Barbie Forteza doesn’t want to hurry adulthood
Barbie Forteza just turned 16. And the Kapuso actress – bless her – doesn’t want to hurry adulthood.
“Hindi pa ko feeling dalaga. So enjoy lang ako before I turn 18,”she told the press at the surprise party GMA Artist Center threw for her at Luxent Hotel.
The generous gesture from her home network surprised and pleased the birthday girl.
“Ngayon lang ako nabigyan ng surprise birthday treat, hindi lang ng Anna Karenina (the GMA teledrama she topbills with Joyce Ching and Krystal Reyes) pero ng GMA Artist Center din. Na-surprise din ako sa balitang ako na ang ambassadress ng Haribon Foundation (devoted to conserving natural resources). Very thankful ako!”
Her management company invited her fans – the Barbinatics – and the press to a spa party where a big birthday cake awaited Barbie.
“Akala ko client presentation. Kaya formal ang damit ko – a knee-length floral dress which she matched with high-heeled pumps. “Very pa-girl ako.”
Her outfit -- not too mature, not too young -- shows how Barbie wants people to see her.
The small floral designs tell you she is not yet ready to kiss her teenage years good-bye. The pair of high-heeled shoes, on the other hand, says Barbie also wants to look grown-up.
“Sorry guys, love is not one of Barbie’s priorities for now, never mind if her doting parents already allowed her to have a boyfriend.
“Mahirap i-risk ang friendship in exchange for commitment,” she talks of her relationship with on screen partner Derrick Monasterio, who himself turned a year older that day.
He gave her a charm bracelet which she wore that day, while she gifted him an Armani belt “kasi luma na ang belt niya.”
Before you get any ideas though, Barbie thinks work and romance can’t go hand-in-hand for her.
“Baka pa magka-problem sa work. Mabuti na ito – no pressure, no obligation. Enjoy lang kami.”
The last thing Barbie wants these days is distraction from her goals.
Charity work
Just like last year, Barbie cheered up young patients at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center and gave them gifts. Barbie wants to make this generous gesture a yearly birthday tradition.
“Last year tuwang tuwa ang mga baga kahit meron silang mga sakait. Na-appreciate nila kahit dalawang oras lang yon. Nakalimutan nila kung ano man ang meron sila.”
Barbie has yet to learn from Haribon officials what her new work will entail. But one thing’s for sure. She’s doing her share for the environment.
“Hindi ako matapon, kahit sa set. Sabihin natin nasa kabilang dulo ng set ang basurahan, hintayin ko matapos ang take bago magtapon. Kahit sa bahay, gusto ko malinis ang kwarto ko, kahit bihira ako nandon. Ako mismo naglilinis ng kwarto ko para alam ko kung nasaan ang mga gamit ko.”
