Sa July 29, 2023 at hindi na sa July 23 mapapanood ang pilot telecast ng For The Love, ang bagong romance anthology series ng TV5 at Viva Television.
Pangungunahan ito ni Pops Fernandez bilang host na kakanta sa theme song ng bawat episode at magbibigay ng payo tungkol sa pag-ibig.
Read: Pops Fernandez, balik-hosting sa 'For The Love' ng TV5
Sa press conference ng For The Love nitong Miyerkules ng hapon, July 19, sa Viva Café, natawa si Pops nang marinig ang tanong kung handa na ba siyang mabansagang kapalit ni Charo Santos, ang host ng Maalaala Mo Kaya, at kalaban ni Mel Tiangco, ang host ng Magpakailanman.
Sagot ni Pops, “Naiiba naman siyempre si Ma’am Charo at saka si Ma’am Mel, but if it’s a start, why not, di ba? Baka ibang version naman ang ma-present ko.”
Ibinahagi ni Pops ang kuwento nang lapitan siya ni Boss Vic del Rosario ng Viva Entertainment nang ialok nito sa kanya ang hosting job para sa For The Love.
“Nag-guest po ako sa show ni Louie Ocampo sa Solaire [noong February 2023] and Boss Vic just happened to watch in the audience on the last night where we performed.
“Pumunta po siya backstage, akala ko magko-congratulate lang siya sa akin.
"And then sabi niya, ‘Pops, I have a project for you. I think it’s bagay for you.’ And when he made kuwento, sabi ko ‘Gusto ko yan.’
“Excited ako. I wanna work and keep working as long as I can, until I retire. As long as I think I’m enjoying myself and as long as I’m having fun.
"Ito namang business na ito, once it bites you and once you’re a part of it, parang it’s so hard to let go,” pahayag ni Pops.
May karapatang magbigay ng payo si Pops tungkol sa pag-ibig dahil sa kanyang mga karanasan, pero nanindigan siyang walang karelasyon sa kasalukuyan.
“Wala, wala talaga. There was a time siyempre sad ka, kapag mas younger ka, I think mas needy ka and hindi ka sure sa sarili mo. You feel you need someone.
“I am not saying I don’t need anyone. It would be nice to have an understanding, loving partner. Somebody you can watch movies with, travel with.
"But right now, nag-e-enjoy rin naman kasi ako doing my own thing.
“And I’m taking advantage of that kasi I get to spend a lot of time [with my kids], although they’ve grown up and they’re now in the U.S., I get to make my own decisions, I get to make my own schedule.
"So when I want to see my boys anytime, kumbaga, hindi ko kailangang mag-isip na magpaalam and all that.
"But hopefully, in the near future, hindi naman ako nagsasarado ng doors ko.
“Hopefully, I will meet somebody who I can watch movies with, hold hands with, travel, why not?”