Daytime Teen Prince

October 2015.

At SM Pampanga Ampitheatre for NKNKK Finale Mall Show

It was Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita’s finale mall show at SM Pampanga Amphitheatre. After a very successful 9-month run, the afternoon serye has come to an end. And the crowd was cheering and feeling kilig as Jerome Ponce performed Sam Concepcion’s “Mahal Na Mahal Kita”, some even screaming his character name in the serye. I can’t help but be proud of Jerome – after Be Careful With My Heart, which was truly a tough act to follow, he was able to make another unforgettable TV character out of the rebellious yet romantic varsity heartthrob Ryan Briones. He was a certified and worthy “Daytime Teen Prince”.

On our way back to Manila, while on his car, bumalik sa alaala ko lahat ng memories while he was doing the serye.

At NKNKK presscon

Dinner after Aquino and Abunda Toniight guesting with Jane. 

At GGV guesting of JaneRome for NKNKK> 

When NKNKK was starting out, I went all the way to support him and the entire series, helping in promo. I was so excited to see Jerome in a dramatic serye, playing an emotionally complex character his age. Iba na ito kay Luke na medyo pa-cute at light lang. Though he still played the rebellious, pero gwapo heir, iba na ang pinanggagalingan at choices ng character niya dito. And he was the leading man to the protagonist – the headstrong, determined Corrine played by Jane Oineza. May “stable” loveteam na si Jerome sa entirety ng serye. And Jane was fresh from her PBB stint, so combination talaga ng pressure and excitement.

Jerome's first taping day for NKNKK. 

I was there on his first taping day for NKNKK, sa Paranaque. I didn’t see na kabado siya – he was calm, composed and enthusiastic sa bagong gagampanan niya, at sa mga makakasama niya. And this enthusiasm to the project ay nagpatuloy sa kalakaran ng mga tapings niya for the show. Everytime I’d visit sa set, as far as Laguna, nakita ko na nae-enjoy and at the same time sineseryoso niya ang pagganap ni Ryan. He would study his lines. He would motivate himself to be in the character. Makikipagsabayan siya sa aktingan, especially sa mga mas veteran sa cast like Denise Laurel, Christian Vasquez and Vina Morales. Ilang beses din siya nasaktan sa sampal, hatak, suntok ng mga nakatatanda, but he took it all in professionally. Nakitaan siya sa NKNKK that he can be a serious actor in the future. He had the makings and the potential.

NKNKK set visits at Malayan College in Laguna. 

Sa NKNKK ko din nakita yung maturity niya not just an actor but a person. His two years with BCWMH had thought him so much, bitbit niya sa NKNKK ‘yun and more. Wala na akong narinig na problema o isyu about him. Naging malapit siya sa mga kasamahan niya sa show, including the off-cam people. Mas naging maalaga siya sa mga tao sa paligid niya – including me.  

Bonding at Robinson's Magnolia

After SM Marilao mall show with JaneRome supporters

He also developed harmonious working relationship, and later on friendship, sa mga mas nakababata sa cast na sina Loisa Andalio and Joshua Garcia, who until now ay tropa-tropa niya at kasama niya sa ASAP. But more importantly, we saw kung paano mas nag-blossom ang friendship nila ni Jane sa NKNKK. They were more than a loveteam then – partners sila. They complimented each other sa acting, and they really worked on their chemistry. Nakita ng mga manunood yun – the serye slowly but surely gained momentum, tumaas ang ratings at nagkaroon ng fanbase ang loveteam nilang JaneRome. Actually, nung nabuntis na ni Ryan si Corrine, at nag-umpisa na ang “against all odds” nilang relationship, nag-peak na ang ratings ng show at na-maintain hanggang end. NKNKK was a certified daytime hit – as we put it, “ang mas nagpakinang sa Kapamilya Gold”.

Videoke with Ate Weenah

At Julia Barretto's 18th birthday

Seatmates at Loisa's Sweet 16 celebration

Backstage of Jerome's mall tours for Maybelline
in SM Megamall, and in SM Fairview

Sa NKNKK ko masasabing, talagang naging solid ang friendship naming ni Jerome. Nakatulong ‘yung mga bonding namin sa set. He would let me sit beside him sa holding area. Usap lang, about our work and personal lives. I would just let him talk. Then kapag take niya, isasama niya ako sa set, then he would ask kung OK yung naging pag-arte niya. If may time din at pagkakataon, we would eat outside. Minsan kasama si Jane or yung RM niya noong si Ate Weenah Villaflor.

Backstage of Kapamilya Caravan in Baguio 

He recorded a video invitation for the airing of
my life story in MMK, "Ang Dakilang Fan"/

Nakarating pa ako ng Baguio just to see him perform sa Kapamilya Caravan. Nagulat siya, pero mukhang natuwa naman to see me. Hindi ko alam ang sumagi sa isip ko nun, pero I remember I also needed that moment din kasi ilang weeks to go, eere na ang MMK life story ko. He actually gave his full support to my MMK, he recorded a video, and tweeted to promote. Later on, he would tell me na pinanood niya kahit nasa out of town siya for a show. Akala ko inetchos lang ako.

Surprise for his 20th birthday

And he was there on my 30th 

I even pulled a surprise for his birthday. Simple lang, videoke with “Team Jerome”, as we put it, sina Ate Weenah, Kuya Jojo his ever reliable driver, and his former personal assistant Fernan. In turn, dumating siya sa 30^th birthday celebration ko. Nagbigay pa nga siya ng cheesecake at nakaka-touch na speech na ‘till now ay nagli-linger sa isip ko.

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Backstage of ASAP 

In August, ater his second A&A guesting with Jane, he suffered leg pains.
We rushed him to the hospital. 

Backstage of "Deal Or No Deal" 

Chikahan inside his tent for ASAP Binan. 

Looking back at those moments, pinatunayan lang ng mga ‘yun na hindi ako nagkamaling magpaka-fan at maging kaibigan kay Jerome. Oo, may ups and downs. May mga misunderstanding at debate pa rin. (Hindi kumpeto ang friendship namin 'pag wala yan). But I realized how Jerome had grown up. Hindi man masalita yan, but in his actions, ipararamdam niya yung care at concern niya. Hindi niya ako hinahayaan na mag-commute pauwi pag set visits – kailangan at least sa sakayan pauwi sa amin o pabalik ABS-CBN maibaba niya ako. Sa mga panahong din ito nabuo yung tawag ko sa kanyang “Pogs”, while he would call me “Sajorda” at times. Parang tropa tropa daw.

It was time for Ryan Briones to take a bow. Kung ano man ang susunod, or where the road leads Jerome next, remained to be seen. But one thing was sure – he was coming out of NKNKK a better actor and person, ready for bigger challenges and opportunities to come his way.