Straight from KimXi

MANILA, Philippines - In a showbiz-obsessed country like ours, everyone and her mother have supposed “insider” information about local celebrities. At some point in your life, you have heard this line: “Sabi ni (insert some friend/relative’s name here), masama daw ugali ni (insert name of actress/actor here).” These stories are lapped up, passed on to other willing listeners, and, in the process, details are mutated, until the subject becomes a true-blue villain/cautionary tale. For example: Xian Lim, unable to stop for a photo op, possibly because he’s rushing to another engagement, is painted as a heartless snob who won’t even give a fan who waited for hours the time of day. Or Kim Chiu, who has outgrown her Pinoy Big Brother awkward looks, is suddenly the favorite subject of snarky “Then-and-Now” online articles, which aggressively insinuate she’s had work done. With their new teleserye taking the place of On the Wings of Love (big shoes to fill), the two stars sat down with Supreme to speak about these misconceptions, the demise of the divas, and — gird your loins, KimXi fans — their real-life status.

You’ve been working together for almost five years now. What’s your bond like?

Xian: Dati-dati medyo nangangapa pa eh. Even if nagkaroon na kami ng projects, meron pang, “Galit ka ba?”

Kim: Ngayon, mas kilala na naming yung isa’t isa. Mas komportable. Kahit hindi pa siya magsalita, alam ko na kung galit siya, pagod siya, masaya siya. Dati hindi ko kayang ipakita sa kanya kung bad mood ako, pero now, comfy na. Umuutot siya sa harapan ko! Yung walang sound na utot. Tapos tatawa lang siya.

What’s the best thing you’ve picked up from each other?

Kim: Mahilig kasi siya magbasa ng books. So marami siyang tinuturo sa akin, pag may mga bagay na hindi ko naiintindihan. Kino correct niya yung English ko.

Xian: When I was just starting to get to know Kim, I was more of a loner. Dito lang ako sa sulok, magbabasa na lang ako ng libro. Or drawing na lang ako sa sketch pad. Pero she’s a very open person kasi. She’s very… “Heeeey! How are you guys?” I’ve imbibed that.

Half a decade in, what’s the biggest misconception about you?

Xian: That I’m unapproachable. Natanong sa akin to eh just a couple of days ago. Sabi nila, “Bakit now you’re so approachable?” Sabi ko, “No, that’s not true. I’ve always been like this, but now, nabigyan po ako ng pagkakataon to express myself more.” Kasi before, hindi naman ako masyadong exposed. Ngayon, left and right, merong [interviews with] mga kaibigan from the press, merong event here and there. Ngayon lang nangyayari yung mga ganyan eh. Kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa mga tao, lagi kong sinasabi na, “Thank you for giving me a chance.” Kasi yun lang naman yung hinihiling ko talaga eh.

Kim: [That I’m] retokada. Nakakapagod na. Pag may maganda akong picture sa Instagram — siyempre Instagram ko ’to, gusto ko maganda ako. Bat ako mag po post ng pangit, di ba? — may nag co- comment ng, “Hindi yan yung PBB na mukha mo!” Puwede ba 10 years ago na kasi yun? Pwedeng nag mature? Tsaka nalagyan ng nose line, ng eyeliner?

So how do you deal with these negatrons who hound you because they have nothing better to do?

Xian: Dapat hindi ka masyadong nagbabasa [comments]. You have to know kung alin yung maapektuhan ka. And you need a really good circle. Dapat intact talaga. They’re always going to keep you grounded and remind you who you are.

Kim: Normal naman kasi yun [having bashers] when you’re a public figure. Dati pumapatol ako, but after how many years [in this industry], sige na, okay lang. Nasabi mo na, di ba? Okay na yun. Nabasa ko na rin, so okay na tayong dalawa, patas ang laban natin. Huwag na tayo magsagutan. Sige padaan na lang sa tenga. I don’t really read comments anymore, pero minsan kapag may nag-aaway na fans sa page ko, [I check] saan ba nanggaling to? Kung sino yung pinanggalingan, block. Tapos delete, delete, delete, delete. Para tahimik.

Your new show, The Story Of Us, how is it different from other teleseryes you’ve done?

Xian: Our roles here are much more mature. When I say mature, just something new. It’s a pure love story, between Tin and Macoy. Paghihiwalayin sila ng tadhana, and how they will find their way back together.

