Julia Montes Is Making a Statement and She Means Business

It’s been a quiet break for the last couple of years for Julia Montes, and her comeback is leaving everybody excited. Since her action stint on the small screen in ABS-CBN’s Asintado and FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano and the action-thriller film Topakk, we haven’t seen her a lot for quite some time and yet the Filipino viewers have always been interested in her and her acting chops.

A loose laugh washes over Julia when I asked about her Halloween costume. It’s no challenge to her, as she will wear whatever she wants. “Hindi ako mahilig mag-costume pero siguro for this year, I’ll try to be a cook,” she joked. Of course, she is a natural culinary junkie to start with, but sporting an apron also sounds good. “Para madali na po,” she said, letting another laugh.

Kidding aside, Julia aspires to keep a princess-like vibe on the occasion. She prefers it vibrant over horror, and hates a literal treatment to the theme. She loves exploration. Apart from her new film, she, too, is taking on an academic adventure.

“Right now, nagsku-school ako online para naba-balance ko pa rin ’yung time ko with work and with family,” she replied, when asked what her recent engagements are outside of entertainment. “Kahit papa’no, [it’s] my reward for myself na matapos ko ’yung college ko,” the half-Filipina, half-German star gushed.

“And then siguro, cooking talaga. Medyo hindi ako on-the-go na tao. Mai-invite mo lang akong lumabas ng bahay ’pag in-invite mo kong kumain sa labas. So it’s either kumain sa labas or magluluto ako sa bahay,” Julia added. 

At 28, it seems that staying at home and cooking is a hobby that only the old timelessly practice, but Julia is a partisan of the simple and solitary lifestyle. Despite her limelight of a career, she likes things laid-back, balanced, and cozy. That is why teaming up with Alden Richards in Five Break-Ups and a Romance is Julia’s dream project.

“Na-surprise ako kung papa’no kami naging close kasi hindi ako masyadong comfortable, especially kapag sa opposite sex na partner. Kumbaga, I’m so shy and hindi masyadong open—’yung talagang makaka-work mo lang ako,” she disclosed.

“Bibihira ’yung magiging open ako and close ako [sa isang colleague] and si Alden ’yung isa du’n [sa mga naging ka-close ko],” Julia told Metro.Style, noting that her working relationship with Alden and the film’s figurehead, Direk Irene Villamor, is a rare chance to come by. “Parang naging special din talaga ’yung film sa aming tatlo.”

“Parang nagkaroon kami ng pact as a friend na sigurado mong hindi lang siya after the film, wala na. Ito, talagang sigurado mong may friendship na na-build,” Julia furthered, describing her fellow lead Alden as “generous, kind, and talented.”

“It’s as if gumawa kami ng teleserye, pero it’s just a film. It’s [just] a 13-day shoot pero parang feeling namin, ang tagal-tagal naming magkasama,” she went on, still surprised as to how her collaboration with Alden turned out. She rates him as top-notch, not only in terms of operating at work but in how he warms up the people around him. 

“[’Yung] talented, nakikita naman natin ’yun sa screen. ’Yung kind tsaka ’yung pagiging generous [ni Alden], ’yun ’yung medyo hindi nakikita pa ng tao, at ’yun ’yung nakita ko. I’m blessed na na-experience ko ’yun,” Julia shared.

The Metro cover girl made it clear that working 0n this movie certainly was a reset for her, and to be riding the wave again in a world full of anticipated failures is tough enough, even with talent. “The biggest challenge [for me is] ’yung ganito—nasa harap ulit ng tao. Kasi to be honest, before coming here [sa shoot], sobra na akong kinakabahan. Nag-iisip na ko kung mapu-pull off ko ba ’yung looks,” Julia opened up. 

“Kahit na small team lang tayo right now, medyo may ganu’n pa rin ako [na feeling]. Parang I feel na hindi ko ’to thing,” she shared, stating that as an introvert, she has had troubles in returning back to her ball game. Although she gives off a strong spirit, Julia, after all, is just as human.

“Before, I didn’t like to be an actor talaga, to be honest. Pero realizing it afterwards, parang na-enjoy ko na siya and it became my passion na. Na-enjoy ko na rin naman siya na may halong kaba every time.”

Attending this year’s ABS-CBN Ball tested Julia’s social skills, too. For more than eight years, she embarked on a lesser-laden path out of the country, peeling away from the chaos and from the art of sleep-is-for-the-weak. She steps on the brakes when she is bound to do so, and does it with complete and utter calmness and God-given grace. 

At the ABS-CBN Ball 2023, as Julia walked the red carpet again, she was glad and grateful to have attended it with nobody else but her partner Coco Martin, naming him as the best companion to be with her at the anticipated star-studded affair.

