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Jerome Ponce says he does not mind being called a Mario Maurer lookalike

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Rhea Manila Santos

<div><img src="" alt="101012-jerome_main.jpg" align="left" border="0" height="290" width="305"/>Newcomer Jerome Ponce said he feels lucky to have made the crossover from theater acting to television with <i>Be Careful With My Heart</i>. The 17-year-old said he is also partly thankful to Director Jeffrey Jeturian. &#x27;I recently joined Star Magic last August <i>lang. Tulad ng ibang naghahangad maging artista, nag</i>-go-see <i>at </i>VTR <i>ako. Sinama ng </i>manager <i>ko na si </i>fashion designer Avel Bacudio<i> sa </i>go-see <i>ng Be Careful With My Heart</i> and okay<i> naman, nakilala ako ni Direk</i> Jeffrey Jeturian. <i>Nalaman niya na nag-te</i>-theater <i>ako dati at yun ang naging</i> start <i>para magkakilala kami</i>. I used to be part of musical theater.<i> Sayaw at kanta</i>. I started acting when I was 16 years old,&#x27; he shared.</div><div><br/></div><div>Jerome said he has always been passionate about his craft. &#x27;<i>Nag</i>-work<i> talaga</i> for it. <i>Hindi ko lang ito basta gusto</i>, I really worked hard for it. So<i> habang nag-aaral ako ng </i>fourth year high school, <i>nag-wo</i>-work <i>ako sa </i>company<i> na </i>Philippine Stagers Foundation (PSF). Ten years <i>pa lang yun</i> in existence.<i> Tinanggap naman ako ni direk</i> so okay <i>naman daw ako </i>so far,&#x27; he told <a href="/default.aspx">Push.com.ph</a>.</div><div><br/></div><div>A graduate of the Malayan High School of Science under Mapua Institue, Jerome said he definitely had to get used to adjusting from acting on stage and in front of a camera. &#x27;Actually <i>inaamin ko mas kabado sa teatro kasi siyempre lalabas ka, ilang libo yung nasa harap mo na nakaupo. May gawin ka lang mali, tatawa, magtataka kung ano. Pero dito sa </i>TV okay <i>lang kasi nasanay na rin ako</i> so <i>masaya. Mas masaya nga dito kasi bago ka pumasok sa</i> camera or<i> sa</i> screen,<i> alam mo na kagad kung anong gagawin mo</i>,&#x27; he shared.</div><div><br/></div><div>The talented teen said he still can&#x27;t believe he is part of one of the Kapamilya network&#x27;s most successful series this year. &#x27;<i>Sobrang saya ko kasi ito yung</i> first time <i>ko mag</i>-show. First <i>ko pa lang tapos ganito na kaagad</i>, so <i>sobrang saya ko. Siyempre ako makikilala din ako dahil sa</i> show<i> na ito. Sobrang</i> thankful<i> ako sa lahat ng taong sumusuporta sa Be Careful With My Heart at sa mga tao sa </i>ABS-CBN <i>na kung wala sila eh wala din ako sa</i> show. <i>Yung</i> role<i> ko siyempre malayo siya sa</i> personality<i> ko, kasi hindi naman ako yung parang nang-aaway. Pero may pagkamalapit siya sa</i> personality <i>ko </i>in a sense<i> na makulit din ako eh </i>(laughs) <i>yun lang,</i>&#x27; he said.</div><div><br/></div><div>On the <i>Be Careful With My Heart </i>set, Jerome said he has become closest to his on-cam siblings. &#x27;<i>Siyempre mas nakaka</i>-close <i>ko yung mga kapatid ko </i>like<i> si </i>Mutya (Orquia) <i>at si </i>Janella (Salvador) and more on<i> sa</i> staff <i>nakaka</i>-close <i>ko</i>. From the veteran actors <i>naman, may mga natututunan ako </i>and it&#x27;s to be natural <i>lang sa pag-a</i>-act <i>at intindihin ko yung storya </i>and <i>huwag kabahan, yun ang pinayo nila sa akin</i>,&#x27; he said.</div><div><br/></div><div>Even before he entered showbiz, Jerome said he has already gotten used to comments saying he bears a resemblance to Thai heartthrob Mario Maurer. The teen actor said he has never minded the comparison. &#x27;<i>Ewan ko ba kasi kahit nag-te</i>-theater <i>pa lang ako ang dami ng nagsasabi.</i> That&#x27;s one of the things <i>kaya mas nakilala rin ako ng mga ibang tao kaya nakakatuwa lang kasi kamukha ko,</i>&#x27; he revealed. Jerome admitted he is even a fan of Mario&#x27;s romantic Thai film <i>Crazy Little Thing Called Love</i>. &#x27;<i>Oo pinanuod ko talaga. Sobrang nakakakilig at nakakiyak kasi lalo na sa</i> last part <i>niya. Talagang nag-iwanan sila na nagkamali lang. Parang nagkaroon ng</i> something<i> na</i> about his best friend. <i>Yung hindi niya naligawan kasi may</i> promise <i>sila kahit gusto niya</i>,&#x27; he shared.</div><div><br/></div><div>When it comes to acting, Jerome said he looks up to <i>Walang Hanggan</i> star Coco Martin the most. &#x27;<i>Pagdating sa</i> acting <i>siyempre si kuya</i> Coco Martin. <i>Ang galing niya talaga umarte tapos parang </i>dedicated <i>talaga siya para magtrabaho, makikita mo sa kanya na gusto niya yung ginagawa niya,</i>&#x27; he admitted.</div><div><br/></div><div>If given the chance to be part of another project, Jerome said he has never been picky when it comes to roles. &#x27;<i>Pagdating sa</i> roles, <i>ayokong mag</i>-expect <i>ng kahit anong</i> role <i>kasi gusto ko yung bigla na lang dumarating tapos yun yung pag-aaralan ko, yun lang. Kahit ano. Ipagpapatuloy ko talaga ang </i>acting<i> kasi ito talaga pangarap ko eh</i>,&#x27; he admitted.</div><div><br/></div><div>For more updates on your favorite Kapamilya celebrities, log on daily to <a href="/default.aspx">Push.com.ph</a> and follow <a href="https://twitter.com/Push_Mina">@Push_Mina</a> on Twitter.</div>