How Jake Ejercito got a part in The Broken Marriage Vow, only his second teleserye, was a story in itself.
The show’s director Connie Macatuno felt he had the right look to portray Gabby Gomez, the new love interest of Dr. Jill Ilustre nee Victorino (Jodi Sta. Maria).
In an exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal), Direk Connie recalled telling Jake, “May aura ka, may dating.”
The cast and crew also made sure to give Jake a warm welcome, since he was joining the show midway through production.
Direk Connie said she told everyone in jest during Jake's first day on the set to give him support, "Huwag natin takutin.”
She took note of Jake’s awkwardness when he met the cast and crew for the first time, and made it as the basis for the first meeting of Jill and Gabby in the show.
She revealed to PEP.ph, “Ang ginawa namin ay chronological para natural din lang, na ngayon lang sila first nag-meet ni Jodi, ngayon din sila first nag-meet ni Jill."
She observed Jake to be a “good listener” who “tries his best,” saying, “Lalo na siguro kung mas mahaba yung time na meron, mas marami pang mabibigay.
“Hindi naman puwedeng maging confident ang isang actor kung hindi siya sasabak ng sasabak, di ba?"
By that Direk Connie meant that Jake just needed to have more projects to build his confidence as an actor.
“Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘These are just more stones to step on to get to the real Jake, kung sino si Jake as an actor.
"'Hahanapin mo yun and ibi-build mo yun through the many projects that you will get.’”
Expectedly, Jake has been quickly given his follow-up project, a lead role in the prime-time series A Family Affair with Gerald Anderson, Sam Milby, Jameson Blake, and Ivana Alawi.
A Family Affair will take the slot of The Broken Marriage Vow, which airs its finale on June 24, 2022.
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