Project with Piolo or Wowie? Here's what Judy Ann Santos thinks

MANILA – Just like many other celebrities, the coronavirus pandemic has also disrupted not just the personal plans of Judy Ann Santos with her family but also the projects she was supposed to do in 2020.

During a virtual press conference on Wednesday for her new program “Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan,” the actress revealed that there were movies lined up for her this year which obviously did not materialize given the current situation.

“May naka line up. May pitching dapat na magaganap. Dapat gagawa ako ng dalawang movies this year,” she said.

Upon mention of this, entertainment reporters took the opportunity to ask Santos about her thoughts on the never-ending clamor for her to do a reunion project with her former love team partner, Piolo Pascual.

Laughing off the question, she said: “Siguro kapag nagkaroon na ng vaccine at pwede na lumabas lahat ng tao di ba? Siguro matutuloy na siya.”

Turning serious, Santos said she has always been open about working with Pascual again. It is just a matter of searching for the right story for the two of them.

“We’ll see. Parati ko namang sinasabi kapag may magtatanong, wala namang imposible sa buhay na ito at sa panahong ito. It’s just a matter of time. Nagkataon lang, inabot kami ng COVID. I guess hahaba pa ang panahon bago kami makagawa ng project together. It’s just also a matter of right material,” she said.

“Ang tagal, ilang dekada na ang nagdaan after nung huli naming project. Habang tumatagal, mas lalong dapat may substance 'yung material. Mas worth it panoorin kasi matagal inabangan,” she added.

With the current lockdown situation, Santos would like to think that there might just be a script that’s brewing for them.

“Gusto ko isipin na with this lockdown, magkakaroon ng magandang material na napapanahon at sobrang worth it gawin. Baka kapag nagkita kami, pareho na puti ang buhok namin,” she said.

Aside from a reunion project with Pascual, some of Santos’ fans are interested to see her be paired with Wowie de Guzman too.

“Oo naman, of course. Mga lumang tao kami. I guess 'yung naghahanap ng tandem namin, mga lumang tao din ‘di ba? Wala namang impossible lalo na sa industriya natin. Of course, it’s been three decades nung huli kami magkatrabaho ni Wowie. That’s a lot of time na hindi kami nagkita. It would be interesting,” she said.

“Hindi ko lang alam kung interesado pa 'yung mga bagong tao na makita kami together. But it’s a nice concept. That would be totally different. Siguro wala na kaming tweetums factor bilang tapos na kami doon. Grumaduate na kami ng valedictorian sa part na iyan. Ibigay na natin sa iba,” she added.

In a separate interview, de Guzman said a reunion project with Santos would definitely be special because of the length of time that they have not worked with each other.

“Of course, wala namang problema. Bakit hindi? Especially napakatagal na nung last project na pinagsamahan namin so parang kung mabigyan ng opportunity again to work with her at this time, I will accept it,” he said.

Santos and De Guzman’s team up was among the most popular showbiz pairings in the '90s. Following the massive success of "Mara Clara," the two were paired anew in another drama series, "Esperanza," in 1997.

It was in the same soap where Santos and Pascual's on-screen chemistry was tested, and eventually launched their team up. It also spelled the slow demise of de Guzman's team-up with the actress.