Julia Montes and Sharon Cuneta | Photos: @montesjulia08 @reallysharoncuneta
For actresses Julia Montes and Sharon Cuneta, Christmas this year is merrier because of their new series, Saving Grace. The Dreamscape Entertainment production, directed by FM Reyes and Dolly Dulu, is the Philippine adaptation of the acclaimed Japanese series titled Mother. The original material from NIPPON TV has been adapted for China, France, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, and Ukraine.
In this timeless drama series, exclusively available on Prime Video, Julia is Anna, a teacher who decides to kidnap her student, Mary Grace (played by Zia Grace), to save her from her abusive mother. While her intention is good, her action brings forth moral and legal issues. Sharon is Miranda, the adoptive mother of Julia’s character. While the focus is on the story of Anna saving Mary Grace, Anna’s painful past will also play a significant part, shining a light on her own healing journey.
Metro.Style caught up with Saving Grace stars Sharon Cuneta and Julia Montes and chatted with them about their Christmas traditions and holiday gift recommendations:
Photo: @dreamscapeph
Sharon on Christmas and family: “I become sentimental because I think of my parents. I think of the people I love who've gone ahead. I miss people and wish they were there… I really just enjoy family. We have noche buena, just us. Just really the nuclear family. We're a very close-knit family. Our best friends are each other.”
Gift guide for…
Girl friends: “A spa day. Massage. Because everybody has some amount of stress. Everybody just wants to rest and relax, and it's not bad to. It's self-love. It's self-care. You know what, if you don't take care of yourself, how do you expect to take care of the people you love? It has to start with you. And you have to take care of your number one; that's you! Nobody else can take care of you as well as you can. Everybody else has their concerns. I would give a good book or two. It can be a novel, something about organizing, entertaining, or a good cookbook, depending on the likes of the person you're giving it to. Maybe a gym membership. If it's girl friends, I take them out to lunch or dinner or something. Shopping day. A bottle of perfume they like, a blouse, a dress. Something that will remind them of me whenever they use it. What I always like are notebooks and nice planners, pens. I have a love affair with paper. I would give those."
Moms: Based on what her mom used to like, Sharon recommends bags.
Men: “Cologne. Or, my 15-year-old likes hair products. This saltwater spray for the beach look where their hair looks like they just came out of the ocean and there's salt in their hair. And then, things they can use every day, like my husband loves shirts: polo shirts, and T-shirts. Anything they can use. Very practical. It could be a good book. Backpack or something because they're so disorganized, these boys. Something that can monitor their health, like the Apple watch, Fitbit, or something. Any of those, depending on the person."
What does she want to give herself? "One year’s worth of traveling with my family or at least my husband and girl friends sometimes, my daughters. I love traveling. I think I work more than I have to because I love to travel. I have to have a budget for traveling. And when you travel, you can’t just sleep and eat. You need to have money to buy stuff. I like to go on food trips."
Photo: @montesjulia08
Julia on Christmas and family: "Before, nagluluto ako. But if I want more time with them, mag-o-order kami so we can bond. Kuwentuhan. Kain lang. Simple celebration. We don’t normally go out of town or out of the country kasi para sa’min special at sacred ang mga ganitong occasions kasi hindi naman laging kumpleto ang family. Always namin chine-cherish 'yung mga moments na p'wede kami maging kumpleto. Kahit simple cake lang, pancit, and all, just being together."
Gift guide for...
Girl friends: "A food getaway or out of town or out of the country. Food trips. Sabay-sabay mag-e-explore. New experience with the girls."
Moms: "I think 'yung pamper time na beautification day. Massage. Anything about physical wellness. Self-care because sometimes 'pag mom ka na, 'yun ang na-ne-neglect mo, not because it’s your choice but also because iba na 'yung priorities mo e."
Men: "I’ll just cook for them. Mas personal. Anything na request nila for food, I’ll prepare it for them. So 'yung time and 'yung food na ipre-prepare for them, especially like my dad kasi bihira siya andito. So I think kapag andito siya at may request siyang Filipino food, 'yun ang gusto kong lutuin for him para lang mas connected. Iba rin 'yung feeling na nag-prepare ka for him this time around dahil lagi kayong magkalayo. Feeling ko mas ma-appreciate niya 'yun more than going on a trip."
What does she want to give herself? "Ang gustong-gusto ko matanggap na gift ay a famili trip, the whole gang. From tito, tita, the pinsan and all kasi the last time na nagawa ko po 'yun ay seven or eight years ago. We were 13 tapos ako 'yung nag-o-organize so gusto ko maulit 'yun. I want them to experience anuman 'yung blessing na natatanggap ko as artista na meron din kaming experience na bago pero sabay-sabay kami nakaka-experience nu'n."
Lead photos from @montesjulia08 @reallysharoncuneta
Interview by Leah Puyat