Kim and Gerald are closer than ever after their Euro trip
Rachelle Siazon ( Showbuzzer ) 11.16.08
Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson enjoyed a two-week working trip in Rome, Italy last October. Like many Catholic pilgrims, Kim paid homage to the late Pope John Paul II’s tomb at St. Peter’s Basilica. “Every weekend lang kasi yung show (Smart Fiesta Saya sa Italya) namin doon. So mas madami kaming chance na maglibot-libot. Pinakamemorable para sa akin yung sa Vaticankasi nakapagmuni-muni talaga ako doon. Alam mo yung feeling na nasa holy grounds ka at saka parang nawawala lahat ng kasalanan mo. Meron pa nga dun yung maghuhulog ka ng letter of petition mo dun sa Pope John Paul II. So ayun sinulat ko yung mga wishes ko sa isang half lengthwise na papel,” said Kim, who wanted to keep her wishes to herself so they would come true.

Gerald quickly agreed with Kim’s sentiments. “Iba yung feeling kahit sobrang mahal ng mga bilihin. Hindi ka makapag-shopping dun kasi ang mahal pero yung scenery, yung mga buildings nila, yung Roman Colosseum, the Vatican—sobrang ganda. Tapos nakapagsimba kami and si Pope Benedict XVI mismo ang nag-preside nung mass. Medyo malayo kami dun sa altar pero at least nandoon pa rin kami. Na-experience din naman umakyat ng paluhod dun sa Holy Stairs (a famous papal sanctuary adjacent to the Basilica of St. John Lateran). So ang sarap and nakakagaan talaga ng pakiramdam.”

Since they couldn’t afford shopping in high-end boutiques, Kim merely scoured for “cheap” goodies being sold by sidewalk vendors. “Oo, sa gilid-gilid lang kami naka-pagshopping ng mga damit and boots na worth 15 Euros. Pero halos puro pambabae lang yung mga binebenta so si Gerald tagabuhat na lang. Tapos yung isa pang nakakatuwang Pinoy tourist experience namin dun eh yung na-miss naming magkanin. Nagsawa kami ng puro pasta at pizza lang ang available sa mga restaurants. So yun na lang ginawa namin. Maghanap ng Chinese restaurants kasi ‘di ba dun lang nagseserve ng kanin. Naglakad kami ng malayo para lang sa kanin,” Kim happily recounted.

After that unforgettable trip, another exciting escapade awaits the two as they venture when their Smart show heads to Canada for the holiday season. “Yeah, makakakita na ako ng snow at last. Sabi ko nga babaunin ko pauwi. Natatawa lang sila dahil siyempre tunaw na yun pagbalik ko dito. At saka baka saka-sakaling makapag-shopping na ako this time dahil sabi ko nga sa very sidewalk girl ako sa Italy,” Kim excitedly quipped. But more importantly, Gerald claimed that they both can’t wait to meet more of their avid supporters abroad, “We’re looking forward to our quick visit in Canada. Five days kami dun so sa lahat ng mga Kapamilya, abangan ni’yo kami d’yan by the end of November.”

Watch Kim and Gerald in Your Song Presents: My Only Hope, right after ASAP ’08 only on ABS-CBN.