As Francine Diaz and Seth Fedelin are set to make their big screen debut with “My Future You,” they declared they solely want to be established as FranSeth — not be the next KathNiel.
At the story conference of their movie, Diaz and Fedelin were asked about being tagged as the “next KathNiel,” referring to the love team of ex-couple Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla. The two, however, was candid enough to say their onscreen partnership is meant to show what they can offer as actors, and not as an iteration of another love team.
“Hindi namin mapapalitan ang KathNiel. Gusto naming makilala as Seth and Francine. Ang KathNiel, gusto naming marating ang narating nila pero hindi papalitan,” said Fedelin. “Iniidolo namin sila sa kung ano ang nakamit nila. At ‘yun ang pangarap namin. Kung saan sila nakapunta, sana nakapunta rin kami sa sarili po naming paraan.”
(We will not replace KathNiel. We want to be known as Seth and Francine. We want to achieve what KathNiel achieved, but we won’t replace them. We idolize them and their achievements, and that’s what we dream of having. We want to hit their peak in our way.)
Diaz agreed with Fedelin’s remark, saying while they hope to achieve huge milestones of their own, they would rather focus on how they would reach their goals themselves.
“Ibang iba po talaga ‘yung path [ng KathNiel] at kung paano sila naging successful,” she said. “Kapag sinabing the next KathNiel, parang sinasabi na kung anong pinagdaanan nila, dadaanan din namin… Nakaka-pressure po kasi nakikita nila sa amin ‘yung KathNiel noon. But at the same time po, mas gusto naming makita nila as kami at hindi ibang tao.”
(KathNiel’s path was different, even in how they became successful. When you say the next KathNiel, it’s like saying that whatever they went through, we will go through the same thing. It’s pressuring because they see us in that way. But at the same time, we want to be known as ourselves and not as other people.)
On establishing FranSeth
While explaining his point, Fedelin said he doesn’t want to be seen as the “next Daniel” and likewise for Diaz to be the “next Kathryn” as their respective feats are achieved solely on their own.
“Hindi ako magiging Daniel. Napakalabo po nu’n. Ang FranSeth po, hindi magiging KathNiel. Ayaw naming maging KathNiel,” he said. “Hindi biro ang naabot ng KathNiel. Pagdating sa trababo, hindi biro yan. Kung ano ang nabigay nila sa industriya, ang naibahgi nilang talento, hindi biro yun.”
(I will never be Daniel. That’s impossible. FranSeth will never be KathNiel. We don’t want to be like KathNiel. What KathNiel achieved is a monument of its own. When it comes to their work and contributions to the industry, it’s no joke.)
This led Diaz to clarify that she and Fedelin are fans of KathNiel, and they even considered Bernardo and Padilla as “friends.”
“Don’t get us wrong. We love KathNiel po. Naging friends po namin sila. Actually, si Ate Kathryn po kapag nagkakasabay kami sa trabaho, nagbabatian kami. Mabait po sa akin si Ate Kath, at siyempre po si Kuya DJ,” she said, referring to Padilla using his nickname.
“‘Yun lang po talaga. Gusto lang po namin klaruhin na hindi po kami ang susunod sa KathNiel at hindi po namin papalitan yung KathNiel,” she continued.
(Don’t get us wrong. We love KathNiel. They are our friends. I would usually greet Ate Kathryn when we would pass each other at work. Ate Kath is nice to me and of course, Kuya DJ. But that’s it. We want to clarify that we’re not the next KathNiel and we won’t replace KathNiel.)
Before “My Future You,” Diaz and Fedelin worked together in the series “Dirty Linen,” “Fractured,” “Kadenang Ginto,” and “Huwag Kang Mangamba.” The two lattermost series, however, showed the actors being paired up with Kyle Echarri and Andrea Brillantes at the time.
