Kim Chiu gives justice to her role as Pinay "My Girl"
Rose Garcia ( PEP ) 05.23.08

Maraming showbiz reporters ang napahanga sa young actress na si Kim Chiu dahil sa kanyang pagganap sa first episode ng My Girl, na nagkaroon ng press preview kagabi, May 22, sa Studio 1 ng ABS-CBN. Sina Kim at Gerald Anderson ang bida sa Pinoy version ng hit Koreanovela na My Girl.

Malaking transformation ang nangyari kay Kim dito sa My Girl from her previous roles. In fairness sa young actress, nagampanan naman niya nang maayos ang kanyang role base sa first episode na napanood ng entertainment press.

Ayon kay Kim, malaking tulong daw ang pag-workshop niya kahit wala pa siyang idea na may gagawin pala siyang ganitong primetime series.

"Binigyan po kami ng workshop noong January pa po yun, every Sunday po yun. Marami po kami ro'n na Star Magic artists. Three months din po yun and that time po, hindi ko pa po alam na meron pong My Girl. Tapos nang in-announce na nga po na ako po ang gaganap, another workshop na naman po yun, kay Direk Rahyan Carlos po," lahad ni Kim.

Ayon kay Kim, dapat maging proud ang mga kababayan sa Pinoy version ng My Girl dahil ipinapakita rito ang ilang Pinoy values. Idagdag pa rito ang ilang Pinoy na Pinoy na locations, gaya ng Luneta na ipinakita sa opening scene.

Kung inaakala naman daw ng ilan na naging madali para kay Kim ang pagganap ng character niya sa My Girl, na marunong magsalita ng Mandarin dahil may Chinese blood siya, nagkakamali raw tayo.

Aniya, "Hindi po kasi ako marunong mag-Mandarin. Ang alam ko po talaga Fookien, yun po ang sinasalita namin sa bahay. Pero Mandarin po, hindi po talaga. Kaya double effort pa po talaga. Bale may teacher po kaming nagtuturo sa amin ng pagsasalita ng Mandarin. Ako po, si Alex Gonzaga at saka po si David Chua."

Dahil sa My Girl ay first time din na nagkaroon ng bangs si Kim.

OPPOSITES ATTRACT. Very opposite daw ang character nila ng ka-partner niyang si Gerald Anderson sa My Girl. Si Gerald daw kasi ang seryoso samantalang si Kim naman yung masayahin talaga.

"Kaya po very physical po yung mga acting ko para magkaroon po talaga ng difference with Gerald. Sobra po akong energetic, high energy palagi. Palaging naghahanap ng magagawa. Okay naman po, kasi yung pagiging masayahin ko, nandoon pa rin po."

Marami ang nakapansin na ang acting ni Kim sa My Girl ay may pagka-Maricel Soriano. May nagtanong tuloy kay Kim kung ang Diamond Star ba ang gusto niyang sundan ng yapak.

"Ay, ganoon po ba? Wow, idol ko po siya! Actually, lahat naman po ng magagaling, idol ko pong talaga. Pero kailangan lang po kasing talaga na yung acting ko, maiba po with Gerald. Kaya po ganoon, sobrang magalaw, bubbly po," paliwanag ng young actress.

Pero ayon Kim, ang comedienne na si Pokwang talaga ang nasa isip niya kapag kinakailangan na niyang magpatawa.

"Si Nanay Pokwang po... Kasi nakatrabaho ko po kasi siya sa Aalog-Alog. Tapos po, noong una ko po siyang makatrabaho, tawa po ako nang tawa talaga. Tapos, ‘ayun, ginagaya ko na lang siya kung anu-ano ang mga galaw niya.

"Basta ako po, ibinuhos ko na po ang lahat ng maibubuhos ko rito sa show na ito. So sana po talaga magustuhan ng mga tao," asam ni Kim.

KIMERALD. Minsan na rin napatunayan ang lakas ng tandem nina Kim at Gerald sa first primetime series na pinagbidahan nila, ang Sana Maulit Muli. Ayon kay Kim, mas kabado talaga sila noon dahil first pa lang nila na magkaroon ng primetime series na sila ang mga bida. Ngayon, ibang kaba naman ang naramdaman ng dalaga.

