Barbie Forteza: Adult responsibilities harder than heartbreak
MANILA, Philippines — “Saving Cherry” star Barbie Forteza says romantic heartbreak no longer feels like one of life’s biggest challenges now that realities and responsibilities of adulthood have taken over.
The actress, who just turned 29 last month, opined that breakups and cheating almost seem easier to face compared with what she now has to deal with at home, at work and even as a taxpayer.
When The Philippine STAR asked how she copes with such real-life issues that many women encounter, Barbie said her answer now sounds very much like that of someone nearing 30.
“Alam kong pang-trenta yung sagot ko. Nung una, nung bata-bata pa ako, ’yan ang real-life challenge ko. Ngayon, medyo bumibigat ang mga responsibilidad ko na para bang...
“Pwede bang, ‘Oo, ma-experience ko na lang ang cheating kesa itong mga responsibilidad ko ngayon bilang adult.’ Ang pinagdadaanan ko, ‘di ba, sa bahay, mga responsibilidad sa mga ka-kontratahan, ganyan, andiyan na ako,” she quipped.
She also cited paying taxes as another reality that comes with getting older.
“Kung nakita n’yo nga po, thankfully, ginawaran po ako ng BIR as a good taxpayer, so ’yun din. Para sa amin po kasi, ’yun ang real-life challenges.”
At this point in her life, Barbie remarked that matters of the heart have become relatively smaller parts of a much bigger picture.
“Kasi yung break-up tsaka yung cheating, parang ano na lang siya sa akin ngayon....” she said, before agreeing that these could be considered more like “spice” in the story of her life.
She clarified though that it doesn’t mean ending a relationship has become an easy decision for her.
She further pointed out that a relationship is something two people once mutually wanted to begin, which makes the choice to end it something that still requires serious thought.
But once she has made up her mind about a breakup, Barbie admitted, “There’s really no turning back.”
When it comes to cheating, however, the actress said she could not really give advice nor an opinion based on personal experience because she was never certain if she had actually been cheated on.
“Cheating, I can’t really give any advice based from experience because, to be honest, I’m not really sure if I had been cheated on. I never really confirmed it, so I’ll just say no para safe.”
Still, Barbie had one piece of advice for fellow young women, regardless of the circumstances they find themselves in.
“Any situation, bilang babae, piliin mo lagi yung sarili mo kasi walang ibang mas mapapamahal sa ’yo kundi ang sarili,” she said.
Her thoughts and reflections on love and heartbreak were sought by this writer during an interview for her latest film, “Saving Cherry,” where she plays Cherry Valdez, a bride-to-be who has saved her virginity for marriage, only to discover that her fiancé, Jude, played by Khalil Ramos, has been unfaithful on the eve of their wedding. The betrayal sends her on a chaotic journey as she tries to take control of her life on her own terms.
Produced by Regal Entertainment and directed by Ivan Andrew Payawal, “Saving Cherry” opens in cinemas on Sept. 2.
When the project was first presented to her, Barbie admitted wondering what made the people behind the film believe she could pull off such material and character far different from what audiences have seen in her or usually associated with her.
“Kaya kong gumawa ng ganitong materyal kasi I’ve never done this before. This is something I’ve never done before,” she recalled of her initial reaction when Regal met with her management team, Sparkle GMA Artist Center.
She was, nevertheless, struck by the trust placed in her, especially since the producers said she was the first and only choice for the part.
That willingness to take on something new also indicates where Barbie appears to be in her life, as well as in her career now, more game and willing to discover other sides of herself both onscreen and off.
The same thinking seemed to have also influenced how she views relationships and even marriage.
Barbie said she used to think about settling down, but her perspective has since changed as her understanding of her own life has widened.
“I used to think about it,” she told The STAR.
She explained that as she has gotten older, she has become more interested in checking out what else life has to offer and, in the process, getting to know herself better.
“Will I ever get married? Even mas ganun na ’yun kasi nga parang ngayon kung kailan ako tumanda, mas nagustuhan ko mag-explore. And so, parang ngayon ko pa lang din nakikilala yung sarili ko na masyado pang malayo yung marriage for me and also dahil mas nagkakaroon din ako ng better understanding of life.”
“Hindi na rin ako ganun ka-sure if marriage is necessary,” she candidly added.
Even so, she hasn’t totally given up her romantic side.
Barbie admitted that the idea of a spontaneous wedding still appeals to her — the kind where two people are so in love at that moment that they simply decide to get hitched.
“Yung gusto ko rin yung biglaan lang… ‘Tara, pakasal tayo,’ yung ganon, yung ganung level of love n’yo at that time,” she said.
But she also acknowledged that the intensity of romantic feelings doesn’t remain the same all the time.
“Pero dahil hindi naman ganoon lagi ang level of love all the time,” she continued, “gusto ko rin yung sinasabi nila na power of choice.”
“I like to keep my options open, so,” she added.
And when directly asked by this paper whether she was ready to fall in love again, Barbie made it clear that she’s not in a rush to enter another romantic relationship.
“Parang masyado ko pang gustong ibuhos lahat ng pagmamahal sa sarili ko. Ayoko pang may kahati, hahaha!” she said.
“Tsaka na muna ’yon. Ako muna.”
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