nurtures a big crush on her best friend Ivan (Daniel). Drama ensues when a cousin (Liza Soberano in an introducing role) arrives from the US and catches Ivan’s attention.

For Kathryn and Daniel, the most enjoyable part of shooting the film was the scenes where they were playing basketball.

On what lessons movie-goers can pick up from the story, Kathryn said, “Huwag matakot sabihin yung feelings mo habang maaga pa. At yung dapat magtiwala ka sa sarili mo, dahil lahat tayo, merong beauty inside, like my character, who from an ugly duckling, will transform.”

Majority of the film’s scenes was shot in Cebu last month, specifically in the town of Carcar, Fort San Pedro and Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Mactan. Joining Kathryn and Daniel as support cast are John Estrada, John Lapus, Miguel Morales, Kit Thompson, Ramon Christopher, Janus del Prado, Sharlene San Pedro, Paul Salas, Cacai Bautista and Arlene Muhlach. This Star Cinema flick is helmed by “Princess and I” director Dado Lumibao. (FREEMAN)