"Mas kabado yung Sana Maulit kasi nagsisimula pa lang," aniya. "Ngayon, hindi sa mas confident ako ngayon, pero eto, kabado ako kasi may sariling fan base ang Korean My Girl. Siyempre, baka sabihin na parang ang pangit naman, ang OA naman.

"Siyempre, kinakabahan ako dahil baka hindi ko ma-please ang lahat ng tao. Baka may magsabi na hindi mo nagaya yung Korean My Girl, na mas maganda pa rin yun. Dun, natatakot ako. Pero sana, suportahan nila. Sana subaybayan nila gabi-gabi at saka sana, hindi po talaga sila magsawa."

Bagama't aware si Kim na noong una'y may petisyon pa ang ilang fans na sana'y hindi na si Gerald ang maging kapareha niya sa My Girl kundi mas matured ng konti, like Sam Milby, mas happy pa rin ang young actress na si Gerald ang naging partner niya.

"Opo naman, happy po ako na si Gerald pa rin," sambit ni Kim. "At saka kami po kasi ni Gerald, nagkakatulungan na po kami. Kapag may mga scenes po ako na nahihirapan ako, hindi ko po alam kung paano ang gagawin, si Gerald po ang nagsasabi sa akin na 'ganito lang ‘yan'.

"Yung sa petition nga po, nakarating din po sa akin yun, pero hindi naman po yun mga Kimeralds [fans of Kim and Gerald]. Kasi sila po, kami po talaga ni Gerald ang gusto nila na magka-partner pa rin. At saka, padami na nga po sila nang padami ngayon, kaya sobrang nagpapasalamat po kami sa kanila. Siguro po, natural lang naman po na hindi naman po natin mapi-please ang lahat."

Mapapanood ang My Girl sa ABS-CBN simula sa Lunes, May 26.

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Kim almost returned the car given to her by Gerald
Bong Godinez ( PEP ) 05.23.08
Playing the spunky character of Jasmine in the local adaptation of the hit Koreanovela My Girl is both easy and tough, according to Kim Chiu.

Describing Jasmine's attributes, the teen actress said, smiling, "Happy. Bubbly."

But what made Kim's interpretation of the role different from the original is how she integrated her own energy with the beloved Korean character's happy nature.

"Dinagdagan ko na lang ng magagalaw na movements para magmukha talaga siyang kengkoy. Pero ‘yong masayahin, nandoon naman po kaya okay lang. High energy lagi kaya masaya," she added during the press preview of My Girl held at the Studio One of ABS-CBN last night, May 22.

RETURN TO SENDER? Despite considering other actors to play the part of Julian, ABS-CBN decided to pair Kim once again with love-team partner Gerald Anderson.

My Girl co-director Jerome Pobocan expressed delight with the final choice. "Why fix it if ain't broke?" he told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) in a separate interview, pertaining to the love team of Kim and Gerald.

Kim, who just turned 18 last April 19, received a pink Ford Lynx from Gerald as a birthday present.

"Hindi ko nga po alam, e, nagulat na lang ako, kasi sinabi ko ‘yon sa birthday presscon ko na gusto ko ng pink car. Hindi ko naman alam na tototohanin niya [Gerald] pala. Tapos ayun, nagulat ako tapos sabi ko, ‘Bakit?' Sabi niya ‘Wala. Kasi kung magbibigay ako ng iba, hindi mo naman magagamit,'" said Kim.

The chinita actress was reluctant to accept the gift at first. Her strict dad even suggested that she politely return the vehicle. Gerald, as expected, was against the idea.

"Oo, nung una ayaw niyang [Kim's father] tanggapin. Tapos nagagalit pa siya [Gerald], sabi niya sayang naman ‘yong effort ko na maghanap ng ganitong kotse tapos papakulayan ng pink. Sayang naman daw," recalled the 2006 Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Big Winner.

STILL REEL, NOT REAL. During Kim's belated debut party last April 26 at the Glass Garden in Santolan, Pasig City, Gerald was very vocal in saying that given a chance, he would love to formally court Kim.

Almost a month since Gerald's brave confession, Kim was asked about the real status of their off-screen relationship.

"Hindi pa," replied Kim when quizzed if they are already an item. The young actress openly admitted her apprehensions in taking their friendship to the next level, particularly the repercussions of facing relationship issues and its effect on their professional lives.

