AUG 18 - 24, 2018 ISSUE

FIRST ON INSIDE SHOWBIZ! JoshLia On Their First Teleserye Together: Ngayon at Kailanman

EXCLUSIVE TELL-ALL INTERVIEW! JoshLia Shares The Biggest Challenge That They Had To Overcome For Ngayon at Kailanman SHLIA JOOn Primetime At Last #InsideShowbizLovesJoshlia

VANI ALTOMONTE EDITOR ANGELU ZAFE WEB CONTENT WRITER

ART NICOLE VILLARUEL JUNIOR ART DIRECTOR BRIA CARDENAS JUNIOR MULTIMEDIA ARTIST DENNIS FLORORITA FINAL ARTIST

SPECIAL PROJECTS MARGA TUPAZ HEAD

STEPH FERRER, ANGELI MANABAT COPYWRITERS

JOSHUA ARGOSINO, FATIMA ESMERO, CARMINA AGLIPAY, NICCA ESPAÑOL MULTIMEDIA ARTISTS

CONTRIBUTOR

FLOYD JHOCSON, PHOTOGRAPHER ROSY MINA WRITER WALTER DE JESUS BRAND ASSOCIATE FAYE JESSICA YOINGCO DIGITAL CONTENT STRATEGIST

ERICA LUNA EDITORIAL ADMIN ASSOCIATE SUKI SALVADOR VICE-PRESIDENT — MAGAZINE & PRINT BUSINESS ARCHIE CARRASCO EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER

FOUNDER & CEO SARI YAP CHAIRMAN J. TIU FOUNDING CREATIVE DIRECTOR LORRAINE BELMONTE FINALLY TOGETHER ON PRIMETIME

Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto on finally clinching their first primetime teleserye together. INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE A love team these days is usually born on the small screen, most of the time in a sitcom or soap opera where their chemistry and mass appeal are tested. If the pair clicks, then it is deemed worthy of crossing over to the mainstream movie scene where production expenses are higher and commercial viability is way important. The reverse, however, happened to the JoshLia team-up of and Julia Barretto as they have been paired up in movies since 2016. After starring in four films together, they are headlining a primetime soap opera this month, at long last.

“The feedback and excitement from other people are so overwhelming,” Julia sighs as she responds to Inside Showbiz Weekly about how she feels about their upcoming ABS-CBN teleserye Ngayon at Kailanman. Joshua agrees with his lady love, but also confesses, “Movies palang naman mga ginagawa namin so ako mismo kinakabahan siyempre. Sana magustuhan at tangkilikin ito.”

The teleserye, which premieres on August 20, validates JoshLia’s rightful place among the country’s top love teams which include KathNiel, JaDine, LizQuen, and AlDub. Julia, however, clarifies, “We didn’t make it a priority na kailangan makahilera namin ‘yung ibang love teams. Parang it wasn’t our goal. We both love what we do so much so we just work hard and I think our priority is just to be able to deliver and perform well. And whatever the reaction nalang of the audience… God is good. God is so good.”

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY AUGUST 2018 INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE Joshua adds, “Kumbaga focused lang kami sa work namin tapos hayaan na naming mag-flow nang maganda ‘yung mga nangyayari.” In the movies, they were Vince and Kath in 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival entry Vince & Kath & James, Caloy and Mika in Love You to the Stars and Back (September 2017), Jason and Yanni in (November 2017), and Joko and Zoey in I Love You, Hater (July 2018). Meanwhile, they were John and Aiki in their lone TV project—a (MMK) episode in February 2017. For their soap, Joshua is Innocencio “Inno” Cortes while Julia is Eva Mapendo.

CHALLENGING CHARACTERS

The reel-turned-real couple admits that their latest characters are worlds apart from their true selves. “Challenging especially sa akin kasi hindi naman ako ma-English na tao. Laking mayaman si Inno tapos posture ko kailangan maganda. Sa set nga, nagpapasalamat ako sa Star Creatives kasi nagbigay talaga sila ng speech coach sa akin. Lahat ng mga English ko, bago sumalang sa eksena ay tinuturo niya ‘yung tama. Masaya kasi natututo ako pero sobrang hirap din eh. Pero kaya. Kaya ‘yan,” discloses Joshua.

Julia, for her part, states, “I’m so excited about Eva. I know I say this a lot but this is talagang the epitome of ‘I’ve not done anything like this.’ It’s the complete opposite of who I am in real life or anything I’ve done in the past. It’s good to be challenged. You really grow and then you become flexible not even just as an actor, even as a person because you learn so many things from your character.”

