GORGY RULA
Si Julia Montes ang isa sa itinuturing na malapit na kaibigan ni Alden Richards.
Mas maingat na raw ngayon ang Kapuso actor sa mga kinakaibigan niya. At mas gusto raw niyang maliit lang na grupo ang close friends niya.
Isa na nga rito si Julia.
Nagsimula ang closeness ng dalawa nang ginawa nila ang 2023 movie na Five Breakups and a Romance.
Read: Kirk Bondad confirms rekindled love story with Lou Yanong
“Hindi na tayo masyadong available kasi nga baka, alam mo yun, baka may makasamaan ka pa ng loob eventually. Parang, you keep your circle small na lang.
“I think that’s the best way, para may peace of mind pare-pareho,” sabi ni Alden nang nakapanayam ng PEP Troika sa launch ng Swiss Proli Natural night gummies na ginanap sa Marquis Events Place noong Martes, November 4, 2025.
Si Julia at ang chemist na si Pinky Tobiano ang namamahala sa naturang produkto.
“I can say, sobrang bait nitong taong ito,” pakli naman ni Julia, na nagpapasalamat na kasama siya sa maliit na circle of friends ni Alden.
Dagdag ni Alden: “Hindi lang naman… di ba? As much as you’re protecting yourself, you’re also protecting other people by not diving into something that would probably hurt the both of you.”
ALDEN AND JULIA: BUSINESS-MINDED FRIENDS
Parehong naging abala sina Julia at Alden sa kani-kanyang negosyo at matagal na raw nila itong pinag-uusapan.
Bilib nga raw si Alden kay Julia dahil ang mga pinag-usapan nila noong nagsu-shoot sila ng pelikula ay nakikita na ngayon sa aktres.
Ani Alden: “Right now kasi, lahat halos po na napag-usapan namin during our filming of Five Breakups and a Romance, is finally coming into fruition. So, parang lahat kasi nun, we started on the same page.
“Kasama pa natin nun si Direk Irene [Villamor], e. Then all of a sudden, we just brought out the best in each other when it comes to being a person, actually.
“So, natutuwa lang din kasi ako kay Juls na lahat nung na-impart namin sa kanya, and lahat na na-impart sa amin, nadala siya up to this time, na kahit hindi kami magkatrabaho, kahit hindi kami madalas nagkikita.
“So, I think that’s friendship na hindi lang magkatrabaho at dahil may project, dun lang magkakaroon ng connection.
“It's very rare for me to have friendship like this, and si Juls isa dun.”
Sabi naman ni Julia: “Yun yung very blessed kami after the film, hindi lang talaga kami natuto sa film.
“It’s more of may baon kami, yung friendship na until now hindi talaga nawawala.”
Read: Janice de Belen, nag-walkout sa event dahil kay John Estrada?
NOEL FERRER
Meron pang ibang sinimulang negosyo si Julia Montes, at bahagi na rin siya sa CCM Productions ng partner niyang si Coco Martin.
Lahad ng Kapamilya actress: “Pumasok na rin po ako sa production, which is CCM, Batang Quiapo.
“May take-out po ako, dimsum. And meron po akong ilu-launch na franchising naman po for mga taong gustong mag-business.”
Si Alden naman ay abala rin sa kanyang Myriad Corporation, at malapit na rin daw niyang buksan ang pangalawang branch niya ng McDo.
“Film production, and then on December of this year, I’ll be opening up my second branch po of McDonalds sa Sta. Rosa.
“So... kasi parang… so far, kasi… food business is good. Just that you have to really have good people behind you. Since hindi ako maka-hands on.
“I’m just overlooking it from here, kasi may first branch in Biñan. So, my dad is taking over right now,” pagbabahagi ni Alden.
LESSONS FROM OTHER BUSINESSMEN
May mga natutunan daw si Alden sa iba pang negosyanteng nakausap niya.
Saad niya: “Okay siya, e. Pero dapat talaga tutok.
"Kasi aminin natin, here’s one reality I’ve realized about business — sobrang liit ng profit margin, sobrang laki ng workload.
“So, parang it’s just I’d like to explore on doubling the branches. Coz right now, isa pa lang siya.
"And based from friends who have branches as well, na whenever you own a fastfood restaurant, it should be franchise fastfood restaurant.
“Sana, two or more para nagsasaluhan sila eventually. So, I’m trying it out. Para ma-experience ko siya first hand, kumusta ba.”
Gusto pa rin daw niyang magdirek, at may sisimulan siyang drama series sa GMA-7.
“Yes po. Meron pa rin on the table. We’re just finalizing.
"In terms of projects and teleserye, it will happen by the end of the year. Pero siguro filming po yun, and then next year na po siya,” sabi ni Alden.
Read: Felicia Atienza says Emman's death gave her "the deepest pain"
JERRY OLEA
Open daw sina Alden Richards at Julia Montes sa posibilidad na mag-partner sa isang negosyo. Pero dapat daw talagang pag-isipan nang mabuti.
Sabi ni Julia: “Pareho kasi may mga vision, may mga ano. Pero when it comes to business, kasi mahirap po yung maisipan lang.
“Kailangan talaga isipin kung anong product, market, o saan manggagaling, paano magsisimula.
“Madali yan, e. Kung kami lang, siyempre parang eto [Alden], kaibigan ko na talaga ito.
"Pero wala ka nang question kung tama yung partner. Pero kung ano man yun, kailangan talaga pag-isipan. Hindi basta-basta.”
Dagdag naman ni Alden, “Planning talaga. Malala!”
UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE IN BUSINESS
Naikuwento rin ni Alden na nagkaroon siya ng di magandang experience nang nakipag-partner siya sa isang negosyo.
Ani Alden: “Actually ngayon, in terms of the business world, of course, hindi natin maiwasan talaga na people who are in the business for the longest time sometimes take advantage of the lack of knowledge of the newbies and the starting ones. Naabuso po.
“So parang, it’s very rare, very hard to find the right partners in terms of business.
"Kaya sabi ko nga kay Juls before, kung kaya mong simulan nang mag-isa or within your circle lang, ganun na lang or someone you really trust.
“Kasi based from my experience, siguro talagang marami po akong masasabi na sinamantala nila yung lack of knowledge ko and just took advantage of my name for the business.
"But right now kasi, I’m very careful when it comes to venturing into business."
Nakakatuwa ang magandang friendship ni Alden with Julia.
Ang tanong, friends pa rin ba si Alden with Kathryn Bernardo?
Read: Slater Young’s Monterazzas blamed by netizens for Cebu flooding