In Her Own Words: Juliana Gomez On Being 17, Carving Her Own Path, And Why She Loves Her Dad, Richard Gomez, To The Moon And Back
With the quick approach of adulthood on the horizon, Juliana Gomez reflects on what she's learned so far, the things she's most excited for, and how her dad will always be a part of her life no matter where it takes her.
On Juliana: Top and wide-legged trousers by Rajo and nude block heels by Aldo. "Spring" chair by Cappellini
This model on the rise joins her dad for Metro.Style's exclusive Father's Day cover and glows—not just with the radiance of youth, but even more so with the pride of knowing that a man like Richard Gomez is someone she calls her very own dad.
"I’m sure he knows this already, but I’m proud of him. I am so lucky to have him as my dad. I can’t even put into words how happy and lucky I am to have him as my dad. To me, he really is the perfect role model; I really look up to him," chirps Juliana.
Juliana's enthusiasm comes to no surprise; after all, Richard has dedicated much of himself to passing down the wisdom that he's acquired from his wide-ranging life experiences to her. As a dad of one, he's concerned with making sure that Juliana grows up to be responsible, a good judge of character, hardworking, caring and kind, and most of all, happy.
And at 17 going 18, with a last year left in high school before college comes along, Juliana couldn't be happier. She has a ton of memories to look back on from her childhood and a bond with dad—and mom, too!—that she knows she can always count on.
See what this beauty has to say about her dad, growing up, and all her favorite things in her own words:
Juliana and Richard are a lot more alike than they let on. They speak the same love language and express themselves in ways the other knows incredibly well. Best of all, they've stayed close despite Richard's busy schedule.
"With our relationship, it’s very low maintenance. We don’t need to call or text each other 24/7. It’s not that kind of thing. He doesn’t need to know where I am all the time, as long as he knows I’m safe. We’re not very talkative people. When I’m with him, we’re the same person, so we barely talk. It’s more of what we do together. I see myself in him sometimes!
With me, it’s not with words, but with actions. I’m very malambing when it comes to my parents. We’re not outwardly sweet with words; that’s my mom! It’s really with my actions, but I know he feels that I love him."
One of the things Juliana loves most about her dad is his simplicity and consistency. As she matures, she begins to value the fact that her dad has remained true to himself amidst the fame and recognition.
"He’s never changed, despite all that’s happened to him, good and bad. His heart has stayed the same. It just gets bigger and bigger all the time. He’s really a simple guy. He doesn’t want much in life, just to be happy and healthy."
Unlike most girls her age, Juliana doesn't unnecessarily test her boundaries with her parents. While she knows she's slowly being given her independence, she's conscious about maintaining their trust at all times.
"They don’t ask for a lot—my parents, at least—they just need you to be a kind person, disciplined, someone who they can trust. If you just follow that, they’ll trust you! At the end of the day, it’s all about trust. Even if you let them down, bawi ka lang."
Juliana knows that her dad grew up around his friends, more than family. Because of this, it's made her more appreciative of how he also lets her spend time with friends.
"What I love about my parents is that they really welcome my friends. I’m an only child, so it’s really my friends that I go to. I grew up with them more than my cousins. I really love how they welcome my friends, and that’s really important to me. My dad had the same experience, so we understand each other."
When it comes to typical concerns of a 17-year-old girl—i.e.: boys—Juliana is able to charmingly laugh about the issue when it comes to how her dad is taking it.
"I’ve been alive for 17 years and my dad and I have never talked about boyfriends. I’ve had suitors, and guys bring flowers, and food, and teddy bears to the house but I’ve never gotten a violent reaction from him. Because he was that guy once who was making ligaw!"
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Gallery images from @gomezjuliana
So far, her trip to Spain with her family has been her most memorable travel experience. In general, traveling to the Gomezes is the best way to bond as a family.
"We always like going to Europe because of the vibe. It’s very laid back and we go for the culture, too."
Having just come home from a trip to New York, Juliana also has specific recommendations for what travel junkies like her shouldn't miss out while visiting the Big Apple.
"Eat! Try bagels, pizzas, and hotdogs you can find everywhere. Visit Ess-a-Bagels; I literally had the best bagels of my life there! If you try the Halal Guys, go to the one in front of Hilton Hotel because that’s the first."
Richard, alongside his wife Rep. Lucy Torres, never emphasized their fame to Juliana. Instead, they let her grow up normally, focusing instead on teaching her values and principles.
"I didn’t know my parents were famous until I was old enough to realize why my parents were being interviewed all the time. I never really thought about it. They never made me feel like they were part of the big world of show business, so I needed to be or act this way. They just let me be my own person. I never thought of it as a big deal. I think they raised me well enough for me to know what I should and shouldn’t do."
With her dad's far-reaching influence in her life, Juliana's choice of college and major reflect that of her dad's.
"I’m more comfortable talking about college now because I actually know what direction I want to take now. I’m looking into advertising and public relations; [enrolling in the college of] Mass Communication in UP is really my first choice."
While confident in herself and in her abilities, she knows that more will be expected of her as she grows up. Yet in the end, she continues to trust God's timing to allow things to unfold at the most opportune times.
"Every year that I turn older, there are definitely more expectations. People will definitely want to see more of you. There are going to be a lot of things to learn, and I’m up for that! I’m so excited to do more for myself.
To be honest, I don’t know that much about life. But I feel like everything always happens I’m God’s time. It took me a while to realize that there’s room for everything. You just have to go at your own pace, and the right time will come"
Produced by Grace Libero-Cruz and Judy Arias
Photography by Charisma Lico
Creative direction by Chookie Cruz
Makeup by Robbie Piñera
Hairstyling by Jay Wee
Styling by StyLIZed
Shot on location at Bench Café - 2nd level, Bench Boutique, 9th St. Lane O, BGC, Taguig
Special thanks to Pia Campos and Renz Esguerra both from W Talent Management; Tess Gutierrez, Darwin Morfe, and Ben Chan of Bench Café
