Kim Chiu's Breakthrough Performance
( PhilStar ) 12.27.09

CEBU, Philippines - Cebuana actress Kim Chiu has come a long way in the world of showbiz. It only seemed yesterday when she first shot to public consciousness after winning a reality show for teens. Now, she has a string of extremely successful teleseryes in her showbiz portfolio with perennial partner Gerald Anderson, earning her raves from fans and critics alike as one of the most promising dramatic actresses of her generation.

Kim is ready to take her career to another level as she showcases versatility and faces off with drama heavyweights in Star Cinema’s official Metro Manila Film Festival entry, “I Love You, Goodbye.”

The film also marks many career firsts for Kim as first and foremost, she gets to show that she can hold her own even with the absence of her hit loveteam with Gerald.

In the film, Kim plays Ysa, the bane to Angelica Panganiban’s character Lizelle, in this latest masterpiece by Laurice Guillen. Kim said that this is one role that will be a departure from what people are used to seeing her tackle. “Una parang naninibago ako sabi ko bagay ba sa kin to? Iniisip ko baka maraming magalit sa akin. Parang ay ano ba yan di bagay sa kanya maging ganyan. Parang maraming huhusga pero wala tinanggap ko na lang dahil iba. Iba sya sa lagi kong ginagawa. Sa end ng year, at least nakita nila ako na iba ang ugali, iba ang character, iba lahat as in, pati itsura. Iba sa lagi nilang nakikita sa akin.”

The project itself promises to be one of her most unforgettable as it has presented her many career firsts. “Sa movie na ‘to, maraming first time, first time maging iba ang ugali, ibang character. First time na wala si Gerald [Anderson]. Ang daming first time, isang malaking experience ‘to sa akin. And yung wala si Gerald parang nakakapanibago dahil mga bagong tao nakakasama ko pag nakakakwentuhan ko kasi iba. Kasi lagi si Gerald lang kakwentuhan ko dahil pag first taping days wala pang close, si Gerald pa lang. Ngayon parang nakaka-meet naman ako ng bagong friends. Like si Angelica sobrang nakakatawa siya. So pag nag-eeksena kami, e di kami in good terms dito sa movie. Pag-nag-eeksena kami, parang teka lang natatawa pa rin ako e. Magaan naman and tinutulungan naman nila ako.”

But what makes the experience extra memorable is the fact that Kim gets the chance to work alongside with the industry’s best. “Syempre kahit sino naman bilib kay direk Laurice Guillen di ba. Wino-workshop niya kasi ako dati, nung bago mag-start ang ‘Tayong Dalawa’. Medyo alam na nya rin way of acting ko. Tinutulungan nya na lang ako, pag di tama sasabihin nya ‘panoorin mo to’ tapos pag papanoorin ko sasabihin nya ‘may kulang di ba?’ sabi ko opo. ‘Ulitin natin’ ulit ulitin namin hanggang makuha ang tamang timpla ng character.”

She might be uneasy with her role, but her co-stars have made the experience a lot easier. “Si Angelica at si Derek sobrang kalog nilang kasama. Binibiro biro nila ako, lalo na si Angelica. And si Derek naman nagbibigay sya ng mga advice advice, parang kuya sya. Si Tito Gabby naman cool, cool kasama. Uy kumusta? Ganyan.”

“Hindi lang sya love story. May family drama din sya na talagang makaka-relate lahat ng Pilipino. Maraming twists yung kwento na talagang ikagugulat nila. And syempre ayon, mararamdaman nila ang pagmamahal between father and daughter, between a lover to a lover. Punong-puno ng pagmamahal and punong-puno ng aral yung kwento.”

Catch Kim Chiu, together with Angelica Panganiban, Derek Ramsay and Gabby Concepcion in I LOVE YOU, GOODBYE now showing in theaters nationwide.