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY AUGUST 2018 “ But I’m not natatawa. I think I’m more like amused, amazed at his being flexible as an actor and that he is just really willing to learn. I feel like the things he has learned for his character are not those INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE you learn so easily. But his dedication and passion are there so it’s amazing to watch.” “Parehas kaming first time gumawa ng ganitong role. Parang talagang nag-switch kami ng role. Kapag kaeksena ko siya ngayon, natatawa ako kasi siyempre hindi naman ako sanay na ganun siya though nakakasaya din ng puso kasi nakikita mong nag-e-enjoy siya sa ginagawa niya tapos bago sa paningin mo ”

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY AUGUST 2018 CLASSIC LOVE STORY

Joshua and Julia say there is more to the love story of Inno and Eva, apart from their differences in social status, with Inno being wealthy and Eva struggling with finances. “I bring the lighter feel of the show because my family and Eva are just very positive people. We’re so full of light and love and there’s just so much positivity in our community. Eva is the type who will do everything for her family. Despite the unfortunate situations sa life niya, Eva remains to be very positive. And she’s a fighter, very headstrong, and she knows what she wants. So, nobody can mess with Eva,” Julia claims.

“‘Yun ‘yung maganda, parehas kaming strong personality,” notes Joshua. “So kapag nag-away kami, talagang bangayan pero English ako, Tagalog siya. Si Inno may strong personality pero sa loob, weak din siya. Sobrang soft niya kasi gusto niya ng atensyon ng nanay niya.” The 20-year-old alum also describes the Inno and Eva story as “parang Romeo at Juliet.” Julia, 21, explains, “Kasi maraming hahadlang. Para kaming forbidden love but how far are we gonna go to fight for the love we have for each other?”

It is a love story that will be played out in a soap opera format that has been missing for some time in the second slot of ABS- CBN’s primetime line-up. “I really love drama and I’m a fan of the classic drama teleseryes of ABS-CBN so I was so excited na they’re bringing it back. Joshua and I are so honored na we’re gonna be part of this classic soap opera na they’re trying to bring back.”

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY AUGUST 2018 INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY AUGUST 2018 POWERHOUSE CAST

Another conflict in the Inno and Eva story is the presence of Inno’s brother Oliver, portrayed by Jameson Blake. The sibling rivalry between Inno and Oliver intensifies when they both fall in love with Eva. It’s the second time for Julia to be working with Jameson while it’s the first time for Joshua. “Okay naman si Jameson. Wala namang problema. Ma-cell phone eh. Tahimik lang eh. Lagi ‘yung games ‘yung iniintindi niya. Parehas kasi kami ni Jameson na gamer so naiintindihan namin ang isa’t isa.”

Ngayon at Kailanman also reunites Julia with Iza Calzado (they were daughter and mother in teleserye ) while it gives Joshua the chance to finally work with Iza. “Si Ma’am Iza, excited ako na makasama siya. Excited talaga ako makatrabaho si Ma’am Alice Dixson kasi sobrang ganda niya. Nanay ko siya doon pero crush ko eh,” he states with a shy laugh. Joining them in the cast are Rosemarie Gil, Rio Locsin, Ronnie Lazaro, Dominic Ochoa, Ina Raymundo, Maria Isabel Lopez, Ana Capri, Christian Vasquez, Leo Rialp, and Joao Constancia.

“Honored ako na ang dami naming makakasama na beteranong aktor. Kasi kada may makakatrabaho akong mga beterano, ang dami kong natututunan sa kanila so doon sa mga natututunan ko, nag-i-improve din ako as a person and actor. Masaya ako na may mga bago na namang matututunan,” says Joshua. Both Joshua and Julia are all praises for their directors, Mae Cruz- Alviar and Elfren Vibar.

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY AUGUST 2018 INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE Joshua relates, “Mahal ko si Direk Mae. Napakabait niya, napakamatulungin niya. Normal din naman na tumulong ang direktor pero iba ‘yung feeling na ang Nanay lang nung feeling niya. Kay Direk Elfren naman, ‘yung respeto ko talagang bow ako kasi sobrang professional niya na katrabaho. Nung una kasi natatakot pa ako kay Direk Elfren kasi parang medyo seryoso pero nung tumagal-tagal, palabiro pala siya. Ang gaan lang sa feeling kapag magkakasama kami sa set nina Julia and happy ako na hindi stressful ‘yung trabaho, magaan katrabaho ‘yung mga kasama namin.” INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE

INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE ACTING FROM THE HEART

With four movies under their belt plus one MMK episode, Joshua and Julia have already caught the attention of the entertainment world. Their versatility in drama, comedy, and romance have led fans, casual viewers, and showbiz watchers to call them ‘the acting love team’—something that can be backed by their nominations and awards which they have been reaping since being paired up in 2016.

Among their accolades are the German Moreno Power Tandem Award (2017), Movie Loveteam of the Year from the 2018 PMPC Star Awards for Movies, and Most Popular Love Team of Movies & Television from the 2018 Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Scholarship Foundation (GMMSF) Box Office Entertainment Awards. Joshua and Julia have also received individual acting citations from the GMMSF Box Office Entertainment Awards, YECS Aral Parangal Awards, and Gawad Bedista, among others.