Kim: Walang kontrabida. Ang kontrabida ay yung timing at pangyayari. Hindi ito yung type ng love story na may isang taong pipigil. Wala. Pangyayari yung kalaban nila.

Walang kidnap-pan. Love it. So do you believe that timing is everything when it comes to love?

Kim: Oo naman. I believe that timing is everything when it comes to love. Dapat ready siya, ready ka to get into that circle called a relationship na kaya niyong paikutin.

Xian: Pero ayokong isipin nila na dun lang dapat mag base, sa timing, kasi sometimes, the person that comes along is the person that will heal you. So medyo tricky eh. Ang daming pwedeng mangyari. But timing plays a big part sa love. But still, don’t let it limit you in that box.

What’s the atmosphere like on the set of your new show?

Xian: Ganito yung camaraderie ha, kwento ko lang. Merong eksena, at 12 midnight, papatalunin kami sa tubig, ice cold na tubig, sa Bataan to. Sobrang mahangin. Our director na nag-utos sa amin, siya rin tumalon mismo, and so did the assistants. Lahat tumalon just so it’s fair. They didn’t have to do that.

You’re set to fly to New York to shoot important sequences for the show. Real talk, now: Are you divas? Do you help out the lean crew? Nagbubuhat din ba kayo ng equipment, etc.?

Kim: Hindi na uso yung pa-diva. Yung buong staff ng The Story Of Us nag Palawan na rin kasi kami na remote din, so nagtutulungan kami. Para mapabilis yung kilos. Konti na lang yung mga pa- diva. Kasi maraming artista diyan, may papalit sa ’yo, at magbubuhat din sila.

Your projects, whether TV or movies, are almost always hits. Do you have any theories why?

Kim: Siguro kasi nakikita nila na masaya lang kami sa ginagawa namin. Wala kaming away, wala kaming misunderstanding. Wala lang.

How do you feel about the emergence of these new love teams?

Kim: Wala naman [competitiveness] kasi mas bata naman sila sa amin. Kami, dun na kami sa mature area ng love team, sa mature stories.

Xian: May kanya-kanya kaming strengths. Ang maganda  sa amin ni Kim, we criticize each other. Before, hindi namin nagagawa, but now, we can tell each other, “Uy wag mong gawin yan. Ito kaya ang gawin natin,” whether with the scenes, sa pananamit or whatever.

Given that, what if this all goes away then?

Kim: Yung showbiz hindi naman talaga yan forever. It’s up to you na dapat mag save ka rin. Huwag kang gastos nang gastos, huwag mong gawing bread and butter yung trabaho mo, na parang live life to the fullest, one day millionaire ka, kasi hindi mo alam kung kelan titigil itong nangyayari sa yo. Live each day na sobra kang thankful and sobra kang happy na na nu-nurture mo yung moment, na e-enjoy mo yung moment na nandiyan ka pa, na binibigyan ka pa ng spotlight. Yun. I have a bakeshop, mga condos. Meron akong French fries franchise. Meron din akong RTW wedding gowns, Adorata, with Pepsi Herrera. Business partners kami.

Xian: Oo naman [I’m ready]. But as much as possible, hopefully not [yet], kasi ang labanan talaga dito is the longevity. That’s what I’m aiming for and I’m sure that’s also what Kim is aiming for. But if it does all go away, I just have to accept it. Sana lahat naibigay ko, yun lang. Nakilala ako nang mabuti ng mga tao. I also have real estate properties, my mom’s taking care of it. [With real estate], you can do other things. Hindi mo kailangan masyadong maging hands on unlike food or other business na kailangan you know the ins and outs. Ito naman you can still work on your craft, you can still be doing something else.

Okay. Enough with the shop talk. What do you do together when you’re private citizen Xian and private citizen Kim?

Xian: Ang dami. We watch movies together, nagpapamasahe kami sa Footzone. Suki na kami dun. Tatawag na lang kami, ready na. We always eat [out]. Always.

Kim: Pag may favorite kaming restaurant yun muna paulit-ulit [until], “Nakakasawa na hanap tayo ng iba.”

So what’s the real deal? No showbiz answer, please.

Xian: Can I just say na mahal na mahal ko si Kim? I really love Kim, and she knows that. Talagang ako na nagsabi! That’s what we want to share for now.

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Tweet the author @IrishDDizon.

Photo by

PATRICK DIOKNO

Produced by DAVID MILAN