PHOTO: Instagram/bernardokat

Kathryn Bernardo may be one of the country’s most successful and bankable stars today, but she has proven that she never forgets where she came from and who she was with growing up. Case in point: During her recent contract renewal with ABS-CBN Star Magic, it was revealed by Bobot Mortiz, Goin’ Bulilit‘s director, that Kathryn actually helped pay for the school tuition of one of her castmates on the kiddie comedy show!

Did You Know? Kathryn Bernardo Helped Pay The School Tuition of Her Former Goin’ Bulilit Castmate

One of the people who left video messages for Kathryn was Bobot Mortiz, the director of Goin’ Bulilit. Aside from praising Kath’s work ethic, he also revealed a *heartwarming* story he found out about the star.

“Ang hindi ko alam na ginagawa pala ni Kathryn na natuwa ako… nakita ko yung nanay ng isang Bulilit, tapos kinwento niya sa’kin, nung namatay yung tatay ng Bulilit na ‘to, ang nagpa-aral na sa kanya, si Kathryn,” he revealed.

He added: “Dun ko lang nalaman. Tuwang–tuwa ako na ‘di pala siya nakalimot sa mga nakasama niya. Proud na proud ako kay Kathryn.”

Kathryn on the set of Goin’ Buliliit. YouTube/ABS-CBN Entertainment

In her post-contract signing interview with MJ Felipe, Kathryn further expanded on the story behind paying for her fellow castmate’s school tuition, although she declined to give any personal details of her friend, including their name.

According to her, this castmate of hers was someone she became friends with throughout the course of being on the show, with them often spending lunch breaks together with their parents. She then explained that her friend eventually stopped going to tapings due to his father’s death.

“During that time, the dad… naging kaibigan namin ni mama yun. Sila yung, alam mo yun, sabay kami kakain sa Goin’ Bulilit. And then, for a time, parang nag-stop na mag–artista yung tao na ‘to. I won’t name him na. Nag-stop siya mag–artista, then naka-receive kami ng message from the mom na ito yung nangyari sa dad,” she explained.

Wanting to help in any way that she could, Kathryn and her mom offered to shoulder the college tuition of her castmate.

“So siyempre, bilang nakasama mo, siyempre, tutulong ka hangga’t makakaya mo. So yun yung pinromise namin ni mama sa [kanya] na tutulungan ka namin kasi isa yun sa dreams ng dad niya sa kanya na makatapos ng college.”

“Because he’s so smart, and alam mo rin yung mga tao na masarap tulungan kasi masipag [sila],” she noted.

It seems like we’ll always find new things to love about Kathryn!

Watch the full interview here: