KathNiel’s 28 favorite things

MANILA, Philippines - You know a loveteam is a hit when it gets its own uni-name. Like Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla, who are simply known as KathNiel.

Oft-described as this movie generation’s ‘It’ loveteam, what is it about KathNiel that it has been getting one project — teleseryes, films, endorsement deals — after another since the team-up was born on the set of Princess & I in 2012? What is it about the duo that they draw fervent emotions and reactions, whether positive or otherwise, from stargazers online (as well as off-line)? What is it about them individually that makes them click together?

Is a real-life sweet, young romance part of the equation?

“It doesn’t matter if they’re together or not,” Cathy Garcia-Molina, who directed them in the primetime soap Got To Believe and the Star Cinema movie She’s Dating The Gangster, said of Kathryn and Daniel, both 18. “Maybe what’s unique (about them) is that Daniel is Daniel and Kathryn is Kathryn. When you combine the two, there’s really a certain kind of magic they have that you won’t see in others precisely because they’re two different people.”

Find out more how different yet similar the two Kapamilya stars are as The STAR clues in on their favorite things.

Book/Novel

Kathryn: I would say the Last Song by Nicholas Sparks and The Notebook. I love romantic books, especially the books of Nicholas Sparks.

Daniel: I’m more of a movie person. Mas gusto kong may nakikita ako. But I enjoy reading comics.

Movie

Kathryn: I can watch The Notebook over and over again. I love rom-coms!

Daniel: Lahat ng Spider-Man movies, the first series (starring Tobey Maguire) and also the second one (topbilled by Andrew Garfield). For me, the first Spider-Man, more Hollywood style, then yung pangalawa parang comics ang style.

Comfort Food

Kathryn: (I like) champorado and sopas. Mahilig ako sa sweets like ice cream, chocolates, then chips and popcorn. Yung mga nakakataba hahaha! Bawal? Sometimes. But they’re letting me eat them because they want me to gain some pounds. I need to go back to my previous weight because when I became sick recently, I immediately lost weight. That’s why I’m eating a lot of fries nowadays hahaha!

Daniel: Ako yung mga hindi ko inaakalang pagkain, kunwari nagugutom ako, tapos magtatanong ako, may pagkain ba diyan, tapos sasabihan ako, ’Nagdala ako ng pagkain,’ yun masayang-masaya na ako, hahaha! But my ultimate favorite is beef mechado. I love the sauce!

Music

Kathryn: My song of the moment is Problem by Ariana Grande. It’s my favorite now because DJ (Daniel’s nickname) gets irritated whenever I play it, hahaha! Pero masaya siya pakinggan, maganda ang beat.

Daniel: It’s hard to answer the question because I have a lot of favorites. But I’m into rock and relaxing music. It really depends on my mood. I like ’60s to ’90s music. I love The Beatles, Scorpions, Deep Purple, Metallica, Guns N’ Roses and Eminem. I grew up with their music. I understand their music more.

Actor/Actress

Kathryn: Sandra Bullock and Natalie Portman for international, then Ms. Judy Ann Santos and Ms. Maricel Soriano for the local.

Daniel: Johnny Depp. I enjoyed all his films. Pinaka-favorite ko yung movie niya na Blow, ang galing! Local, of course, Tito Robin Padilla, FPJ, John Lloyd Cruz…Yeah, I want to do projects similar to John Lloyd’s.

Project together

Kathryn: All of them, of course, but She’s Dating The Gangster is special because it’s the most mature project that we’ve done.

Daniel: Same but Princess & I is memorable because dun nag-start lahat.

Childhood memory

Kathryn: My favorites are my memories from gradeschool kasi sumasali ako sa kung saan-saan. I was active in extra-curricular activities.  

Daniel: Growing up, ang dami kong happy moments at mga paghihirap. Lahat yun naging motivation ko sa acting ko.

Trip and with whom

Kathryn: When I went to Europe with my whole family and to Korea (with mom and stylists.) (Daniel: “Hindi ka ba nag-enjoy nung magkasama tayo?” Kathryn: “Nag-enjoy din.”) Isang beses lang kasi kami nagkasama for vacation with DJ, in Macau.

Daniel: Yung sa Tacloban (he recently gave a free concert for Yolanda survivors; Tacloban is special to him because he has relatives there and he lived for a time there). It wasn’t for fun, but it was a “mission accomplished.” It wasn’t for enjoyment, it was for a cause. Ang sarap ng feeling.

Gift from someone else

Kathryn: Favorite ko si Snow, yung binigay na aso ni DJ. And Cola and Nacho, mga aso na bigay rin niya (DJ). Also, the necklace he gave me is a favorite. It’s a heart necklace in rose gold and silver given to me last Christmas.

Daniel: Lahat ng bigay niya but the favorite perhaps is the Ernie Ball Stingray bass guitar that she gave me. 

Gift for yourself

Kathryn: My bags and shoes, like any girl. But overall, the biggest gift I bought for myself or rather my greatest investment is, of course, my house. It’s done already. Actually, a house was already there, but I had it fully renovated. Yung dream car, not yet, I’m still saving up for it.

Daniel: Yung house. It’s actually not for me, but it’s a gift I promised to give my mom (Karla Estrada). (According to reports, it’s a two-storey, eight-room, Mediterranean-inspired house.)

Leisure activity

Kathryn: Reading, playing with my dogs and spending time with my family.

Daniel: Jam sessions with my band band Parking 5 (of which his brother, Jose Carlito, is the lead singer and he the bassist). Playing basketball and computer games.

Advice on career and personal life

Kathryn: From my parents: For me, to just give my best all the time. On love? Don’t rush.

Daniel: From my mother: To be a good person, and always respect others.

Loveteam you look up to

Kathryn: Piolo Pascual and Judy Ann Santos. We hope one day, we can be (as successful) them.

26. Daniel: Also, John Lloyd and Bea Alonzo.

Fan Encounter

27. Kathryn: There are so many! Most touching and overwhelming is whenever they cry upon seeing us. It makes us happy.

28. Daniel: Yes, I also get hugs from fans hahaha! I don’t mind. It’s okay with me. I would do the same thing with my idols.