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“Saving Grace” lead actress Julia Montes honors the mentor who ‘saved’ her 

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Liezel dela Cruz

Julia Montes is mothering her way back to primetime TV with the much-anticipated Philippine adaptation of NIPPON TV’s acclaimed drama, &quot;Mother,&quot; now reimagined as &quot;<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-news/julia-bibida-bilang-pinay-mother-sa-saving-grace-22822" target="_blank">Saving Grace</a>.&quot; This Kapamilya series isn&#x27;t just any comeback; it&#x27;s an epic return that&#x27;s bound to resonate deeply with audiences, anchored by Julia’s brilliant portrayal of a complex and powerful character.In an interview on “On Cue,” Julia shared how &quot;Saving Grace&quot; holds a special place in her heart, as this was the last project she discussed with the late Dreamscape head, her mentor, Deo Endrinal. “’Yung plan for ‘Saving Grace’ is really big, and &#x27;yung story, ang ganda nu&#x27;ng story and ang ganda nu&#x27;ng lesson and story na gustong sabihin nu&#x27;ng serye,&quot; she expressed.<div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="703" referrerPolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y42dFJ15VNs" title="ON CUE: Julia Montes" width="1250"></iframe></div>&quot;<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-news/abs-cbn-to-adapt-nippon-tvs-mother-for-filipino-viewers-22815" target="_blank">Saving Grace</a>&quot; is a narrative filled with suspense and heart. The story follows an elementary school teacher who discovers that one of her students is being abused by her mother. Driven by compassion and a sense of justice, she takes in the child, Grace, forging a bond that transcends traditional notions of family. This powerful plot is poised to touch on critical social issues like child abuse and toxic family dynamics, promising to be both moving and thought-provoking.In the series, Julia’s character will convey a profound message: “Hindi kailangan na galing sa’yo ‘yung bata para mapamahal ka.” This resonates with her own experiences of being saved by those who love and support her. This lesson, intertwined with the show’s exploration of social issues promises to strike a chord with viewers.Julia’s connection to this project is emotional and deeply personal because it reminds her of how Deo himself saved her many times. In times of doubt, Deo would make her believe in herself again. She tearfully recalled, “Special siya sa&#x27;kin kasi parang, siguro, tanggalin natin &#x27;yung &#x27;Grace&#x27; sa title. ‘Saving Mara.’ Sinave ako ni Sir Deo... in many ways, personal, career. And I felt na ever since, isa si Sir Deo sa talagang naniwala sa kaya ko.”With her comeback to a full-length teleserye after her stint in &quot;<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/angprobinsyano" target="_blank">FPJ&#x27;s Ang Probinsyano</a>&quot; and the series &quot;<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/247" target="_blank">24/7</a>&quot;, Julia credits her beloved Sir Deo. She reflected on how Deo’s unwavering belief in her capabilities bolstered her confidence, even when she doubted herself. “Natakot ako. Kasi lahat naman po ng binibigay sa &#x27;kin, napapaisip ako, kaya ko ba? &#x27;Yun ang lagi kong question. Pero nung nakausap ko nga si Sir Deo, sabi niya, ‘Gawin mo ito, it’s for you.’”<a href="https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-news/meet-the-all-star-cast-who-will-join-julia-montes-in-saving-grace-22825" target="_blank">&quot;Saving Grace&quot;</a> isn&#x27;t just about Julia’s return; it’s also a showcase of powerhouse actors joining her in this gripping drama including Sam Milby, Janice de Belen, Jennica Garcia, Christian Bables, and the Megastar Sharon Cuneta. Based on the cast reveal plug, Jennica will portray the abusive mother, while Christian takes on the role of her lover. Janice plays a supportive ally to Julia’s character, with Sharon adding depth to the drama as Julia’s adoptive mom. Julia feels blessed to be surrounded by such acting titans, learning from them every step of the way.Excitement also brews as Julia builds rapport with her co-stars, especially with the child star chosen to play Grace. The Kapamilya actress was overwhelmed by the young star, who stood out among many who auditioned. “Sobrang galing, sobrang ganda at lovable ng bata,” she praised.Watch out for Julia’s ‘mothering’ era on primetime!

Julia Montes turns emotional as she recalls how Deo Endrinal’s trust shaped her upcoming series, “Saving Grace.”