Kathryn: Too early, not so soon

After admitting that she and Daniel Padilla have been going steady for five years, Kathryn Bernardo says she’s not ready for marriage 

MANILA, Philippines — In Star Cinema’s new film Three Words To Forever, Kathryn Bernardo plays a young bride-to-be. Her plans to wed will uncover the good, the not-so-good and the challenging in the marriages within her three-generation family.

Kathryn’s grandparents (played by Freddie Webb and Liza Lorena) are preparing to renew their vows as husband and wife for 55 years. Her parents (Richard Gomez and Sharon Cuneta) are drifting apart but putting up a pretence for their 25th wedding anniversary. What is supposed to be a triple celebration of love faces complications so much so the film asks the question, is staying together still an option? Or, is the situation worthy of a happy resolution?

The theme of Three Words To Forever inspired some discussion on marriage during a presscon last Nov. 22 at Dolphy Theater. Kathryn offered her thoughts on the subject as prompted by a fan question.

Asked how can one tell if she’s ready for marriage, she said, “Feeling ko, you’ll feel it when you are ready for it and if your partner is ready for it, kasi iba-ibang age tayo pwede maging ready pasukin ang marriage because it’s a different level from being boyfriend-girlfriend. For me, if you can see your life, things you do now with that person, I think that’s one; then if you can’t see the future without him; and if there’s respect for each other, that’s important. People get ready for marriage at different ages. If you feel it, go! Sometimes, you just have to jump.”

However, she was quick to add that marriage is far from her mind. “Not so soon, siempre si Mama andyan!” she laughed, pointing at her mother Min in the audience. “Too early for now. These are things you don’t rush because it’s marriage and it’s unfair to the other person if you enter something when you can’t give it everything. So, we’ll see.”

The 22-year-old actress has been going steady with her perennial love team partner Daniel Padilla for five years now. She and DJ “officially” confirmed their relationship in a media con in August for their Star Cinema film The Hows of Us, which the ABS-CBN film outfit declared as highest-grossing Pinoy film of all time for earning over P600M.

Like her new film’s title, Kathryn has three words for this young love. “I am happy. Alam mo, ang sarap mag-share ngayon ng lahat, na ganito ka-open since sinabi namin last presscon yung totoong status namin. But really, I am happiest when I am with DJ. Yes, because he’s not just a boyfriend eh. He’s a friend also, whom you can tell everything, and how he is with my family.”

She also has three words for what she thinks will make a relationship, whether romantic or familial, for keeps.

“I am sorry. In general, whether in a family or in a relationship, it’s easy to say I love you, but it’s difficult to (release the words) I am sorry, right? When you say I am sorry, it means you still want to fix things or you want to give another chance, ang dami niyang pwede pang puntahan. In my family, if you’ve done something wrong, I am sorry. With DJ and I, whoever is at fault should say sorry kasi kung wala yun, it can’t just be ‘I love you’ every day. And it’s important that you know how to forgive and humble yourself in any kind of relationship.”

Meanwhile, to be filming without her long-time screen partner for the first time, she said, has been “a big, big adjustment for me. I won’t say that it has been easy because for a long time, for six or seven years, I’ve been (working) with DJ, and you know when you report to the set, he’s there (laughs).”

For Kathryn, it did feel strange “but then when this film was offered to me, with Tito Richard and Tita Sharon, when I learned about the story, ang ganda-ganda. I wanted to do the film because I’m a daughter in a family.”

She continued, “I want to represent for the youth once they watch the movie. I will be the voice of the children. Of course, in the first shooting days, we were all adjusting because it was an out-of-town shoot. You couldn’t go home to your house or see (certain) people but then, after a week maybe or two, everything was OK already. Nakatulong din, of course, si DJ, how much he supported me in this film. I’m so lucky!”

According to her, Daniel came to their set location in Ormoc, Leyte, a visit that obviously thrilled the young actress. He also talked to Tommy Esguerra, who plays Kathryn’s fiancé in the film, so that it would be easier for them to do scenes together.

She also credited the film’s director Cathy Garcia-Molina (who last directed her in The Hows of Us). “She’s like my mother in the industry. She was a big help as always. She took care of me,” she said of the lady director (a no-show at the presscon because she was editing the film.)

Asked how it was working with Richard and Sharon, who are reuniting on the big screen 15 years after Walang Kapalit in 2003, Kathryn said, “Of course, I was shy at the start but they helped me out and they didn’t make it hard for me to adjust to the environment, new co-workers. I’m so lucky that they guided me throughout the movie.”

She also refused to compare Three Words To Forever to The Hows of Us, particularly box-office expectations. “Actually, this movie is very different from Hows of Us. This is a family movie... More than the amount it will earn, I want families to be touched by our story. Of course, it’s a bonus na kung ilang milyon yung kinita ng movie. But at the end of the day, I think we are able to do our jobs as actors if audiences can relate to our characters.”

She continued, “I’m very happy with the material, especially when we shot the confrontation scenes and all. I want our movie to be watched by all members of the family. The past few projects that Star Cinema made (were) all love stories, and I’m a fan of Four Sisters and a Wedding, I’m a fan of Seven Sundays. Super! Nung sinabi sa akin, di ko talaga alam na parang part siya nun,” she said, referring to the 2013 and 2017 family-centered films also megged by direk Cathy. “I am fan of this project. I hope (people) give it a chance, give it their time.”

Three Words To Forever opens in cinemas on Nov. 28.