Julie Anne San Jose has long been GMA Network’s answer to Sarah Geronimo, but the “Maria Clara at Ibarra” star knows better than to claim that she’s in any way on equal footing with the “Popstar Royalty.”

When asked playfully by Boy Abunda whether she’s willing to be pitted in a back-to-back concert with Geronimo, San Jose humbly replied: “Oh my God. Na- pressure ako. Unang-una, Tito Boy, hindi po ako lalaban because there is only one Sarah Geronimo.

“There can only be one Sarah Geronimo. It would be an honor, of course, na maka-duet po si Miss Sarah. Because I really look up to her.”

San Jose appeared as a guest in Abunda’s Fast Talk where she expressed her admiration for Geronimo whom she had never worked with before.

“Kasi nga po she’s one of the people that I really look up to and isa siya sa mga naging influences ko rin sa music,” said San Jose.

She recalled the first time she met Geronimo in person.

“Actually, share ko lang, naging choir po ako sa isang church po namin sa may Mindanao Avenue, and then malapit po si Miss Sarah doon. Tapos nakita ko po siya sa church nag-perform siya kasi Christmas noon so, like, wala lang, fangirling. Nag-fangirl talaga ako. It would be such an honor. I love her,” said San Jose.