Xian Lim was brimming with happiness when he faced reporters after the story conference for the upcoming ABS-CBN teleserye Binondo Girl. “I’m very excited na makakasama ako sa isa sa pinakamalaking proyekto for this year. I feel super privileged,” he shared. Kapamilya primetime princess Kim Chiu will play the lead and her leading men will include Xian, Matteo Guidicelli, and Jolo Revilla.Xian, who was one of Erich Gonzales’s leading men in the 2009 teleserye Katorse, thanked ABS-CBN for once again entrusting him with another primetime teleserye. Binondo Girl will also star Cherry Pie Picache, Glydel Mercador, newcomer Laureen Uy, and Ai-Ai De Las Alas. Taping for the teleserye is tentatively scheduled to begin after the Holy Week holidays.
The 21-year-old varsity basketball player-turned-actor talked about his preparations for his role in Binondo Girl. “The setting siyempre is Binondo and I will play a Filipino-Chinese character. So ngayon ine-expose ko talaga ‘yung sarili ko sa Chinese culture. I’m part Chinese din, everyone from my father’s side is Chinese. Magiging madali ‘yung part na ‘yun pero kasi kailangan ko makuha ‘yung talagang feel of the character. Konting aral na lang ng Chinese language, iba pang workshops.”
Though he spent most of growing years in the U.S., Xian can still speak fluent Tagalog. He came home to the Philippines to pursue his love for basketball, and he became part of the University of the East team. The six-foot tall Xian later became a ramp, print, and commercial model. His first acting project was in 2008’s Your Song Presents My Only Hope which incidentally also starred Kim. In Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin, Xian had a cameo role where he played the young John Estrada who was in a love triangle with Kim, as the young Lorna Tolentino, and Erich as the young Amy Austria-Ventura.
Xian was excited about the chance to work again with Kim, this time around as her leading man. “Nakakatuwa because my very first show was My Only Hope na nakasama ko si Kim. Noong nasa US pa kasi ako pinapanood ko na si Kim so nung nag-start na ‘yung My Only Hope I was very star struck nung ma-meet ko siya. I feel very privileged na ngayon e leading man na niya ako.”
Binondo Girl will be Kim’s first primetime teleserye without her longtime ka-love team Gerald Anderson. Xian said he hopes that fans of the Kimerald tandem will support Binondo Girl when it airs very soon. “I don’t think magiging awkward because Gerald and I are good friends. Naging magka-partner kami ni Kim sa Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin and I felt very comfortable. I hope ‘yung mga solid Kimerald fans leading men ni Kim.”
Source: www.push.com.ph
