The pressure is on for Julia & Kathryn

New generation stars Julia Montes and Kathryn Bernardo are feeling the pressure playing the lead roles in their first movie together, Way Back Home, a Star Cinema family drama.

“Doble at triple po ang pressure na nararamdaman namin ni Julia,” said Kathryn. “Every shot pulido and we have to sustain our emotions,” added Julia. Kathryn and Julia play siblings in the movie that also stars Sam Concepcion and Enrique Gil. “Sam and Enrique are fun to be with. They are hyper. Sarap nilang kasama,” enthused Kathryn.

Kathryn and Julia have only good words for Agot Isidro, Tonton Gutierrez and Lotlot de Leon. “They are very supportive of us. They make us comfortable. They are very good and they inspire us,” they chorused.

Way Back Home, directed by Jerry Sineneng, will be in theaters nationwide on Aug. 17.

It’s refreshing to know that a new generation of stars is in place in the industry that needs to sustain itself with stars that deliver the goods to an adoring public.

Krista overjoyed with motherhood

Krista Ranillo is overjoyed with her new role as mother of three-month-old Nate Jacob who was christened last week. “I am very happy. Grabe ang turnout of guests. We didn’t expect it. Friends and family came over to share in the baptism of Nate and we are so happy.”

Krista also revealed the changes that are happening to her as mother to Nate. “It’s a very fulfilling life. ‘Yung makita mo lang ang milestones ni Nate like the first time he smiled and the first time he spoke a word. ‘Yung nandun ako in every milestone of his life is very fulfilling. My life is simple now but very happy,” she explained.

Krista also said that being a mother is like receiving an award everyday. “If you’re an actress, you strive to get the good roles. But being a mother is like receiving an award every day. I am very hands-on. I am breastfeeding him so talagang nakikita ko na lumalaki siya and he is growing because of your tender loving care. And it is like winning an award every day.”

Nate Jacob at three months is “ma-PR and likes to be around with people.” Will he be in showbiz since he is also a Ranillo? “His dad doesn’t want to. Of course, we want him to be a businessman. Or whatever he wants in life. But at three months, he already has the potential to be in showbiz. Kahit maingay, hindi siya naiingayan. Talagang masaya siya. My feeling is baka in the future.”

We are happy for Krista.

Geoff Taylor stars in two plays

Geoff Taylor stars in Young Artists Production’s Hercules 12: A Pop Emo Musicale and in Entabladong Bahaghari’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

In the former, Geoff plays Hercules, a demigod fathered by Zeus with the beautiful mortal Alcmene while in the latter he is Romeo, Juliet’s lover in the adaptation of Shakespeare’s opus about two feuding families, the Monatagues and the Capulets.

Hercules will be shown in two runs: Aug. 24 to 26 (2 p.m.) at Butuan City, (10 a.m. and 4 p.m.) at Surigao and Sept. 14 to 16 (10 a.m. and 3 p.m.) at Crossroads, Quezon City. Meanwhile, Romeo and Juliet goes on stage tomorrow, Aug. 6 and on Aug. 27 (9 a.m. and 2 p.m.) at the Aliw Cinema Theater, Meycauayan City; and Aug. 12 (2 p.m.), Aug. 13 (9 a.m.) 2 p.m., 6 p.m.), Aug. 20 (9 a.m., 2 p.m., 6 p.m.) at New Capitol Gym, Malolos City.

Aside from his theater engagements, Geoff shares the stage in concerts of Kapuso artists Solenn Heussaff and Ogie Alcasid. He is also taping a travel program called Take Out. He is part of an ensemble of hosts who will visit different Pinoy destinations, and get immersed in the unique food traditions as well as other cultural hallmarks of these places. Take Out will air on GMA 7.

Geoff is also working on his other major talent: Cooking. He is taking up a course in culinary arts at Most Culinary School located in EDSA Cubao. He is being managed by Victor Felarca.