“I’m very happy and blessed also na si Coco ’yung kasama ko kasi ang tagal ko talagang hindi umattend. Ang laking tulong na kasama ko rin si Coco. Iba ’yung feeling na makasama mo rin ’yung mga co-actors mo, ’yung colleagues mo, ’yung mga off-cam na nakakatrabaho mo na nakita mo ulit du’n,” Julia expressed.

She enjoyed Kathryn Bernardo’s company as well, as Julia is close to the A Very Good Girl star since their early years in the business. Both starred in the hit series remake Mara Clara, and the two retained their friendship from that teleserye forward.

“Actually, my friendship with Kathryn is very special and very unique kasi kami ’yung friends na never na-involve ’yung work, pero same work kami. Kumbaga, never napag-usapan ’yung work stuff,” she emphasized. 

Each time a trap of pressure trespasses her prospects as an artist, Julia would always reiterate the rules that she best lives by. She told Metro.Style, “I don’t want na ’yung judgment ko, mag-base din sa judgment ng iba or sa experience ng iba. Gusto ko, ako ’yung unang makaka-experience para at least, from scratch talaga, makilala ko ’yung tao.”

The same goes with her showbiz undertakings and upcoming projects. The public, much more than the actual talents, expect Five Break-Ups and a Romance to enjoy the same success as the great top-grosser Filipino film Hello, Love, Goodbye did. With Alden and Kathryn as banners, it is deemed normal for some to spark the need to compare. 

“When it comes to Alden, hindi ko siya [Kathryn] tinanong. Ayaw ko lang din ma-pressure si Kath na ‘kamusta ka-trabaho si ganito?’ Kumbaga, hindi lang namin thing ’yun ni Kath,” Julia continued, shrugging off the comparisons with a smile.

To the Five Break-Ups and a Romance leading lady, 2023 came in as a surprise as she was catching up with a multitude of things. She made it to the project as she was picking up from where she left off, and she is loving every bit of the embarkation, especially that a fraction of the film was also shot abroad.

“Shooting abroad [is] very memorable kasi technically, the Singapore part sa film namin is the first part of the film,” Julia introduced, cluing us in on the important features of her character Justine Ramos. 

She walked us through Justine’s world. According to Julia, Justine acts like her in the sense that they share the love for plotting their plans in advance, and dreaming aggressively for the future. “[She] is a dreamer—[a] career-oriented woman. So Singapore is her dream—dream country, dream job. Parang nandu’n na lahat ’yung gusto niyang mangyari.”

Although fazed by love in the beginning, Justine, too, is a go-getter who treads her way to get to where her calling is. When it comes to romance, she may be a bit more rocky than Julia actually is, though strong-willed still in terms of shooting for the stars.

“’Yung part na weakness ni Justine, ’yun naman ’yung strength ko,” she told us. “Kasi si Justine, parang naalog siya when it comes to love, e. Nu’ng na-in-love siya kay Lance Sandoval (Alden Richards), parang nabago lahat nu’ng plano niya, e. As a planner, parang sanay ka na by the book, nagagawa mo ’yung plano mo.”

“Ako naman, sanay ako na go with the flow lang, pero I have a plan. Mayru’n akong plan A, B, and C. Ganu’n ako ka-ready,” Julia proceeded. “Parang feeling ko, girl scout ako every time. Ganu’n ’yung difference naming dalawa.”

As for their team’s trip to Singapore, meanwhile, Julia mentioned that it was a treat for her to witness her co-workers enjoy the journey, especially during their days off. She shared, “After every shoot, we had a certain bond na hindi mashe-share on-cam. Talagang may bonding—hindi lang siya dahil magka-work kayo.”

“May ibang boys ng crew, alam ko yata, first time nila [na lumabas ng bansa]. So ang sarap lang sa pakiramdam ng nakita mo ’yung boys [na] kapag off namin, nag-iikot sila, nagta-travel sila, nagpi-picture-picture sila.”

“Minsan, nakakasama namin ’yung crew [na] kumain sa labas. Ang sarap lang na may bonding kayo off-cam after work,” Julia went on, wrapping up her statement with a genuine smile. “Basta mayru’n kaming distinct connection na ang hirap i-explain. After ng shoot, tawanan lang. Minsan, nandiyan ’yung food trips, tapos ’yung getting-to-know each other.”

“And siguro, every time nai-interview ako, lagi kong sinasabi, ‘Nakaka-proud maging Filipino.’ Kasi the way tayong mag-work, kahit skeletal crew, we can do it. It’s as if full team and iba rin ’yung dedication natin—’yung passion natin, every time na nagwo-work tayo.”

Taking a back seat to become the truly-loving daughter that she is to her dad in Germany, Julia learned a truckload of things from her hometown in Hanover. She may have had hesitations at first, but flying back to the man whom she was waiting to meet all her life, all sticks and stones were absolutely worth it.

