From Maria Clara to calendar girl: Julie Anne embraces ‘bolder, more fun side’
“This is a surreal moment.”
That was what singer-actress Julie Anne San Jose excitedly exclaimed after she was recently launched as the 2025 calendar girl of Ginebra San Miguel (GSM) on Wednesday night at the Manila Diamond Hotel.
“I’m speechless and overwhelmed,” asserted Julie Anne. “Today is a big day for me. I never imagined myself before being a calendar girl, but I’m really happy.”
Julie Anne earlier broke the news to her actor-boyfriend Rayver Cruz. “He got excited for me and he was really, really proud of me,” she said.
“He told me, ‘Kaya mo ‘yan.’ This is something new for me. Other people will see my different side. He gave me his full support.”
The new calendar girl, who presently serves as “The Clash” host and “The Voice Kids” coach on GMA 7, admitted to be constantly challenged to portraying different roles on television or the big screen.
“Coming from Maria Clara, this calendar girl is totally different,” said Julie Anne, who played the titular character in the GMA period drama “Maria Clara at Ibarra.” “As an artist, I really like to portray different roles, do different things.
“I like to innovate and improve myself when it comes to my craft. I like to hone my craft even more. In my own little way, I’d like to reach out to different people and somehow change their lives.”
In the 190 years of Ginebra San Miguel history, 36 years were devoted in choosing the lovely faces to grace its annual calendar for its flagship brand.
GSM vice president and marketing manager Allan Mercado said, “The calendar girl is an important part of our core brand’s 190-year history. It is a tradition that San Miguel continues to keep since 1988. It has been 36 years since we first started our calendar girl.”
Julie Anne, for her part, was so excited because this is the first time she is doing this kind of brand endorsement.
“This is like a rebirth for me as a girl, as a woman,” revealed the singer-actress also dubbed as Asia’s Limitless Star.
“I was undoubtedly pressured, but at the same time, I felt proud. To stand alongside these women of influence and iconic artists who graced the Ginebra San Miguel calendar in the past, that’s something for me as a performer, host, singer, dancer, actress, influencer, instrumentalist and TV personality.
“I get to be anything that I want to be when it comes to my craft. This is going to be a different Julie this time — stronger, bolder and more fun in a wide scale.
Julie Anne also feels proud to represent something that’s Philippine-made. “Talagang Pinoy,” she said. “I’m happy because I’m part of a brand which stands and represents the values of Filipinos… We face many challenges in life, but as long as we stick to our values and we don’t easily give up, that’s the way it should be.”
During her big launch into the GSM family, she performed with three back-up singers, danced with back-up dancers, and sang with a band.
The launch didn’t come easy for her but the audience was simply blown away by the talent and performance of Julie Anne. With “Obra Maestra” (Masterpiece) as the theme for the 2025 calendar, the actress interpreted brand-new compositions for her launch.
“I’m really thrilled, honored and very happy to represent a brand that honors exceptional women. I was really amazed when we did the shoot. It was great to see the shoot. Ako ba ‘yun? I couldn’t believe it,” she said.
“I’m so, so thankful to the whole team who supported me and made me feel comfortable and confident throughout the process. It’s such a big honor.”
The first calendar girl that Ginebra San Miguel introduced in 1988 was model and TV personality Monina Tan. Her launch was inspired by the hit US TV series, “Charlie’s Angels,” which starred Farrah Fawcett Majors, Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith. Monina pd a la Marilyn Monroe in her calendar.
Through the years, beauty queens, models, actresses also graced Ginebra San Miguel calendar. “It is a tradition, a part of history, that we are proud to continue in the years to come,” Mercado added.
Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach was Ginebra San Miguel calendar girl in 2019. Actress Anne Curtis was GSM Blue calendar girl in 2011.
The other calendar girls were Yassi Pressman (2022), Georgina Wilson (2013), Ellen Adarna (2015), Arci Muñoz (2016), Solenn Heusaff (2012) and last year’s model was Heaven Peralejo.
Sexy stars Janna Victoria (1999). Patricia Javier (2000) and Aubrey Miles (2003) were a hit in their sizzling calendar poses.
Singer Geneva Cruz (2001), former teen star Rica Peralejo (2002) and Angelica Panganiban (2007) surprised the public by shedding their sweet image in their calendars.
To date, only actress Marian Rivera holds the distinction as the only actress to become Ginebra San Miguel calendar girl twice — in 2009 and 2014.
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