Julie Anne San Jose and Benjamin Alves
Some love teams are nothing but “love schemes.” They’re merely make-believe tandems concocted by their home studios to please the fans, unlike the “BenLie” team-up of Benjamin Alves and Julie Anne San Jose that does not pretend to be something it is not. Ben and Julie are a “chill” kind of couple. They’re “real people” who also just happen to be celebrities.
BenLie topbills GMA 7’s afternoon series, “Pinulot Ka Lang sa Lupa” (Monday to Friday, after “Legally Blind”), based on Ishmael Bernal’s 1987 screen drama. Hugot lines galore make the series even more eventful.
Here’s my chat with Benjamin:
If you were torn between two women, describe the one you would choose? I’d pick the one I feel closest to… the girl who understands me better. But, that’s such a stressful situation to be in. It’s unfair to both girls, really.
How different is your teleserye from the movie version that inspired it? It’s more modern, judging from what our characters are doing now. But we retained the power lines of the movie… the pain, the hurt and tension. These elements were what made the original successful, so we don’t stray too far away from those.
Any advice from your Tito Piolo (Pascual) that you follow? Love our job… and everything that comes with it. And to always try to be a blessing to others.
What’s the craziest thing that you and Julie have done together? We always sit on the edge of the rooftop of a building in the GMA 7 compound when we go on our “little dates” between rehearsals and tapings. The security guards always freak out because we’re like five stories up!
How has Julie redefined love for you? That love is organic. We love growing together.
Here’s my chat with Julie:
What do you find hard to resist in Benjamin? Everything about Ben is special. I enjoy taking my time to get to know him even more.
What makes your relationship with him work? We support and understand each other without expectations. In our line of work, there’s a lot to consider. There may be occasional rough patches, but we make sure we talk about them. It’s important for partners to build a good foundation… to trust and respect each other.
If you were in a love triangle, like your character in the series, how would you handle it? Real love may not always be easy to show, but it’s worth the effort. There’ll be compromises and sacrifices. We want affection and attention, and when we love someone, we fight hard to get them. If you truly love someone, fight for him without hesitation.
What don’t you understand about men? How they can be mysterious and sometimes unpredictable.
If you had to give up singing or acting, which would you choose? That’s a tough question. They both have a special place in my heart.
Are you open to the idea of joining Binibining Pilipinas?
Another tough question. I am, but let’s wait and see. If it’s meant to happen, so be it.
If your life story would be made into a movie, what would the title be? “Metamorphosis.”