Julia Montes To Hold Big Debut, Ready To Accept Suitors Now That She'S 18

STAR MAGIC hosted a solo presscon for debutante Julia Montes. We saw Julia growing up with Star Magic at the birthday presscons they used to hold regularly. Born on March 19, 1995, she was then named Mara Schnittka. She started with GMA-7 as a child star in the original “Sana ay Ikaw na Nga” then moved to ABS-CBN for “Hiram” and “Goin’ Bulilit”. She also appeared in soaps like “Ligaw na Bulaklak” and “Betty La Fea”. In 2010, she was paired with Kathryn Gonzales in “Mara Clara”, which made them both big stars. Unlike the original Clara, Gladys Reyes, she wasn’t just relegated to supporting roles but played mature lead roles, notably in “Walang Hanggan”.

Her debut will be held at Fernwood Gardens this Tuesday with a Midsummer Nights theme. She’ll be in three gowns made by Pepsi Herrera, with Coco Martin as escort. Participating in 18 Roses are Richard Gomez, John Lloyd Cruz, Robi Domingo, Sam Concepcion, Paulo Avelino, Rayver Cruz, Sam Milby, Jake Cuenca, Enrique Gil, Daniel Padilla, Arron Villaflor, ABS exec Deo Endrinal and many more. Participating in 18 Treasures are Susan Roces, Helen Gamboa, Dawn Zulueta, Janice de Belen, Kathryn Bernardo, Miles Ocampo, Tippy Dos Santos, Liezel Garcia, Eda Nolan, Melissa Ricks, Dimples Romana, Maricar Reyes, Denise Laurel and others. For her fathers and kuyas in the industry, there’ll be 18 Tulips with Directors Jerry Sineneng, Jerome Pobocan, Tots Mariscal, Manny Palo, Bobot & Fransco Mortiz & Lino Cayetano, Jhong Hilario, Rondell Lindayag, Biboy Arboleda and others. Hosting the event are Matteo Guidicelli and Robi Domingo. Julia will have a big birthday bash at ASAP this Sunday and her debut will later be shown on “The Buzz”.

Now that she’s 18, her Lola Flory who raised her is less strict with her. “Nagugulat nga ako di na niya ko masyadong sinasamahan and she spends more time in our beauty salon. At 18, she trusts me raw.”

Coco and Enchong Dee used to say they’d wait until she’s 18 before they court her. Now, that she’s 18, does she expect them to woo her earnestly or is it all just press release? “I don’t want to expect. Pangit naman kung walang mangyayari. Bahala sila. Nasa tao naman yan.”

Who does she prefer? “Pareho silang okay, family-oriented, with good characters, so mahirap pumili.”

What’s her birthday wish? “Gusto ko sana makasama ang dad ko, but malabo na yata yun.” Her dad is a German national who left her and her mom when she was still a baby. Her mom remarried and she has two half brothers. Both her parents are deaf mutes. “The last we heard about him, he’s sick daw. He was still in Australia then. I wrote him but he didn’t respond. Di ko alam baka bumalik na siya sa kanila sa Frankfurt, Germany. In God’s own time, magkikita rin kami uli. My other wish is to be able to give my family their dream house.”