Newcomer Jerome Ponce said he feels lucky to have made the crossover from theater acting to television with Be Careful With My Heart. The 17-year-old said he is also partly thankful to Director Jeffrey Jeturian. 'I recently joined Star Magic last August lang. Tulad ng ibang naghahangad maging artista, nag-go-see at VTR ako. Sinama ng manager ko na si fashion designer Avel Bacudio sa go-see ng Be Careful With My Heart and okay naman, nakilala ako ni Direk Jeffrey Jeturian. Nalaman niya na nag-te-theater ako dati at yun ang naging start para magkakilala kami. I used to be part of musical theater. Sayaw at kanta. I started acting when I was 16 years old,' he shared.

Jerome said he has always been passionate about his craft. 'Nag-work talaga for it. Hindi ko lang ito basta gusto, I really worked hard for it. So habang nag-aaral ako ng fourth year high school, nag-wo-work ako sa company na Philippine Stagers Foundation (PSF). Ten years pa lang yun in existence. Tinanggap naman ako ni direk so okay naman daw ako so far,' he told Push.com.ph.

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. 'Actually 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 TV okay lang kasi nasanay na rin ako so masaya. Mas masaya nga dito kasi bago ka pumasok sa camera or sa screen, alam mo na kagad kung anong gagawin mo,' he shared.

The talented teen said he still can't believe he is part of one of the Kapamilya network's most successful series this year. 'Sobrang saya ko kasi ito yung first time ko mag-show. First ko pa lang tapos ganito na kaagad, so sobrang saya ko. Siyempre ako makikilala din ako dahil sa show na ito. Sobrang thankful ako sa lahat ng taong sumusuporta sa Be Careful With My Heart at sa mga tao sa ABS-CBN na kung wala sila eh wala din ako sa show. Yung role ko siyempre malayo siya sa personality ko, kasi hindi naman ako yung parang nang-aaway. Pero may pagkamalapit siya sa personality ko in a sense na makulit din ako eh (laughs) yun lang,' he said.

On the Be Careful With My Heart set, Jerome said he has become closest to his on-cam siblings. 'Siyempre mas nakaka-close ko yung mga kapatid ko like si Mutya (Orquia) at si Janella (Salvador) and more on sa staff nakaka-close ko. From the veteran actors naman, may mga natututunan ako and it's to be natural lang sa pag-a-act at intindihin ko yung storya and huwag kabahan, yun ang pinayo nila sa akin,' he said.

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. 'Ewan ko ba kasi kahit nag-te-theater pa lang ako ang dami ng nagsasabi. That's one of the things kaya mas nakilala rin ako ng mga ibang tao kaya nakakatuwa lang kasi kamukha ko,' he revealed. Jerome admitted he is even a fan of Mario's romantic Thai film Crazy Little Thing Called Love. 'Oo pinanuod ko talaga. Sobrang nakakakilig at nakakiyak kasi lalo na sa last part niya. Talagang nag-iwanan sila na nagkamali lang. Parang nagkaroon ng something na about his best friend. Yung hindi niya naligawan kasi may promise sila kahit gusto niya,' he shared.

When it comes to acting, Jerome said he looks up to Walang Hanggan star Coco Martin the most. 'Pagdating sa acting siyempre si kuya Coco Martin. Ang galing niya talaga umarte tapos parang dedicated talaga siya para magtrabaho, makikita mo sa kanya na gusto niya yung ginagawa niya,' he admitted.

If given the chance to be part of another project, Jerome said he has never been picky when it comes to roles. 'Pagdating sa roles, ayokong mag-expect ng kahit anong role kasi gusto ko yung bigla na lang dumarating tapos yun yung pag-aaralan ko, yun lang. Kahit ano. Ipagpapatuloy ko talaga ang acting kasi ito talaga pangarap ko eh,' he admitted.

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