Now in a good place, Julia Barretto tells what else she wants for 2022

Julia Barretto

For 2022, all Julia Barretto wants to do is work, work, work.

“I just want to do one shoot after another, and if I can do that every single day, I would do it. This year, my love for doing films was reignited. I’m just excited to tell more stories and bring more characters to life,” she said in a video conference, announcing her as the new ambassador of the beauty supplement brand Miracle White.

Aside from her TV5 drama series, “’Di Na Muli,” the 24-year-old star worked on two movies this year—“Expensive Candy” by Jason Paul Laxamana and “Bahay na Pula” by Brillante Ma Mendoza. She’s also set to appear in an Antoinette Jadaone project titled, “Senior Year.”

“We have just finished locked-in taping for ‘Expensive Candy’ with Carlo Aquino and Direk Jason. It’s unlike any other films I have done. It’s about a sex worker and a public school teacher who falls in love with each other. I don’t want to spoil too much, but that’s where the story revolves,” she related.

“Bahay na Pula,” on the other hand, is a horror film with Xian Lim. “I did it with Direk Brillante which was an honor for me,” she said. “I just feel so inspired and motivated again. This is all I want to do next year.”

As for her personal life, Julia said she’s in a good place in her life right now. “I’m happy and thankful for the people around me. There’s a lot of calm and peace in me, which I have been praying for for the past two years,” she said.

Priority

As a public figure, Julia puts premium on taking care of herself and making sure she always looks presentable when in public. “That’s a priority … because there are people who look up to us for the way we dress, act and talk,” Julia said.

“We don’t always have perfect days, but I try to take care of myself, because it makes me feel good inside, which then reflects on my energy. Taking care of yourself is also taking care of other people,” she added.

Where does her earnings from endorsements like this one go? Julia admitted that she used to have a penchant for buying herself nice things when she was younger. These days, they mostly go to her investments.

Investments

“Back then, I would usually gift myself with shoes or a bag,” she said. “But now I have dreams and investments I’m eyeing. I’m getting older and I want to continue working hard so I can reach a (financially) comfortable state … so that by the time you start your own family, you can give your kids a comfortable life.”

Living independently, she added, was also a major factor in her financial maturity. “Now that I have been living on my own for two years, I have a better appreciation for all the effort and hours you put into earning money,” the Viva artist said. “Every peso counts, especially now that I see my dues and bills I have to pay. Before that, my mom (Marjorie Barretto) took care of that.”

Despite being seen as one of local show biz’s most beautiful faces, Julia said she still has her share of insecurities. That’s why it’s important, she added, to recognize and accept one’s flaws and shortcomings.

“I acknowledge the things I love about myself. But there should also be balance. We should be able to accept what we have and what we don’t have… There’s only one you; there’s no one exactly like you in the world. We’re unique and beautiful,” she said, adding that aside from physical insecurities, she used to also harbor self-doubts about her career and how she handles her life.

Count your blessings

“We struggle every day. There are some days when I feel unsure if what I’m doing is right. It’s normal and human… It helps to make a conscious effort to look for things you think you can be good at and will make you feel fulfilled,” she said.

But when life gets too overwhelming, counting her blessings, she said, is a fail-proof coping mechanism. “It really works for me. There’s magic in counting your blessings. When I’m tired and stressed or when there’s negativity, I take a moment to count the things I’m grateful for… It’s important to focus on the good things, especially now that we don’t know what’s going to happen next.”