‘I wish them all the best.’ – Paolo Contis
PAOLO Contis and LJ Reyes were together for six years and they had a daughter, Summer, in 2018. They eventually parted ways in 2021.
Paolo has a new girlfriend, Yen Santos, while LJ went to New York where she married Philip Evangelista. What can Paolo say about this? “I have nothing to say,” he says. “Basta I’m actually happy that she’s getting married. I wish them all the best.”
2023 has been lucky for Paolo when it comes to his career. He’s a host in “Eat Bulaga” and is also in “Bubble Gang.” He is in the cast of several movies. He did the horror-comedy “Ang Pangarap Kong Oskar” and “The Cheating Game” that have already been shown.
He has now completed a new romance drama with Rhian Ramos for a new film company, “Ikaw at Ako,” co-starring with Boots Anson Roa and Ronaldo Valdez that has a December playdate. He is also in the cast of two other new movies, “Fuchsia Libre” for Mavx Productions and “The Journey” with Patrick Garcia. He is turning 40 years old this coming March. Any plans of settling down for good with Yen?
“None. Dapat munang paghandaang mabuti ‘yan and I feel all these good opportunities coming my way are part of my preparation for my future. Darating din tayo doon, sa tamang panahon.”
***
Book one of Wattpad’s University series, “The Rain in España,” was a big hit on Viva One. So now, they are showing the second book, “Safe Skies, Archer,” which will now focus on the new love team of Krissha Viaje as Yanna and Jerome Ponce as Hiro, the pilot in the story.
How would Krissha describe her character, Yanna?
“Yanna is a tourism student,” she says. “She’s known for being liberated, afraid of commitment when it comes to relationships. I’m thankful to Viva as this is the most challenging role in my entire career since I joined ‘Little Big Star’ as a child singer.”
How about Jerome Ponce, how will he describe his role as Hiro?
“His dream is to be a pilot and to study in the best flying schools in Florida, the USA. Kaso magkakakilala sila ni Yanna, at ‘yun, tatamaan sila sa isa’t isa.”
The lives of Yanna and Hiro will change when they meet each other. At first, they agree to have a no-strings-attached, no-label kind of relationship. But eventually, they will fall deeply in love and become more involved with each other. But just like most young loves, their relationship hits a snag and they part ways.
After five years, they meet again. They now have their own flourishing careers. They are more mature in their views in life. They realize they haven’t really moved on from each other and try to find out if love would be truly lovelier for them the second time around.
***
Viva launches another new nymphet in “Haliparot,” now streaming on Vivamax, Aiko Garcia, one of the two winners in their artista search “Pantaxa: Laiya,” the other being Angelica Hart. She plays a 17-year-old high school student raised by a single mom, Maui Taylor. She and Maui later figure in a love triangle with the hunky Matt Francisco.
Matt seduces Aiko and she happens to be a willing victim. “Actually, when I was told that I will have a launching movie, sabi ko, kaya ko na ba?” says Aiko. “Kasi, probinsyana lang ako from Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. I just came to Manila to go to college.”
A talent manager brought her to Viva. At first, she was hesitant to go sexy. “Youngest ako of two kids. My dad died when I was only 8 and my single mom raised me and my older brother by herself. But when I joined ‘Pantaxa: Laiya,’ doon ako nasanay magpa-sexy kasi lahat ng kasali, game na game sila. Kung gusto mong manalo, dapat ready ka ring gawin kung anuman ang kaya nilang gawin.”
Will she let her mom watch “Haliparot”? “Ay, huwag na lang. Trailer pa lang ang napanood niya, na-sad na siya. Sabi niya, ‘yan ba talaga ang gusto mong gawin? Sabi ko, ‘Ma, gusto ko talagang mag-artista so stepping stone ko ito.’ Ang dream ko talaga, makagawa later ng mainstream movie na drama.”
