By Jemuel Cainglet Salterio
Sisters Dani and Julia Barretto have been really close from the time they were small. Dani is four years older than Julia, yet, they are each other’s confidant.
“There was a time there were only the two of us for quite some time, that’s why Julia was the first one who was my OG (original) baby,” offered Dani. “I practiced being a big sister to her, to be responsible for another human being.”
While the sisters were growing up, they never had any sibling rivalry even when Julia entered show business. “Wala talaga,” Dani said. “Julia and I never fought about anything regarding work because we are doing different things.
“We didn’t have interests that clashed. We are each other’s confidant. She asks for my help if she needs it. I’m very glad that my siblings really put me on such high pedestal as the eldest. They really respect my opinion.
“The best part about this is that we’re siblings. It’s an easy relationship. I can listen to her opinions. If Julia has an input about the product that needs to be improved, she can easily tell me. For me, this is an ideal partnership. I’m really glad that my mother raised us that way.”
Wellness Whispers started with Dani telling Julia about the brand the former wanted to start with. “I was telling her my vision for my brand,” said Dani. “Then she was telling me the right route to take, from packaging, to choosing the color or ingredient.
“Julia is also conscious about her health, that’s why she was able to give me a lot of inputs, from the look, branding, even formulation and the taste. When we were in the States, that was where the last stages of my R&D were done.
“I was making them try the last flavor and getting their approval rate. Julia gave me her feedback every time she tried the product. That’s why it was a no-brainer for me to get her as endorser because she knows this brand very well even before it was launched.”
The best part is that they are sisters. “If she has an input that she wants me to improve with the product, it’s easier for us to talk. This is an ideal partnership.”
The dietary supplement, Wellness Whispers, was consistently discussed with the family members. “From the beginning, Julia was part of the process of my R and D (research and development,” Dani said. “She was among the first ones who tried my products.
“All the changes that we did, from the packaging to the formulation, I asked them. So when I finally could afford an endorser, who better than someone who has known my journey from the get-go?
“Julia knows the process of how I looked for a business partner for Wellness Whispers, all my hardships, all my investment. My family and I are very close. So there’s no one I want to get to represent my brand, but my sister. I will not look for anyone else.
Their business acumen came from helping each other with their respective strengths. “There are things that I don’t know that Julia knows better,” Dani said. “We just feed off each other’s strength. Even if we do different things, we still value each other’s opinions.
“I probably just woke up one day and I wanted to try this field. Maybe it also came because I am a mom.”
Julia was “shocked” when Dani offered her to endorse Wellness Whispers. “I don’t have to look for other endorsers,” Dani said. “Julia knows me so well. She knows my work ethics. She knows my brand. She’s the better representation of it.”
Dani went through the actual process of signing up an endorser. Just because Julia is her sister didn’t mean she got Julia pro-bono.
“The TF (talent fee) is not free, although presyong kapatid,” Dani said. “I got a discount, fair pa rin and went into the proper protocol of getting an artist, but you need to pay when you secure her services.
“I think it’s weird if I would get another endorser. There’s no better one that I could think of to represent my brand.”
Wellness Whispers is a brand that helps manage the health and wellness needs of consumers. The variants are winter melon milktea, for hair, skin and nails. Pomelo juice is an immunity booster, while matcha milk with lavender extract is for stress relief.
“I’m really at a loss for words because this is surreal for me,” Julia said. “I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t expect that Dani wanted to do a different direction. Naturally, she might have wanted to go through a different thing. I’m flattered and grateful. I’m just so proud.
“Before this was even launched, we heard the things Dani had to journey through just to get to this point and how she created this brand, from the logos, she would show the family over Sunday lunch. In LA, we discussed the variants.
“Dani is so driven and maabilidad. She just loves to innovate and innovate and innovate. It’s different to have a vision and it’s different to execute it. Dani is that way. She has a vision, she wants to make it happen and she will. That’s something that I wish I had more of. That part of her in turning her dreams into reality.”
