JERRY OLEA
Na-injure ang kaliwang tuhod ni Jake Cuenca sa taping ng seryeng The Iron Heart noong Marso 6, 2023, Lunes, sa The Dales at Terracotta Manor, Brgy. Bonbon, Cebu City.
“The production, my directors, they know na ako, I’m willing to do anything and everything under the sun for this show,” lahad ni Jake sa taping noong Marso 7, Martes, doon pa rin sa The Dales.
“So for me, if I have an injury, just like last night, cut if off, I’m doing the scene. Ganun ang mentalidad ko when I get to the set here.
“And yeah, kasi parang siyempre, you feel their effort from the production, na ini-elevate nila yung buong thing, yung feel na parang they’re really trying their best to make this world-class.
“So, parang for the actors, nandun din yung effort na parang kailangan naming sabayan yung effort ng production, sabayan yung effort ng team.
“So for me, parang I’m just very happy, na just very grateful na binigyan nila ako ng napakagandang role with all these elements and all these layers.
“To do Eros, it’s an honor for me. Sabi ko nga, parang I told my director, sabi ko, ‘For me, personally, it has to be one of the best projects I’ve ever done in TV.’
“Dahil ako, when I watch it now, I’ve never been shot this way. I’ve never been allowed to look this way and portray a character this way.
“You feel the level up! Di ba, from the production. So, parang nandun yung effort sa artista na mag-level up din."
Umaariba sa concurrent online views ang The Iron Heart, at lumalaban sa game of ratings.
Napangiti si Jake, “We’re so grateful kasi totoo talaga ang kasabihan na hard work pays off. Kasi, here, we don’t take shortcuts. Walang daya.
“Like I said, yesterday I was injured but it’s so hard for me not to do the scene. Like I have to do it, I have to do it.
“This happened in a fight scene. I injured it in a fight scene. Huwag ko nang sabihin kung sino, pero hindi si Richard [Gutierrez]!
“It’s part of it. Di ba sabi ko nga, parang every time naman I go here to the set, I didn’t come here for an easy time.
“So, naka-mindset ako dito na mahihirapan ako, masasaktan ako, iiyak ako, dudugo ako. OK lang yun. We’re doing an action show, di ba?
“Sabi ko nga rin sa production staff namin, just because, you know, when I come to the set, I’m in character.
“So, for me, parang one thing about Eros is I don’t wanna be babied. So if I’m injured, if something happens to me in the set, just give me a little bit of space, I’ll pick myself up and do the sequence.
“True enough yun ang ginawa namin the past few days.”
Si Richard ang bida sa The Iron Heart, kung saan kasama rin sa cast sina Dimples Romana, Baron Geisler, Sofia Andres, Albert Martinez, Enzo Pineda, Christian Vazquez, Sue Ramirez, Diether Ocampo, Heaven Peralejo, Meryll Soriano, Pepe Herrera, at Ian Veneracion.
NOEL FERRER
Nagkasama sina Jake at Richard noong mga bagets pa sila sa Click (Disyembre 1999-Hunyo 2004) ng GMA-7.
Andami na nilang pinagdaanan kapwa sa buhay, kaya ang dami nilang napag-uusapan sa set.
Read: Richard Gutierrez recalls Click days with Iron Heart co-star Jake Cuenca
“Ako talaga, to be honest, lagi kong ini-stress and I post about.. I’m so proud of Richard!” bulalas ni Jake.
“Kasi, we met each other, teens pa lang kami. And to see him balance this huge responsibility of carrying The Iron Heart, but at the same time have his family here, take care of his family, take care of his kids, and then the way his kids look at him… ako’ng napa-proud, e.
“Kasi parang… you know what I mean, I’ve known this person since we were teens, and now I see him as a father, as an adult. And nakaka-proud!
“It’s an honor to work with him. I hope this isn’t the last.”
Now that they have their own stature in the entertainment industry, it’s good to note that Richard’s and Jake’s friendship has always been there… even beyond work!
GORGY RULA
Nakaramdam ba siya ng inggit kay Richard, na sana ay may pamilya na rin siya?
Mabilis na umiling si Jake, “Ay, no! No! No! Wala. To be honest kasi, as things unravel, di ba, as all these projects turn out na we’re doing Jack ‘n Jill, we’re doing Iron Heart, we’re doing a play, I’m doing another play in July, and I’m also having a movie premiere this Saturday, so I’m just flying to Manila to do the premiere then go back here… impossible to do it with a significant other.
“I think I’ve come to terms that I’m where I’m supposed to be. I’m exactly where I need to be.
“I think a significant other, at this point in my life, will just slow me down. So, andun ako sa punto na this project, The Iron Heart, deserves my undivided attention.
“And I think also like I’ve got Cattleya Killer on the way in May. And Cattleya Killer, yun ang same diskarte na ibinigay ko in that project.
“I gave my attention to the project undividedly, wholeheartedly. And what I wanted to do with The Iron Heart, kasi nga, narinig ko yung goals nila, e.
“Narinig ko ang objectives nila and it really took my fancy. So I just wanna give them my best.”
Ang girlfriend will slow him down...
“Yeah. Right now, right now. Right now. Ang sa akin naman, hindi naman laging ganun, di ba?” paglilinaw ni Jake.
“Of course not. Sabi ko naman, like you know, this whole thing, sa akin, it’s finding the right person to fit in the puzzle.
“Di ba, I think, that’s the way to look at it. Sa akin kasi parang I love my career. I love what I do. This gives me the most satisfaction.
“Especially now that you know I’m single. This gives me happiness. There’s nothing better than being in the set. That’s my life.”
Ang huling nakarelasyon ni Jake ay ang beauty queen-actress na si Kylie Verzosa.