Everything’s coming up roses for Jeric Gonzales, what with his love life and career both going well.
JERIC Gonzales was very open in admitting he has reconciled with beauty queen turned actress Rabiya Mateo, announcing in his social media account: “My Love Rabiya. I love you and will always love you!”
They were on for a couple of months last year, but they broke up in June for undisclosed reasons. They met again at the GMA Gala Night at the Shang more than a month later and it was seen that they’re quite cozy again with one another. Jeric was asked then if they have reconciled, but he neither confirmed nor denied it. Now, all speculations have ended.
Jeric was all smiles at the press con of his newest show, “Mga Lihim ni Urduja,” now airing at 8 weeknights. And it’s not surprising because his lovelife and career are doing so well.
Right after “Start Up PH” with Alden Richards, he is now quickly given a new project.
“Yes, I’m very happy to be part of ‘Mga Lihim ni Urduja’ kasi I get to do action scenes in this action-historical drama,” he says. “I’m glad to be working with Sanya Lopez, Kylie Padilla and Gabbi Garcia, and all the other members of the show’s big cast.”
What is his role in the show? “I play Greg, an agent and liaison officer in charge of protecting Kylie as Gem and Gabbi as Crystal sa kanilang paghahanap sa nawawalang kuwintas na may mga taglay na agimat in its precious stones.”
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Klea Pineda is turning 24 on March 19. A stunning morena beauty and statuesque at 5’9,” we don’t know what’s stopping her from joining a beauty pageant. We think she has a good chance of bagging a title as she’s also very articulate.
She was discovered when she won in “Starstruck 6” in 2015 with Migo Adecer (who has since returned to his native Australia). She was given a lead role in “Magkaagaw” in 2020.
Now, after three years, she is finally given a new series and is playing a contravida role as Camille’s Prats younger and scheming stepmother in “AraBella.”
“It’s a big challenge for me to do a full-length villain role,” she says. “First time ko and, surprisingly, I am enjoying it. Pero noong una, nangangapa ako kung ano ang tamang timpla para rito. I really took time to study it. Gusto ko ibang klaseng villain ang ipakita ko.
Sa kalagitnaan ng taping namin, I think nakuha ko naman and you be the judge how I did in my role as Gwen.”
She’s glad to be given the chance to work with Camille Prats. “Hindi ko nga ma-imagine na contravida ako kay Ate Cams. I used to watch her as Princess Sara, kaya sobrang saya kong nakatrabaho ko siya ngayon. Masaya lagi ang chikahan and I gained lots of insight from her about life, about decision-making. So I realized na may reason kung bakit siya patuloy na tinatangkilik ng tao hanggang ngayon. It’s not just she’s good in acting, but love niya talaga ang job nila. Nakaka-inspire.”
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Director Phil Giordano is an Italian-American New York-based director who was given by Viva the chance to do full-length films for Vivamax. He himself writes his own screenplays.
“I write them in English and then I get a writer who translates it for me in Filipino,” he says. “On the set, we have an acting coach who also helps me explain to the actors what exactly I want for them to accomplish in each scene that we shoot. It works quite well for all of us.”
He says he is very pleased with the Pinoy actors he worked with in “Lawa,” his third film after “Pusoy” and “Pabuya.”
“They are all good and hardworking. Everyone brought their A-game into the movie and did a really good job, especially Sean de Guzman, Josef Elizalde and Cara Gonzales as the leads.”
Sean plays a voyeur who videotapes couples making love at the lakeside, which leads to a crime. Phil says he has difficulty finding the right location for “Lawa.”
“I went to 15 different locations but I wasn’t happy. I want a place that looks untouched, pristine and isolated. And we found it in a beautiful place in San Marcelino, Zambales. We shot the movie there lock-in for one week and I’m very proud of it.”
