Jericho Rosales was feeling a bit sluggish when he arrived
at the press conference of Kahit Isang Saglit held earlier this
afternoon, September 9. But when he was asked to describe his leading
ladies—Malaysian actress Carmen Soo and new Kapamilya star Cristine
Reyes—he immediately brightened up and started telling anecdotes about them.
Jericho (or Echo) is paired with Carmen and Cristine in this ABS-CBN co-production with the Malaysian company Double Vision. They ended taping for their show just this morning, which is why they hardly had any sleep before proceeding to the press conference. Their teleserye will air on the Kapamilya Network starting September 15.
The young actor-singer first described Cristine as someone who is "magaling, passionate, and intense. Kung ihahalintulad ko siya, para siyang babaeng Echo. As a friend, hindi pa kami masyadong nagkaka-bonding pero nung one time na malungkot siya, kino-comfort namin siya.
"As for Carmen, she is new to everything. Carmen is one of the most intelligent actors sa Malaysia," says Echo. He recalls one scene wherein he said his lines in Tagalog yet Carmen was able to correctly deliver her lines even though she did not understand what he was saying.
"She knows when to deliver and express... She may have a hard time ‘pag complicated ang scene but with guidance, she's a sponge. She absorbs everything."
Being in a nostalgic mood, Echo pointed out that it was Direk Jerry Sineneng who gave him his first break in the industry by casting him as the lead actor in the ABS-CBN show Esperanza.
"I owe [Direk Jerry] a big chunk of my...malaking pasasalamat ko sa kanya kasi siya nagbigay sa akin ng break. Nag-audition ako noon sa Esperanza at nasa kanyang mga kamay kung tatanggapin ba ako sa show na yun or hindi."
When PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) asked Direk Jerry to describe what he saw in Echo when he was still starting in the industry, the veteran director said, "Ang lalim agad [ng acting niya], magaling mag-deliver ng lines, ang galing ng timing. Parang hindi siya nangapa. Mata niya nagagamit na niya kahit baguhan lang siya."
BIRTHDAY WISH. Echo will be turning 29 on September 22. When asked to give his birthday wish, the single father tells the press: "Sana every birthday ko. I'll grow up to be a better father to my son. Sana I'll grow up to be a better artist para makatulong sa industry.
"I hope and pray that the industry will be supported by the government. Ito yung na-discover ko, sana mabigyan ng importansiya. Sana ma-practice ko rin ang pagiging single ko."
The media curiously asked Carmen if she has a boyfriend in Malaysia. She pointed out that she is single right now and that her last relationship ended late last year. Does Echo stand a chance if he courts her? "Tell him to try first then I'll tell him!" Carmen said with a laugh.
Is Echo up to the challenge of courting his new leading lady?
"Nag-promise ako sa sarili ko na rerespetuhin ko muna ang pagtatrabaho dito. Siguro pagkatapos ng taping, magpapaalam muna ako kay Direk. Hinahanap ko pa ang sarili ko, e." Turning to Carmen, he promised: "If I'll try, I will text you."
ON CRISTINE REYES. Echo says that he was pleasantly surprised to learn about the capabilities of Cristine as an actress.
"Noong nalaman ko na siya, hindi ako familiar sa kanya. Ang alam ko lang, kapatid ni Ara Mina. Nung nag-meet na kami at nagkatrabaho, nagulat ako sa capacity niya as an actress. Bata pa rin siya, di ba? Naramdaman ko na nag-e-enjoy ako kapag kaeksena ko siya. Kunyari, we hold hands to support each other. 'Pag may ibinigay kang idea, she'll take it."
Is he aware that Cristine admitted having a crush on him? He responds by saying, "Cute naman siya, e."
Does he also have a crush on Ara Mina's younger sister? "Ayoko munang magsalita ng ganyan, huwag muna, huwag muna. Charming siya saka may dimples din siya," he said, flashing his own bedimpled smile.
IS HE MOVING ON? The actor says that it is hard for him to forget the three years that he shared with Heart Evangelista, but he claims that he has already moved on. "Nag-move on na ako pero yung concern ko nandun pa rin...lagi."
"We brought out the best in each other, whenever I'm down, she lifts me up. When she's down, ako naman."
While he and Heart were together, the young actress chose not to do kissing scenes. But now, the new star of GMA-7 is already shooting kissing scenes with Richard Gutierrez in Asero. How did he react to this news?
"Hindi ko pa nakikita. Hindi naman sa ayaw kong panoorin pero wala akong masyadong time. Marami pa nga akong DVD ng Pangako sa ‘Yo at Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas na kailangang panoorin. With kissing scenes, marunong naman siya, matalino naman siya. Alam niya yung purpose ng trabaho niya. Alam niya kung bakit siya may kissing scene. Like ako, hindi ako makikipaghalikan sa screen para lang ma-excite ang mga tao. I'll do it because kailangan sa story at sa eksena."
Did Echo regret courting his former leading ladies in the past?
"Wala namang problema na na-in love ako sa dating leading ladies ko, e. Kunyari, na-in love ako kay Kristine [Hermosa], Angelika [dela Cruz], kay Heart, naisip ko noon na ito ang mundong ginagalawan namin. Pupunta pa ba ako sa iba na hindi ako naiintindihan? Dito na ako, araw-araw kaming nagkakasama."
ECHO'S SEVEN-YEAR-OLD SON. Now that he is busy with his acting career, Echo is able to spend time with his seven-year-old son only during weekends.
"Nagba-bonding kami, chibog, nood ng pelikula, usap. Yun ang importante sa lahat. Usap kaming dalawa bilang magkaibigan. I teach him things about humility, about kindness, compassion, about God. I tell him how much I love him. Ganun ang natutunan kong pagpapalaki sa kanya. I really wish I could have more time with him but he is very understanding. He is very loving and very sweet," says Echo about his son.