“What I appreciate about our partnership is that we always make sure that everything comes from the heart. And I feel like everything that comes from the heart is really genuine and it becomes real and relatable,” shares Julia. She also mentions that the JoshLia chemistry is something that is not studied and planned. “Josh and I, from the very beginning, wala kaming conversation na ‘What are we gonna do?’ Wala kaming conversation na ‘How are we gonna make things different or paano yung kilig dito?’ It’s not like that.”

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY AUGUST 2018

She goes on, “We just say, ‘Anong plano ko sa character ko? Anong plano mo sa character mo?’ Let’s just let it flow and just let things happen naturally. We don’t have a formula, we don’t have any techniques. I feel like it’s collaborative but more internal. Parang it doesn’t have to be touchy. We just focus on each other’s characters and let things fall into place.”

INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY AUGUST 2018 COMMITMENT TO ACTING

As if working on their first teleserye is not enough, Joshua and Julia are set to star in their fifth film together, Block Z, to be directed by Mikhail Red. The zombie movie also stars Ian Veneracion, Eula Valdes, Dimples Romana, , and Markus Paterson. Julia screams with glee, “So excited! We’ve always wanted to do a zombie film. It’s gonna be a thriller/suspense.”

Joshua’s face lights up, too. “Excited lang ‘yung feeling ko, walang halong kahit ano. ‘Yung excited na pumunta sa set. Excited ako para sa pelikula kasi gusto ko rin makatrabaho si Direk Mikhail, isa sa talagang magaling na direktor natin sa ngayon.” With this new project in the sidelines, isn’t it difficult for these two young stars to move from one character to another? “Hindi naman lahat ng tao pare-parehas so iba ‘yung habits ng isang character, iba siya gumalaw, iba siyang umiyak, iba siyang tumawa. Iba-ibang tao ‘yung nabibigay na role sa amin at sa tulong ng direktor, siyempre ginagabayan din nila kami para mas malinaw sa tao na kapag pinanood kami, masasabi nilang, ‘Si Inno ‘yan, si Joko ‘yan, si Zoey ‘yan,’” replies Joshua.

As for Julia, she comments, “I think every time we are presented with a new character, I think you just have to fully commit yourself to it. It’s a commitment between you and your character. Kasi I have a thing na when I’m on the set or when I’m about to do a scene, I feel like I’m already my character. I just live in my character that sometimes after the project, I have to shrug it off. Maybe it’s the commitment that you allow yourself to have with your character and then I think magic happens, I guess.”

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY AUGUST 2018 INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE “I feel like the more that try to destroy, bring us down, or hurt our feelings, they don’t realize that they actually motivate us to be stronger as partners”

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY AUGUST 2018 GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT

In just a span of two years, Joshua and Julia have already gained accolades. But for them, their greatest achievement as a love team is one that they attained on a personal level. In just one line, Joshua declares, “Ang makilala siya,” pertaining to Julia. Then he adds, “Sa akin naman siyempre achievements din namin ay ‘yung mga pelikula namin. Siyempre ‘yung Ngayon at Kailanman, achievement din ito kasi tatagal ito. Especially ‘yung mga pelikula puwede naming ipanood ‘yun sa mga apo-apo namin. Diba achievement ‘yun?”

Julia, meanwhile, turns serious and shares something more personal. “I think it is our being able to withstand any storm that comes. Siyempre there will always be people who will not be happy with somebody’s success or may ibang people na bitter pa rin kasi nakikita we’re living our dreams or natutupad na ‘yung prayers namin. There will always be someone who will contradict, and I feel like we never get affected by all of this and parang it becomes our biggest motivator pa to keep going.”

She continues, “I feel like the more that try to destroy, bring us down, or hurt our feelings, they don’t realize that they actually motivate us to be stronger as partners, to be motivated and inspired to do even better and achieve even more kasi siyempre it takes a lot for somebody to withstand that certain kind of bashing or negativity in general.” Joshua, with a calmness in his tone, concludes: “Tama si Julia. ‘Yung mga problema na dumarating, achievement na malagpasan namin ‘yun.”

INSIDE SHOWBIZ WEEKLY AUGUST 2018 Words by Rosy Mina Photography by Floyd Jhocson of Studio100 Art Direction by Bria Cardenas Sittings Editor Vani Altomonte Joshua’s Grooming by Jay Herrera Joshua’s Styling by Patrick Pleno Assisted by Melbeth Auguis & Florie Auguis Julia’s Hair by Jay Wee Julia’s Makeup by Mark Qua Julia’s Styling by Cath Sobrevega INSIDE SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE Assisted by Riri Verano & KT Landingin Special Thanks to Star Magic Phils Star Creatives