Kathryn Bernardo paid for schooling of ‘Goin’ Bulilit’ batchmate, says director

Kathryn Bernardo. Image: Nice Print Photography

Kathryn Bernardo‘s generous heart was made known by a director who recently disclosed that she shouldered the tuition of one of her “Goin’ Bulilit’ batchmates who fell into bad times.

During her contract signing with ABS-CBN’s Star Magic last Feb. 2, Bernardo was praised by “Goin’ Bulilit” director Edgar Mortiz in a video message for providing financial help to one of the show’s alums after their father passed away. He opted not to reveal the identity of the former child star as they are not active in show biz anymore.

“Hindi ko alam na ginagawa pala ni Kathryn, na natuwa ako. Nakita ko ‘yung nanay ng isang ‘Bulilit’ (kid) tapos kinwento niya sa’kin noong namatay ang tatay nito, ang nagpa-aral sa kanya si Kathryn,” said Mortiz. “Tuwang-tuwa ako na hindi pala siya nakakalimot sa mga kasama niya. Proud na proud ako.”

(I didn’t know that Kathryn was this kind of person, and it made me happy. I previously met the mother of one of kids because when their father died, Kathryn paid for his schooling. It made me happy because she didn’t forget the people she worked with. It made me proud.)

When asked about this kind gesture during an interview by ABS-CBN News, Bernardo bared that her batchmate’s father had been a friend of her mom, Min, and when he died, the kid stopped his show biz career.

“During that time kasi, the dad [ay] naging kaibigan namin ni Mama. Sabay [siya samin] kakain and then for a time, nag-stop mag-artista ‘yung tao na ‘to,” she said.

“And then naka-receive kami ng message from the mom na ito ‘yung nangyari sa dad tsaka ‘di na rin siya naga-artista,” she said. “Bilang nakasama mo, siyempre tutulong ka hangga’t kaya mo.”

(During that time, their father was close to my Mom and me. He would eat with us and then for a time, this person stopped being in showbiz. And then, we received a message from their Mom about what happened to their dad and that they’re not a celebrity anymore. Of course, as someone who worked with them, you’re going to help them as much as you can.)

Bernardo also shared that she wanted to help her batchmate as a way to fulfill her and mom’s promise to the father of the “Goin’ Bulilit” alum.

“‘Yun din kasi [ang] ni-promise namin ni mama sa dad niya na tutulungan namin kasi ito ‘yung isa sa dreams ng dad niya para sa kanya, na makatapos ng college because he’s so smart and… masarap tulungan kasi masipag,” she continued.

(That was what my Mom and I promised their dad — to help them because it’s one of their dad’s dreams for them, to finish college because they’re so smart and it’s so nice to help someone hardworking.)

Bernardo was among the cast of the first batch of “Goin’ Bulilit” from 2005 to 2008. Among her batchmates include Julia Montes, John Manalo, Kiray Celis, and Eliza Pineda, just to name a few.