MANILA – Batangas governor and veteran actress Vilma Santos came to the defense of Xian Lim against those who are questioning his participation in the movie “Everything About Her.”

Some observers feel Lim has a lot more to prove compared to Santos and Angel Locsin, who is also one of the movie’s lead stars.

At the film’s press conference on Sunday, Santos said she was hurt for Lim after reading some of the negative write-ups about the actor.

“I think it’s very unfair na masabihan si Xian ng ganun. Lahat ng artista dumaan sa ganitong stage. Ang pinakahinahangaan ko lang, because he’s very willing to learn. Sa experience ko dito sa pelikula while shooting it, tinatrabaho niya talaga. Ginagawa niya ang assignment niya,” she said.

“Kapag kaeksena ko siya, nararamdaman ko na lahat ng puwede niyang ibigay emotionally, ibinibigay niya Tinatrabaho niya. Dito sa pelikulang ito, maipagmamalaki namin si Xian Lim,” she continued.

This was echoed by Locsin, who admitted that she was initially hesitant to work with Lim because of the negative feedback about the actor.

"Sinabi ko sa kanya, ‘Xian alam mo dati natatakot akong katrabaho ka dahil sa mga naririnig ko.’ Pero Xian, sa totoo lang, mabait ka palang kasama. Na-enjoy ko talaga ang company mo. He’s very humble and very educated,” Locsin said.

Locsin then urged the actor’s bashers to first see his work in “Everything About Her” before concluding that he was miscast.

“Sabi ko nga sa kanya, kapag lumabas itong pelikula, ipapanood mo sa bashers mo para ma-appreciate nila ang pinaghirapan mo. Kasi he’s really good dito sa film na ito,” said Locsin.

Emotional Xian

For his part, Lim could not help but be emotional during the press conference.

Unable to stop his tears, Lim said he is just grateful that Star Cinema gave him a chance to show what he can do.

“Magpapasalamat lang po ulit ako sa Star Cinema for giving me a chance to give everything I got. Nagpapasalamat lang din po ako kay direk Joyce (Bernal) for giving me trust kasi hindi po lahat naniniwala sa akin,” he said.

Lim said he continues to learn the ropes of showbiz in every project that he gets.

“It’s part of learning. Katulad nung sinabi ni tita Vilma, everything is learning. Once you stop learning, that’s the time you die. Everything is a learning process. Nagpapasalamat lang po ako sa Star Cinema, kay direk for believing in every scene that I do,” he said.

“Everything About Her” is set to be released in theaters nationwide on January 27.