"Dahan-dahan lang kasi nakakatakot din ‘pag kayo magka-love team. Paano kung mangyari mag-away kayo, masisira 'yong trabaho," reasoned Kim before adding, "kasi ako ‘yong breadwinner ng pamilya ko."

Some reporters joked that perhaps Gerald was already fishing for that elusive "yes" when he presented her the expensive birthday present.

"Hindi naman po ganoon si Gerald, nanghihingi ng kapalit," Kim yelped in defense of Gerald.

That said, Kim clarified that she's not shutting down the possibility of entering into a serious relationship with her co-PBB Celebrity Edition housemate. But for now, she'd rather have fate take its course than force the issue.

"Hindi naman puwedeng madaliin ‘yong mga bagay-bagay, di ba?" She stressed, "Kahit sino hindi dapat magmadali, kung nandiyan 'yan para sa ‘yo, para sa ‘yo talaga ‘yan."

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Rose Garcia ( PEP ) 05.23.08

ALL PRAISES FOR KIM & GERALD. Natutuwa si Bing sa mga bagong co-stars niya sa My Girl, sina Kim at Gerald, na kahit mga bata pa lang ay very professional na sa kanilang trabaho.

"Alam n'yo si Kim, in fairness sa batang yun, very consistent ang acting niya. She goes back to the zone where she should be—centered. She knows what she is doing. Once na nag-shout ang director ng 'Action!', siya na ulit si Jasmine," saad niya sa PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal).

Between Kim and Gerald, ang young actor ang mas madalas na nakakasama at nakakaeksena ni Bing sa unit.

"Si Gerald, sabi ko nga, kung lahat ng artista as open as he is to comments, suggestions, mga ideas, lahat puwedeng sumikat. He's not the type of person who would tell you na 'Magaling ako, alam ko ‘to.' He is so open.

"Mahal niya ang trabaho niya. He's hungry for his work. He wants to learn, ganoon siya. Kasi bawat eksena, talagang kargahan lahat. Wala yung, ‘Bahala ka sa buhay mo, dedma, ewan ko sa ‘yo,' na malalaglag yung isa. Hindi, e. In fairness sa dalawang ito, saludo ako sa kanila," papuri ni Bing sa kanyang young co-stars.

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Kim: Everybody’s kind of girl
Bot Glorioso ( Philstar ) 05.22.08
While most girls her age seem to change overnight into a prim and proper lady upon reaching the point of maturity, Kim Chiu still exudes the charming innocence and young bubbly persona that reflect in every character she portrays in the big and small screens.

This may come as a surprise to those who have followed her career — and perceived her to be too serious in dealing with life — since the day she entered Big Brother’s house as the lone representative from the Visayas to ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition years back and won in the contest by a landslide of text votes.

Yes, Kim has sad stories to share and problems to deal with yet she handles them with ease especially now that acting has not only become an outlet to pour all her emotions. It is also a way of supporting her siblings’ education and contributing to daily family expenses. The saccharine character, jubilant side of 18-year-old Kim is more visible these days.

She giggles and shrieks in delight upon hearing praises from the entertainment press during a pocket interview after watching the teaser of Kim’s latest TV project and Kapamilya network’s Pinoy version of the Koreanovela My Girl to air weeknights starting May 26.

“I know I gave my best here in playing Jasmine. It’s hard to convince or please everybody to my kind of acting, I just hope to deliver the character well like the Korean actress who initially played the role,” Kim says.

And she did. Not only because the Jasmine character has the same energetic and happy disposition like Kim and most Pinoys possess even in the most trying times but Kim has also improved in her acting which always vividly shows in every project that falls on her lap. The seriousness with which Kim plays as Elisa on Maligno and Jasmine on My Girl show how much she has improved as an actress.

Acting workshops, Kim admits, contribute in bringing out the actress in her and help in getting the feel of whatever character she is tasked to portray. With My Girl, the doe-eyed Chinese lass from Cebu underwent a five-hour Sunday acting workshop with the other cast members which started in January until April. The role also requires Kim to learn Mandarin and although her physical features fit the series well Kim still needs to completely get the Jasmine look by wearing the same hairstyle and having her makeup done by a Korean. Those colorful clothes will also surely catch televiewers’ interest.

