KATHRYN Bernardo is still in disbelief over her inclusion in the “People of the Year” list of People Asia, which hailed her as the “box office queen of her generation.”
“Somebody pinch me… Is this even real?!” Bernardo wrote on Instagram on Thursday, sharing the magazine cover that features her.
“Ending 2019 with nothing but a grateful heart. Thank you, People Asia, for including me in your list! I am honored to be featured alongside these inspiring people who continue to make a difference,” she said.
The People of the Year is an annual list of “movers and shakers who stood out and made a difference in their respective fields,” according to People Asia.
The lifestyle magazine, in its announcement of Bernardo’s inclusion, described the actress as “the child star who grew up; the leading lady who, along with real-life partner Daniel Padilla, sent millions of hearts aflutter with her romantic turns in a handful of bankable films.”
It then noted the record-breaking success of Bernardo’s 2019 film “Hello, Love, Goodbye,” co-starring Alden Richards, that catapulted her as the “undisputed ‘Box Office Queen’ of her generation.”
With over P880 million in worldwide earnings as of September, “Hello, Love, Goodbye” is the highest grossing Philippine film of all time.
Bernardo, whose 2018 film “The Hows of Us” with Padilla was the previous record holder, now holds the distinction of being the only Filipino actress with two films earning more than P800 million each.
At 23, Bernardo is the youngest among the 16 personalities recognized by People Asia.
She joins the likes of Megaworld Corporation’s Andrew Tan, Tourism secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Dr. Vicki Belo, fashion designer Michael Cinco, music veteran Gary Valenciano, and Broadway star Lea Salonga. (ABS-CBN)
