How respect fuels JoshLia's onscreen chemistry

It appears that audiences are happy to see the exes Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia reunite — at least on screen.

JoshLia's current film, “Un/Happy For You,” registered a first-day gross of P20.5 million after it opened in theaters nationwide on Wednesday, according to ABS-CBN’s Star Cinema, one of the producers alongside Viva. “Biggest opening gross of a local film this year,” ABS-CBN's film outfit said of the box-office figure on its social media pages.

Gross expectations should be higher for yesterday because it was a payday, and it remains to be seen if this will carry on through the weekend when people have more time to go to the cinemas.

In a previous interview, The STAR asked the two stars what made them click as a tandem before and even after their breakup. Although they parted ways in 2019, the former love team has been receiving offers to work together again since they reunited briefly in 2021 for the Moira dela Torre music video of Paubaya. It took this romance drama material about exes who had no closure to make them finally say yes.

For Joshua, they owed their chemistry to a shared work mindset. “Isa siguro yung grabe namin pinapahalagahan yung acting work. Grabe namin bigyan ng puso, lalim ang bawat eksena and linya. That’s one,” he said.

“Of course, nagkaroon din (kami) ng relationship during that time, the JoshLia before. I think, nakatulong ng nagkaroon ng something for our viewers.”

As for Julia, she believes it’s because of the respect they have for each other.

“‘Di rin kasi nawala yung respect sa isa’t isa. We both chose to move forward ng masaya and grateful for that chapter in our lives. I think it’s the right mindset really coming into a project like this, coming together again to do this,” she said.

Asked when and how they knew they were ready to reunite in a project, they couldn’t pinpoint a specific moment but said that they just felt it.

“I think you’ll know when you’re ready,” Julia said.

“We didn’t have that part where, I realized na, ‘Game!’ Parang nangyari lang siya. It just happened. Like, why don’t we do a film together again? Then stories were pitched to us.”

The STAR also asked how they would describe their relationship now. Are they friends or perhaps kindred spirits — like two people who still have a connection that they can’t quite explain?

Joshua agreed, “Parang may ganun kami. May pagkakaintindihan na ‘pag magkatinginan lang kami parang ma-ge-gets na namin yung isa’t isa.”

“Alam namin ‘pag medyo na-frustrate na kami, parang nakakainis na ‘to or kapag natutuwa kami,” said Julia.

They could also sense when the other is down and know when to lift each other up.

While both are now happy with their respective relationships, their views on exes reconciling were sought as well.

Said Julia, “It’s different for everyone. There are people who get their second chances, their third chances, and there are people who are happier with their decision (to separate). I can’t speak for everyone. I’m not an expert. Everyone has their own journey in love. Whatever works for them, will work for them.”

Meanwhile, the two stars shared what is giving them happiness these days.

Joshua said, “Masaya ako ngayon, pati sa career ko. It’s my 10th anniversary (in showbiz) this year. I’m happy because I’m still getting good projects. Hindi nagsasawa sa akin yung management.”

“But I think, ang nawawala sa akin ngayon, hindi ko na nakikita masyado yung loved ones ko,” he admitted, referring to his family who is based in Batangas. “But okay naman because I’m surrounded by my team.”

Julia, on the other hand, said that lots of things are her source of joy nowadays. “But always nangingibabaw sa akin na it really makes me happy when I get to spend time with my loved ones, my family, my friends. They are a great energizer and it’s a great recharge sa ginagawa natin sa trabaho natin. So ever since, that’s the No. 1 thing that makes me happy.”

In terms of her career, Julia further reflected that “I’m just happy that I never gave up. I’m just happy that I really kept going and that I remain brave in my own journey.”

While she never entertained ideas of quitting, there was a point in her career that she felt “discouraged” but for “a very short amount of time.”

“And I think it’s a very human feeling to kinda feel that way. Of course, tao lang din minsan, hindi mo alam kung gusto pa rin ba ako mapanood ng tao? Parang na-appreciate pa ba ng tao yung work ko?” she said.

“But you know, it won’t help when you have negative thoughts like that so you have to be brave and courageous. You need to have faith in yourself. So yeah, I’m just glad that I didn’t give up on myself.”

Meanwhile, Joshua and Julia discussed their next major goals beyond pursuing their dream projects or films.

“Ang dream ko pa rin mag-college. It’s still my goal in life — always,” Julia said.

It’s known that the actress’ siblings have finished school and college with her support but she stressed, “Nakaka-proud but, you know, I don’t wanna take any of the credit because grabe din yung sakripisyo ni Mommy (Marjorie Barretto) for all of us and she did that all on her own.

“I’m just always going to be there when they need me, but I could never take the credit. But I’m very proud of them for everything that they’ve accomplished. They made my mother very, very proud and me, too.

“But if I were to take up something in college, I really want to take up Psychology because, you know, sometimes I also want to understand myself (laughs). Why are we thinking this way, why are we feeling this way and others. I feel like mas nagkakaroon ka ng compassion kasi parang mas patient ka.”

Joshua, for his part, shared that he’s the type of person that lives in the moment. “After this movie, I’ll go straight to the series,” he said of his upcoming show, the Philippine adaptation of the South Korean drama “It’s Okay To Not Be Okay” with Anne Curtis and Carlo Aquino. “Then, maybe next year na ulit akong makaka-work. I think I wanna try vlogging or do business — or do both at the same time,” he said.