“But the story has a different flavor as televiewers will witness how the Koreanovela is being treated in a Pinoy manner. It has drama, stories about family, love and friendship,” Kim shares.

There are scenes, Kim says, that display how Pinoys handle the daily battles of life in a less serious way — to the point of just shrugging our shoulders and laughing them off. Location shoots will display the richness of our country complete with props that are truly Pinoy like jeepneys, sorbetes (dirty ice cream) cart and mangoes instead of those oranges we see on the Koreanovela.

Will there also be scenes that might give away the real score between her and leading man Gerald Anderson who gifted her with a pink Ford Lynx during her 18th birthday last April 19? Kim denies having a relationship with her perennial screen partner and PBB co-housemate even if they used to exchange expensive gifts. Prior to the customized car, Kim gave Gerald a wakeboarding set worth P50,000 on his birthday last March.

“There would be some kissing scenes in the latter part of the story. My dad asked me to return the car because it’s too expensive but Gerald said no. He said he really intended the car for me,” Kim replies, still insisting that they are not an item.

And even if Gerald cannot call Kim “my girl” yet, Kim will be every televiewer’s girl when My Girl starts airing after Lobo.

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Kim’s hyper character in “My Girl”
Edgar O. Cruz ( Yehey ) 05.22.08

The observation Kim Chui is “overacting” in the “My Girl” teaser is overstated. Her character is meant to be hyper that’s why her clothes are a blast and she behaves like on an overdrive. At her recent solo interview, she came in character. She was bubbly that we had to ask her why she changed. She did not acknowledge it, countering it’s her real character. This overexcited character is her initial behavior in ABS-CBN remake of the Korean franchise. It will change as she falls in love with Julian (Gerald Anderson). Kim plays a Korean tour guide (which explains why a Korean does her makeup) that Julian asks to pose as relative wanted by his resort-owner father (Ronaldo Valdez) Today is “My Girl’s” grand launching. Biboy Arboleda, ad and promo manager of the Deo Endrinal Business unit, will dress up the Studio One Plaza with a fiesta mood. The initial episode’s screening follows in Studio One.

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Totoong Kim lumabas sa My Girl
Leo M. Bukas ( Journal Online ) 05.22.08

Pinag-uusapan na talaga ang next teleserye ng Chinese cutie na si Kim Chiu, ang Pinoy My Girl na mapapanood na sa Lunes (May 26) sa Primetime Bida sa ABS-CBN.

Bagay na bagay talaga si Kim bilang leading lady ng nasabing teleserye dahil sa kanyang very exotic and oriental features.

Madaming preparasyon ang ginawa ni Kim para sa kanyang role kasama na ang pag-aaral ng Mandarin.

Gaganap si Kim bilang si Jasmine, isang madiskarte, matapang at masipag na babaeng laki sa hirap.

Dahil palaging pumupunta sa iba’t ibang lugar kasama ang ama, street smart at magaling mambola si Jasmine para makalusot sa gusot.

Palaban rin ito kaya naman pag may nang-aaway sa kanya ay “Tira-tira!” ang sagot nito.

Sa pamamagitan ng isang kakaibang sitwasyon, makikilala niya si Julian (Gerald Anderson) at sa di inaasahang pangyayari, mapipilitang mabuhay sina Jasmine at Julian sa sa pagpapanggap at kasinungalingan.

Sa maikling panahon ni Kim sa industriya ng showbiz, naipakita na niya agad ang kanyang talento sa pag-arte kung kaya’t marami na ang humanga sa kanya, mula sa co-actors, directors at fans.

Lumabas na siya sa mga episodes ng GoKada Go, Love Spell at Your Song ngunit ang pinakamalaking tagumpay ni Kim bilang isang actress ay nang magkaroon ng sariling teleserye na Sana Maulit Muli kung saan isa siy asa bida at naipalabas na sa Taiwan, Malaysia, China at iba pang Asian countries. Naghakot din ito ng iba’t ibang awards kaya naman nasundan ito ng mga pelikula tulad ng First Day High at I’ve Fallen for You.

Hindi nagtagal, naging recording artist na rin si Kim kung saan gumawa siya ng album under Star Records, Gwa Ai Di, na siyang handog niya para sa kanyang mga fans.

