Nash and Alexa, the next Kathniel?

MANILA, Philippines – Are Nash Aguas and Alexa Ilacad poised to become the heir apparent of young stars Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo?

Young stars Nash and Alexa headline the new ABS-CBN soap opera “Bagito,” premiering Monday. This raises the question if the two—who appear as on screen partners partners in the youth-oriented program “LUV U”—will become the network's next popular teen love team.

“Sa isip ko po, kahit idol ko si kuya DJ (Daniel Padilla), talagang wala sigurong makakapalit sa Kathniel dahil sa generation namin, sila na talaga yun,” Nash told entertainment reporters during the press conference for “Bagito” on Sunday. “Sana po, pero sila na talaga yun.”

“Thank you po sa mga nag-iisip na kami nga. Sobrang idol namin ang Kathniel, sobrang love na love namin sila. So para masabi na kami ang susunod, grabe, haba ng hair naming dalawa,” Alexa quipped.

She added, “Sila (Daniel and Kathryn) ang [teen] king and queen, e.”

Comparisons to Daniel and Kathryn aside, Nash and Alexa are starting to feel the pressure of headlining their own primetime soap opera for the first time.

“Bagito” tells the story of Andrew, played by Nash, who will become a father at the age of 14.

“More than masaya po, kinakabahan po ako. Kasi dati, gusto kong magbida, gusto ko na yun. Akala ko sobrang dali, pero ngayon na-realize ko na sobrang dami palang responsibilities,” Nash said. “Talagang sobrang pressured po nung una.”

He added, “Sa tagal ko nang artista, ngayon lang ako nakaranas maging bida. Ang tagal ko itong hinintay, and at the same time ang lakas pa rin ng kaba ko.”

The two are aware the soap opera tackles a sensitive and possibly controversial issue.

“Nung una, nagulat din ako. Pero nung inexplain sa akin, meron pa po silang pinakita sa akin na 13 years old na nagkaroon ng anak. Ako, 16 na naman. So talagang nangyayari ito sa totoong buhay so alangan namang tanggihan ko kasi marami po kaming matutulungan kapag ginawa namin ang teleserye na ito kasi magiging aware sila sa problem,” he said.

Nash added he believes the audience are more open-minded when it comes to sensitive topics.

“Mas alam nila na ginawa po itong teleserye para maging aware ang mga tao at hindi para i-encourage ang mga tao.”

“Bagito,” which also stars Ella Cruz, Angel Aquino, Ariel Rivera and Agot Aquino and will premiere Monday, Nov. 17 before “TV Patrol” on ABS-CBN.