Ser Luke

It was July 13, 2012. “Be Careful With My Heart”, had become an instant hit – a morning habit that was starting to grow in us. At that point in the story, Maya (Jodi Sta. Maria) was already in the Lim mansion bilang yaya ng batang si Abby (Mutya Orquia), and her crazy yet affecting already interactions with her boss Sir Chief (Richard Yap) and her other daughter, the pretty yet mataray Nikki (Janella Salvador) were making us glued to our TV, before going to work, at least for me. But there was still a missing lead character – Sir Chief’s eldest, Luke Andrew, who had been mentioned several times already, but was not yet seen in any episodes.

Jerome's first appearance on "Be Careful With My Heart", as
the rebellious yet loving Luke.

Hindi ko naman in-expect na sa unang pagpapakita niya sa series, mai-star struck ako. “Ang gwapo”, I said while watching. Kinilig ako, I admit. Well, I was already working with the hottest and most handsome teen boys at that time in “Princess And I” (Daniel Padilla, Enrique Gil and Khalil Ramos, mga teh). May mga mas gugwapo pa ba? Pero iba ito.  Pwede, deep down ko. Most likely I was coming from the fact na, fan ako ni Mario Maurer that time because of “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”. And this guy playing “Ser Luke” bore a striking resemblance to the Thai heartthrob. Pero sino siya?

My curiosity of him led me to post on Twitter asking who he was. Siya pala si Jerome Ponce. I looked for his account and started following him. Joseph Jerome Porciuncula pala siya in real life. A Malayan Institute high school graduat, who was once part of the stage play “Cory Ng EDSA”. From then on, sinubaybayan, level na tutok na tutok na ako hindi na lang dahil sa maganda talaga at nakaka-hook ang “Be Careful With My Heart”, but because I was becoming a fan of this guy. Bumabalik sa akin yung pagfa-fan girl na na-experience ko during my college days.

I wanted to meet him. Gusto kong magpa-picture sa kanya. Pero laging bokya sa pagkakataon. Hindi pa siya naggi-guest sa ASAP. Um-appear sila sa “Sarah G Live” nina Janella at Mutya, pero late ko nang nalaman. Minsan pa, dumalaw siya sa TV Production office, after lunch. May meeting ako for “Princess And I” ng 1 PM. E ang trapik, na-late ako ng 30 minutes. At tinapos ko pa kasi ang BCWMH. Pagdating ko sa office, pinakita ng headwriter kong si Riz Reyes ang isang picture sa kanyang iPad… OMG! Nakakapagpa-pic siya kay Sir Luke! Sobrang nainggit ako. Sinisi ko ang trapik. Kung anu-ano sinisi ko. Bakit ganun? Dramatic as it may seem, pero naramdaman ko uli yung nararamdaman ng mga tagahanga when they missed such opportunities.

Jerome's first appearances on "Be Careful With My Heart",

Kinuntento ko na lang ang sarili ko sa panunood ng “Be Careful With My Heart” at pagti-tweet. Hinitay ko yung transition niya sa story, from this rebellious teenager, to being responsible and reliable kuya and son. I knew the time to see him in person would come. But as each episode passed, mas nakikitaan ko ng potential ang batang ito, na tinatawag ng “Luke” o “Ser Luke” ng mga manunood. Bukod sa good looking siya, he can really act. Pwedeng sumabay kina Daniel, Enrique at Khalil. Marami na ang nakapapansin sa kanya. And his fanbase was already growing at that point. Nagti-trending na siya sa social media, at may fans club na agad, ang Jeromefinities.

September 8, 2012

On September 8, 2012, around early afternoon, nagmamadali akong umalis ng ABS-CBN because I had to go to the church because it was Mama Mary’s birthday. Nakasalubong ko ang isang kaibigan sa may hallway ng Studio 8, si Julian Mauricio. Nagkataon I had to ask him something. Then suddenly, he said, “nandito si Jerome Ponce!” TALAGA?!?! Hindi ko alam ang ire-react ko ‘nun.

Ipinasok ako ni Julian sa studio where “Kris TV” was about to tape. Totoo nga. Sa isang sulok, nakatayo si Jerome Ponce. Siya na nga. Ang tangkad. Ang gwapo. Mas gwapo sa personal. Lahat na naglalaro na sa isip ko. Julian introduced me to him. We shook hands. Ang sabi pa niya, “hi po. Jerome po.” Ang galang, deep down ko. Hindi ko na alam ang sasabihin ko. So si Julian na ang nagsabing, “picture kayo.” Ayun na. Finally.

Muntik ko nang malimutan mag-simba. Pinanood ko siya mag-taping ng “Kris TV”. Deep down ko, “malalim ang pinanggagalingan ng batang ito” sa the way he answered Ms. Kris Aquino’s questions. May maturity. But I was too shy to stay after the taping, umalis na ako. OK na ako. May picture na. Nakita ko na siya in person. That fan complex as I put it ang umiral sa akin. Imposible ko magiging close ito, hindi ko naman siya katrabaho.

October 8, 2012

Pero muli kaming magkikita exactly one month later, sa ASAP naman. I was visiting our “Princess And I” boys when I saw Jerome in one corner ng dressing room, quiet. It was his first guesting sa show. Nag-hi ako sa kanya. To my surprise, he recognized me. “Ikaw po yung writer”, then I said, yes, of “Princess And I”. He started asking questions about the show, how I was doing my job, how was it working with our cast… And I found myself asking questions to him as well. It was a really good conversation. I thought, “matalino, may sense at may substance” kausap itong si Jerome. At nakita ko yung sincerity niya to get to know me, and yung seryoso siya sa ginagawa niya.

When it was his turn to perform on ASAP, he said goodbye to me, and said, “see you around po. Nice meeting you uli.” Napangiti ako. Iba itong si Jerome Ponce, mabait at masarap kausap at kasama. I hoped for that “see you soon” na sinabi niya. Pero paano, I asked myself deep down. There’s still much more to know about this guy. Gusto ko pa siya makilala.

Little did I know na start na pala talaga’yun ng isang pagkakaibigan… A beautiful, sometimes crazy, but always good friendship with the guy na nagbalik ng “fangirl” in me. Si Jerome Ponce, aka Ser Luke.