I shot this portrait of ravishing GMA actress Kris Bernal in 2010
when I worked with a skincare brand on the invitation of a friend. This
is my favorite shot of her. At that time, I was 7 years into my
photography work, and have just been shooting mostly stars from ABS-CBN
(the other big network.) I said to myself, what brilliant young lady --
beautiful, very talented, with a "light of her own" wherever she walked.
At that time, Kris had just starred in "Koreana", a top-rating GMA TV
drama. It helped that I liked Korean stars, and was totally inspired
during my photoshoot with this young drama diva.
Two years later, I
would find myself in a conference room with Ms. Kris Bernal and the
handsome actors Aljur Abrenica and Benjamin Alvez for a motivational
viewing for their upcoming teleserye, a Filipino version of the hit
koreanovela "Coffee Prince." I was in the meeting on the capacity of
Head of Talent Development for GMA Artist Center, and Kris, and the
actors are now my artists. I would remind Kris of that photoshoot
session (one of very many for her), and we would beam in joy in the
reality that we are indeed, working together again, and will be so for
the next many months and years. In the many days that followed, more and
more I realized what a true STAR Kris really is.
In "Coffee
Prince" she would tape for three days a week (for up to 20 hours a day)
in wet Tagaytay weather, playing the role of boy, and wearing a short
wig for all that time. One cannot know just how difficult that all was
-- there were times she'd get sick, and still work until the taping is
finished. The production crew and her co-actors have only good things to
say. She is highly professional. But what's really special about Kris
Bernal is that in between tapings, I would ask her to attend workshops
back at the station, and she would come looking as ravishing as she did
in the photo above. I don't mean "all made-up and hair-styled", I mean,
that light that follows her everywhere she goes -- she still has it.
After 20 hours of taping, she was happy, radiant, and seem ready to take
on another day.
I know television production. It changes the way
people look after a while. I think Kris transcends that because she
knows she has to, and she has to look like she has control over it, and
not the other way around. A true Star is always up in the sky for us to
look up to, and should never be seen touching the ground. The rest of
the showbiz world would argue -- "it's the acting awards" or "the
box-office hits", or "the many commercials", or the "many famous
flings.." that makes a Star. Not to trivialize all that, but one could
have all that, and still would not LOOK like a Star. Beyond all the
trappings, we must see the radiant attitude and masterfully-maintained
image despite the arduous work and mind-boggling stress. Many have
mastered this technique, not just in showbusiness, but in other
businesses everywhere, in other worlds, places and situations.
Everywhere, people are judged for how they looked, and often, it's a
great boost if you looked as good as you are. It should be an ideal to
always ambition for. Kris achieved it.
And now, if we can all just
stop complaining about how hard the stuff we do is, and we begin to
LOOK the part, well, something must be learned here.
Do Your Thing Very Well.
Look Like It's So Easy.
Wash up and rest a while.
Shine brightly and dazzle them.
