The secret of Kim Chiu’s success
Shirley Matias-Pizarro ( Manila Bulletin ) 07.21.09
Although she is perceived to be the hottest young star on Philippine television and the most favorite endorser of the many companies and products today, Kim Chiu confesses there is one thing that scares the wits out of her in this business – and that is coming out in a movie.

“Lahat naman po yata ng mga artista dun din takot. Kasi iba po yung movies di ba? Kaiba sa TV. Kasi sa movie, yung mga tao will really need to go out of their way to watch you. Bibili pa sila ng ticket so they can watch you. Nakaka-pressure po talaga yun,” she said.

Kim has so far appeared in two movies “First Day High” and “I’ve Fallen For You” and she probably doesn’t want to experience the jitters she went through pior to these movies’ showing.

She is supposed to appear in a film festival entry by Star Cinema with Kris Aquino but now she is not sure anymore whether there will be a movie project for her since Kris begged off the project because she needs to spend time with her sick mother, former President Cory Aquino.

“Wala pa po silang advice sa akin. Dapat po kasi yung susunod naming meeting, story conference na. Hindi na natuloy kaya hindi ko rin po alam yung story ng movie, kung sino ang director, etc.” she said.

During the press conference of her latest product endorsement Payless Pancit Shanghai at the Xintiandi Restaurant in Crowne Plaza, we had a freewheeling conversation with Kim and she says she is very happy with the accomplishments in her three-year-old showbiz career. “Iniisip ko lang po na baka lahat ng blessings na ito kapalit ng mga naranasan ko sa buhay ko,” she said with a smile on her face.

Kim is proud of this product and calls it “my first food endorsement.” She was wearing a cheong sam during the press con and she said it was made specifically for her to wear in that event. “I am very proud to be associated with a well-liked and well-known brand. I respect the company URC, which is behind this product.” Payless Pancit Shanghai comes in two flavors – Oriental and Pata Tim and they are unique because they come in flat noodles, not like the others.

Kim, we will remember was the big winner of the first ever “Pinoy Big Brother” teen edition, where Gerald Anderson also came from. She comes from a broken family and was raised by her grandmother along with her four siblings when her mother left them when she was only eight years old. Her father remarried and Kim has five other siblings in that family. She never saw her mother again.

The bright outlook exuded by the young actress is probably due to the fact that she admits to be a very religious person. “I go to church whenever I can, wherever I am. I make it a point to visit a church, just to light a candle and pray. I believe that God has granted me most of my prayers. I really believe that if you ask God to give you something, He will really give it to you. Just believe,” she said.

She looks at the success she is enjoying as part of God’s will for her life. The 19-year-old Kim takes care of her siblings who are all in Cebu and staying with their Lola. “I go there once in a while to visit them,” she said.

Kim is pursuing her studies. “I’m about to take an exam in DECS so I can finally finish high school. I’m on tutorials now.”

When asked about her and Gerald, the pretty young lady just smiled and said, “Okay naman kami ni Gerald. Okay na okay naman,” she ends.