JERRY OLEA
Thankful sina Zephanie at Michael Sager sa support ng Sparklelites sa pinagbidahan nilang Sparkle U: #Sound Trip sa GMA-7.
Ang sparkling farewell episode ng Sparkle U noong Enero 28, 2024, Linggo ng gabi, ay naka-9% sa NUTAM People Ratings, kontra sa 2.3% ng Jack and Jill sa Diamond Hills sa TV5.
Read: Johnny "Mr. M" Manahan explains how artists of Sparkada are chosen
“Siguro po, I’m just really grateful and happy na na-appreciate ng tao yung tandem namin sa #Frenemies and #Sound Trip po,” lahad ni Zephanie nitong Enero 29, Lunes ng hapon, sa Tapabar cafe, Mother Ignacia Avenue, Quezon City.
“And hindi namin in-expect na mabibigyan po kami ng ganung blessing agad na lead role, so malaking bagay po yung support ng mga tao.
“So, maraming-maraming salamat po, and super nag-enjoy po ako. Kasi siyempre, nung nag-start din kami ni Michael na mag-work together, parang before pa lang, na-imagine na namin na gusto namin na magkaroon ng ganung project po.
“So finally, kahit po papaano, nabigyan po kami ng chance to showcase our… yung parang paano din kami sa work, aside sa real life po na friendship, ganun.”
"MarSue" ang taguri sa kanilang tandem, mula sa character names nilang Marco at Sue.
Sabi ni Michael, “Ako naman po, naa-amaze ako na ang tawag sa amin, MarSue. Kasi for me, it means a lot when the character’s name sticks to the people…
“When I started in the industry, sa showbiz, ang first project ko was with Zeph for 'Magpakita Ka Na' [music video], and now that we’re here on our second show in Sparkle U, third story, natutuwa lang po.
“And like what she said, talagang pangarap po namin na to be one day in a musical. Kasi nga she sings, and I like to sing, too.
“So it’s a great opportunity lang, yeah, it’s a great blessing. And I am happy, of course.”
May kasunod nang acting project si Michael, ang Philippine adaptation ng South Korean drama series na Shining Inheritance, na tatagal nang 18 weeks.
Co-stars niya sa afternoon drama series na ito sina Kate Valdez, Paul Salas, Kyline Alcantara, at Coney Reyes.
Originally ay Marso 2024 sana ang airing nito, pero na-push back dahil sa extension ng Abot-Kamay Na Pangarap.
GORGY RULA
Kapwa ipinanganak sina Michael at Zephanie sa Buwan ng mga Puso — nine days apart.
Pareho silang magtu-21 years old next month. Si Michael sa Pebrero 5, at si Zephanie sa Valentine’s Day, na Ash Wednesday rin this year.
Anu-ano ang pagkakapareho nila bilang February babies?
“Naku, madami! Madami!” bulalas ni Michael.
Sey ni Zephanie, “Sobrang dami! Siguro isa po yun sa naging topic namin.”
Singit ni Michael, pareho silang naka-stripes nung mga sandaling iyon.
Pagpapatuloy ni Zephanie, “It was very ano, unexpected. Nung una kaming nagkakilala ni Michael, yun yung isa po sa mga una naming pinag-usapan.
“Siyempre, yung mga similarities, favorites, simple things. Like favorite flavor, favorite fruit. So, I think, siguro kami lang talaga as a person, andami naming similarities.”
Ano ang kani-kanyang birthday wish?
Natigilan sandali si Zephanie, “Actually, hindi ko pa naiisip but yung unang-unang nag-pop up sa isip ko po ay I want to… I guess, simple lang.
“Ayoko din pong mag-celebrate nang super-bongga kahit na parang debut na nating dalawa yon…
“So I just wanna be able to give back siguro in any way I can. Siguro yun yung wish ko na sana, matupad.
“Sa family man or sa mga tao sa buhay ko, or even people na I wanna help.”
“It’s nice,” reaksiyon ni Michael, bago nagsabi, “Ako naman po, well I’m working on my birthday, so sana more work this year ang wish ko.
“Apart from that, my family is coming from Canada. So, yung wish ko na makumpleto kami, after two years, matutupad na rin.
“So, natutuwa lang ako na makakapag-celebrate ako ng isang special day kasama ang mga special people in my life. So family time, yun lang po ang wini-wish ko!”
NOEL FERRER
Natawa sina Zephanie at Michael nang tanungin kung hanggang friendship lang ba ang mamamagitan sa kanila. O friendship lang muna?
Nagseryoso si Zephanie, “Kasi po, ako po personally, siyempre yung… I think I can also speak on behalf of Michael na yung goal namin talaga ngayon, and yung focus namin is talaga yung career namin.
“And yung mga dreams namin na since nag-i-start pa lang po kami sa industry, even if almost five years na akong nandito, I feel like after the pandemic, nag-reset o nag-start siya.
“So ako, ha! Ha! Ha! I’m happy with what we have right now. And I’m really happy that I’m able to work with him.”
Napatango si Michael, “Yeah, of course, I can say that’s a blessing in my life, and in my career as well. So I really like to take things slow especially when it comes to relationships.
“Just because… my work here, I sacrificed a lot moving here from Canada. Talagang if there’s one reason, it is for work.
“And for me, I have to put career first and I mean, I’m not complaining that she’s in my life, that she’s helping me.
“Because it’s been a delight na we’re able to work together, so I don’t know, good friends kami, yeah. We’re special people in each other’s life.”