Nadine on projects sans James: We also need time to grow separately

“Hindi naman po pwedeng lagi kaming magkadikit sa lahat ng bagay. We also need time to grow separately, which I believe can be healthy,” pointed out Nadine Lustre, when asked about her boyfriend, James Reid, being paired with Nancy McDonie of the Korean girl group Momoland for a coming series.

“At least, once we finally do another project together in the future, the fans will be more excited,” she told reporters at a recent press conference for ABS-CBN’s new reality talent search “Your Moment,” where she will sit as a judge alongside Boy Abunda and Billy Crawford.

“I’m excited about that. But now, I’m also excited about doing my own projects, because personally, I want to get to experience different things. This is my first time being a [full-time] judge,” she added.

While it was James who scored a judging stint first—via “Idol Philippines”—Nadine said she didn’t really consult him for tips or advice. It was the other way around.

“Actually, James was the one who asked me for tips before he did ‘Idol,’ because I have had a bit of experience with ‘Miss Q&A,’” Nadine said. “He asked me how I assessed performances and expressed my thoughts.”
More experienced

Besides, the 26-year-old star has the likes of Billy and Tito Boy—who are far more experienced in hosting and judging—as her mentor of sorts.

“Personally, I’m protective of Nadine. I urge her to say what she wants to say and express what she feels without worries,” Boy said of Nadine. “Judging is a combination of instinct and rationality: What’s my reaction? How am I going to say it? I tell Nadine to take her time.”

“We have been in the talk business for a long time and I want her to shine,” Boy added.

Doing “Your Moment,” which will shine the light on singing groups and dance crews from Philippines and other countries, has been quite the instructive—“life-changing, even”—experience for Nadine, who admitted that she fears public speaking.

“I can’t do it, really. Whenever there are press cons or events in which I have to speak, I get nervous. But this show has helped me learn new things and be more confident in the way I talk and express myself,” she said.

Now, the challenge for her is figuring out how to be more direct to the point with her commentary.
“I still think about how I can piece my thoughts together [quickly],” she pointed out.

Hosted by Luis Manzano and Vhong Navarro, “Your Moment” will premiere on Nov. 9.
“It’s great seeing and meeting new talents on our stage. I get quite emotional seeing how good they are, especially after knowing their stories and struggles,” Nadine said.