Kim Chiu is Our Girl
Interview by Kimberly U. Go, Photos by Pat Dy ( SPEED Mag ) October 2009

After her big break in ABS-CBN’s reality TV show Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition, it’s been nothing but a steady climb to the top for Kimberly Sue Yap Chiu, or Kim Chiu as she is known in the industry. Her talent and beauty continue to earn her praises and admiration in the form of endorsement deals, movies, and TV shows. In her latest role in the primetime hit TV series Tayong Dalawa, this 19-year-old shows how much she’s grown as an artist while still possessing the charm that endeared her to the millions who watched her every move (and personality quirks) in the Big Brother house three years ago.

YOU’VE BEEN VERY BUSY WITH TAYONG DALAWA. WHAT’S YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT ON THE SET?

Hmm, siguro ’yung and first taping day. There were so many big stars that I got to meet. To add to that, my first scene was a kissing scene with Jake Cuenca! He wasn’t my friend then and we weren’t really close at that time so it was a bit awkward. We’ve said our hellos before, but we didn’t really talk much. So, yeah, it was hard because we had to make the audience believe that we were a couple even though we didn’t really know each other very well.

THAT’S TOUGH! SO, HOW WAS THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE LIKE?

It was nerve-wracking, but it was okay. (Smiles)

WITH SUCH A BUSY SCHEDULE, DO YOU STILL FIND TIME TO RELAX?

Yes, I go shopping! When I’m bored or ’pag naiinis ako sa araw ko, I just go shopping and I’m good. After taping I sometimes play badminton. When there’s no work, I go out with my friends. We hit the mall or cook at home. We bake all sorts of stuff, oatmeal cookies, pasta…

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE AMONG ALL THE CHARACTERS YOU’VE PLAYED?

All of them, actually. Iba-iba kasi eh. My Girl was light and Jasmine, the character I played, was pretty much like me. In Tayong Dalawa, I played a more mature role. It was a bit hard, but I was able to adapt naman.

BUT BETWEEN THE TWO CHARACTERS, WHO IS MORE LIKE THE KIM CHIU IN REAL LIFE?

I’m more like Jasmine. Parehong-pareho kami—super bubbly and happy-go-lucky.

YOU’RE ONE OF TODAY’S HOTTEST STARS. WHAT CHALLENGES ARE YOU FACING NOW?

I have to take care of my career…where I am now. I have to work hard na hindi masapawan. . I need to be really good in the projects given to me because there are a lot of new and rising artists out there.

DO YOU HAVE PLANS OF FOCUSING ON YOUR MUSIC CAREER IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

(Laughs) I think I still need to take voice lessons so that when my next album comes out, they’ll hear something different and not pa-cute.

BUT YOU ARE CUTE! SPEAKING OF MUSIC, WHAT’S THE MOST PLAYED SONG ON YOUR iPOD?

It depends on my mood. I listen to love songs, pop music. Right now, it’s Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb.” Gusto ko kasi ’yung lyrics ng song.