“Actually, nu’ng nag-stay ako sa Germany, it was really overwhelming sa’kin at first kasi first bonding namin ni Papa and culture-shocked din [ako] in a way. Talagang halos walang English so sabi ko before, akala ko sa English lang ako mahihirapan,” she recalled.

“Mas ang hirap pala ng language nila kasi ang tigas so talagang sa language side, sobrang zero [ang alam ko],” Julia said. As we went on with the shoot, I found out that Julia, too, is fluent in sign language. She speaks German, Filipino, and gestures on the side. 

“Deaf and mute din kasi ’yung family ko with Papa. So si Papa and si Tita—’yung wife niya ngayon—is also deaf and mute. So another language na naman ’yun. Iba ’yung kay Tita; iba rin ’yung kay Papa.”

“’Yung universal sign language, parang na-adopt ko na lang po, e, kasi si lola ko technically talaga ’yung nag-aral for my [biological] mom. And then eventually, may book na naiwan si lola ko sa bahay, so every time—growing up—’yun ’yung binabasa ko kasi parang ako ’yung ate sa amin.” 

As her mother’s “taga-translate,” Julia mentioned as well that she worked on her signs as she was somehow obliged to learn her mom’s official language. She made sure to serve extra efforts to the table, taking more than a mile when what’s asked is only ample.

There’s no need to think it through—Julia is truly one who deserves overwhelming praise and props. Apart from her acting chops recently, she is currently Avignon Clinic’s ambassador, too. “Actually, more than being their endorser, family na [ang turing nila sa’kin], and that’s my thing po kasi when I enter a working relationship,” she said.

When asked what her relationship is like with the Avignon leaders Benedict Sy (President) and Chris Cachuela (CEO), Julia responded, “Sila rin ’yung naging way na ma-build din ’yung confidence ko going back to work after taking a back seat. So ’yun—siguro ’yun ’yung isa sa mache-cherish ko with Avignon—the family relationship talaga.”

As to what beauty products she best recommends, Julia replied, “Siguro, sa mga on-the-go people, less is more. Always remember, less is more! Look for products na will definitely be good to your skin.” 

“Minsan, kahit na maganda ’yung product sa [iba], it will never be okay sa skin type mo. So ’wag nating ipilit. More direct and more skin-friendly products ’yung gagamitin mo [dapat]. Hindi naman kailangang maging grandiose or parang expensive ’yung mga treatment to feel beautiful. Right and good treatment and product [lang talaga],” Julia suggested.

To hydrate her skin, however, Julia sticks religiously to her beauty routine. “Just wash your face properly and kung susuwertihin ka na magkaroon ka ng sipag minsan, mag-moisturizer. Kasi sabi nga nila, papasalamatan mo ’yung sarili mo in the future kapag nag-moisturize ka.”

“When it comes to skin products, anything na hypoallergenic [would do], para kahit ano’ng gawin ko, safe. And siguro in total, ayaw ko naman magpaka-fake! Hindi po ako nagda-diet. I love food, so as long as you’re happy, magra-radiate ’yun. Happiness is the key. ’Yun lang!”

Moving forward, Julia’s milestones are no picnic now that she is gradually taking on projects after projects. The plight of actors who allow a pause to their lives leads to a trajectory southward from the spotlight, but Julia is back to make a statement and she means nothing but business.

As she navigates her way in showbiz again, Julia tells herself this, “Hindi ako nakikiuso or hindi ako trendsetter, pero gusto kong ma-feel ng mga manonood sa akin na normal sila and tanggalin ’yung pressure ng society na dapat ganito, dapat ganu’n ka, [dapat] size zero ka.”

She declared, “Don’t listen masyado sa negative comments kasi ’yun din ’yung nagiging cause kung bakit hindi mo pinaniniwalaan ’yung sarili mo. Nagbe-base na ’yung next move mo sa sasabihin ng ibang tao. Don’t blame yourself. It’s more of ‘I know, nire-reroute lang ako ni Lord.’ Mayru’ng better na mangyayari so hihintayin ko ’yun and I’ll prep myself to be ready for that.”

Photography by Dookie Ducay

Creative direction by Chookie Cruz

Editor-in-Chief: Geolette Esguerra

Sittings editors: Red Dimaandal, Grace Libero-Cruz, and Kate Paras-Santiago 

Art direction by Raff Colmenar

Video Producer: CJ Reyes

Editorial Assistant: Mika Yusay 

Makeup by Harlyn Fernandez-Santos 

Hairstyling by Jocelyn So

Styling by Myrrh Lao To, assisted by Josh Galang and Mai Chua

Set design by Tipping Point Collective

Photography assistants: Mark Catunga and Byron de Guzman

Shot on location at Studio LAJ

Special thanks to Bizu Patisserie, Cornerstone, and Mac Merla