Nanalo siya ng awards dito tulad ng Song of the Year at Best Female Pop Performance para sa single na Crazy Love.

Samantala, during our interview with Kim, lumabas ang pagiging kikay nito. Aniya, hindi siya gaanong nahirapan sa role niya dahil sa totoong buhay ay masayahin din siya.

Puring-puri naman ng movie press ang teaser ng My Girl pati na ang acting ni Kim.

Anyway, magkakaroon din ng soundtrack ang My Girl kung saan may mga awitin mula kay Kim Chiu pati na kina Sam Milby at Yeng Constantino.

Mula sa madaming TV guestings, iba’t ibang teleserye, pagiging isang singer at pagiging isang in demand at effective na product endorser, si Kim ang isa sa pinaka-matagumpay, pinaka-sikat at pinaka-paboritong teen actresses sa bansa at sa Asya ngayon.

Ang My Girl ay sa ilalim ng direksyon nina Erick Salud at Jerome Pobocan.

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Kim Chiu stars in Pinoy version of ‘My Girl’
Walden Sadiri ( Manila Bulletin ) 05.21.08
Kim Chiu has a palpable inner glow. No, the young star is not in love.

She shares that the workshops she underwent to prepare for her Jasmine character in "My Girl" have boosted her confidence.

Kim says that since January until April of this year, she and other actors from ABS-CBN’s talent center have been attending a workshop every Sunday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

"I’m thankful to Sir Deo Edrinal and ABS-CBN for those workshops.

Kasi itong character na ito masayahin, bubbly, energetic, kahit saan pumunta kahit may problema siya ‘tira-tira’ pa rin. Ito yung lagi kong sinasabi pag may problema o kapag parang nawawalan siya ng pag-asa. Kaya hindi ako in-love, nasa workshop lang yun. Nakakatulong talaga sa akin kaya po ako nahasa," she relates.

Kim has endeared herself to the show biz press because of her cheerful attitude and her ever ready smiling face. These are the same traits her Jasmine Joo role has in the original Koreanovela "My Girl."

Kim says she watched the original "My Girl" series on DVD. "And I know I gave my best in my role as Jasmine. I know I won’t please all the people nor convince them tungkol sa acting na nalagpasan ko yung Korean ‘My Girl.’"

Kim said ABS-CBN is putting a Pinoy flavor in the hit Koreanovela. Mararamdaman mo yung saya...kahit marami kaming problema ng tatay ko tawa pa rin kami ng tawa kahit marami na kaming utang. That’s our life in the series," she adds.

Production insiders reveal that Kim’s oriental features was one of the reasons that bagged her the part. She also learned Mandarin for her role. "Dito kasi kapag lagi akong gipit sa oras tulad sa airplane scene namin na lagi akong nag-Mamandarin. Tatlo kaming Chinese tourists dito, ako, si David Chua and Alex Gonzaga. Masaya, sobrang masaya kasi marami kaming similarities. Ganung-ganun talaga ako na parang mababaw ang kaligayahan ko," she says.

Kim is one of the few young actresses who is gaining recognition as an actress. She has essayed various roles in various episodes from shows like "Maalaala Mo Kaya," "Love Spell," "GoKada Go" and "Your Song." Her biggest success as an actress so far is in "Sana Maulit Muli," her first TV series with Gerald Anderson which was aired in Taiwan , Malaysia and China. She also won awards for the said series.

In the movies, she appeared in "First Day High" and "I’ve Fallen For You."

Gerald Anderson, her leading man in "My Girl" gifted her with a pink car. Does it mean that Gerald is already her boyfriend? "Ay hindi ah. It is just a gift. Grasya yun na dapat tanggapin."

And how did she feel accepting such lavish gift from someone she only considers a close friend? "At first siyempre I was embarrassed. I asked him why he had to give me an expensive gift. Sabi ko sa kanya na bibili naman ako ng Pink na car pero hindi pa ngayon. Sabi niya kasi buti pa sasakyan ang ibigay niya para magamit ko raw. Sabi nga ng tatay ko to return the car. Or if he doesn’t want, for me to pay na lang kahit half kung magkano niya binili," explains Kim.

How Gerald gave her pink car could be likened to a scene from a romantic film or TV series. She and her road managers went out for dinner at Eastwood City. They were seated outside the restaurant where people and cars pass by. After settling down, they saw the pink car parked in front of them.

