Dahil certified box-office hit ang romantic-comedy movie na Diary ng Panget: The Movie ng Viva Films, naging instant stars na ang apat na bida rito na sina Nadine Lustre, Yassi Pressman, Andre Paras, at si James Reid.
Saksi kami sa mainit na pagtanggap ng fans sa Fil-Australian winner ng Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Clash sa naganap na premiere night ng Diary ng Panget sa SM Megamall noong nakaraang April 1.
Bawat labas ni James sa big screen ay nakakabinging sigawan at tilian ang naririnig mula sa maraming fans.
Labis na ikinatuwa ito ni James dahil hindi niya inaasahan na ganito ang magiging reception ng kanilang pelikula, lalo na noong magbukas na ito noong nakaraang April 2.
“This is pretty overwhelming. I just can’t believe that this is happening,” masayang pahayag ni James nang makapanayam ng PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) pagkatapos ng premiere night nila.
“When we first went to TriNoma, we just couldn’t believe all the people waiting for us there.
“We were pinching ourselves kasi baka panaginip lang ito lahat.
“But it was real and we can never be happier.
“Then we came here at SM Megamall and still a lot of people came. It only means that they were waiting for this movie and I cannot count the many Diary ng Panget books I’ve signed. They are really fans of Eya, Cross, Chad, and Lory.”
NEXT BIG STAR? Si James ang hinuhulaang magiging “next important star” and “newest hunk” sa Philippine showbiz ngayon dahil sa success ng Diary ng Panget.
“I don’t want to think about titles for now because our movie was a group effort.
“Apat kaming bida dito and not just me. So it’s our movie and our success.
“Regarding the titles, it’s all up to them. I feel that I am not deserving of any title yet.
“I am just happy that our movie was very well-supported and we are sharing that happy feeling with everyone,” ngiti pa ni James.
Apat na taon ding naghintay ng kanyang big break si James matapos niyang manalo sa PBB Teen Edition noong 2010.
Dahil sa pagtanggap ng maraming fans sa kanya, napatunayan na niyang puwede siyang maging leading man at ngayon pa lang ay inaabangan na ng kanyang fans sa social media ang susunod na project niya.
Kaya para kay James, wala siyang pagsisisi sa pagtira niya rito sa Pilipinas at pag-alis mula sa Australia kunsaan siya pinanganak at lumaki.
EARLY YEARS. Lumipat si James sa Pilipinas noong 15 anyos pa lang siya para samahan ang kanyang amang may sakit na magpapagamot dito.
“I just graduated high school that time. My dad wanted to move here in the Philippines kasi magpapagamot siya.
“Mas gusto raw niya dito and no one among my other siblings wants to go with him and live with him here.
“I love my dad so much that’s why I went with him. I don’t want anything bad to happen to him here.
“No regrets on my part. Kahit na hindi ako nakapag-college, I devoted my time taking care of my dad,” kuwento pa ni James.
Kung makakapag-aral daw siya ulit, culinary arts ang kanyang kukuning kurso.
“Back in Australia, I was the one doing the cooking in our house. Both my mom and dad taught me how to cook. And I am still doing that today.
“But I want to learn more about cooking. Kaya sana makapag-aral ako ng culinary arts soon,” panalangin niya.
Noong tumuntong siya ng 17 anyos, sumali siya sa Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Clash 2010 kunsaan siya ang hinirang na Big Winner. Ito nga ang nagbukas ng pintuan kay James sa showbiz na naging malaking tulong sa kanya at sa kanyang ama.
“Showbiz really helped a lot. Nakatulong yun for my dad’s medical expenses.
“I was also able to show my different talents like singing and writing songs.
“Now I’m about to start with my second album under Viva Records. Gusto ko naman may Tagalog song akong isulat. That will be a very big challenge for me,” ngiti pa niya.
LOVE LIFE. Pagdating sa personal life ni James, inamin nito na wala siyang girlfriend ngayon, kahit na nababalitang karelasyon niya raw si Ericka Villongco ng YouTube singing duo na Krissy & Ericka.
Ayon pa sa ilang balita, noong isang taon pa raw magkarelasyon sina Ericka at James.
Sa blogsite ni Ericka na www.erickavillongco.com ay makikita ang pictures nila ni James na very sweet sa isa’t isa.
No comment na lang daw si James tungkol kay Ericka.
Nabanggit na lang ni James na niligawan niya noon ang ka-batch niya sa PBB Teen Clash na si Devon Seron na taga-Cebu City.
Pinag-partner sila noon sa show at tinawag ang kanilang tandem na JaeVon.
Inamin ni James na bigla na lang daw nawalan sila ng communication ni Devon dahil hindi nga raw siya gusto ng mother nito.
“Wala kaming closure ni Devon. We just stopped communicating. If there’s a chance to patch things up with her, it would be good for both of us.
“I know that she’s still active and she has shows sa ABS-CBN. Maybe someday that closure will happen.”
SURPRISE BOX-OFFICE HIT. Samantala, noong magbukas noong April 2 ang Diary ng Panget, kumita na ito ng higit sa P15 million as of Thursday (April 3).
Inaasahan ngang kikita ng higit sa P200 million ang Diary ng Panget: The Movie ngayong weekend at sa magiging extended run nito.
Nagdagdag na nga raw ng ilan pang sinehan dahil sa surprise success nito.
Nabigyan din ng Grade B ang naturang rom-com ng Cinema Evaluation Board (CEB).
Patuloy rin ang mall tour ng buong cast na binubuo nina James, Nadine, Yassi, at Andre. Ngayong April 5 ay SM Sta. Rosa (5:00 PM) at sa April 6 naman sa SM Taytay (4:00 PM).