(From left) Gabbi Garcia, Joshua Garcia, Julia Barretto. Images: Instagram/@sparklegmaartistcenter, Instagram/@juliabarretto
Gabbi Garcia made sure to give Julia Barretto a heads-up about working with the latter’s ex-boyfriend, Joshua Garcia, in the teleserye “Unbreak My Heart” out of respect.
Gabbi revealed on a May 18 episode of the show “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” that she asked Barretto’s permission to work with Joshua, saying she did it out of respect for both actors.
“I called her when [‘Unbreak My Heart’] was mentioned to me,” she said, when asked by Abunda if she ever contacted Barretto about the project. “I also called her before I left for Europe, not for anything.”
“Siguro values ko na lang din as a woman and as her friend. I called her in respect, delicadeza lang for me na, ‘I’m gonna be working with Josh for this project,’” she continued. (Perhaps, it’s my values as a woman and as her friend. I called her in respect, and I tactfully said, “I’m gonna be working with Josh for this project.)
In response, Barretto assured Gabbi that she didn’t have to seek consent from her as it’s part of her job as an actress. The Kapuso star also noted that she had been friends with the “Expensive Candy” star since high school as they both attended St. Paul College together.
“Natawa pa nga siya na parang, ‘Oh my God, Gabbi. You don’t have to call me. Sabi niya sa’kin, you don’t have to call me, you don’t have to even tell me, just go.’ Sabi ko, ‘Wala lang, I just want to let you know [para] walang gulatan or anything,’” she shared.
(She even laughed in response saying, “Oh my God, Gabbi. You don’t have to call me.” She even said, “You don’t have to call me, you don’t have to even tell me, just go. I said, “Nothing, I just want to let you know so there wouldn’t be a surprise or anything.)
‘Most mature role’
During the interview, Gabbi also shared that she went through sensuality workshops with Joshua just to pull off their intimate scenes in the teleserye, saying that her character Alexandra is her “most mature role” so far.
“This is my most mature role and show up to date,” she said. “So, we did a sensuality workshop. It was also my first time doing that kind of workshop with a scene partner since we’re gonna work on a project together. It was really helpful, it made me feel safe. You get to be vulnerable to each other. At the same time, you’re not violating your scene partner.”
READ: Jodi Sta. Maria, Joshua Garcia go through ‘sensuality workshops’ for ‘Unbreak My Heart’
The “Encantadia” star also noted that her sensuality workshop with Garcia was a “great opportunity” for them to be comfortable with each other while being mindful of their boundaries.
“Diba, meron sa atin, when they touch the neck, [they] feel violated. Kanya-kanya naman ‘yan eh. At least, there’s openness and a safe space to tell your partner na [dito lang ako comfortable]. You can touch this, you can hold this, we can go up to here only. So, it’s a great opportunity for you and your scene partner to be comfortable without even violating each other,” she added.
(There are moments when you touch someone’s neck, they feel violated. Everyone has their own boundaries. At least, there’s openness and a safe space to tell your partner that you’re only comfortable up to this point. You can touch this, you can hold this, we can go up to here only. So, it’s a great opportunity for you and your scene partner to be comfortable without even violating each other.)
The actress also expressed her gratitude to her real-life partner, Khalil Ramos, for being understanding with her career as he’s also a fellow actor.
“Hindi seloso si Khalil talaga. I’m grateful for it. I’m really, really grateful for it because he understands since he’s also an actor. He really understands, and ayan ang isa sa pinakamaswerte ako. I’m really, really blessed because never siya naging conflict sa relationship namin,” she said.
(Khalil doesn’t get jealous at all. I’m grateful for it. I’m really, really grateful for it because he understands since he’s also an actor. He really understands, and it’s one of the things I feel really lucky about. I’m really, really blessed because it never became a conflict in our relationship.)
Barretto was in a relationship with Joshua from 2017 to 2019, as they starred in several projects together as a loveteam. The former is currently in a relationship with her “Between Maybes” co-star Gerald Anderson.
On the other hand, Gabbi and Joshua are among the leads of the ABS-CBN-GMA teleserye which also stars Jodi Sta. Maria and Richard Yap. The drama is set to premiere on May 29. EDV