"Sabi ko oo nga pero hindi masyado maganda kasi light lang yung color. Nilait-lait ko pa. Then I followed-up our order. Sabi nila tignan ko ulit kasi maganda yung mag-wheels. Sabi ko nga oo nga pero ano naman ang meron dyan parang ang hirap-hirap i-drive at sayang i-daan sa rocky road," Kim giggled.

Then Gerald’s car suddenly parked in front of them. The actor got off and told her to test drive her new car. "Siyempre nagulat ako na sa akin pala yung Pink car...nasa house lang siya ngayon. Hindi ko pa na-drive at hindi ko pa magamit kasi lahat ng gamit ko nasa loob ng van at hindi magkakasya sa car," Kim recalls.

Directed by Erick Salud and Jerome Pobocan, "My Girl" is airing on May 26 on ABS-CBN’s Primetime Bida.

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Kim’s dad wants her to return car to Gerald
Ethel Ramos ( Malaya ) 05.21.08

Kim Chiu’s wish when she marked her birthday last April 19 was to have a car. A pink car.

After getting her pink car, given to her by her screen partner and future (?) boyfriend, Gerald Anderson, Kim has a problem. Her dad considers the gift too expensive, coming as it is from a suitor, and has advised her to return the car.

"Pero hindi po ba mas nakakahiya iyon?" she inquired. "Imagine, he made the effort to give me what will make me most happy on my birthday, tapos, ipapahiya ko siya by returning his gift?"

The car is a used Ford Lynx. Kim does not know how much it cost but someone said it is about P200,000.

"The amount is immaterial," said Kim. "What really counts is Gerald’s going out of his way para maibigay sa akin ang gusto kong regalo. A pink car nga. And it’s not everyday na nakakakita ka ng ganitong car."

She has driven the car only once, and only in the vicinity of her home. She has yet to apply for a driver’s license.


Kim said that the most expensive gift she has given Gerald is a set of wakeboarding equipment, which costs P50,000.

She really saved for her gift, she said. She knows Gerald’s current passion is wakeboarding.

Kim and Gerald are the lead stars of the new teleserye on ABS-CBN, "My Girl," an adaptation of the Korean teleserye of the same title. "My Girl" will premiere on May 26.

Because of her oriental look, Kim was chosen to play the role of Jasmine, a street smart, charming and witty girl. She is poor but courageous and hardworking.

She and Gerald, who is made to look older for his role, will meet unexpectedly. Gerald plays Julian, an heir to a business empire.

"Talagang ang mga roles namin ni Gerald sa series na ito ay new to both of us. But we made sure we delivered," Kim said.

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Nel Alejandrino ( Journal Online ) 05.21.08

Kim Chiu revealed that the most expensive gift she has given screen partner Gerald Anderson, so far, is a set of wakeboarding equipment.

It allegedly cost her P50,000, na pinag-ipunan daw niya.

Obvious na ito ang dahilan why Gerlad chose to give Kim a more expensive gift when she turned 18 last April 19.

As we all know by now, isa itong pink Ford Lynx car.

Isang beses pa lamang daw itong nai-drive ni Kim within the vicinity of the subdivision they live in.

Kim has no idea that the pink car will be featured in the new teleserye, My Girl, which stars her and Gerald.

Pero kung kailangan daw, ‘ipahihiram’ naman niya ang kotse.

Gandang-ganda raw si Kim sa kotse, dahil nga very unique ang color nito bukod pa sa ang size ay talagang pambabae.

Eh, balak daw ni Kim na once magkaroon na siya ng lisensiya, she’ll report to her tapings na siya mismo ang nagda-drive ng kanyang kotse.

As of the moment, may driver siya who drives her van.


According to Kim, Gerald loves to collect cars.

Right now, owner ito of two cars, isang van at isang kotse.

Naibili na rin daw ni Gerald ng kotse ang kanyang American father at Filipino mother.

Mahilig din daw magbasa si Gerald ng mga babasahin tungkol sa kotse. Kaya, itanong mo raw kay Gerald ang tungkol sa mga latest sa kotse at tiyak na masasagot nito.

Hindi raw magtataka si Kim if one of these days, Gerald will take to car racing as a hobby.

Right now, his favorite sport is wakeboarding