Kim Molina and Jerald Napoles will be the lead stars of the full-length movie adaptation of the book Jowable, which in turn, has been inspired by the viral video series created by writer and director Darryl Yap.
She expressed delight and excitement at the story conference held last June 7, at the headquarters of Viva Films, the production outfit bankrolling the movie.
The 27-year-old actress gained popularity by playing the female lead role of Aileen in the hit musical play, Rak of Aegis.
IS KIM IS JOWABLE IN REAL LIFE?
The word "jowable" takes root from the Filipino colloquial that combines the gay lingo term for significant other, "jowa," and the English word, “able,” to come up with this adjective for a person attractive enough to have a boyfriend or girlfriend.
A scene in the viral video series shows a woman angrily and bitterly asking God why she’s still single when she's jowable.
In real life, Kim need not have that conversation with God because she has a significant other in the person of her fellow actor, Jerald Napoles, likewise a breakthrough star from Rak of Aegis, as Aileen’s charming knight in shining armor, Tolits.
"Gosh, umamin ako sa PEP!" she exclaimed during our exclusive interview.
"Ngayong year na lang po kami nagsasabi sa salita," she explained, adding that she and her boyfriend have also recently started posting photos and videos from their out-of-town trips.
"Dati po kasi, hindi kami nagpo-post. Matagal na kaming nagdi-date. Ngayong year lang talaga namin in-official."
KIM AND JERALD'S LOVE STORY
Kim recalled how their love story developed on the set of Rak of Aegis, which debuted at PETA Theater in January 2014, and has been restaged several times.
Its seventh season will be running from July to September.
"Season 2, hindi masyado. Pa-cute-cute lang," she said. "Season 3, medyo-medyo hanggang Season 4, Season 5, nagde-date na po kami.
"Pero naka-focus kami talaga sa work kasi yung buong ano ng Rak, kumbaga tuloy-tuloy ang dating ng blessings.
"Kami yung, 'Focus muna tayo sa ganito, ganyan. 'Tapos huwag tayong mag-post ng kung ano-ano.'
"Siyempre, support kami sa isa't-isa when it comes to work. Okay, 'tapos ngayong year, every time po na lalabas kami, halata na.
"Actually, last year, nagpo-post na kami ng mga bagay-bagay, ng out-of-town, especially me. I’d always post. Sabi namin, 'Sige na nga, bahala na.'"
On July 22, Kim said she and Jerald would mark their five years of "dating po yun," as they officially became a couple only early this year.
In those five years, Kim, who turns 28 on July 1, and Jerald, 36, have both successfully crossed over from theater to film and TV.
KAPAMILYA KIM AND KAPUSO JERALD
Kim has been regularly seen on ABS-CBN shows, the most recent of which are the daytime soap, Kadenang Ginto, and the primetime action-drama series, The General’s Daughter.
Jerald, on the other hand, is a mainstay in GMA-7’s Sunday PinaSaya, a musical-variety show, and Love You Two, a romantic-comedy drama series.
"Support-support lang" is how the couple deal with each other's flourishing career.
"Katulad po no'ng nag-start ang love team nila ni Val," she said, referring to Jerald's Sunday PinaSaya co-host, Valeen Montenegro.
Jerald and Valeen starred in the rom-com The Write Moment, which debuted at the QCinema International Film Festival in 2017, and had a commercial run the following year.
"Ako pa ang magpo-post ng mga picture," Kim said on how she supported Jerald’s project with Valeen.
Jerald was likewise supportive of Kim’s participation in Yassi Pressman's 2018 starrer, Ang Pambansang Third Wheel, in which Kim had what she called a “tag team, hindi love team” with actor Cholo Barretto.
"Every time we would do separate projects, we would just support each other," she said of her boyfriend.
"So I think doon lang din talaga. Walang selosan. Sana wala ng anything kasi alam naman namin na trabaho lang."
Kim is especially proud of how Jerald supported her in the sexy millennial flick Momol Nights, which will debut soon on the iWant streaming app.
"First bed scene ko po siya ever na malala kasi mala-Glorious po siya," she said, referring to the much-talked about iWant movie that tackles a May-December love affair and features steamy scenes with stars Angel Aquino and Tony Labrusca.
"When I first told him about it, he didn't even get mad," Kim said of Jerald. “He was very supportive of the acting choices that I could do. Ganoon lang."
Kim recalled that she and Jerald initially agreed on not working together outside of Rak of Aegis, but offers just kept coming their way.
"Noong time na yun," she said, "di pa alam ng mga tao na we’re dating, 'tapos nagkakataon na we're casted. Sabi namin, 'Hayaan mo na!'"
To date, Kim and Jerald have worked together in the movies #WalangForever, Camp Sawi, and The Write Moment.
"Sa Write Moment, ako po yung girl sa dulo na nakatuluyan niya doon," she said.
They will work anew in Jowable, which serves as Kim’s launching movie.
KIM'S LAUNCHING MOVIE
She plays the lead role of Elsa, who, at 30, never had a boyfriend nor a suitor.
Elsa has become bitter about her life, thus she turns to drinking and pushing away the people who love her.
One night, she meets an unnamed character, and what she does with him will change her life for the better.
"Siya yung unnamed character na malaki ang role," Kim said of Jerald. "He's also excited about it."
The movie's story calls for their characters to have an intimate scene, and it doesn't pose any problem to the couple.
"Ano naman po, professional," she said on how they’ll approach their roles.
"Kung ano po ang makikita niyong love scene sa Jowable, it's Elsa and the unnamed person. It's not Kim and Jerald. It's work. It’s different."
Jowable will start filming on June 16, and is set to be released later this year.